[Closed] Motorbike for 550mile motorway trips?

(a) The very worst vehicle to use on a motorway is a motorbike. Lack of space, vibration, noise, lack of crash protection, you get frozen in winter and baked in summer

(b) You'll never get 85mpg - 55mpg might be more realistic

(c) The servicing, tyre and insurance costs are far higher than you'd think

(d) It's soul-destroyingly awful when you set off for a 300 mile ride in the dark, at -3C. I've done long-range motorcycle commuting through the winter (70 miles each way on a daily basis) and I'd never do it again.

If I had to do those miles on a motor bike, I'd buy get an ex-police Honda Pan European....

Triumph Sprint ST? Hugely comfortable, fast and around 50MPG at motorway speeds. Also, most of them will have hard panniers which detach easily and don't make the bike unstable at speed.

As per the previous poster, I wouldn't recommend it...

But if I was to - did a 100 mile round trip commute pretty much every day last year on a Triumph Sprint GT. Safest and best bike I've ever had for the job.

Fuel - 60mpg (ridden hard)
Servicing, tyres, pads - £1500 (Dealer as it was new and I was busy)

22ppm running costs all in

Have a look at what those "iron butt challenge" types use.

Sounds like hell, frankly.

Why not buy a cheap small car ? And drive slower, I was amazed how much stepping off the gas to 50mph on my commute helped fuel economy.

Fly/train/coach???

I'd use a pre vtec VFR800.

I [i]think[/i] you'd be looking around a 1998 to 2001 model.

Very comfy and reliable but without the size and weight of a full blown tourer like a Pan.

Fun off the motorway as well.

small cheap car is defo the way to go.. long motorway miles on a bike are not a stroll in the park. you ll not get 85mpg in your dreams, you ll need decent riding gear have no stowage small cheap car.. nissan micra..

I wouldn't do it on a regular basis
I sometimes jump on a bike for long motorway blasts but wouldn't like to be tied to it

It's never going to be as comfortable as a car so it'll become a pain especially the build up to returning on a Sunday evening

A long, long time ago, I used to commute London-Edinburgh and back every 3rd weekend on a bike. I never found comfort an issue and it was great being able to skip past the inevitable M6 snarl-ups on the way home on a Friday evening. It was just a basic Suzuki 750, with a decent fairing, so almost any 600+ cc bike of today would have more power.

I wouldn't expect 85mpg though, unless there has been some massive shift in technology.

I guess you'd still have the car for the winter?

What mpg are you getting in your car?

a) only needs to be useable untill September so weather protection not an issue.

b) quite a few reviews mention 80-85 from the F650.

c) insurance on the f650 is £380 for 5000 miles, adding 5000 onto the car's policy is £300. And the car needs serviceing as well so most of those costs are going to be encountered whether I get a bike or not. And saving £50/trip will soon add up (assuming 85mpg Vs 40-45 at the moment).

d) Used to do 20 miles (each way) ona moped, with no heated grips, I'll survive, and there is nothing more soul destroying than the interior of a basic spec ford focus!

Don't really need panniers etc, I've go the car if I actualy want/need more than a pair of clean underpants.

What mpg are you getting in your car?

40-45 depends how much I like stareing at the phone numbers on the back of the lories.

Fly/train/coach???

F800ST.

As said though, it's a pretty miserable way to travel and for the price of one of those you could get a small car with a little, very efficient diesel engine (say, Polo Bluemotion or similar).

i love bikes, but i wouldnt replace a car to do that sort of distance on one.
if i had to do it by bike, it would be a honda pan european though.
small diesel car would be much better on fuel imo, peugeot 106? nice soft suspension.

[url= http://www.dieselmotorfiets.nl/ ]You want one of these then.[/url]

After 10 years of weekly commuting from Portsmouth to Plymouth I'd had enough of the Winter period over the last couple of years and bought a cheap, small car. To be honest the costs are about the same for my Peugeot 205 diesel (it is a heap though) compared to my 1200 Bandit (not the best on fuel and the Summer months do encourage a heavy wrist).
If you keep your car and add the cost of a motorbike on to it, you would have to save a hell of a lot on fuel to make up the difference.
I don't know if you ride already but I personally love it and yet wiping the Winter ice off my seat in the pitch black to head out and do battle with lorries on a fast narrow A Road has lost its lustre.

40-45 depends how much I like stareing at the phone numbers on the back of the lories

Wouldn't be too hard to get 70-odd out of a cheap car driving at 56mph.

Wouldn't be too hard to get 70-odd out of a cheap car driving at 56mph.

True, but I already have 2 cars,

Do people really struggle to get decent mpg from bikes? My dad reckons he gets 50+ from his 1200 sportster, and the engine for that appears in the doomsday book (both for being big enough to be notweorthy in a book and for being agricultural and basic when compared to a donkey).

Do people really struggle to get decent mpg from bikes?

I've been riding bikes of all sizes for the last 30 years or so and I can honestly say that mpg was never something I've ever measured or cared about.
I once had a 500 Kawasaki though that would empty it's tank in about an hour 🙂

My dad reckons he gets 50+ from his 1200 sportster

Yeah but with that lump you can actually count the revs in your head - something like 1 every other lamp-post

[i]Do people really struggle to get decent mpg from bikes? My dad reckons he gets 50+ from his 1200 sportster[/i]

Probably, but he'll never go above 50mph...

[i]b) quite a few reviews mention 80-85 from the F650.[/i]

An F650 is a single..., one thing you don't want in a long distance m/c, is one cylinder - plus been a single it will destroy chains/cogs in no time at all.

But don't listen to everyone who's suggested its a bad idea, try it - you never know, we could ALL be wrong 🙂

So what you're saying is, you want a motorbike and you want us to help you justify it on grounds of economy? 🙂

"So what you're saying is, you want a motorbike and you want us to justify it [b][i]to your girlfriend[/b][/i] on grounds of economy?"

FTFY

My mum gets 100mpg from her Matchless cruising at 55mph all day. Progress?
It wouldn't be my choice as its rigid.

Here's something 'odd' (for those suggesting getting a smaller more economical car)

Brother in law's 155,000 mile golf TDI (for sale) is worth more than my 45,000 mile focus 😕

So what you're saying is, you want a motorbike and you want us to justify it to your girlfriend on grounds of economy?

😆

you need to factor in the fun element to. Riding two wheels is generally a lot more fun than four, weather permitting of course. Look at cheap Yam Diversion 900. Cheap and simple 8 valve, aircool shaftdrive tourer. Cheap as chips. As mentioned old Honda Pan Euro is hard to beat.

I've got a Smart CDi, I've had it from new and its averaged 67.3 mpg over 27000 miles its zero rated for tax and the insurance is around £200 fully comp. On a long run like you're talking about I'd expect 70/75mpg.
I've also got a KTM Duke 690, that does 55mpg but I've had it down in the 30's when thrashing it.
It's your choice but sitting in an air conditioned car listening to the radio or sitting outside in the cold and wet getting sprayed with crap every time you pass a lorry!!

Wont work pay for the extra costs associated with being at a temporary work place?

you need to factor in the fun element to. Riding two wheels is generally a lot more fun than four, weather permitting of course.

Commuting up and down a motorway, though, is generally better in a car. And that kind of distance is much, much worse on a bike.

[i]Wont work pay for the extra costs associated with being at a temporary work place? [/i]

And if they won't you could at least get your 'tax' back on the mileage.

Each to their own really but heres my take,

ZZR 1100, £94 insurance, 240 miles tank range, 1993 vintage with 95K miles. Changed the sprockets to lengthen the gearing. Very comfy, big screen too. Have done 1000 mile days on this bike.

It may save ages of time on the motorway skipping queues. Dry bag on teh seat for kit, helmet wired for radio and phone....

I would do it on this bike.

Any possibility of nipping off the motorway every now and then and finding a nice A road with some actual bends in it?
500 miles on a motorway sounds like hell, especially in winter 😥
I'd always avoid the motorway on my (admittedly small 50 miles each way by comparison) commute, just for entertainment! It'd only add about 20 mins to my journey- time well spent.
Mind you i was riding a ZXR....... (which i dont recommend for fuel economy by the way) 😆

Wont work pay for the extra costs associated with being at a temporary work place?

And if they won't you could at least get your 'tax' back on the mileage.

They pay some, but not all of the miles (apparently they have no friends/family they'd want to see more than once a month, so pay for one trip). As I bought this car pretty much for doing 'work' miles, could I claim tax back on the ballance of the miles? Even at 0.2*.45 = ~8p/mile that would at least pay for half the petrol.

Any accountants in the house?

[i]could I claim tax back on the ballance of the miles? Even at 0.2*.45 = ~8p/mile that would at least pay for half the petrol.[/i]

Yes, which is why I asked.

All you need to do is submit a letter (or its actually on the self-assessment form) and put in business miles done vs cash payment from employer - HMRC then work out what you are owed.

Edit - for the last 7 years if I remember correctly

I would use a car.

The concentration/awareness, lack of comfort, and noise, would leave you absolutely knackered after 550 miles.

Sweet, that's probably a big chunk of miles!

Time to get scribbling a letter to HMRC.

As it's a temporary work place, I THINK you should also be able to claim the commute miles from temporary accommodation to temporary work place too - you need to speak to an accountant!

[tannoy] craigxxl to the forum please [/tannoy]

Holy cow. 550 miles would be miserable in a f'ing 7 series Beemer, let alone on a motorbike!

Holy cow. 550 miles would be miserable in a f'ing 7 series Beemer, let alone on a motorbike!

I take it that's the round trip - 275miles Friday and then the same Sunday

...miserable.

I had a 600 fazer the best that did on a run was about 45 ridden like a girl .Tyres sprockets and chains aint cheap neither is protective clothing.Why is your car insurer wanting 300 quid to add a few miles onto the policy ?.A cheap diesel runabout would do 60 to the gallon even my old non turbo diesel golf does 48 on a run the turbo diesel does loads more and they are peanuts to buy now.

Car every single time if it was just a commute; that is unless you enjoy being miserable? Oh and if you up the speed to where the journey becomes interesting or worth doing time wise, you'll wee blood for two days afterwards, especially on a Bandit - well I did anyway on a 600 mile trip to Wales and Back in 12 hours. As for the economy, again it doesn't work out. You could easily trash a rear tyre in a single week at those mileages. My longest commute was only Reigate to Reading but it was awful, especially on colder days where once at my destination it'd take two hours to warm up again. And if you actually do the maths properly the train is usually cheaper. Over that kind of distance a car would either win or be about five minutes behind.

On the plus side you'll always have a story to tell if you did do it.

I posted something before which somehow got eaten by the forum.

Long story short, I did a spreadsheet and on the basis of your mileage, and assuming 40mpg car/60mpg bike, and adjusting for service costs, tyres, chain/sprocket/fuel, I got to a running cost of around 21ppm for the car, 22ppm for the bike.

Essentially there's almost no cost differential. Note that I've ignored depreciation and replacement costs; bikes don't wear their miles as well as cars.

You'd do better just to slow down and try to get another 5-10mpg from your car. 5mpg would save you £500 per year

I forgot about tyres, the KTM does a round 1000 miles to a back tyre, (£140 to replace) the Smart is still on the original tyres from new (27000 miles).

Don't do it! If you must - Deauville.

I commute (not that far though) on a 1250 Bandit.

Mine is unfaired and get about 60mpg riding in an enthusiastic way. Fairing and riding at more legal speeds.will be a lot more economical.

Insurance is £98 TPFT.
I change rear tyres every 8k front every 12k
Service once a year is about £150 with a local place.
They are cheap to buy new and cheaper still second hand.
I've got a scottoiler and chains seem to last forever

Now the weather is getting nicer it's more fun and I take the train when it's icy.

Also bear in mind that you will need decent gear - Buying cheap is false economy if you're doing lots of miles. This gets quite expensive - I expect to spend £300 to £400 on each of helmet, jacket, trousers and boots plus gloves, balaclava, buffs etc.
A thin quilted gillet is very useful when it get chilly.
You will probably want some sort of Bluetooth headset as well - and a decent one.

If you don't own a lot of this you need to factor it in.
I prefer it to driving, traffic is easier, on a nbice day it's much more fun and you soon get used to the long miles.

D

[thread hijack]

Ride to Welsh twisters on Saturday morning. All welcome.

Check out [url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/super-dooper-spring-motorbike-ride-out-west ]This Thread[/url]

As you were...

[/thread hijack]

...never got more than 5,000 miles from a Bandit 600 rear tyre, and the Scottoler was just a pretty thing to fit; did naff all for the chain 😥 A service for £150 sounds a Billy Bargain - that's DiY cheapness there.

Essentially don't do it for economic reasons, do it because some days it will be fun, and on the bad days you will at least have a tale to tell? The car will never be fun.

20k miles a year for the last 5 years on my 1997 Blackbird.

Commute all year around and in (almost) all weather. Servicing costs are minimal as most can be done at home (it's carb'd rather than injected). I can get between 40 and 45 mpg regardless of how much I ride it (apart from when I've taken it onto a track 8) ). Tyres can last up to 8000 miles if I opt for something multi-compound and not too sticky (faves are Michelin Pilot Road 2 or 3, Dunlop Roadsmart and Avon Storm 2).

There is very little cost difference between this and my car - I do not save money. However, what I do save is time and lots of it!

do it because some days it will be fun, and on the bad days you [s]will at least have a tale to tell?

[b]take the car[/b]

 

[another hijack] What tyres for the Duke Dibbs? Bought a 690SM and it needs a set, ta : ) [/another hijack]

Look at something like a Newish 500 cc twin like the Honda CBF 500 or a Kawasaki ER5, not the most inspiring of rides but will return near 70 mpg.

I have a Suzuki GSR 600, basically a slightly prettier Bandit with a K4 GSXR 600 engine in it.

I get roughly 150 miles to a tank costing £20, although heavy wrist use has seen it empty the tank in 90 miles.

However, what I do save is time and lots of it

However, we are trying to be rational. If you've got it in your blood to buy a bike, then there's your answer; buy the bike and stop prevaricating or worrying about money. It may be more expensive, it may be cheaper but you do need to find out if it's you or not - and only one person can answer that my friend.

One thing; I did 50,000+ miles over five years in all weathers and if I was given the opportunity to either do it again or buy a decent car instead, I'd have gone for a much bigger motorbike. GSX1400 style.

although heavy wrist use has seen it empty the tank in 90 miles

My GF's mother ended up doing a lot of miles, so got a Fiesta Ecodrive does around 84mpg on the motorway with normal driving techniques.

Might be another option

CG125

or a Honda C90

The car will never be fun

I disagree. Cruising along in a nice comfy car, rolling with the traffic, tunes on, latte in the cupholder - I really enjoy it.

Muddy - switching from car to bike for my daily commute meant that my commute time was reduced from 1 to 2 hours each way, to 40 to 45 minutes each way.

Fiesta Ecodrive does around 84mpg on the motorway with normal driving techniques.

Really? Ford only claim 78.5mpg, and when the Telegraph tested it they only got 53mpg.

The super eco models are very sensitive to how they are driven. It's not just a case of driving slowly, there's a whole art in keeping it in the right spot on the map. Some people's driving styles hit it naturally, some are terrible for economy without necessarily being fast.

I get 62mph from the Prius on long trips in summer time, Clarkson claimed 45mpg in the review. The forums are full of people saying 'it's rubbish, I get 45mpg' and others saying 'wtf are you doing I get 60mpg'.

See the recent Honda Civic thread on here for an example.

I think the eco diesels are even more sensitive than either of those cars. Also I remember I think it was the 5th Gear review of the hybrid Auris, he drove a route in London and got 50mpg, then he did the same route again trying to keep it on electricity as long as possible, and got 80mpg.

Well, on a motorway run to my dads, I get about 60mpg max out of a Suzuki SV650s. At 43 with 2y ncd, my insurance fully comp subj to £100 xs was £95, 6m tax was £45 and I don't pay to park anywhere, so it suits me.

It's 300 mile round trip, but to be honest, wimp that I am, after 150 it really enough for a break. 2/5 Hours wizzing along fast quiet A and B roads on an early sunday am in the warm disappears quickly. Same time on mile after mile of the A12 and m25 is soul destroying. I'd recommend for that mileage a proper bike for touring, but they do tend to be bigger//heavier than I'd want for my weekday commute.

How about if it's summer use only, the Ducati ST series tourers? Less "Fashionable than some, but owners seem to love them.

Muddy - switching from car to bike for my daily commute meant that my commute time was reduced from 1 to 2 hours each way, to 40 to 45 minutes each way.

But have you faced the old lady in an underpowered car test? They always win.

An F650 is a single..., one thing you don't want in a long distance m/c, is one cylinder - plus been a single it will destroy chains/cogs in no time at a

actually the newer f650gs's are detuned 800cc twins same as in the F800 gs. The old F650's are singles but do have cush drives so are not too bad on chains. My 1994F650 does 50 mpg easy and i have got over 10k miles from the Avon Roarider tyres. That said i'd rather stick pins in my eyes than go very far on the motorway.

The new G650gs is a modern fuel injected version of the old single and will apparently go round the world on a tank full but wont start when warm. For m'way work i'd want something more substantial.

Any single or twin will leave you vibrating like Michael J Fox for a couple of hours after a 600 mile journey. A decent 600cc+ inline 4 would be my choice. In fact, i'd go for '02-03 Fireblade. Travelling at 170mph it would only take 3.5 hours 😀

even as a biker myself I'd get a smart car, thats a long boring motorway trip and I think the concentration element would get to me on a bike

I wouldnt get a single cyl bike as it will vibrate more, and id prefer something bigger than a 650 myself

Some of the modern BMWs have stupendous mpg figures and are also pretty comfortable places to be. But I get better motorway mpg from my diesel Focus than I did from the bike. Not to mention a roof, warm hands and an MP3 player.

To be fair my bike isn't an ideal motorway milemuncher but still, I'd rather drive a thousand miles than ride 500.

I did some big distances on a R1100GS BM touring round Europe a few years back and the wind buffeting after a few hours was pretty tiring on the motorways (at 100mph+), go for a full fairing bike if possible. I imagine the BM RT would be pretty comfortable and good at knocking out those kind of miles.

If you really want to save cash though, get yourself a diesel car, most diesels will get 50mpg on long journeys if you are light on the gas.

Really? Ford only claim 78.5mpg, and when the Telegraph tested it they only got 53mpg.

That's what it reports on the trip computer, I doubt she did the mpg calculation manually. Which magazine got 62.8mpg for combined driving, as she does a lot of motorway cruising miles at a steady speed (out of rush hour).

Used to ride 300 miles from Cannock to Linwood on a GSXR 600 K1. Hated it when i was on the motorways. Different story when going from Cannock to Betws-y-Coed, Abersoch, Harlech, Fairbourne etc.
Bikes get tedious on motorways - i get bored after about half an hour and have to let it rip, which could get me into some trouble if i was caught.

Now have a K1300s which shows 50 -55mpg with some enthusiastic riding thrown in, wouldn't use it for those distances due to tyre and service costs.