The FJR Commuter

[jackplanet514]

Hello All,

Just curious as to how many use their FJR (or any scoot) to drive to work?

I've had my FJR for a few months now and have been driving it work everyday, mostly because I don't have a lot of free time to drive it otherwise. Anyway sometimes I think I am "wasting" my precious FJR miles driving to work everyday.

Also, my commute is about 18 miles one way, basically there are two options (90% interstate - 10% surface streets) or (100% surface streets). The time for both is about the same although, the interstate will be a few miles longer.

Considering safety, gas milage, etc..., which way would you take?

1. Super slab, with commute lane

2. Surface Streets

Super slab

Pros

1. Seems safer with less intersections.

2. Not so much stop and go, at lights.

3. Includes two really nice turns.

4. Not as hot, constant motion.

5. Commuter lane, has a lot of escape room.

Cons

1. The air is really chopped up.

2. A mistake (crash) seems like it could be more deadly.

3. Traffic is pretty thick moving at 70mph.

4. Seems like more crap comes flying at you.

Surface Streets

Pros

1. Not as much traffic.

2. Slower pace.

Cons

1. More intersections, dangerous?

2. Hot at traffic lights.

Thoughts?

Jack

 

[antvq]

I think I'd stick to the slab. I just see less potential for the typical type of accident. i.e. Left turns into your path, getting rear ended at a stoplight, etc.

 

[wfooshee]

And you're not "wasting" your miles. No such thing!!!!

I ride every day just 6 miles each way. Takes 20 minutes, though, and half that is sitting at the lights sweating. I wear a scrap t-shirt under the jacket, and carry shoes and clean work shirt (golf shirts for us) in the top case. Takes me about 10 minutes on arrival to get presentable.

BTW, this is north Florida, 90-90 this time of year (temp and humidity both in the 90s).

No slabs here, but in your case, I'd stay on the interstate, too, for the same reasons, antvq lists.

 

[.paul]

I commute everyday unless it's raining when I leave. HOV lanes for me, there's no question about it.

Surface Streets: Leave at 7:20 at the latest and I'm already pushing it. Takes 1 to 1.5 hours to get to work. Leave work and sit in at least an hour of traffic (usually more).

or

HOV Lanes: Leave at 8:00 if I'm being ultra lazy/slack (usually out by 7:40-45) and take 25 min. to get to work. Leave work and take the roughly the same amount of time to get home.

40-42 mpg on the highway > than whatever I get gassing it on surface streets. Safer for me to ride on HOV, it's also not nearly as hot as sitting at traffic lights.

 

[FJRMGM]

commute every day unless its raining when I get ready to leave home. Don't mind going home in the rain but don't like to head out into it.

I have a 52 miles round trip and even though I am going to work I am still enjoying it cause I'm on my FJR..

I'd take the super slab for your route - less "hazards" from people coming off side streets and intersections.

 

[gski02]

I commute everyday unless it's raining when I leave. HOV lanes for me, there's no question about it.
Surface Streets: Leave at 7:20 at the latest and I'm already pushing it. Takes 1 to 1.5 hours to get to work. Leave work and sit in at least an hour of traffic (usually more).

or

HOV Lanes: Leave at 8:00 if I'm being ultra lazy/slack (usually out by 7:40-45) and take 25 min. to get to work. Leave work and take the roughly the same amount of time to get home.

40-42 mpg on the highway > than whatever I get gassing it on surface streets. Safer for me to ride on HOV, it's also not nearly as hot as sitting at traffic lights.

Another commuter here. Unless it's raining, I ride, up to the snow flying in Upstate NY. 25 miles each way. Saves me a lot on gas and wear and tear on my truck. It's also a great way to at least enjoy the to and from.

 

[.paul]

Oh yeah, I forgot ot add that my commute is ~17 miles if I leave from home. I think it's a bit longer if i leave from my g/f house.

 

[jwilly]

To answer your question, I would recommend the slab as well.

Daily commuter here as well. My office is 26 miles from my house, about an hour with ATL traffic. I travel 100-125 nights a year so frequent trips to the airport. I have worked out arrangements so that I can park near the airport with my bike as well. If I'm doing a short trip I ride my bike to the airport with my carry-on strapped on the back. Like someone else pointed out, this isn't waited miles!! Look at all of the people that own bikes and they sit in the garage 5-6 days a week.

JW

 

[Tim05fjr]

I split up my commuting miles between the FJR and Buell XB9. Colder and foul weather I ride the FJR because it is geared up for it. Buell has no weather protection at all. But on hotter days it is much cooler to ride.

My ride is 70 miles round trip. Unless it is raining extreemly hard or snow and ice, I am on the bike.

No such thing as wasted miles.

Tim

 

[jmdaniel]

Work from home. Bike stays dry. :yahoo:

 

[gr8eyes]

Paul, whats the wife say about leaving from you GF's house? LOL

I'm 2 miles from work, takes 3 min to get there. I usually ride but sometimes I think its just not worth getting all the gear on for 3 min.

If it took me more than 20-25 min to get to work I'd just shoot myself and be done with it.

Glenn

 

[dabayliner]

Another daily commuter here, anything above 38 deg.s. 18 miles to work, I slab it unless too much traffic then side roads. The problems are there no matter which road you travel.

Awareness of Safety is what brings you home (or to your G/F's house)

 

[radman]

25 miles each way twice a day from early March to early December, 90% slab, refresh GPS top speed each morning, erasing the 105-125 number stored from the day previous. It's the only reason I look forward to going to work. A plus is it knocks off 15 minutes average from the same trip via cage, gets 38 mpg, keeps the cage fresh for the winter to come. I see the strokes driving in, one hand on the wheel, yappin on the phone or with one hand hanging off the wheel looking for all the world like suicide is a preferred option, and I think "you poor *****, if only you knew".........

 

[jmdaniel]

25 miles each way twice a day from early March to early December, 90% slab, refresh GPS top speed each morning, erasing the 105-125 number stored from the day previous. It's the only reason I look forward to going to work. A plus is it knocks off 15 minutes average from the same trip via cage, gets 38 mpg, keeps the cage fresh for the winter to come. I see the strokes driving in, one hand on the wheel, yappin on the phone or with one hand hanging off the wheel looking for all the world like suicide is a preferred option, and I think "you poor *****, if only you knew".........

As an ex-Minnesotan, I think the same thing from early December to early March... B)

 

[ngarider]

50 mile round trip, superslab when its not a parking lot and I ride nearly every day unless I need a cage to haul something bigger than my Givi topcase. I've been known to take the LONG way to work, which takes me through some decent roads in north georgia, but surface streets are more wrought with danger IMHO than the slab.

Wasted miles? Seriously? What, is it a rental bike?

 

[FatNakedGuy]

I sure wish lane sharing was legal in Utah. My commute to work would be on the bike 100% of the time if that were the case... Sure miss SoCal for that reason...

 

[Waaane]

75 miles round trip 2/3 slab but about 10 miles through a nice little canyon. The road in the canyon is busy but its still nice scenery. HOV lanes are great and I get to cross the San Mateo Bridge for nothing. That is a $4.00 a day toll. I figure that at least pays for my tires. But the best part is that when I walk out of work and my FJR is in the parking lot my work day feels done. When my car is in the parking lot it feels like another hours work to get home

 

[Last Chance]

25 miles each way twice a day from early March to early December, 90% slab, refresh GPS top speed each morning, erasing the 105-125 number stored from the day previous. It's the only reason I look forward to going to work. A plus is it knocks off 15 minutes average from the same trip via cage, gets 38 mpg, keeps the cage fresh for the winter to come. I see the strokes driving in, one hand on the wheel, yappin on the phone or with one hand hanging off the wheel looking for all the world like suicide is a preferred option, and I think "you poor *****, if only you knew".........

Gunny on commuting on the FJR. I commute 20 miles each way on the FJR everyday it doesn't rain and/or get below 38 degrees F. I prefer the slab, with it's HOV lane and lane "sharing" available when necessary. I feel (know) the surface streets are inherently more lethal to bikers. The danger from "sudden left turns" and people "pulling" out in front of you is, IMHO, much greater than on the slab. Also, Californians view the "surface streets" as an extension of the freeway. If it's wide enough for their car then why not go 80 mph on them. I've seen some hellacious, T bones at freeway speed on the surface streets. The scariest part of my commute is "getting to the freeway".

LC

 

[flapsup]

Almost 15 years once or twice a month back and forth from Tallahassee to Pensacola or Jacksonville with three choices, I-10, US20, or US 98. Mix it up, take one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. I think the interstate is safer but it is boring.