Topic: Going to Start Commuting

[nccb]

After several years of commuting with my 2003 Explorer, I broke down (not the explorer) and am going to rack the mileage up on the 750 to save some money in gas.  Explorer gets about 20 mpg and I commute about 90 miles a day.  It will be great because I get to ride the bike more, but I am thinking this bike may eat up the extra cost in oil changes and tires.  For those that commute on the regular, what are your average expenditures monthly/annually?  My wife and I figured we would save approx. $130 a month assuming I am able to ride every day (4 day weeks).  Just went out and bought a Bilt rain suit and am going to start tomorrow.

[nccb]

BTW, this is just rain gear that you pull over your clothes so more like a very thick wind breaker type material.  I got it from cycle gear and if anyone else is in need of some, the pants were on sale for 8 dollars 

[DavePhipps]

I  was doing 50 miles a day back in Washington state and I went through a set of tires a year. Other than that changed oil every three months. It was way cheaper than car or bus for me.

[nccb]

Hmm, I may need to look into some higher mileage tires.  I had some 404's on it prior and they only lasted 3k (that is generous).  The front is still good and prob pushing close to 6k and I have a Shinko on the year as a test.  I will be doing 400 miles a week at the max if whether is permitting so I was worried I would have to replace the rear tire every other month. 

[transpomgr]

High mileage tires.

I've been commuting for a year barring a few days of iced roads about 30 miles round trip and while I haven't done the math, my credit card statement is going down quickly. I ride an '07 vstrom 1000 daily at about 37mpg. My 97 f150 4x4 gets about 14mpg if I really try, so the savings are pretty substantial. Oil changes are cheaper, and I run some sort of Shinko "cruiser" tires that are supposed to be high mileage but are only about 2000 miles old so I can't tell how long they'll last. They are fine enough in the rain and sticky enough for me.

[eigenvector]

I commute every single day on my Triumph Tiger, 80 miles round-trip.  I run on a set of Pilot Road 3's and get about 15,000 miles on them before I need to replace them.  I get a very consistent 42 mpg, with most of that eaten up when I hit bumper to bumper traffic.

I think they're (Pilot Road 3's) great, they handle rain quite well and do pretty good in cornering.  I could endure having to commute to work in my pickup - it would eat me alive.  To motorcycle, especially after a hard day, is rejuvenating.

[goldarrow]

i do commute 95 miles a day, 5 days a week, and about 10 months a year.  i don't ride in rain or extreme cold below 50 degrees F or extreme heat higher than 100 degrees F.  i get about  high 38 mpg on my bikes both 750 and 550.  if i were to drive my Honda Element, i get about 23 mpg.  i don't follow strict oil change schedule on my bikes, may be about 2000/2500 miles per oil change.  i have 4 bikes to ride and take turn commuting on them, so that i don't rack up so much mileage.  all in all, money saving on gas is there, considering maintenance expenses, ie. registration, insurance gas, oil change, chains, tires, etc. as compare to driving.  math breakdown will give you snapshot of your situation

[flybox1]

how about a sm/med sized fairing to shelter you a bit.
day in and day out you might appreciate it.

[nccb]

i have 4 bikes to ride and take turn commuting on them, so that i don't rack up so much mileage.  all in all, money saving on gas is there, considering maintenance expenses, ie. registration, insurance gas, oil change, chains, tires, etc. as compare to driving. 

SO what I am hearing from you is to buy more bikes. . . Great! I'll let the wife now   I have been keeping a log so I will see if this is a benefit from the explorer or if it factors to about the same costs. 

[goldarrow]

i have 4 bikes to ride and take turn commuting on them, so that i don't rack up so much mileage.  all in all, money saving on gas is there, considering maintenance expenses, ie. registration, insurance gas, oil change, chains, tires, etc. as compare to driving. 

SO what I am hearing from you is to buy more bikes. . . Great! I'll let the wife now   I have been keeping a log so I will see if this is a benefit from the explorer or if it factors to about the same costs.

more than one bike is great, in case one has to be parked, then you can keep the other one going.  but yeah.  if racking miles is of no concern, that's about 20k miles a year.  most of these bikes found have about 20k miles over 40 years time!  yeah i think we put them into a really good use

[nccb]

yeah, my commute would be roughly 20k if i could ride every day.  maybe that is to much.

[mono]

For what it's worth, I've put 2500 on my Avon roadriders and they still look nearly new...