Anyone commute on an SBK?
 

Does it sound like madness? Are my wrists going to hurt? I do a 2 hr round trip daily so its not too long a journey.

Seen a yellow 748 and a red 749 in the last couple of days in the center of london. Just wondered wher people park them. Surely a bay = battered fairings!

When I use my 999 to get to work it's about 45 mins each way in traffic or about 30 mins outside of rush hour. I don't even notice that short a trip, comfort-wise. The only thing, it's pretty much a straight road to work and back, unless I do a bit of a detour - a bit dull, really.
The bike is parked in the company car park, practically under my window. I've asked for a fire escape to be built next to my desk but no luck so far. I'll keep trying, can't be too careful.

:)

I go to work on my 999R almost everyday, but i't like a 10 minutes ride :P

Nah I walk to work :lol:

Must say tho the 996 is more comfortable than the wife's SV as I get a Numb ass on that one.:o

I used to ride across london on my 916, and parked it in the company car park. Wrists hurt after a few months. I bought a scooter.....

Have you considered a cheap comfy bike? Lots of good hacks around for sub £2k.

yes but only when the weather is good and no salt on the road. (not that often in Scotland), its a 1 hour ride (45 miles) and its a good fun even if the 999 is not the best at filtering and needing to be reved but then at least the cars hear me coming with the termi's.

The big win is that its a joy to ride to work rather that sitting in a square box I simply put the laptop, suit and shirt in a rucksack and change in work, I even have my mobile connected to an autocom for the last minute panics on the way home.

If you're going to do it I'd say definitely drop the gearing - like +4 on the back. It makes 1st gear work through traffic so much easier. I have taken the 999 to work in the West End a few times but I can't say it's that much fun. The Numpty is much better for the job ;)

I commuted on my 996 from Twickenham to Bank every day for about 9 months. I had a secure undercover carpark though.

I put a 14 tooth sprocket on the front and a lightened flywheel in and it was fine. I loved it, plenty of comments from all sorts at the lights (not just about my riding!). You just have to take it a bit easy because it's easy to find yourself doing stupid speeds in built up area's. Especially when you're trying to make a gap, and then you see another one ahead and as you approach that one you see another one ... next thing you know you're doing 100mph down the Embankment at 8:30am with the rest of the commuting traffic wondering WTF that noise is! (54mm Sil Motor's!)

:D

LOL TP that sums me up completely, LOOK THERES A GAP !! :lol:

/ian

I do 43 miles one way, but luckily it's not an every day job. Only a few times a month do I have to actually go to the office. All freeway too. BORING. But this bike still makes it as fun as I guess it can be. Comfort wise it's not even an issue and I can still squeeze 45 mpg (maybe 48 if I'm lucky) out of her if I take it easy.

Would i be mad changing to an 03/04 749s from a 620 Monster?

The majority of my journey is on the A1 so i guess my average speed would be 50-60.

How relaible is/would be a 749s? I've heard a bit about stalling at lights.

the bike I have is a 999s and find it quite different from the older jap bikes I've had in heavy traffic, they feel much hotter, the exhaust doesn't help, but it's not unbearable, I also find the bars are to low at slow speeds, I have a riser kit to help but haven't fitted it yet. but the bike reliability is never questionable, you know you will get there just a bit hot and with aching wrists, but when you get out of town it's a joy and well worth the hot bum in summer. ps I dont ride if there's road salt out or if I do I make sure it's cleaned befor I put it away.
:flame::burn::burn:

A good solution to the heavy wrists is to eat lots of pies and develop a big belly, therfore when your on the bike all the wieght is on your belly rather than your wrists. -well it works for me!

You just need to get confortable and bend your arms instead of have them stiff.

I've commuted on my 748 from Day 1.
Of course it depend what the journey is, mine's 26 miles each way, which is far enough to get the motor thoroughly warmed up. I wouldn't use it regularly for a 2 mile journey.

Personally I wouldn't find bending my arms to much very comfortable in traffic, that's only going to put more weight on your wrists. On dual-carriageways though, that's another story. In traffic I find making a conscious effort to hold the 'bars lightly (use your stomach muscles, and your feet) helps a lot. Alternatively, there Rossman's solution!

It's nice and narrow for those filtering gaps, though! ;)

use mine in town - it might be my yellow one you spotted?? - until recently had a secure undercover park next to work, but no more. so search for a solid object to bolt it to. Crossed fingers no scratched fairings so far. riding is OK but would benefit from lower gearing - lack of turning lock is tricky but you need to plan the gaps better, just like normal - warm it up before setting off, and go easy on the clutch. gotta admit it is a great way to start and end the day! oh - be prepared to do lots more cleaning - even without salt etc on roads

Could well be mate. Hello.

And Moto 748 was that you i was talking to on Friday night,in Covent Garden?

took the 996 to work on friday and had a hoot. like TP says, so easy to clock silly speeds down the Embankment. the scooter is great for weaving in an out of traffic, but the road presence on the 996 is something else. :D

Hi Nick,

When the weather is better ie no salt, not too cold, I ride in now and again from Hastings (East Sussex )to Shoreditch(East City London) Ienjoy it just relax your arms;)