Has anyone else "given up" commuting on their motorcycle?

[sunny_pines]

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I've been working less than 10 minutes from home since the beginning of the year. No more 45 minute commute. I get way more sleep time & can come home at lunch to chill.

However, it now takes me longer to get geared up and get the bike out of the garage then it does to just hop in my car and drive to the office, so I don't bother commuting anymore.

Totally worth the tradeoff; waaaaaaay less stress.

+1.

Whenever I read people complaining about their long commutes, I don't know if I should laugh or weep. If someone spends over an hour a day stuck in traffic, they should seriously consider moving or changing jobs.

I know it's easier said than done, but if one tries, one can definitely succeed. I used to work 20km away from home (mostly along 401, took about 30 minutes each way because of congestion), drove the car, hated those parts of the day more than anything. Now it's a 20 min route through the city streets, and it's time I actually enjoy. Spend at most 3 minutes in traffic near a particularly nasty intersection, but even then, I use lemons to make lemonade and practice my bike-squeezing skills. Many drivers actually move off a bit to let me through when it's all clogged up for them, as unbelievable as that sounds.

So I choose the bike, because in the car I was feeling stuck. Some people can just sit there and listen to classical music while the traffic is moving at a snail's pace, but I would feel trapped and get depressed if I had to do it again.

 

[CafeRay]

Whenever I read people complaining about their long commutes, I don't know if I should laugh or weep. If someone spends over an hour a day stuck in traffic, they should seriously consider moving or changing jobs.

I've always found housing the same way my whole life, draw a 8-10km circle around work and find a place within that. In the long run, it saves >$100,000 and life is much better not sitting on a road staring at brake lights and being threatened by idiots.

But, there are SO MANY types that live in Ajax, work in Mississauga or Oakville, or vice versa. These are the people crying on the 6 o'clock news when gas prices go up 5 cents, and they typically buy the biggest POS you can get. They work for their commute.

 

[unL33T]

I've always found housing the same way my whole life, draw a 8-10km circle around work and find a place within that. In the long run, it saves >$100,000 and life is much better not sitting on a road staring at brake lights and being threatened by idiots.

But, there are SO MANY types that live in Ajax, work in Mississauga or Oakville, or vice versa. These are the people crying on the 6 o'clock news when gas prices go up 5 cents, and they typically buy the biggest POS you can get. They work for their commute.

I live away from work because I don't want to live near an airport and I like the fact that my whole life isn't centralized in one place. I like to be in different areas all the time.

Then again, I'm in the Yukon right now. That's quite the commute from Toronto. Didn't ride here.

 

[Phelan]

if you guys are commuting on motorcycles just get scooters instead...cheaper on gas and insurance...that's what they are DESIGNED for...just my rant...if it must be a bike...just get a honda nc 700x and you got built in storage and a bike NO ONE is going to steal as it's got no performance value to it.

 

[lator-illa]

if you guys are commuting on motorcycles just get scooters instead...cheaper on gas and insurance...that's what they are DESIGNED for...just my rant...if it must be a bike...just get a honda nc 700x and you got built in storage and a bike NO ONE is going to steal as it's got no performance value to it.

I'd rather not commute with a scooter especially if the DVP is part of the trek.

 

[unL33T]

I'd rather not commute with a scooter especially if the DVP is part of the trek.

You can get 650cc scooters that go pretty good.

 

[Mongrel]

I think he's more worried about being stuck behind a lot of open exhausts - even a one-legged great-grandpa on a bicycle with flat tires ought to be able to keep up with the average speed of the DVP.

 

[elton_t]

Question for you commuters

if you have enough money say $15000 would you choose to buy a used s1000rr or a used bmw 3 series (323)? The condition is you can only choose one to have and will be your only automobile in the house.

 

[lator-illa]

Question for you commuters

if you have enough money say $15000 would you choose to buy a used s1000rr or a used bmw 3 series (323)? The condition is you can only choose one to have and will be your only automobile in the house.

That all depends if you need to drive all year long. In that case, then it's a no-brainer and i'd go with a car. Otherwise if you can take the bus half of the year, and you have other means to lug things around, then get the bike.

And get a 650cc scooter? lol. I don't mind having a SS for a commuter. At least it can do double duty when the time comes.

 

[Sunspark]

Some of us have to live outside Toronto because we can't afford the price of housing inside it as it has been driven way up by foreign speculators that for some reason are allowed to own real estate without being resident or a citizen. Also not willing to live in some insect infested south Asian 50 year old apartment building.

Quitting and getting a better job isn't always easy if they have all gotten together and decided that the rate in the market is X.

And this is why unions are a good thing kids.

(Not in a union.)

 

[mimico_polak]

Question for you commuters

if you have enough money say $15000 would you choose to buy a used s1000rr or a used bmw 3 series (323)? The condition is you can only choose one to have and will be your only automobile in the house.

For me it's a no brainer. Car. It's a 4 season vehicle, you can have passengers in it, groceries are easy, everything is easier. For $15k you can get a lot of nice cars which would be a fun drive.

 

[Alamode]

if you guys are commuting on motorcycles just get scooters instead...cheaper on gas and insurance...that's what they are DESIGNED for...just my rant...if it must be a bike...just get a honda nc 700x and you got built in storage and a bike NO ONE is going to steal as it's got no performance value to it.

Cars were designed for commuting.

I ride every day because I love riding. I don't give a horses hair about fuel economy, carbon footprints, maintenance cost or any of the nonsense cited as a reason to commute by motorcycle. I don't care if I get stuck in traffic, have nothing but long straight roads on the way to work, or have to slab it the entire way. I'd rather be on my bike than in my car any day of the week. If I'm going to ride, I'm going to ride what I want to ride, regardless of how much sense it makes to anyone else.

Now if only we could figure out a way to make it not snow...

 

[mimico_polak]

Now if only we could figure out a way to make it not snow...

Moving to Australia? Or anywhere where it doesn't snow!

 

[Jayv]

I've always found housing the same way my whole life, draw a 8-10km circle around work and find a place within that. In the long run, it saves >$100,000 and life is much better not sitting on a road staring at brake lights and being threatened by idiots.

But, there are SO MANY types that live in Ajax, work in Mississauga or Oakville, or vice versa. These are the people crying on the 6 o'clock news when gas prices go up 5 cents, and they typically buy the biggest POS you can get. They work for their commute.

Different strokes for different folks. I actually enjoy my daily commute, i have worked and lived in the same town before and hated my five minute commute.

After riding the bike back and forth from work i no longer feel the need to go back out for a ride later in the day, like so many others do probably yourself included . So my free time is now is your riding time as you 8-10km circle guys are out there trying to ride in the evening.

 

[Dr.Manhattan]

if you guys are commuting on motorcycles just get scooters instead...cheaper on gas and insurance...that's what they are DESIGNED for...just my rant...if it must be a bike...just get a honda nc 700x and you got built in storage and a bike NO ONE is going to steal as it's got no performance value to it.

Scooter on the Death Valley Parkway lol. I'd have better chances running through a russian mine field.

 

[sunny_pines]

Different strokes for different folks. I actually enjoy my daily commute, i have worked and lived in the same town before and hated my five minute commute.

After riding the bike back and forth from work i no longer feel the need to go back out for a ride later in the day, like so many others do probably yourself included . So my free time is now is your riding time as you 8-10km circle guys are out there trying to ride in the evening.

Different strokes indeed. Personally, I have never met a person with a 1+ hour commute that claimed to enjoy it. Sure, it's different on a bike, and I can sort of understand it from that point of view, but when the weather gets colder, long commutes become a lot more taxing with an exposed vehicle like a motorcycle. Do you commute on a bike all year long, or take the car in the winter? Do you still enjoy then?

 

[Jayv]

Having the right gear makes a big difference, heated gear extends the season. My commute can be as much as 90 minutes each way, why do i commute so far, i work for a good company with good employees, they treat me well and i know the grass isn't any greener on a workplace closer to my home. For me a minute in the car as opposed to a minute on the bike is a minute wasted. But as i said, it's different strokes.

 

[ZX600]

Different strokes indeed. Personally, I have never met a person with a 1+ hour commute that claimed to enjoy it.

Hello, you just meet another one right here. From Brooklin to Downtown and back every day

 

[lator-illa]

Hello, you just meet another one right here. From Brooklin to Downtown and back every day

My in-laws live in Brooklin. I can't imagine the type of route you take to get to downtown. I'm guessing a route (not dvp) to 407? With traffic and all, i'm guessing it's close to almost 2 hours one way.

 

[Jayv]

407 to 404, HOV lanes all the way down.

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