I’ve just hit 40 and the call of the wild is strong so I’m looking to move out of London. Unfortunately I can’t live off the land in Surrey so I still need to go to work every day in SW London, harrumph. I don’t particularly want to be using the train every day and I only get sporadic use of the car park at work but I can squeeze a motorbike in without anyone complaining.

As a complete beginner (no licence yet) that wanted to commute 30ish miles each way on a mix of rural, dual carriageway and the outskirts of London in all weathers on the most comfortable and non-threatening motorbike possible would a half faired Honda CBF600 be acceptable?

Recommendations for kit that will make it a little less unpleasant in winter would be good too. Also tips on not dying would be nice.

And yes I am having a massive mid-life crisis.

Sure heated grips will be an essential for a winter commute! And depending on exactly how much of winter, maybe one of the plug in heated body warmers you get?

When I was 20 I commuted for around half that distance all year round including in deep snow. Some days I had to stop every five miles to thaw my hands out on the engine. I’m now 50 and have two bikes, one of which is a Yamaha FJR1300 complete with heated grips, full fairing etc. It’ll be staying in the garage till next March at least.

Kit has certainly improved but you need to spend serious money if you want to stay really warm and dry.

Don’t underestimate how horrible traveling thirty miles to work in the rain will be then having to put all your cold wet kit back on to travel home again. Also think about what happens if it snows while you are at work!

Rockhopper – Member

Kit has certainly improved but you need to spend serious money if you want to stay really warm and dry.

Yup. I commuted in allsorts on a sports-ish bike but only really worked for me because I had really good kit. Goretex, good boots, heated gloves (heated grips are OK too but gloves are another level). You know the difference decent cycling kit makes, in bad weather? It’s like that only more so. Anti-fog visor insert, upgraded headlights, really good tyres.

I only stopped because I stopped having a commute that it made sense for, mind. I used to save easily half an hour a day on a 10 mile commute (and that’s leaving aside the advantage of pretty much assured punctuality). Having a plan B is good though! If there was snow or gales forecast I’d usually suck it up and take the bus, snow and motorbikes don’t mx

For a pure commuter I’d want all the fairing and comfy riding position I could get without too much bulk. Basically I’d buy a Dullsville tbh. CBF6 is a good bike though. (though, try it for fit if you can… I don’t know if anyone else ever had this, but every time i get on one I just about smash my kneecap on the water pump. Every bastard time)

Kit is remarkably good these days. Heated grips or gloves.

It will still be miserable half the year, but it’s a short coummute.

Not dying is easy enough after the first few months, unless you enjoy it.

I’m more than happy to throw money at warmth, comfort and safety. And if the weather goes to shit it’s only Surrey. The train to work is quicker than my current commute, just bloody expensive and unpleasant.

We also have heated cupboards at work for drying damp kit.

I rode a motorbike around London for work for 2 years, commuting in from Croydon and then around town all day, visiting properties.
I used a suzuki gs500 and it was pretty good for the job. Cheap to buy, cheap to service, insure and run. Were I to do it again, I’d buy a Honda cb500x for similar reasons but it has a screen and a slightly elevated seat.
I had a shoei flip front helmet with a pinloc double visor which minimised fogging and the flip front was great for shops and petrol stops or those days when visors just won’t clear.
I wouldn’t bother with gore tex bike specific clothing and would opt for a decent gore tex waterproof jacket and over trousers to wear over leathers/draggin kevlar jeans. Handlebar muffs and heated grips for the win!
Do a bikesafe course too. Great day out with police riders.

I’ve a mate that moved down to that there Landan start of the year. He keeps telling me how warm it is down there. He takes his bike couple times a week. You’ll need to learn to filter properly!

You need decent kit. Heated vest as well as grips/gloves for early starts. Definitely decent boots. Proper full face lid (yeah with pinlock insert). My Shoei came with one. A rain suit if it’s pishing (they’re cheap). Definitely a decent neck tube.

A shaft drive a good idea if all round biker. Get your bike treated (allyearbiker).

Dullsville a good choice I’d say. Has storage, v-twin, shaft drive. The (12+ ‘Glee’) DL650 is a nice bike for commuting too (but chain), it’d need protected/topped up regular. Get a 2nd hand medium weight for a first bike. Will hurt less when you drop it… Learn to ride properly on it (took me a good 5k miles post test before I could actually do that). Keep it sensible.

Just put my bike into storage, the gritters have been out in force and a week of -1 to sub 4 starts coupled with killer low sun on an east/west commute… and I was noticing condensation on the tank and engine casings… and it’s pitch black here at 6.30 am (riding into the rising sun….) at the end of it.

Generally it seems it might be unpleasant but doable with the right kit. Spent the last 5 years cycling through London traffic so I’ll have to remember that I’m a bit wider.

Any recommendations for the wiggle/chain reaction of motorbike kit?

Can’t say I’ve found one but I have used J&B Motorcycles in Boston who trade as Branded Biker

Bought a fair bit off them and found Julian to be uber helpful and going the extra mile. And it’s all been over the phone, as I’m almost 500 miles away. Handled returns no problem (one time wrong item sent, other was wrong size for me… 😳 )

Their special offers clothing section worth a look (got a couple of Lindstrands/Halvarrsons jackets, trousers, etc. from there).

I prefer a leather jacket to textile personally.

I would’ve said Hein Gericke but they seem to go bust regularly. J&S (I think) took their stores over last time.

Handlebar muffs and heated grips. I just use single layer leather gloves year round and I get cold hands.
Make sure your bike is cheap to run. I get 98mpg every time from mine. If it isn’t that different from the car you will be tempted not to bother, especially if it doesn’t safe a ton of time. Factor in at least 10 minutes at either end of the journey. Times 2 that’s 40 minutes getting your gear on etc . Faffing about cleaning the visor included in this or draping wet jackets over radiators.
It all adds up to putting you off.

I used to buy stuff from Hein Gericke, their own brand was good value. Not sure what they’re like these days.

If you’ve commuted on your bike already that’s a good start. I did that for years then did direct access. Then got a Suzuki Bandit 600S. Only took 5 mins off the 10 mile journey though!

Have fun!

As a complete beginner (no licence yet)

I commuted for many years in/around London (usually between 80 and 90 miles per day) in all weathers, but as a biker since the age of 16 I’d learnt the survival tricks by the time I was a commuter…

First learn to ride, then pass your test and ride as much as possible. Do more training. At some point, once you’re happy – start to ride to work.

First bike is a bit irrelevant, as you’ll crash it – possibly the second and third if commuting a lot. At some point you’ll get the skills/experience/luck, then I’d recommend the best bike you can afford, preferably with ABS.

Good gear to stay warm/dry/safe is essential, plus heated grips etc. Don’t be tempted to wear a rucksack, get a topbox (not panniers as they’re too wide).

I don’t ride now – no need as my commute is all of 15 mins on empty country roads.

Make sure your bike is cheap to run.

I use to save 1-2 hours per day using the bike, paid for themselves many-times over (and this was running +1000cc’s).

If you’re having a midlife crisis you will ignore this: get a large capacity big wheel scooter with one of those weird leg capes and huge screens.

You’re not wrong. On either count. Big scooter would probably be very sensible but I’ve also got a Mondeo and that’s enough sensible for one man.

Shoei pin lock inserts, bar muffs and shaft drive, all worth their weight in gold.

Buy a Husqvarna 510SMR.

It won’t keep you warm, dry, or safe… but you’ll be cool as **** !

The bike doesn’t matter so much while you’re learning the ropes but if you are serious about trying it all weather, invest in descent gear and you can grab some of this second hand if necessary. Another option is buy really cheap (aldi) gear and replace if after gaining some experience. I wouldn’t buy middle ground gear, as you’re usually wasting your money. For myself, when I ride the gear I’m wearing is worth over 1/4 the value of the bike.

If your commute is mostly in town then a modern ‘fast’ 125cc scooter that can hit 60mph+ might be a good idea to see if you like commuting. Scooters means less training and they’re cheaper. You can always sell it after a year for close to what it cost and you’ll learn alot on something safer. I put 20k on a 100cc scooter for a 20 mile London commute and it was mostly as fast A-B as a motorbike even with a route consisting of 10 miles on the A40.

Motorbikes are best if your commute has less ‘extreme London’ filtering as other road users give you more respect and motorways are less stressful when you have more power, grip and better brakes. Speaking from first hand experience, learning the art of London filtering is alot easier if you’re on an automatic scooter. They’re fast to, I can filter quicker on a 5bhp scooter than my motorbike.

Critical gear includes a pinlock visor so you don’t get steamed up, a specialist motorbike neck scarf that seals up well, scottoiler if you have a chain and ACF50 anti-corrosion spray to keep salt at bay every couple of weeks mid winter.

You don’t need shaft drive, I’ve managed to get 30k out of chains using a scottoiler and they require minimum care, it is ideal to spray some kind of water displacer over the chain if the bike will sit unused for a couple weeks after getting coated in salt.

The question on if you’ll like it is very personal, I’m about to start motorbike commuting after a 4 year break and I’ll be doing 30 miles each way into London, mostly down the M1. For the most part I enjoy it and I also find you can learn skills that help with mtb riding. I’ll be using a 1000c sports tourer.

If you don’t like cycling in cold wet conditions, you probably won’t get on with winter commuting. I highly recommend taking a Police Bike safe course 6 months after passing your test.

Kit is the key. You can cope with any bike really if you’re dressed in full waterproof kit. As long as it’s all waterproof, you’ll be fine even in the depths of winter. Once spring comes around, you’ll want goretex as you’ll cook in cheaper waterproof kit…

Pinlock visors are the best invention ever!

Best advice is just to dive in and give a go and enjoy your commute every day!

An all in one waterproof suit is a godsend. Only about £40 – £50, doesn’t need to be breathable, big enough to go over your safety kit (which will say it’s waterproof, but won’t be)

First bike is a bit irrelevant, as you’ll crash it

No you won’t. I had assumed that, but we were all kids when we got bikes.

All the old farts I know who’ve bought bikes have been fine.

No you won’t

YAY! I’m not going to die… yet.

Thanks all. You’ve made my escape plan feel more realistic.

All the old farts I know who’ve bought bikes have been fine.

But how many of them started with an all-weather commute into/across London?

my fireblade is currently off the road for winter. First time I won’t have a bike over winter 🙁

I used to commute 10 miles each way in all weathers on an SV650s and a Triumph Street Triple R. On the latter I had a heated gilet, heated gloves, quality bike kit. I was usually fine, but 30 miles each way is a bit of a drag and I’m not sure how much I’d be up for that

I used to love my commute by motorbike. I’m doing a similar trip but it’s mostly by bicycle now, with the odd day on the tube. I don’t have anywhere safe to park the motorbike so I don’t commute on it

Gearfreak – crock of shoite.
My textiles are now almost 8yrs old and have never once leaked.
Hein Gericke Master V jacket and trousers – amazing kit, thermal liner, vents, storm collar, etc.
FYI – they are back in the UK with 2 stores but a full online setup dealt with by head office in germany – NOT the UK.
They also have a sale on right now so you’ll get kit far better than any of the bucket places here for the same if not cheaper.
Keis heated gloves, jacket, inner trousers and insoles and a Schuberth C3 Pro helmet means I ‘ve never once not got where I was going in comfort.
For that commute though – neoprene muffs and a lighter glove will be more than enough.
Don’t get a supermoto – the bars will be too wide to allow you to filter (coming from someone with a CRF450R for sale)
The GS500 is the staple of training schools – bulletproof but heavy.
TBH – look at staying on a good 125 using your CBT – learn the skills on something you can pick up in seconds, won’t lose its value, etc.
Come spring time you’ll be in place to breeze your test with the skills necessary to survive rather than learning on something larger that you’re afraid to drop, is heavier, etc.
On your cycle in – look at what all the couriers, etc are using – thats what you want to commute on. Cheap, nippy with the turning circle of a fly on LSD.

Rockhopper hit the nail on the head with his feedback. I have a 30 mile commute too and i would not want to do it in winter at all. its horrid.
You can throw all the money you want at kit to stay warm, but the fact is in winter, especially once the salt has gone down, bikes should be locked up in the garage and not allowed out until its dry and warm. Unless someone has made tyres that grip in the winter on our awful roads nowadays?

my Triumph has been tucked up since the beginning of November and won’t see the light of day till next year.

Wear whatever this guy wears: https://vimeo.com/8896446

More seriously, if you are up for the adventure, you’ll be fine. Don’t expect it to be easy – I did last Winter without a car and don’t fancy it this Winter, I have to admit. In fact, I have a cold today so called off taking my bike to be serviced simply because I don’t fancy riding an hour down the A47 with a gooey head.

Heated clothing is one of the World’s most amazing inventions – buy it.

Breaking down is rubbish on a bike, I hear – avoid it by buying something unlikely to break down.

Get training – lots and lots of training.

Rachel

The Honda Nc750x gets rave reviews – fun cheap with reasonable protection and carrying capacity….

hammy, you’ve been lucky. (Although HG kit does seem to have a really good rep, and when I have the cash to replace mine it will probably be with HG kit) I’ve had both a Frank Thomas Jacket that leaked (it also fell apart and got returned for a full refund), and a Richa jacket that leaks. There is nothing guaranteed to make you colder quicker than being wet, so IME a good waterproof onesie makes a massive difference, but each to their own.

Unless someone has made tyres that grip in the winter on our awful roads nowadays?

Modern tyres work very well. Michelin do a series of tyres specifically designed for wet use, think of them like car winter tyres but with a wider usage window. Even the sports tyres on my bike work well enough in the wet down to 0 degrees.

HG kit is designed for the continent – its gets massively worse there than here in winter and the kit shows just how good it is.
The “issue” with a onesie is not only getting it on and off but its worse than the worst boil in the bag cycling kit – you end up wetter inside than out.
I’ve got two or three in the garage that someone is welcome to for a beer.

Why should bikes be locked up in the garage just because the salt is down?
Beggars belief that people think a modern bike on the right tyres can’t cope!
I’m guessing you’re the type that has full blown track day tyres on their precious Triumph – of course they won’t grip efficiently – they’re designed for a surface temp of above 10-12 degrees with almost no silica black in them.
Get a proper road tyre on there – Roadsmarts, Pilot Road III’s GT23’s, etc and see the difference.
My 14R didn’t go more than a week last winter without being ridden in all weathers, all over. Bridgestone GT23’s on her and she didn’t slip or slide once.
She’s on Roadsmarts now and was ragged round germany in the summer for 10 days edge to edge and will be over winter too.
daver27 – perhaps do a little reading up on the latest tyres and learn something today.

i’m lucky that i have the choice. fully versed in how different tyres work and whats what. I just choose to not take the risk of riding in the winter.

NO tyres grip on ice (one broken neck to show for that after hitting a frost hollow 15 years ago)
Bikes do not cope with salt, fact. granted they are better than they were, but one way to thoroughly wear a bike out quickly is to ride it on salty roads. If you want to keep it in nice condition, keep it off the road in winter (i appreciate thats not what the OP is asking btw)

Its personal choice more than anything for me, i am well aware you can ride all winter (and i used to) i just don’t see the point these days. And no, the triumph is not on track tyres etc, its road only and gets used to commute.

Unless someone has made tyres that grip in the winter on our awful roads nowadays?

They always did.

HG kit is designed for the continent – its gets massively worse there than here in winter and the kit shows just how good it is.

When I lived in Germany because the weather was that much worse than ours in winter they just put their bikes away until Spring.

When I lived in the South East there were few days that I didn’t bike (had brilliant kit though – HG, Daytona, Rukka etc and a safe/fast Triumph with ABS), but now living in Scotland I can’t see me getting one again – first year here we had the first snow in October and the last in May…

I did exactly what you are planning to do, infact I even bought the same bike (CBF600). Its **** hard work to be honest – I passed my test in a January and then started commuting almost straight away. Second week it snowed and I fell off but was using my 125 so it didn’t hurt too much! (low speed) but other than that its been fine. Just like cycle commuting there are some days when you just can’t be arsed and I was lucky as I could use the train or go to a different office.

Heated gear is not really necessary as long as you have heated grips and good waterproof textiles, but then I am used to kayaking and windsurfing in winter….

I wore a kayaking fleece onesie (immersion research union suit) under my protective textiles and never got cold – in fact mostly too hot as you are dodging and weaving in traffic etc.

Its a steep learning curve but its a lot of fun most days – unfortunately I don’t need to commute anymore so the bike is for sale…if you want a cheap CBF600 you can buy mine! Been sitting in the garage for a year so it ain’t going to get used :0(