Reply to: Motorbike Rider

[beaker]

I just wear my waterproof trousers at work. Sometimes a balaklava too. No one seems to mind.

I don't have a bike though...

[To BI or not to BI?]

Yeah, I got back exactly what I paid for it. My laptop was strapped on the back...so that was also pooped beyond repair...

Now, the missus says "it's a bike or me"...god, I would miss her though!!

well, that's an easy question to answer, then... when is your next ride (on the bike, not the missus....)?

[daviejones]

ahh...

Well at least you got the insurance back on it (not for the servicing and tyres tho' obv...)

[memo to self: once in the hole, stop digging...]

Yeah, I got back exactly what I paid for it. My laptop was strapped on the back...so that was also pooped beyond repair...

Now, the missus says "it's a bike or me"...god, I would miss her though!!

[cojak]

ahh...

Well at least you got the insurance back on it (not for the servicing and tyres tho' obv...)

[memo to self: once in the hole, stop digging...]

[daviejones]

Got it sold tho'!

Did you tell the sucker punter who bought it from you about the 'undocumented feature'?

No, I was driving to work one morning when a JCB pulled out of a small opening on the left. I went straight into it...both bike and myslef were well n truly fubar'd...

What made me laugh (much later) was that I had just had the bike serviced, put 2 new tyres on and a full tank of fuel. 20 mins later, the bike was a wreck and I was on my way to A&E...

[cojak]

I never did get that fixed...

Got it sold tho'!

Did you tell the sucker punter who bought it from you about the 'undocumented feature'?

[daviejones]

Waterproof trousers over your suit trousers. I have a cheap £25 pair that works well.
Suit jacket in topbox or tank bag along with shoes and bowler hat.
Umbrella strapped to seat.

I've commuted like that (sans bowler hat and umbrella) for 150 mile round trips for a contract in winter on a bike with no fairing (fairing is for pussies). There's nothing quite like turning off the motorway after running through mist at 110mph only to discover that wind chill has caused all the mist to freeze onto you and you look like Han Solo in his carbonite phase.

K

HAHA. I had a 2000 ZX(, and when I bought it I found that it suffered from a thing called carb icing. This made the bike cut out on the motorway when the carbs iced up. This was kinda awkward when in the fast lane in January on the M25...having to glide over to the hard shoulder...I never did get that fixed...

[Keldin]

Waterproof trousers over your suit trousers. I have a cheap £25 pair that works well.
Suit jacket in topbox or tank bag along with shoes and bowler hat.
Umbrella strapped to seat.

I've commuted like that (sans bowler hat and umbrella) for 150 mile round trips for a contract in winter on a bike with no fairing (fairing is for pussies). There's nothing quite like turning off the motorway after running through mist at 110mph only to discover that wind chill has caused all the mist to freeze onto you and you look like Han Solo in his carbonite phase.

K

[bledubd]

Commuting

Bi
Thanks you have been very helpful.

Cheers

[To BI or not to BI?]

Hie,
I would like to commute to work using my motorbike, but I was wondering how I would do it seeing that I have put put a suit and tie in the office.

So is there any amongst you would do commute and if so how do you travel in to the office?

Thanks

p.s. I wouldn't mind any pointers on what to wear during this chilly weather.

Hi bd

What motorbike do you have? Does it offer good protection from the weather? What kind of commuting are we talking about?

I use the motorbike all year round and I have been commuting in town or even going up and down motorways regularly. The secret is to have a range of motorbike clothes and overalls to suit every need and season as you don't want to be cold but also don't want to sweat when it gets warmer. When I am in town I use a waterproof jacket to wear on top of my suit jacket and waterproof overtrousers when it rains (like the ones you can buy at any outdoor shops, but make sure that they are 100% waterproof and breathable, with materials like Goretex). If on a motorway trip I use a proper fabric motorbike jacket (with protections and antiabrasive material) and either proper motorbike trousers or lined overtrousers on top of my suit trousers (make sure you get a big enough size to slip over the suit trousers without creasing them too much). If I need to, I put the suit jacket (or even the whole suit and shirt) in the top box and then get changed once I get to the client's office.

Re: chilly weather, have a look at the gerbing website (http://www.gerbing.eu/index.pl/motorcycle_uk). I bought a heated jacket (to go under the motorbike jacket) and it works a treat without costing you an arm and a leg, even when the temperature drops to negative values. I would strongly recommend to find a stockist and try the clothing on rather than ordering online. Heated grips are also very useful and not too expensive to fit. A balaklava or neck warmer are also a good thing to have. Feel free to PM me if you need more advice.

BI

[Troll]

Hie,
I would like to commute to work using my motorbike, but I was wondering how I would do it seeing that I have put put a suit and tie in the office.

Motorcyclists are known as "mobile kidney donors" in A&E depts

[daviejones]

. . . and February, March, April, September, October, November and December.

Keep the bike for recreation and go by car.

The missus will not let me get another bike now..so car it is!!

I kind of want another one but think maybe it is not such a great idea. She would never let me get any peace... women are evil like that!!

[DaveB]

Hie,
I would like to commute to work using my motorbike, but I was wondering how I would do it seeing that I have put put a suit and tie in the office.

So is there any amongst you would do commute and if so how do you travel in to the office?

Thanks

p.s. I wouldn't mind any pointers on what to wear during this chilly weather.

Does the client have changing/showering facilities on site? If so keep your suit in a suit bag at the office and wear civvies + bike gear when traveling and change on site.

[wobbegong]

And it can be damn cold in January....

. . . and February, March, April, September, October, November and December.

Keep the bike for recreation and go by car.

[daviejones]

Hie,
I would like to commute to work using my motorbike, but I was wondering how I would do it seeing that I have put put a suit and tie in the office.

So is there any amongst you would do commute and if so how do you travel in to the office?

Thanks

p.s. I wouldn't mind any pointers on what to wear during this chilly weather.

I did it up to 2000 when I had my smash. I used to ride from Chelmsford to the city and found it quick but can be pretty tiring, depends on how far you travel I suppose and the size of the bike. Getting a ZX9 through the slow moving traffic in the City is hard work and by the time you get to work your suit is kinda crumpled...

And it can be damn cold in January....