I've always wanted my bike license (just on my bucket list rather than actually needing it in the past) So I'll be training for it in the next few months and probably take my CBT in a few weeks when I have a free day.
At the same time my brother is looking to sell his 2007 Vespa GTS 125. It's in good condition and has been stored in his garage since 2012. So despite the age it has only covered around 5k miles. Obviously I'll be able to get it at a good price and it's really not worth much now anyway. If I did buy it then my original plan was just to use it locally for nipping to shops.
Then it occurred to me that my company will likely be asking people to return to the office, at least a few days per week, early next year. I want to keep working from home as much as possible but it's inevitable I would have to commte into London at least twice a week eventually. Using the Vespa would seem to be cheaper than the train and avoid the ridiculous number of times the trains out of Waterloo were cancelled or delayed. But the commute looks like it would still be at least an hour by scooter (compared to 1.5 hours door to door by train and foot). The journey will be from Surrey to Canary Wharf so some dual carriageway and some busy smaller roads.
So... would a long commute on a 125 for two days a week drive me nuts? It's a little further than would be ideal. Once the bike, clothing, helmet, chain, etc, is bought it would seem a cheap and convenient commute and then I'd have the Vespa for fun and quick local shops at the weekend.
Good or bad idea for such a commute?
Edit: TLDR - 1 hour each way commute on a 125cc, twice a week, mix of dual carriageway and inner London roads. Yay or nay?
At the same time my brother is looking to sell his 2007 Vespa GTS 125. It's in good condition and has been stored in his garage since 2012. So despite the age it has only covered around 5k miles. Obviously I'll be able to get it at a good price and it's really not worth much now anyway. If I did buy it then my original plan was just to use it locally for nipping to shops.
Then it occurred to me that my company will likely be asking people to return to the office, at least a few days per week, early next year. I want to keep working from home as much as possible but it's inevitable I would have to commte into London at least twice a week eventually. Using the Vespa would seem to be cheaper than the train and avoid the ridiculous number of times the trains out of Waterloo were cancelled or delayed. But the commute looks like it would still be at least an hour by scooter (compared to 1.5 hours door to door by train and foot). The journey will be from Surrey to Canary Wharf so some dual carriageway and some busy smaller roads.
So... would a long commute on a 125 for two days a week drive me nuts? It's a little further than would be ideal. Once the bike, clothing, helmet, chain, etc, is bought it would seem a cheap and convenient commute and then I'd have the Vespa for fun and quick local shops at the weekend.
Good or bad idea for such a commute?
Edit: TLDR - 1 hour each way commute on a 125cc, twice a week, mix of dual carriageway and inner London roads. Yay or nay?
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