Replacing bycicle with motorbike for commuting

amargar

Wanted to hear some experiences from people who have moved from a bycicle to a motorbike for commuting.

Im doing around 10km each way, from stillorgan to Dublin city centre though the N11, I've been doing it by bycicle but I'm a bit pissed off. Honestly it feels quite unsafe, I have been rammed by other cyclists while waiting on a red light, and I have had cars just turning in front of me with no consideration whatsoever. Two years ago a kid died cycling in the path I take everyday.

I'm not expecting a motorbike to be extremely more safe, but wanted to hear thoughts of people. Doing the exact same route, do you find it safer ? I'm looking at a 125cc or 300cc tops

Furze99

Would public transport not be the best balance between safety and speed, if bus lanes used. Car is 'safe' but slow in traffic. Bikers will usually have better gear and good helmet compared to cyclists but also vulnerable to what you describe. Except more speed involved and outcomes can be worse.

Bluefoam

I used to commute from Stillorgan to Baldoyle by motorcycle and the bit that you do is the most straight forward. One of the major benefits is that on a motorbike you can accelerate away from trouble, which you can't to on a bicycle. These days I have a bike purely for pleasure and don't commute, but I do use it for trips into town. Much handier and cheaper than driving or the bus...

NickNickleby

Cycled Artane to Dundrum and other southside destinations for about 15 years. Changes in work meant I was having to work out on the Naas Rd more and more. Didn't fancy that kind of a trek, so got a motorbike. Initially a moped, then a 125, then a 650.

If I was doing it again I'd go 125 then 650 within a year. I wanted more cc's for the M50, as lorries tried to shove me along ALL the time. Also the 650 had panniers (it was a Honda Deauville), for the helmet and gear and laptop if I was travelling to meetings.

In town I found it grand, tended to stay in lane, but where congestion was bad, I'd use the bus lane which incurred the wrath of one or two guards, but no tickets. Never regretted the move but continued to use the bicycle for non Naas Rd journeys if the weather was nice . I mean REALLY nice 😀.

HTH.

Edit to add: I was involved in one minor tip on the motor bike, I was in the bus lane and a car turning left swung in on top of me. Sore leg but nothing more.

Ginger83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058289474/replacing-bycicle-with-motorbike-for-commuting

For what it's worth I had a few scooter type bikes when I was a bit younger. No gears, just twist n go and very handy in traffic.

I'd a few 50cc but the one I enjoyed the most was the Gilera Runner 125, nippy wee yolk that happily did 60mph. I knew a guy who had a big Yamaha 400 but it looked quite heavy.

Sir Galahad

Have you done your CBT ? The cost of good PPE a good helmet & a bike all on top of CBT will be pricey.

Padre_Pio

Any thought for a decent ebike?

Something to get you up to speed quicker and make the journey shorter.

Banzai600

Im riding bikes a good few years - what you want is a 110cc or 125cc scooter.

Buckets of storage space underneath, savage mpg on later ones over the last few years, they are not "slow", and for the city they are ideal with a back box. Some of the newer ones have space for 2 full face helmets under the seat - cavernous , i use the scooter over the bikes around the city, no brainer. Particularly for you, no gears, just get on an go. Id get some training, ive no idea what the regs are now. and i put money if you're into it - you'll ride it more than you think. The newer 125 scooters jumped in price again this year, around 4400.00. id be looking at the honda.

be weary of used scooters, some have been clocked and hacked to death making deliveries.

if you're commuting into the city armoured jeans and decent rain gear is the way to go, you dont need full price 300e jeans, ive gotten armoured jeans in Germany, under 100e, theyre perfect, but i upgraded the arrmour which isnt expensive. Decent over rain jacket and bottoms will be 100e.

whats your budget ?

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120394272#Comment_120394272

my wife - a nervous cyclist - found she felt much safer on her ebike. partly the weight, which made it feel more planted, but as you mention acceleration was also a significant factor for her, especially when crossing over lanes (e.g. turning right from a minor road onto a major road).

also, the N11 is not exactly well favoured by cyclists in terms of the bike lane design.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120394616#Comment_120394616

I've seen them with panniers, and the panniers have reflectors and lights, which give you a much larger presence on the roads. Of course the extra weight is more than offset by the electric assist.

Financially it would be far cheaper to buy an ebike than invest in a motorbike/insurance/training.

I don't think there's a good answer to your problem OP. Motorists are just not as aware as they should be, I've had a few near misses on my bike, and more than a few driving.

Bluefoam

Interesting that FEMA are campaigning to have motorcycles designated as an alternative to commuting by car and are looking for bike specific parking at businesses as well as lockers for gear and helmets...

https://www.advrider.com/fema-commute-motorcycling/

magicbastarder

that's one thing my employer is excellent for; lockers, drying room, changing room with excellent showers etc.

RedRunners

just my opinion but I'd recommend a used Honda CBF250 or a Suzuki Volty 250 bought from a dealership. They're both perfect for city traffic. They're skinny, nippy, cheap to insure, and built to last. I'm waiting for one to come available myself. In terms of transitioning form a bicycle to a small motorbike (125cc - 250cc), you'll be fine. Good luck 😎🤙

Mad_Lad

I do most of my local runs now on a tmax 500 but it's quite big for town and city riding but it's also very fast for the touring around the country but if I were only to do town and city riding I'd have a 125 or 350 as the tmax 500 is quite a big bike and I can't flat foot it either which is a royal pain in the ass.

Check out the Honda Cub 125, the reason I say that is because it's a semi auto, handy for city, not quite as simple as twist and go CVT automatics but it's got none of the maintenance required of a CVT and it's very fuel efficient. While it is only 9 HP it is the world's largest selling vehicle and it's a well respected bike.

For more power the Honda SH300i is a nice bike and quite fast but the Forza bikes are quite expensive in reality. Same as the Yamaha Xmax bikes.

Personally I'd look out for a Suzuki GN125 cc or a Suzuki en 125 or Honda CB125 or 300.

There's a gorgeous GB350S coming soon too with a claimed economy of 2.5 L/100 Km and there's the Triumph speed 400 also another gorgeous looking bike.

The motorbikes have larger wheels and are more comfortable on rougher roads, the CUB125 has 17 inch wheels which is large though the Cub 125 is not a scooter but officially a motorcycle. A scoter is anything with CVT transmission.

OP, what did you get in the end and what is you experience with it ? definitely I feel far safer in traffic on a big motorcycle than a bicycle with proper lights and indicators, even the youngsters on the battery scooters would be far better off on proper 50cc or 125 cc bikes in my opinion.

amargar

OP here: I got a CB500F and I feel way safer on it that on my bicycle.

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122826842#Comment_122826842

well wear! 👍

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122826842#Comment_122826842

Best of luck, what year is it ?

I take it then you already have your license and experience ?

I definitely feel a lot safer on the Tmax than I do the Bicycle too especially on country roads, better lights, being lit up better, indicators and proper brakes, suspension and the speed to keep with traffic rather than having traffic and trucks blast close by.

If only insurance was much cheaper for young people, you see hardly any young people now on bikes be they 50cc scooters or 125 Bikes because the cost of insurance is unaffordable and this needs to change if we're to encourage more people out of cars to free up the streets.