Using your VFR for Commuting

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work?
Sometimes...if i'm feeling frisky.
2. If so how far to you ride each way?
40 miles 1-way. Tend to take the long way home though.
3. How may days a week to you commute?
I work 5 days/wk, only take the bike a few times a month...probably under once a week on average.
4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
Saddle bags or tank bag or just strap briefcase to the passenger seat. Sometimes I leave my briefcase at work the day before just so I don't have to lug it in on the bike.
5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
Clothes I work in; jeans & collared shirt. I wear riding gear over that. If I had to wear suit/tie, I probably would never commute w/ a bike.
6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
No. My riding season in MA USA is late March to early Nov
7. If so do you use heated gear?
No.
8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
Never.
9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
I take the long way home when on the bike; go out of my way a bit to avoid highways, traffic and to hit roads w/ higher fun-factor.
10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?
For fun. Morning is boring because I'll slab it in. But a great feeling to know your bike is outside on a Friday. I don't really consider bikes as regular transportation, more of a weekend toy.

And +1 to what Mello Dude said...

 

Double ouch

$2200.00 is exactly what I pay for a year full extra coverage on 3 SUV's & 10 bikes:tongue:

the other bikes (Not running collectibles) I just have liability & theft on them & is chump change for that (9 bikes @ about a buck a week each = $468.00 a year).

As for the thread, 3 times a week to work on average & often go for rides @ lunch.
Work clothes under gear, & I only ride with a tank bag or what I need based on weather & what I may need.
Commute to work is only 3.5 miles, but like I said, I take off for lunch ride often.

I ride all year round, this morning was 7 degrees F & clear out.
gear today was Joe Rocket 3 season pants/jacket, with the rain inserts in, & a baklava to keep the chill of the neck, Gortex gauntlet gloves, & my security water resistant boots.

Now touring & weekends whole different gear & preperation.

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work? As soon as the weather clears, yep.
2. If so how far to you ride each way? 50k each way.
3. How may days a week to you commute? as many as the weather will allow.
4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags? Factory Sidebags, sometimes not even those. I don't need anything for work really.
5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.? Full riding gear. Change at work.
6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer? Summer, winters suck here and is not fun or safe IMO.
7. If so do you use heated gear? Grips soon :wink:
8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time? Nope, don't own one.
9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason? Which ever will yield to less stop and go and more riding.
10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because? Need to ride the bike. My Honda cages are really good on gas, don't save much $ with the bike really.

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work?
.....As often as the weather will allow.
2. If so how far to you ride each way?
.....25 miles
3. How may days a week to you commute?
.....see #1
4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
.....I have a tank bag for electric stuff, top trunk and hard bags for shoes, books, lunch, etc. Some days I use the saddle bags, most days I use the Top trunk because splitting traffic is easier.
5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
.....Wear overpants, Jacket and boots. Then change shoes at work.
6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
.....More in winter. Less sweat.
7. If so do you use heated gear?
.....Gerbing jacket liner, socks, and gloves.
8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
.....Not anymore. My winter gear is waterproof. In the summer I'd rather be wet. see #6
9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
.....Alternate. Try to take as long as my schedule will allow.
10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?
.....Nothing better than arriving at work after a ride. Except seeing the bike out there after work and knowing it wants to be ridden some more.

Nice poll. I enjoyed reading the other responses. I've been though Skippack a number of times on rides. Ever head into Philadelphia? Check out Philadelphiariders.com. Another vfr rider would always be welcome at two wheel tuesday.

 

Do you use your bike to commute to work? Yes
2. If so how far to you ride each way? 5 miles
3. How may days a week to you commute? 5 days a week
4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags? Cortech tank bag. Backpack if I happen to make it to the gym after work
5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.? Work clothes (jeans and whatever shirt). FirstGear Z-Pilot jacket (new this winter); for Phoenix's summers, a mesh Motoboss jacket. Helmet and gloves, of course. Boots.
6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer? Yes
7. If so do you use heated gear? No, don't really need any for the commute, it's a 10-minute ride - though it WAS 36-degrees this morning
8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time? Just a pullover rain jacket if it looks like it may get wet.
9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason? Usually I take the same route with a few variations. It's pretty much a straight shot along surface streets for me.
10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because? All of the above, really. The bike is my only transportation. I always look forward to riding, even if it's to go to work.

 

I think It may be you that sucks! (also just kidding)

 

I ride my 2006 fr 800 every day. I don't have a car.
I ride 5 miles through the city to get to one job and 16 miles highway to get to another.I do it 6 days a week and have 5000 miles on the bike so far
I use a tank bag all the time and a back pack some time + cargo net
I have my work clothing on under what ever I need for the weather. from mesh armor to full rain suit
I always take the long way . I work 6 days a week so I am in no hurry to get there. I look for twisties or just fast sections to play in.
I save a ton of money on car insurance.

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work?
Yes, every day that it isn't pouring when I wake up.
2. If so how far to you ride each way?
Its 45 miles each way.
3. How may days a week to you commute?
See 1.
4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
I have a tank bags for clothes and a backpack for the laptop, books and papers.
5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
With a 45 mile ride I figure I need all the gear. Leather jacket and nylon armored pants but I use the over the ankle, steel toed leather boots I wear at work.
6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
The bike winters in the basement, so once the snow fills the backyard, it's there for the duration.
7. If so do you use heated gear?
No, just add more layers under the jacket. If it's really cold I put a wind breaker over the jacket to keep wind out of the perferations in the leather. (Just need to find a good cover for the neck, burrrrr!) Spring and fall mornings can be quite chilly here even if the temps eventually get to 70 during the day.
8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
Yes, keep a Cortech one piece rain suit (Thanks for the review KC) in the tank bag. The weather in New Hampshire can be pretty unpredictable in the summer, and the weather man is wrong more than half the time. Also in the tank bag is a pair of water proof gloves with a wiper built into the thumb.
9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
About 90% of the roads in NH are twisty backcountry roads. The same roads I have to drive every day just to get to work are pretty entertaining on the bike. Except for all the folks who get up and on the roads at 5:30 with apparently no where to be!
10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?
The first and third. I knew when I bought it I would get most of my riding in commuting just beacuse of the length of my drive. My car gets over 30 mpg so when you figure in all the costs of ownership I doubt I'm saving any money. Besides, now that I'm back on two wheels I want to enjoy it every chance I get.

 

Ha, I don't have a 5th nor 6th so can't comment
But back in the day I rode used when ever I could, in fact, that still holds true today

 

Do you use your bike to commute to work?
You betcha. Every day I can.

2. If so how far to you ride each way?
18 miles there, as many as I can tack on at the end of the day going back.

3. How may days a week to you commute?
Every one I can manage, never less than 3 weather permitting

4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
AXIO tail bag, Porter Tokyo messenger bag

5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
I keep a selection of clothing at work. Ride in full Vansons and boots, change when I get there

6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
This year I rode until mid November (30F mornings), had to go to Dubai, when I got back December 1 it was 22 degrees with 4 inches of snow- and every day has been icy/snowy/teens and twenties since. had to go to Japan to get my fix :smile:

7. If so do you use heated gear?
if roads were clear, and I trusted the non-recall-fixed-yet circuits, I would

8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
Rain is very rare here during the peak riding season

9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
Normal outbound, as twisty as I can find going home

10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?

Strictly for enjoyment- my cage is cheaper to operate in the long run. Fuel savings is a trivial difference and is outbalanced by tires for the bike. Honestly it makes me look forward to getting up in the morning.

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work?
Yes

2. If so how far to you ride each way?
120 miles give or take round trip

3. How may days a week to you commute?
Depends on the weather, usually 4 days a week; don't mind cold, can tolerate wet, not fond of the two mixed together

4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank
Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?

Throw over Nelson Rigg bags & a back pack for the laptop

5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
Armoured jacket, heavy jeans usually carhart & composite toe ems boots. Change into my work clothes @ work.

6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
No, I usually have to give it up for 2-4 months

7. If so do you use heated gear?
No

8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
No

9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?

Normal Route 100% on my way to work state hwy thru forest & farm land mostly. If there is enough daylight on my side on the way home I find a snake trail to run.

10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?

Mostly enjoyment, the cage is just boring a little bit of gas savings though the cage gets similar milage. The wife is supposed to take the car when I ride but tends to still take the truck.

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work?
Yup

2. If so how far to you ride each way?
25-30 miles

3. How may days a week to you commute?
All five but I rarely ride at the weekends

4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
Rucksag bungee-netted to the pillion seat, then I can put it on my back and take other stuff on the back

5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
Normal clothes with Rukka over trousers/jacket and m/c boots

6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
Yes, all year, regardless of the weather except if it is snowing hard.

7. If so do you use heated gear?
Too right! Honda heated grips are great. I used others before, but the Honda ones are really very good.

8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
I wear it - The Rukka stuff is good through summer and winter.

9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
The normal route is very straight so I try to use twisty back roads when I have the time

10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?
Mainly because I have always ridden bikes and so this is how I can justify it. It is also a much quicker way to travel in heavy traffic but also because I tend to fall asleep in cars (I'm sure I have a very specific narcolepsy), so it's safer for me on a bike :redface:

 

Everyone, thanks so much for your replies. I guess I'm not surprised by the number of commuters with the VFR since it is a great commuting bike, especially for the ride home! I think it is cool to find out many of your take those detours on the way home as well to get a longer ride in. I really look forward to that ride home when I have the bike at work and it seems most of you do as well.

Hopefully you guys enjoyed reading through the replies as much as I have. Thanks again.

 

Do you use your bike to commute to work?
YES.

2. If so how far to you ride each way?
30-35

3. How may days a week to you commute?
all 5, but at least 4 days

4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
tail bag by Chase Harper

5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
I store work clothes in my office. I make sure to get in early.

6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
Yes. However, I went down on black ice two Sundays ago.
it was supposed to be warm that day. it'll be a few weeks before I get the bike back. thank you, Shoei & Olympia for making great helmets and jackets.

7. If so do you use heated gear?
Honda heated grips are great.

8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
no need with a waterproof jacket and pants.

9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
the best part of my day is riding rte 82 through Delaware and Penna to work in Kennett Square. and going home is better.

10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?
although this started off as enjoyment, I have further justification with the price of gas. but that's just to say, not to mean.


nothing beats passing cars on the way to work on a particularly cold morning.

 

I ride about 20 miles each way to work and back. The climate in Northern California is about 32-40 degrees in the morning right now. I have Powerlet heated gloves and liner which makes the ride very comfortable. Sometimes I extend the ride in the morning by leaving earlier. Their are good windy roads down into the Amercan River that I incorporate into the ride frequently for fun. I have a seat bag to carry any additional clothes etc. The only issue I have unsolved is fogging face mask in the morning. Compared to driving a car to work this is euphoria.

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work? Yes
2. If so how far to you ride each way? 6.5 miles
3. How may days a week to you commute? 4 or 5
4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags? Factory saddle bags
5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.? Jacket and pants over street clothes (and I keep an extra pair of shoes at work)
6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer? Yes
7. If so do you use heated gear? Widder vest and gloves
8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time? Yes, in summer (winter gear is waterproof, summer gear is vented)
9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason? Yes, normal route
10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because? No better way to wake up in the morning than a ride in rush hour

 

Wow...what insurance company do you have?
I just moved from NY to Florida, and still need to find a good company...

 

As another black sheep, mello dude and I can graze together in the pastures aplenty. Unfortunately commuting purposes are never an option, But the company vehicle and gas card serve me well!

 

1. Do you use your bike to commute to work?
When the weather permits, yes.

2. If so how far to you ride each way?
Round trip to/from office plus a lunch trip would be about 10-15 miles

3. How may days a week to you commute?
5

4. What do you do for the stuff you carry back and forth? Tail Bag, Tank Bag, Backpack, Saddle Bags?
Backpack with laptop, etc.

5. Do you wear the clothes you work in, get changed at work, or wear overpants, etc.?
I wear jeans to work, so I just put on my helmet and riding jacket.

6. Do you commute in the winter as well as summer?
If the temperature exceeds 50 degrees

7. If so do you use heated gear?
No

8. Do you carry a rain suite with you all the time?
No

9. Do you take your normal route you take when you drive or an alternative route for some reason?
It's suburban North Raleigh, all routes look the same :smile:

10. Lastly do you do this for enjoyment, money savings, or just because?
Both!