CBT & Commuting..Some Questions

[RedTen]

Hey all,

I need some advice on a few things and just confirmation on what i believe i need to do.

I've been thinking about ways to cut the costs of travelling to London etc and parking fees. Currently i drive from home to Epping station, park then tube to Bond street.

Would it be sensible to commute all the way on bike? I dont particularly mind leaving earlier or the risky london traffic so long as i save. At the moment i drive an early Saxo VTR. I spend roughly £100 a month in petrol and thrash it quite badly. + Parking costs..

I understand at my age (18) the highest cc i could ride is a 125, which is a simple CBT test done in a day?

I like the look of the Honda NSR's, Im quite tall and id hate to look like a plank on a little hair dryer and from what im told theyre a nice bike.

So to sum up.. Is it a good idea? What sort of MPG to bikes do?

To note i wouldnt have to spend any money on the bike or gear as id cash in my annual tube ticket to cover costs. Also my work supply a garage so i wouldnt be paying to park.

Cant think of anything else to add. Apologies for a pretty badly laid out question heh

Anyway thanks for any info..

 

[RedTen]

You can ride a 125 if you complete your CBT (valid for two years) or you can take your test. At 18 you can only take the restricted test (on a 125) which allows you to ride any bike so long as the power output is limited to 33bhp

Yeah i dont mind being limited to 125cc. Im not in it to race, its purely cost saving. Spend more on things i enjoy as apposed to annoying parking costs.

well I would say yes...but...
how far is it ? would you mind getting wet?
is there place at work to change and store your bike gear?

little 125 4 strokes do about 120ish mpg.

for my first two years on bikes I commuted on a 125 chinese import doing 60 miles a day 30 each way, and I saved a packet filled up every 3 days at £4 a tank , the bike would only do 60mph tops, but if it's all town work why would you want more?
oh and I'm fairly tall at 6'1" and I proberbly did look a plank but I loved every minuit of it

I did it purely to save money at first, but got into it quite baddly now 8 years down the line it costs me lotsa money but heh!?!


bullit

Its about 40 odd miles. There are showers changing rooms etc so thats no problem.

£4 a tank, that sounds insanely cheap?

I've riden bikes in the past and been a passenger on many bikes so im fairly familiar with the whole clothes/changing situation.

Would i have to pay congestion charges?


Thanks

 

[RedTen]

It's worth doing your test within the two years of passing CBT - otherwise it's another £100.

I dont understand this bit.. I could ride the bike straight away? I thought i had to do the CBT before i could ride atall.

(Forgetting the rule which allows me to ride a moped at max 30mph blah blah)

 

[RedTen]

no congestion charges

Explain?

 

[RedTen]

It means that if you don't take your test within two years of completing your CBT, then it expires and you'll have to re do it to stay on the road, which will cost another £100.

The NSR probably isn't a sensible bike for commuting on to be honest, it's a high revving 2 stroke which great for having fun but it won't be particularly economic or comfortable for 40 mile commutes. You also tend to end up smelling of two stroke smoke. If you want reliability and economy then you should be looking at four stroke bikes. Go for s/h Japanese over new cheapo Chinese ones every time.

I see, i was looking at the CBT as if that was THE test. Ill take on board the comments about 2 stroke..although im used to a thrashy revy engine driving a saxo ha.

Ill have a look around. Need to write down costs atm then compare with bike commuting. My season ticket alone is £1800 and that was before the price rise..

 

[RedTen]

Firstly,

Thanks to everyone for all their input. Very helpful, i think its confirmed where i want to go.

An NSR is not what i'd consider to be my first choice, finding a good unthrashed one will be hard and like the Mito's they need to be run quite hard on occasions. The Varadero on the other hand is a fantastic 125 if you're a normal sized person, nice high seating position, very comfortable and easily mistaken for a 500, the V twin is reliable with the only real complaint being the carb's freezing on extended full throttle run's with high airborne cmoisture. Honda released a heater mod (dealers should have sorted it out, if not they were still doing it free out of warranty). The inspection window can show a thin mayo like layer on the oil due to condensation forming then dripping back into the oil, run it for a decent distance to egt the oil fully up to temp and this will not cause you any problems. Regular oil changes also help

Feed it V Power, it's one of the few 125's that does benefit from it and keep an eye on the exhaust and shock for rust.

Nice bikes

Varadero looks like a very nice bike, especially that riding position. Are their similar bikes anyone could suggest for me to look at? I despise the looks of the CG125. I know its only a commuter but i dont want to ride something im embaressed to be seen on

Thanks

 

[RedTen]

40 miles through London before and after work on a bike doesn't really sound like fun.

I'd definitely advocate a bike/scooter for <10 miles, but 40 miles is going to be pretty knackering each day. I enjoy a good ride on my little 125 to london every now and then (from Maidenhead) but it's not something I would ever consider doing every day.

I see what you're saying but im going insane sitting on a noisy tube for 50 mins a day twice a day. Then driving..then paying parking...then paying fuel.

Regardless of whether or not it becomes a long term thing id like to learn to ride a bike anyway. Its something i've always been interested in.

 

[RedTen]

Just looking at my local test centers at the moment

Whats the wait time usually like or is it completely dependant on location?

Also..i dont have to display L plates on a 125 once i pass my CBT do i ?

Ta all

 

[RedTen]

Ohh, shame.

Thanks for clearing that up.