Who rides every day?

[sclay115]

I'm about to sell my car here to save some money. And I'm wondering who on here either only has their bike, or rides anyways everyday. My father did it when he was my age, and I'm almost looking forward to it, more freedom. What is everyone's thoughts on it?

Steve

[Herr Tod]

I do, no probs so far. I've bought another bike too so I can mod my B4 without having to finish it before the next day.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I am retired now but 88-91 commuted 110 miles round trip every day between Long Beach and Ontario Cali on my Kaw CSR 750. Our first home and 2 kids made it almost necessary gas wise. I stopped commuting once I could afford it, but also because according to the CHP statistically if you commute more then 70,000 miles on a motorcycle in heavy traffic, you will have a major accident and I did have some very close calls and one soft crash toward the end, I racked up just under 80K. That kind of chore riding can spoil riding for fun for quite a while. I didn’t get back to riding until 2004 and now its fun again.
 

[interfuse]

I've never owned a car. I'm not even allowed to drive a car. We've got a stupid graduated licencing system and I never upgraded my car licence. Mostly because I was too busy riding...

That being said, I don't ride to work very often. It takes more time to warm up the bike then it does to walk to work. So the bike is pretty much for pleasure only. In the summer I get out about every other day. Now its cold I get out once a week.

[rolandoc]

i ride to work atleast 3-4 days a week. but it's getting cold and snowy here in michigan

[stormi]

I ride as close to every day as I can.  I own my own business, and use it to see clients in the summer.  Most of my clients ask me where the bike is if I show up in the truck  Usually I tell them I didn't think they'd be impressed if I showed up with their computer strapped to the back seat.

During the summer, I put kms on the truck only when it's miserable outside, if I'm carrying equipment for a client, or we're trailering bikes to the mountains or to a track.

Obviously, I don't ride in the winter.  

I would recommend keeping an inexpensive car for days that the weather is just too nasty, or you don't feel like holding your transportation upright. (Yes, I have days like that here.)  Besides, unless you have really fantastic friends, you will find yourself having to carry something at some point that you can't feasibly or safely carry on the bike.  Having alternate transportation reduces the temptation to try anyway.

Here's another reason,... I don't know if you have a significant other, or plan on having one at some point.  Sometimes, the "gentler" part of the species doesn't want to have our hair messed up before we go somewhere.  ( Not that I would know anything about that.  I haven't been able to get a comb through my hair without serious pain since I started riding. *sigh*)

Besides, nothing stops you from riding everyday AND owning a cage.

[wyntrblue]

i ride every day, or well nearly everyday, i do my shopping on the bike, i even managed to transport my rc plane on the bike (plane has a 3m wingspan) all in all i can see no reason at all to have a car.

[sclay115]

Besides, nothing stops you from riding everyday AND owning a cage.

That is the end plan. But right now, money is getting a little tighter, and I'd like to save the extra cash for a few months, and then get another cage. My g/f has agreed to help me out when she can, i.e. when I wake up for work and it's pouring outside, so that will be a big help. But like I said, I plan on doing it only for a few months, hopefully.

Steve

[speedwaymaniac]

Whenever i go anywhere its almost always on my bike!

Got no choice amongst other things but to me riding is never a chore, i can have as much fun / be as boring as i like on every single journey!

The weather isn't always the nicest part of the journey in a number of cases especially when it's winter, however with that said still can't beat riding a bike!

Only thing i hate is when it gets Icy i either have to drive like a granny on sedatives or catch a bus, which is not very nice. But otherwise nothing normally stops me

[stormi]

That is the end plan. But right now, money is getting a little tighter, and I'd like to save the extra cash for a few months, and then get another cage. My g/f has agreed to help me out when she can, i.e. when I wake up for work and it's pouring outside, so that will be a big help. But like I said, I plan on doing it only for a few months, hopefully.

Steve

Are ya making payments on the cage?  If not, try to find a way to keep it.  Looking for another one can be a real pain.   I'm doing that right now.  Most people don't sell a car cos they like it and it's problem free.  With what you have now, you know what it's problems are, with someone else's problems, you could get some nasty surprises.  (I learned that when I bought the B4)   You might be able to put parking insurance on it, to lower the insurance you pay a month.  ( i.e. theft and fire only, but no liabilty.)

She may have the best intentions, but what if your ride doesn't work with her schedule?  Cab? Bus?  Will that be convenient enough?  Feasible?

[sclay115]

That is the end plan. But right now, money is getting a little tighter, and I'd like to save the extra cash for a few months, and then get another cage. My g/f has agreed to help me out when she can, i.e. when I wake up for work and it's pouring outside, so that will be a big help. But like I said, I plan on doing it only for a few months, hopefully.

Steve

Are ya making payments on the cage?  If not, try to find a way to keep it.  Looking for another one can be a real pain.   I'm doing that right now.  Most people don't sell a car cos they like it and it's problem free.  With what you have now, you know what it's problems are, with someone else's problems, you could get some nasty surprises.  (I learned that when I bought the B4)   You might be able to put parking insurance on it, to lower the insurance you pay a month.  ( i.e. theft and fire only, but no liabilty.)

She may have the best intentions, but what if your ride doesn't work with her schedule?  Cab? Bus?  Will that be convenient enough?  Feasible?

If she can't give me a ride, I'll just tough it out. Bikes are all weather vehicles ya know. I live in florida, so the worst we will get is rain, and I'll be wet. But the car also didn't suit my needs, I need more utility, and a MK2 Gti doesn't suit that bill very well. Looking for a truck in the future. I really don't have a problem finding a car, never really have before, I work at a Dodge dealer, so i intend to buy something like a Dakota, and just make sure it's up to snuff with one of the techs before purchase. So we'll see, if it gets too hard with just the bike, I'll buck up and buy a car sooner than expected. Besides, I think every motorcyclist should do it once, but that's just me(and my pops).

Steve

[stormi]

If she can't give me a ride, I'll just tough it out. Bikes are all weather vehicles ya know. I live in florida, so the worst we will get is rain, and I'll be wet. But the car also didn't suit my needs, I need more utility, and a MK2 Gti doesn't suit that bill very well. Looking for a truck in the future. I really don't have a problem finding a car, never really have before, I work at a Dodge dealer, so i intend to buy something like a Dakota, and just make sure it's up to snuff with one of the techs before purchase. So we'll see, if it gets too hard with just the bike, I'll buck up and buy a car sooner than expected. Besides, I think every motorcyclist should do it once, but that's just me(and my pops).

Steve

I dunno about -all- weather,.. try it out in January In Edmonton.  

I hear ya about suiting the needs.  I have a Ranger right now, but the lease is almost up, and I'm turning it in with 47K kms on a 60K lease.   Needless to say I didn't drive it as much as I thought I would.  So I paid a lot of money to have it sit in the driveway.  

We've been contemplating which vehicle to replace it with, but GM discontinued the only car I ever liked, so now it's all a compromise.  In fact, my dad used to lease cars, so we're going to play a game with him.  He gets to play used car salesman of a lot that sells every make ever made, and suggest cars (or trucks, SUVs) to me, and overcome my objections til we find the one I want.  Hopefully that will make it easier to figure out what I am willing to compromise on.  (I'm a tough one though, I insist on rear wheel drive, I want something with decent performance, and prefer a standard, so it will make the search harder.)

I didn't realise you worked at a Dealer,.. that helps.  Especially cos in some cases, you'll get first pick at some of the trade ins.  Sometimes they can go for a really good deal.

[sclay115]

Haha, yeah I lived in NY for 12 years, so I know how winter can get. And yeah, all year round riding? Nope. But sunny central florida, even in the rainy it only rains for about 15 mins then stops. But the winter here is usually very dry.

Well I'm a parts guy at the dealership, and pretty close knit with the techs, so they will help me out with getting things fixed, and giving the car a once over before purchase. Makes it real nice.

Steve

[Coopz]

I ride every day. (well, when the bike is working, that is!)

I'd say if you have a decent set of waterproofs, you shouldn't find much problem with it. I keep misplacing my waterproof trousers, and arriving everywhere with my jeans soaked through isn't fun.

Buying a set of waterproofs will definately work ou cheaper than trying to keep on the car. Good luck with wwhatever you decide to do!

[Farre]

yup, every day rider. 80km's every weekday. Winter is a real pain, i'm having problems always with numb fingers, no matter which gloves i buy.
About the bike on slippery, icy roads i can say i'm surprised it's keeping so well! Compared to the NX250 i used to own, the B4 is much more stable, it won't lose traction the second you go for a curve.