Motorcycle Commuting

[jwasbury]

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:

[Porsche-O-Phile]

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!

[HardDrive]

Really cool. Thanks for sharing!

[FPB111]

Nice bike Jacob! That shadow looks familiar.
Frank

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

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!

That’s 42nd St and 9th Avenue

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by FPB111

Nice bike Jacob! That shadow looks familiar.
Frank

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 😀

[flatbutt]

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

[FPB111]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

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 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.

[vash]

Wow! My commute pales in excitement.

How many miles one way?

[tevake]

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

Cheers Richard

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by vash

Wow! My commute pales in excitement.

How many miles one way?

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

Originally Posted by tevake

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

Cheers Richard

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"?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

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!

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

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.

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.

[widgeon13]

Looks like a dangerous video game!

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

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.

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.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

4x speed? So its only a 10 min commute? That's not so horrid. A half hour of that would be tough.

Don't think I saw a turn signal in the whole vid...

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

[oldE]

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

[gsxrken]

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?

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

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.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Looks like a dangerous video game!

Couldn't agree more.