commuting to work

I bought my SV in march with the intention to commute and have fun. I decided to get in in the spring so that I would have the whole summer to get used to the bike and riding again after a long break (so fate gave us no summer). My round trip is 30 miles and I dont worry about clocking up miles.

I couldn't put up with riding a sccoter after the SV - probably be a bit dangerous as I may go for overtakes then find there's no power.

I look forward to going to work so I can ride, then anticipate going home again. It takes me half hour to get in as I take the shortest route (15miles), going home can take me two hours as I take the fun routes.

So my vote goes for "use the SV and smile".

if he bought another commuter he would have 2 lots of insurance, tax, mot and maintenance like tyres to pay for, which in the end is less money to spend on the sv

havent really got much choice. i own a scooter 125 mind.....in all weather. the only exception is when its double figures below zero, ice, and snow. otherwise its a 4 bus journeys all round! *green with envy*

It's a mode of transport not a fashion accessory! Get out there and USE IT!

I commuted every day (yes, even when it snowed ) on my SV and covered about 12,000 miles a year for three years. The bike never gave me any probs (make sure you get a 'fender extenda' though) and - so long as you're careful - it's an absolute hoot!

You'll also find that you get so 'in touch' with your bike, riding it every day, that your leisure miles are more fun too!

Now I'm doing the same on a bloody-great Triumph and I'm still enjoying every minute. Depreciation? pah!

Originally Posted by howardr

It's a mode of transport not a fashion accessory! Get out there and USE IT!

I commuted every day (yes, even when it snowed ) on my SV and covered about 12,000 miles a year for three years. The bike never gave me any probs (make sure you get a 'fender extenda' though) and - so long as you're careful - it's an absolute hoot!

You'll also find that you get so 'in touch' with your bike, riding it every day, that your leisure miles are more fun too!

Now I'm doing the same on a bloody-great Triumph and I'm still enjoying every minute. Depreciation? pah!

Couldnt agree with you more. I dont ride on maybe 30 days of the year, the rest i'm on it everyday for at least an hour. You get to the point were you dont have to think about the motorcycle at all and purely concentrate on the road ahead!

I've never missed a day for bad weather. There was one day last year i hadnt second thoughts. I think it was a Wednesday and the ice was REALLY thick on the less used roads. A bit dicey, so i took it extremely easy on that day (it didnt help that most of the controls were iced up! ). Godbless the man (or woman) who invented long johns!!

I was on my way to work when I had my off. Realistically there's only one way to get there and that corner still gives me the creeps even in the cage as I remember the whole damn thing too vividly. So no I won't commute by bike any more.

Don't bother with a GS500, that bike should have been terminated a long time ago. Suzuki's cheapest bull**** paint jobs coupled with a steel frame makes the bike rust to hell, and the SV does the same sort of MPG if not hammered and retains far more value.

My GS500 was a big heap or scrap ****e. I hated it more than you will ever know, (the engine problems cost me £300 in labor and couldn't be put right, because cause of problem couldn't be located)

The ER5 will rust even more.

Scooter if you want the MPG. Cg125's are ok but corrode terribly and are not as reliable as the SV by a long shot. I'll always remember the front and back spokes snapping on mine and it snaking all over the road.

When you have to ride on 6" of fresh snow on top of 2" of ice on two wheels, you then learn what smooth cornering and throttle control is


until you have tried this and survived (Many winters) you cannot call yourself a biker :P

tut tut all you fair weather riders (says he who hid on sunday when it ****ed down)

Normally i tend to ride in all weathers. all the time and every trip to work is on 2 wheels

Originally Posted by amarko5

When you have to ride on 6" of fresh snow on top of 2" of ice on two wheels, you then learn what smooth cornering and throttle control is


until you have tried this and survived (Many winters) you cannot call yourself a biker :P

tut tut all you fair weather riders (says he who hid on sunday when it ****ed down)

You wuss!

I totally agree on the ice/snow comment! Pah to all you fair weather bikers, pah i say!

use the SV and find a longer way home and have fun