Topic: Commuting on antiques

[Patrick]

My commute is 50 miles per day, five days a week. I have put less than 3,000 miles on my truck since September. The rest was on my bikes. You do the math.

Patrick

[silentone]

I don't even enjoy driving the car now 

I drive the car once a week for family outings and find myself wanting to lean as I turn...

[MJL]

this year I've been riding since it was above 40 degrees.  Last year I didn't touch my car for 3 months straight.

[hapsh]

I commute 16 miles each way on my 71 500/550.  I made it a goal that I would ride as much as possible and at least once a month in the winter months last year.  I ended up riding no less that 3 times a week all through the winter up here in Idaho except for the heavy snow month of Jan.  In January I sadly only rode 5 times, all those times the roads were just clear enough to be safe with snow and ice along the edges and between lanes.  My goal is to get a sidecar so that I can ride even in the snow, but they cost more than I can justify right now.  I love riding my CB because I get compliments every day.  Nobody cares if you have a new R1, CBR1000RR, or a shiney new Harley, those are easy to get -financing.  If you have a vintage SOHC that you have restored with lots of effort it is quite unique on the road.  I could have bought a fairly new sport bike with the amount of money I spent getting my CB running reliable enough for daily commuting, but it was well worth it.

[Hope]

I ride to work when I can.  My ride is 23 miles each way, but the majority of the miles are stop and go.  Baton Rouge traffic SUCKS and I work downtown Baton Rouge.  Plus it is HOT down here.  The stop & go in 95 degree weather is pure torture on my baby... but, sometimes you gotta do it when you just have to ride.

As far as weather goes: I never intentionally set out to ride in the rain, but if it happens to rain while I am riding I keep riding.  I ain't scared...  plus, I don't watch my local news much, so I never really know if it's going to rain unless the skies tell me.

[jgary]

Seven miles one way on my 1976 CB 750, as long as it's 40 degrees or higher when I leave in the morning, with up to 30% chance of rain.  On bad weather days I take the bus.

John.

[smccloud]

Also, I consider it commuting on a classic, not an antique

[Raul CB750K1]

Talk about good timing. I just came from a shopping mall and a guy stops in a.... Hercules DKW engined bike. Only 1800 or so were built.



I asked him whether he used it on a daily basis, and he told me he does. The only problem is that he doesn't find mechanics willing to undertake the task -I could not imagine somebody owning such a rara avis and not doing the maintenance himself-


I don't commute on my classics. I have a cheap, modern bike for that. Sidecovers, badges and emblems are expensive and hard to come by, and the streets are full of souvenir hunters.

[Frrrrunkis]

I've recently started riding my 400 to work every day it isn't going to rain, as I'm not going to spend over $40 a week to fill up the car. 25 miles each way, 4 days a week, and I love it.

[snarferer]

awesome feedback on this.  Anyone strap a sidecar on when its snowing?  I'd love to get one of those Urals with the 2wd sidecar so I could be hardcore and ride in snow and ice. 

[kach_me]

I can't claim to riding everyday rain or shine, but I do ride regularly to work.  It's 22 miles each way, and some of it on the 401, the busiest highway in Canada.  Doing the ton is pretty normal on a daily basis on my 1975 BMW R75/6.

My route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=1641653836940574457,43.644870,-79.456240%3B3703410921976772557,43.634746,-79.439682%3B18176221661265300155,43.631695,-79.431400%3B15138293168539543918,43.630888,-79.417094%3B9096783195548871508,43.638385,-79.392515&saddr=235+Fairview+Ave,+Toronto,+ON,+Canada&daddr=Parkside+Dr+%4043.644870,+-79.456240+to:Lake+Shore+Blvd+W+%4043.634746,+-79.439682+to:Lake+Shore+Blvd+W+%4043.631695,+-79.431400+to:Lake+Shore+Blvd+W+%4043.630888,+-79.417094+to:Lake+Shore+Blvd+W+%4043.638385,+-79.392515+to:43.643281,-79.37562+to:200+Consilium+Pl,+Scarborough,+ON,+Canada&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=14&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&doflg=ptm&sll=43.641479,-79.390039&sspn=0.052548,0.102224&ie=UTF8&ll=43.712805,-79.351158&spn=0.209942,0.408897&z=12

More common these days as yesterday on my way home (actually to a motorcycle parts place ) my 10 year old Civic's engine committed hari-kari.  Seized right up.  It's being replaced (the engine) as we speak.  I take the subway some days as well, but it takes 1 1/4 hours each way.

We know where you live!  Party at Tintin's house!   

[joecool14u2]

yeah ok, it better be a good party, i'm 17 hours away, almost 1000 miles, 231 bledsoe loop franklin georgia, and if i travel the scenic route its more like 26 hours, since i'm on a cb550 it would require a spare rear for me to make that trip straight through, gell pillowtop cloth extreme seat and i'll be ok

[turboguzzi]

only race my sohc but my daily ride, a 1989 GSXR1100 is almost vintage by now. 20 miles each direction almost every day. Only stop at bellow freezing or ice.

TG

[Skonnie Boy]

I remember having a job.  Stupid recession.

I ride a lot now.  Can't really answer calls from prospective employers when I'm riding.  Guess that's why I'm still unemployed. 

Eh, ta' hell with it.

[jmckinne]

Every day, any weather, 21 miles each way. I do that until there is enough snow on the ground to ride one of my sleds in, then I take that

I live in Minnesota but work for long periods in Geneva Switzerland. The guys over there are who taught me that you can ride all year on a mc/scooter because they do. They gear up big time in the cold. Some use a kind of  leather "drape" over their lap and legs (especially on scoots), and big leather "pods" that completely cover the handlebar ends and hands.

In Geneva itself they don't get more than an inch of snow at a time tho and even that is very rare. I know that's not how you think of Switzerland (it freaked me out to learn too) but that's how it is in town. The snow in Switzerland falls up-country and in the hills. Still - pretty impressive that they run all year there, it does get cold.

[tortelvis]

I don't own a car. I ride every day. Rain or shine.
I wish my 350 was up and running with the current gas prices.

+1 I wish my 350 was as well! I'm being forced to ride my Harley every day instead. Living in the mountains I would prefer the Honda for the twisty bits (basically  all of the roads!).

[78 k550]

I ride mine every day.
Is a 75 Goldwing considered an Antique?

Paul

[SOHC Goat]

I ride my '78 750K as much as I can...to work, the gym, visiting my parents...even to the trap range on Thursdays.  I get some funny looks with the shotgun barrel sticking out of my backpack.

With no windshield or fairing, I try to stay out of the rain...in Northeast Ohio, the weather changes every 5 minutes, so sometimes I get caught.  Like someone else mentioned...bikes are for riding.

[SquiglyUpright]

I ride my 78 cb 550k 20 miles to and from work everyday. Of course its summer and its damn hot driving back home in the afternoon

[Chad]

I drive my 360 to work every day that's under 105 (which hasn't been this week at all.)   

[joecool14u2]

try soaking your shirt or a long sleeve jeerze, i like the walmart starter jacket i bought for $9, i soak it put it on over a tee-shirt and blam, i have airconditioning

[Brantley]

I just got the first cage I've had in five years. Its an old Ford pickup. I use it to pick up my friend's bikes.

[Hush]

You guys are sooo lucky, once my 79 650 is on the road it will cut my 57 kilometre daily round trip costs dramatically and make the journey more enjoyable.
Many of the staff at work commute by bike so they had to give them a separate parking area.....yay bikes rock.

[tunker2]

I like riding my bike so much that I drive my 4-year old to school then drive back home and get my 76 CB550 to ride to work. I ran the numbers and am still saving on gas by doing this. Colorado gives me only about 6-7 months/year of decent riding weather so I try to take advantage of it.

[Phxmark123]

Talk about good timing. I just came from a shopping mall and a guy stops in a.... Hercules DKW engined bike. Only 1800 or so were built.



I asked him whether he used it on a daily basis, and he told me he does. The only problem is that he doesn't find mechanics willing to undertake the task -I could not imagine somebody owning such a rara avis and not doing the maintenance himself-


I don't commute on my classics. I have a cheap, modern bike for that. Sidecovers, badges and emblems are expensive and hard to come by, and the streets are full of souvenir hunters.

Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges...lol. Not a badge on my bike and I love watching people walk around it trying to figure out what it it. Only thing is on one of the engine covers it say Honda.
 I just bought my bike for gas mileage purposes. Bought it last week and rode the 18 miles round trip every day(4 day work week this week, 3 next week) Filled it up when I got it and haven't ran out yet. One 45 minute joy ride and a couple around the neighborhood trips in there also. Beat the hell out of the 18 mpg my 97 Cadillac Seville SLS gets.