commuters

[slammer]

I've posted some but let me introduce myself. I've been driving bikes since I was 14 yrs old and have owned several cruisers, a nitehawk, and a goldwing. I still own a VStar cruiser and a 1500 goldwing but the wings going to be sold. a week or so back I bought an 1100RT after spending many years admiring the spartan beauty of the BMW bikes, I'm not familiar with the BMW community as a whole but I have noted yall are into camping which I love and can't hardly get my other biker friends to do (perhaps with the economy going into the tank that may change)

 

anyway, just a query from you all as to how many of you guys are commuting daily to work. I've been doing this for much of the year for about 5 years now. Not 100%, This week for instance I have a head cold I'm trying to kick so I'm caging it, but hopefully next week I'll get back to it. My commute is 60 miles round trip and 100% interstate

[blkvelvt]

I commute via lane sharing (splitting) in Los Angeles everyday. Our freeways range from stopped dead bumper to bumper and/or 85 mph nose to tail cagers on cell phones. Love the RT for it. Minimum daily miles is 50 roundtrip. It's a 25 minute ride or 60 minutes in a cage.

[Woodie]

commute from March-December, and sometimes longer.

 

17 miles each way, mostly freeway/parking lot. Usually 3 days/week.

 

I really enjoy camping, however I usually have company (my son) when I go, so motorcycle camping is pretty infrequent.

[Whip]

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I was cageless for over a year.

 

Just got a truck and took it to work today. I feel like I'm missin somethin or did somethin wrong.....I even a little guilty.

 

Whip

[Albert]

Welcome Slammer. I'm a pretty frequent commuter too, although there's a few months of the year up here that it's not an option. As for camping, well yeah some people around here are into it. I however, only camp where the neon shines brightly.

[smiller]

Commute on the bike year-round, only thing that stops me is ice or very severe thunderstorms.

 

 

[Baja 65]

I commute about 4 to 5 days a week, but it is only

about 8 to 10 miles mostly freeway and the only thing

that stops me is the monsoons that come in the summer.

[T__]

I've posted some but let me introduce myself. I've been driving bikes since I was 14 yrs old and have owned several cruisers, a nitehawk, and a goldwing. I still own a VStar cruiser and a 1500 goldwing but the wings going to be sold. a week or so back I bought an 1100RT after spending many years admiring the spartan beauty of the BMW bikes, I'm not familiar with the BMW community as a whole but I have noted yall are into camping which I love and can't hardly get my other biker friends to do (perhaps with the economy going into the tank that may change)

 

anyway, just a query from you all as to how many of you guys are commuting daily to work. I've been doing this for much of the year for about 5 years now. Not 100%, This week for instance I have a head cold I'm trying to kick so I'm caging it, but hopefully next week I'll get back to it. My commute is 60 miles round trip and 100% interstate

 

 

 

slammer, welcome to the BMW world.. Lots of good people here & in the BMW community..

 

As far as camping goes (especially motorcycle camping) I am an old fart & motorcycle camp a lot.. It’s not the camping out that interests me so much as the actual camp life at motorcycle events.. I sure do like the late night camp fire b/s sessions,, the practical jokes,, the good hearted ribbing,, the no need to ride anywhere after adult beverages are consumed,, the getting up at dawn to make coffee,, I don’t care for the lack of sound deadening in tents though as snoring & farting 3 tents away sure does travel without losing any volume..

Up here in Michigan we tend to camp late into the season so getting up with ice on the tent & a frost covered motorcycles are common in the late season.. Most of the state parks are closed up here now so that limits the camping somewhat but we still sneak some late season travels & camping in.. Ever had your pee bottle freeze even when inside the tent with you? If not, try late season camping in Michigan..

 

Twisty

 

 

 

[randy]

i commute every day of the year. Basically started in March 2000 and have been doing so every day since then. Live in Atlanta, GA and I can basically commute year round. Bike has over 100,000K on it, and it starts and runs perfect. My commute is 20 miles one way, and is a mixture of some neighborhoods and main roadways. As of Sept 1, 2008 I no longer commute via the highway. From 2000 - 2008 I was all highway. Changed jobs in Sept and my commute is the same mileage, but very different route.

 

I do not camp in the way that I take gear along, but I love the KOA "cabins" Just a bed and dry room, in most cases you bring your own linens.

 

For the most part other than commuting, I have given up street riding. I have a track bike, and an off road bike that is what I do on the weekends. Only street riding this year, was BRR (2) and UnRally. I think maybe 3 trips up to the GA mountains. So for all of 2008 maybe 6 rides other than commuting.

 

 

 

[OoPEZoO]

Welcome

 

I'm a year round commuter......~120 miles a day round trip. I tend to take the highway to work and the backraods home. About the only thing that keeps me off the bike is ice, snow, and the occational hangover. I try to ride as much as I can, but every once in a while I just need a break and take the cage.

[baggerchris]

Welcome Slammer. You have found a very nice place.

 

I commute 15 miles each way down a beautiful winding road called "Mountain Ranch Road", each day from Feb. to the end of daylight savings time. I found that this particular road is rife with so many mangy Deer just waiting to jump out and kill the unsuspecting motorcyclist, that it was no longer any fun at all to keep doing after it got dark, on a daily basis.

 

Have fun here. It is full of wonderful, nice Characters that have an immense amount of knowledge to share.

[Husker Red]

Welcome Slammer,

 

I commute most days unless it's raining in the morning.

 

We also enjoy camping, but that's usually done with the Jeep off fire roads in the mountains.

 

Welcome to the fold,

 

Mike

 

[Mister Tee]

I usually commute 3-4 times a week, unless it's raining. My commute is up to 200 miles a day, round trip. Most of it is freeway, but I'll occasionally take a back mountain road when I can to avoid traffic and have a little fun.

[Nice n Easy Rider]

I commute most days unless I know it will be raining hard, snowing, or likelihood of black ice. It is about 9 miles on back country roads. Major threats are deer and unmarked bicyclists. Ride in (~ 7AM)is low traffic but ride home (4-6 PM) can be quite busy with frequent stops. In good weather I'll often take the long (25 mile), scenic route home for obvious reasons.

[moshe_levy]

I commute as well - a great way to relieve stress before and after work. My old commute of 105 miles per day is now a mere 60, and the RT is still going strong!

 

-MKL

[Motorrad4fun]

Welcome,

I ride to work 2 to 3 days a week.

No camping yey, however my son will be ready for it by next summer.....

[John in VA]

Year-round daily commuter except in downpours or snow/ice. About 5 miles each way, 4 of it on Interstate HOV lanes, the rest in-town. 15 minutes total. It makes my day --- so much so that I wish my commute was longer.

[Tapatio]

5 days a week weather permitting. I'm not a big fan of riding in the rain, too much hassle with gear and such. Luckily Southern California has good weather all year round. I look forward to commuting on a motorcycle and I dread commuting in a cage. I often look at all the poor saps sitting in traffic and wonder why more people don't ride motorcycles. I blame wives and mothers for "motorcycle paranoia". Luckily my wife understands my obsession and hatred of sitting in traffic.

[scaudy]

Hi, I commute almost daily for a round trip of around 70 miles. Only time I don't is when I am busted up or sore from offroad racing or in the rain. I have been driving my truck for the last few months due to a combination of failed ABS pump and a race crash where I broke some ribs. I can tell you that I just don't feel right and miss it severely. As for camping, I spend most weekends in the desert camping and either racing or preparing for the next race. So, when vacation time comes around I am usually in a cabin or hotel.

[ednowicki]

just a query from you all as to how many of you guys are commuting daily to work.

 

This would be a good poll questionaire. I imagine that anyone that responds will say.. "I commute daily".

 

With that said, "I commute daily :)", year round, unless there is ice, snow, or really wet and cold weather.

 

 

[Silver Surfer/AKAButters]

I commute about 4 to 5 days a week, but it is only

about 8 to 10 miles mostly freeway and the only thing

that stops me is the monsoons that come in the summer.

 

Everyday here, cept the monsoons don't stop me. Only ice. What's snow?

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

Welcome. I mostly commute on the bike. 90 miles round trip twice a week.

 

[ESokoloff]

twice a week.

 

Damn show off Fire Man

[lvnvbiker]

I ride everyday rain or shine, near 70 miles round trip to work and whatever I put on over the weekend.

[Armando]

almost every day. Only snow or ice will keep me from it. Oh, maybe the occasional soccer or basketball game for my kids.

 

In a way, I wish my commute was longer than the 25 miles round trip. On the other had, I welcome the distance when I have to ride my gas guzzuling truck.

 

a

[Bullett]

I commute maybe twice a week on the bike in good weather, but I don't like the parking garage scene on the RT (pulling up close enough to the card reader, putting the bike in neutral to flash the card, then the tricky maneuver to get out of the garage (two sharp right handers with a stop to flash the card) after a long day at the desk).

 

My cage is topless and RWD no snow tires, so it doesn't go out in bad weather either. . . I think I need to telecommute more often.

 

Welcome to the board, slammer!

[Pennys Dad]

Commute 4 days a week 98 miles round trip, rain or shine, cold or hot, sigalert or congested cage traffic - *SIGH* think I want a road trip.

 

Welcome to the Board and enjoy the Bike.

[Bradley_Gillie]

I try to commute at least two days a week. 15 miles each way. I also travel a lot for my job, so I'm planning about three long commutes next year. 850 to 1250 miles each way.

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

twice a week.

 

Damn show off Fire Man

 

No matter how you slice it, it's still 48 hours.

[jjg3]

Daily except during ice and snow, 15 miles one way.

In the DC/NoVA area on I95 where we have 2 lanes walled off for HOV.

 

 

And I love it when it rains.

[tallman]

Frequently, except for when it snows more than 2 feet.

80-110 miles round trip.

Camping, once in a while.

Best wishes.

[Lynn]

My commute is only 10 (freeway) miles each way.

 

I usually ride as often as the weather will permit. Which can be anywhere from no days a week to 5 days a week, weather permitting. For me, that means no snow/ice on the ground and no rain falling, or no overwhelming chances of rain and not under 30F on my porch. Of course, in spring when I am wanting to get back out on the bike on a regular basis, that definition gets a lot looser.

 

Honestly, with a boring 10 mile freeway commute, I ride less than I did when my commute was 30 miles each way and I was on much more interesting 2 lane highways.

 

I am also a lot more likely to ride on Fridays, when our dress code is relaxed AND I usually leave by 10am and can go for a ride in the afternoon. Suddenly, when my commute is 100 mountain miles, my motivation to ride gets a lot stronger!

 

 

[Nice n Easy Rider]

I commute maybe twice a week on the bike in good weather, but I don't like the parking garage scene on the RT (pulling up close enough to the card reader, putting the bike in neutral to flash the card, then the tricky maneuver to get out of the garage (two sharp right handers with a stop to flash the card) after a long day at the desk).

 

I also have to flash my ID card (RFID) to get into my workplace's parking garage. I pull up to the scanner, put the bike in neutral with my foot on the rear brake, unzip my jacket (which sometimes requires removing my right glove), pull my ID (hanging around my neck) out (often with some difficulty), and lean over to get it close enough to the RFID reader. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using an ID holder such as this (but perhaps smaller) on their arm while riding.

 

I would wear it on my forearm so I could just swing my arm over to the reader and avoid the unzipping, leaning, etc..

 

Sharon, how do you handle your ID? It sounds like it isn't the easiest chore for you either.

[skinny_tom (aka boney)]

I commute maybe twice a week on the bike in good weather, but I don't like the parking garage scene on the RT (pulling up close enough to the card reader, putting the bike in neutral to flash the card, then the tricky maneuver to get out of the garage (two sharp right handers with a stop to flash the card) after a long day at the desk).

 

I also have to flash my ID card (RFID) to get into my workplace's parking garage. I pull up to the scanner, put the bike in neutral with my foot on the rear brake, unzip my jacket (which sometimes requires removing my right glove), pull my ID (hanging around my neck) out (often with some difficulty), and lean over to get it close enough to the RFID reader. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using an ID holder such as this (but perhaps smaller) on their arm while riding.

 

I would wear it on my forearm so I could just swing my arm over to the reader and avoid the unzipping, leaning, etc..

 

Sharon, how do you handle your ID? It sounds like it isn't the easiest chore for you either.

 

What about something like THIS ?

 

My Rev-It Cayenne has a similar pocket built in.

[EddyQ]

Welcome !

 

Yeh, seems all I do is commute. I wish I had more time for group rides and camping. I commute maybe 35-40 minutes one-way, no highway. The route is rather rural and scenic with lots of twisties. I try to avoid rain and do not ride in when temps fall much below freezing. The RT makes it really hard to turn into the parking lot at work. It wants to ride a whole lot more !

[sundaeman]

Hey Slammer,

 

I commute about 50 miles most days (sometimes more on a nice day). Generally skip on the common sense occasions like ice. Occasionally take the cage for a change of pace. I try to hit a mini-rally and track day each year.

 

As far as the parking lot goes, I had a pocket added to the outside forearm of each riding jacket. Generally works great.

[Joel]

I commute as much as I can, weather permitting. 56 miles round trip, with the first (and last) 5 miles being twisty, hilly, dusty dirt roads. Rain is now on my "weather permitting" list because it tends to turn the dirt into slippery pudding. The other 20+ miles are mainly 2-lane highway, where I'd just grind down and square off any knobbies that would be suited for the dirt/pudding part.

[Bullett]

George:

 

It's just a card to open the gate. I put it in the sleeve of my jacket with the elbow protector, so that I just have to put my left arm in front of the reader. (Not as slick as the Aerostitch thingy, b o n e y, but cheaper). Unfortunately, the height of the reader is such that I have to come to a complete stop, then hold out my left arm, which requires the shift to neutral bit.

 

Since (until the new shocks a few weeks ago) I could only get my toes down, I was concerned that I would drop the bike and block the entrance/exit. Even though I've never dropped the bike on a planned stop, the "gate maneuver" always increases my anxiety.

[gmarktbone]

Hello Slammer,

 

I live not too far from you in Trussville, Alabama, and I commute to Birmingham almost everyday on my 02RT. My threshold of pain is anything below 30 degrees, or steady rain with no chance of letting up, otherwise, I'm riding. I plan to get some Gerbings gear over the next year, then I'll be able to ride any day. As others have said, I don't get to ride the bike much besides commuting, and I would like to camp on the bike. I have planned to take it to the Johnson City Rally next summer and camp some along the way.

 

Welcome to the BMW community, you will love this bike.

 

Mark

 

[RT Russ]

My commute is roughly 15 miles each way. I take the twisty service road for half of the trip each way just for the fun of it. I ride every day unless I need to haul my drums for rehearsal or golf clubs for a round during the summer leagues etc. Haven't had the bike through winter yet but I plan to ride in light rain but not when it gets down near 35 degrees and rain.

[BeniciaRT_GT]

100 miles a day, and I've driven only once in the last 4 years. I had to deliver a large (rolling) toolbox...

[tallman]

100 miles a day, and I've driven only once in the last 4 years. I had to deliver a large (rolling) toolbox...

 

Which everyone knows will track very well behind a GT when hooked up w/large bungee.

No excuse.

[Nice n Easy Rider]

George:

 

It's just a card to open the gate. I put it in the sleeve of my jacket with the elbow protector, so that I just have to put my left arm in front of the reader. (Not as slick as the Aerostitch thingy, b o n e y, but cheaper). Unfortunately, the height of the reader is such that I have to come to a complete stop, then hold out my left arm, which requires the shift to neutral bit.

 

Since (until the new shocks a few weeks ago) I could only get my toes down, I was concerned that I would drop the bike and block the entrance/exit. Even though I've never dropped the bike on a planned stop, the "gate maneuver" always increases my anxiety.

 

Sharon,

 

It sounds like our gate cards work in a similar fashion. I thought about your solution but my ID badge is also my gate card and I have to wear my ID when I'm in the hospital so I need to remove it (hopefully without much trouble) once I park. Although Boney's Aerostich solution is a little pricey it sounds like its been designed specifically to withstand the rigors of wind, etc. that it might encounter on a forearm driving 50-60 mph (fastest I'm usually driving on the ride in). I think I'll give it a try.

 

[Hoover]

commute from March-December, and sometimes longer.

 

17 miles each way, mostly freeway/parking lot. Usually 3 days/week.

 

+1

[Dave in Doodah]

I bet over 80 percent of the miles on my RT are from the commute to work. Any day that I am not picking up my kids after school I try to ride the bike to work. Were it not for commuting, I would not be getting near the boxer saddle time that I crave...

 

Had a 41-mile ride each way, from Cocoa to Orlando, when I lived out there... only have a few miles to work since getting remarried last year and that's a bummer, dude. Yet many times I manage to get lost on the way home though...

[Nice n Easy Rider]

Yet many times I manage to get lost on the way home though...

 

One of the more enjoyable hazards of riding.

[Jeepster]

Yet many times I manage to get lost on the way home though...

One of the more enjoyable hazards of riding.

And the #1 reason I will never have a GPS on my bike

[Ken H.]

I was a daily on the bike communter year around until we moved to Edmonton. Now I use the mass transit system.

[leikam]

I commuted daily for about 4 years but have been doing it only occasionally for the last year. With a different and less congested commute, I've rediscovered the pleasures of driving and carpooling.

[SWB]

I commute about 95 miles round trip four days a week on my old RT-P. It's pretty much a "dark" commute home now, but it's a beautiful ride along the ocean for at least 44 miles a day through Camp Pendleton on I5, and pretty during the morning. Most of it's slabbing, which is less fun than two lane windy roads, but slabbing on the bike is better most of the time than slabbing in a cage.

 

There are some summer days when I just give up and take my air conditioned pickup to the air conditioned office. But even on some of those summer days I'll take the bike, and when I leave the office late just near dusk, as the weather gets comfortable, I get to see the sunset along that stretch of oceanside, breath the salt air - it's just perfect.