Motorcycle Commuting
 

I commute daily to NYC on a motorcycle. I've just worked out mounting for a video "dash camera" - and made my first video tonight on the trip home. Here it is 4x speed:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HO0Yn2epOeM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Really puts in perspective how much lights can KILL commute times! That first one seemed long even at 4x speed, at 1x speed it must’ve been downright painful!

Shiny side up!

Really cool. Thanks for sharing!

Nice bike Jacob! That shadow looks familiar.
Frank SmileWavy

That’s 42nd St and 9th Avenue

Hiya Frank. Actually I am aboard my KTM Duke. Your old whip is parked out in my barn in Bucks County PA. It went and died on me last time I tried to ride it...I think its a hall effect sensor issue (no spark). Anyhoo, its got an extra ~18k miles from when you last saw it 😀

I REALLY don't miss commuting on my Beemer. You gots balls bro.

I was just guessing.
Those hall effect sensors are notorious for that. It never gave my any trouble but it was getting old.
I talked to a BMW rider on your bike's twin in Montana last summer. He had 120+k miles with only tires, alternator belt, brakes & normal maintenance. Pretty impressive.

Wow! My commute pales in excitement.

How many miles one way?

wow, is right, how many weeks of this have you survived?

Cheers Richard

Currently 4 miles each way, through the Lincoln Tunnel. I am one of the few who actually enjoys my daily commute into NYC:)


Approaching 20k miles of motorcycle commuting to NYC, though most of that was accumulated when I was living out in PA (85 miles each way). Now that I live only 4 miles away the miles aren't piling up so quickly.

Helps to have a little perspective...my current short commute average speed is 17mph. I practice ATTGATT (full face helment, gloves, Armored textile jacket and pants, motorcycle boots). I also do a fair amount of road biking (probably 1500 miles of pedaling last year), and I probably average 14 or 15mph wearing little more than shorts and t-shirt (always a helmet though). Which activity is more "survivable"?

I commuted by MC all the time back on the mainland (LA and Boston - two of the worst places on earth). You need to be heads-up and definitely ATGATT (no exceptions - ever!) Even so, you gotta watch out for the knuckleheads on their phones or diddling with their DVD players or whatever else. Be careful out there! No better way to start / end your day than with a successful ride! Best to you!

No doubt, brother...

I can usually ID those knuckleheads looking at their phones as I approach from behind to overtake. The angle of the driver's head is a dead giveaway, and its usually obvious the driver isn't engaged in the activity from their lane position, speed, etc. You develop a "spidey sense" for these things.

Looks like a dangerous video game!

Indeed. I rode the Rt 80 corridor daily for 20 years on my BMW (and others). The sheet I've seen was stunning. I learned quickly to add the scanning of front tires to everything else that I kept an eye on. That front wheel can tell you a lot about where that car is going. And with enough time in traffic you can almost predict what is going to happen so that you have your escape route constantly evolving in your head.

you know what they say, using a turn signal only provides other drivers with a target.

NOT for all the tea in China.
My daily commute in summer is 5 miles of a rural road with maybe ten cars seen.
Elapsed time 8 minutes door to door. Cities are not for me.
I salute you sir.

Best
Les

NYC on a bike or bicycle is an absorbing task. Having had the privilege of a few laps with him in his 911 track car, I can tell you the guy can focus and has balls that clank.
It wasn't too warm here yesterday, either, but handgrip warmers and 4 miles is doable I guess. Potholes and sand/salt this time of year just add to the "Frogger" video game aspect to it.
My RS1200 is nestled next to the 930 - my all-highway 30 mile commute is not enjoyable in the winter to contemplate using either until April-ish. I too salute you.

PS- any idea if the Andy Coumo's NYC congestion-tax & spend crap will apply to MC's or not?

Whatup Ken? Good question. Its just a proposal at this point, and one getting mixed reviews (mayor doesn't like it) so who knows if it actually flies. I seriously doubt it will provide any special treatment for motorcyclists because there is no concerted effort in this country (perhaps with the exception of California) to provide incentives for and encourage commuters to adopt MCs as their daily conveyance.

What I can see in brief research is the proposal would be a wash for me because I pay a toll to enter the "congestion zone" via Lincoln Tunnel. Apparently those who pay a toll would receive a rebate for that toll vs. the congestion zone charge. The charge is then obviously meant to penalize folks who commute to Manhattan via free bridges from Brooklyn, Queens & Bronx.

Couldn't agree more.

I rode out to Irvine weekend before last. Wish I had had a camera mounted for the ride home through Santa Ana winds. Once I got out of that, I was doing over 100 mph for hours at a time, so 4x speed would have looked really quick.

Nice video, I need to make one of my own some day. I commute 28 miles every day but 95% is freeway. I actually love it as I get my adrenaline going evertime I ride. My favorite part of my commute is on the way home where I split-lane at the red lights, it always gives me a good feeling when I cut to the very front of the line. For the record, I don't ever split lane at high speeds and try to be respectful to other drivers.

I've always wanted a bike, but I fear the stupidity of other drivers.. Already deal with lot of people driving like idiots on the daily, but I think i'd be dead if I were to commute on a bike. Even with headlights on and two brothers racing exhaust on my friends cbr1000rr he was hit in daylight. Car pushed him into the median and fell off his bike, skidding across 4 lanes on the freeway... miraculously not getting run over. After that, I told myself nope, I'd rather die in a car.

Nice video Jacob!

I have to say, not my cup of tea.

How much time do you think you save Vs. a car?

I do as well - no exceptions. I actually prefer to wear motorcycle gear when on the bike. It's more comfortable and also keeps me warm. I have several sets of gear for both cold and hot weather.

Great video. The 4 miles is pretty exciting at 4x speed. Probably not boring at 1x speed.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo...s/beerchug.gif

Can you please tell us about the camera set up?

That particular journey was 13min in real time. On average I'd say I halve the commute time vs. other modes of transit. MC really shines when the traffic is snarled up as you can keep moving while larger vehicles are gridlocked.

Nothing too special. A Polaroid Cube camera, mounted to the handlebar using RAM mount components.

Spent many many years commuting and driving around NYC on a bike. DO NOT miss it one bit!

I stopped after way too many close calls.



.

got cha!! so not a "round the clock loop recorder" if the bikes on, it's recording?

i might film my commute tomorrow. play it back 5x so it doesnt bore anyone..hope i dont have any close calls to cattle. :)

For me personally, I save a lot of time commuting on a bike. I am able to get around slow cars very easily and I generally split-lane at red lights so I am always at the front. When freeway traffic slows to a crawl, I will split lane up the middle but I never do that when traffic is moving at a normal pace. I probably never split lane any faster than 20mph and that might even be high (I'll have to check it next time).

I feel like I have much less commuting stress and actually enjoy the ride. I compare my riding to skiing; I am totally focused on the ride and my surroundings. Sometimes I take the long way just because it's fun.

The one thing that does slow me down is getting on the gear (i.e., helmet, gloves, pants, jacket, etc..). When I walk out of work with friends, they are always out the parking lot before me - but, I always catch them :)

Since I live in a rural area, I only use my bike for errands usually. I enjoy riding where there isn't much traffic, so riding is pretty stress free compared to riding in commuter traffic. Many decades ago, the bike I had then was my only way of getting around for several years. I finally gave it up and bought a car. I was tired of people turning left in front of me, changing into my lane without looking, looking directly at me as they changed into my lane, and not noticing me as they charged up behind. I also felt my number was coming up eventually. I'm glad I can get on my bike and just enjoy the sun, air, and the experience.

going into San Francisco. it's like running the gauntlet.

you save LOTS of time on a motorcycle. if i ever get a transfer into Oakland, i am buying a lane splitting , road carving, fuel sipping commuter..

and rain gear of the gods. :)