Motorcycle commute

[Kilofoxtrot.1]

Hi, new to this so take it easy!

do any pilots commute to your base airport by motorcycle? What motorbike are you using, and how do you find transporting gear ect..
also, what’s the parking like? Is there bike specific parking available at your base airport?

[gileraguy]

I'll kick it off by relating that I sold a Vespa 125cc scooter to a pilot for thhis purpose. Simple to ride and more powerful than a 50cc scoot that you can ride on a car license. He haad to do rider training in SA, so his personal safety was more enhanced than a car driver jumping on an underpowered 50kmh limites 50cc scoot.
(He was returning to domestic operations after working overseas, had a young family and it was in Adelaide, so the weather and traffic were more benign than some cities...)

[Sunfish]

try riding down a wet tullamarine freeway home in the dark, exhausted after a hard days work and being tailgated by a B double. Give up the bike commute idea except perhaps in dry daylight hours. Bikes are inconsistent with marriage, children and class 1 medical certificates.

[mates rates]

Learning to fly at Bankstown and no money, motor bike was the only way to go.But after that,haven’t been near one since!!Thats 50 years ago!!

[Tankengine]

I know a few pilots that use bikes on day/short trips with racks/panniers for bags.
Both dom and intl terminals here in Sydney have free parking.
OP shows as being in Dublin? So probably on wrong forum anyway.

[Roj approved]

I ride to work, rain, hail or shine, as do many of our pilots, it saves the pain of the staff carpark bus.

It is also a great way to forget about the days delays and other issues as you have to get in the game when riding.

A top box is your best friend, store you wet weather gear in it, lock away your jacket/helmet. Leave your pants at work and wear your Kevlar jeans/leathers and get changed when you get there.

[RENURPP]

I rode a Ducati 900ss (last bike) and various models prior for 35 years. No problems. Parking was easier, the commute was quicker and no accidents. A back pack to carry overnight gear and essential flying gear.

[Mach E Avelli]

Avoid anything low powered or with dubious handling - which is typical of older style scooters. I have never ridden one of the whizbang 600 cc scooters now available, as they don't appeal. A motorbike needs a few essentials such as enough power and good handling to get away from that tailgating B double/tosser in his boy racer, anti lock brakes, some weather protection (no such thing as complete weather protection) and dry stowage for your overnight kit. If you are doing big distances you won't want the clip-on racing handle bar style, even though they can look rather cool.
Buy the best you can afford, which does not mean the biggest. Big touring cruisers with a rear armchair and stereo for the wife/current squeeze are not suitable for a daily commute. If you can't pick it up after you drop it in the car park, it is too big (not to mention you will look an even bigger tool).
But if you drop it at speed, picking it up is academic.

[machtuk]

I rode a bike for years, got knocked off a few times, near got killed several times. I started doing Aeromedical work in my early days of flying, within a week I never rode a bike again! I value my life more these days!

[Aussie Bob]

I ride a high performance bike to work for two reasons:

1. It is a country commute that I couldn’t stand doing in a car. Indeed if it wasn’t for the motorcycle I wouldn’t want to go to work at all.
2. Most days I hit triple digit speeds starting with a two. Being able to blatantly break the law with impunity on the way to and from work puts me in a good mood for fronting up to fly with it’s associated inane regulations.

[ShyTorque]

I've been riding motorbikes on the road since the 1970s and still ride one as as leisure activity (might go out on mine today when the fog clears).

Thirty years ago I used one to commute to work, albeit on a reasonably open route, in all weathers except snow. But these days (and a few jobs down the line) there is far more traffic about, most of it being far larger vehicles travelling at much higher speeds. Although I would have no problems parking at work, my daily commute is almost one hundred miles, with most of it necessarily on an extremely busy motorway. No way would I do it on a 'bike because it just wouldn't be practical or safe enough, imho. Also, I wouldn't want to leave my bike outside in a public car park for a few days while I'm away working.

[Roj approved]

I ride a high performance bike to work for two reasons:

1. It is a country commute that I couldn’t stand doing in a car. Indeed if it wasn’t for the motorcycle I wouldn’t want to go to work at all.
2. Most days I hit triple digit speeds starting with a two. Being able to blatantly break the law with impunity on the way to and from work puts me in a good mood for fronting up to fly with it’s associated inane regulations.

Gold, i wish i could hit triple digits, but to many Fun Police where i live. maybe time to move

[Capn Bloggs]

Avoid anything low powered or with dubious handling - which is typical of older style scooters.
I don't know about that, the two clowns I almost ran into yesterday on the bike path seemed to be getting along OK on their scooter... :ugh:

[VH-UFO]

If your gonna do it, get yourself a pair of kevlar jeans.

Good for if you come off, excellent in the winter for keeping you warm.

[layman]

http://acrs.org.au/files/arsrpe/RS010019.pdf

"Research has shown that the motorcycle crash risk in countries such as Australia, Canada, USA and the United Kingdom to be up to 17-20 times that of car occupants."

Many years ago I heard an orthopaedic surgeon claim in an interview that Australia could close (re-purpose) an 800 bed hospital if motorbikes were banned.

[NOSIGN]

I ride a high performance bike to work for two reasons:

1. It is a country commute that I couldn’t stand doing in a car. Indeed if it wasn’t for the motorcycle I wouldn’t want to go to work at all.
2. Most days I hit triple digit speeds starting with a two. Being able to blatantly break the law with impunity on the way to and from work puts me in a good mood for fronting up to fly with it’s associated inane regulations.
same same well put

[Sunfish]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J2eoBWZp64s

[Lead Balloon]

Definitely a Ducati Panigale V4 S. Almost as fast as your average bug smasher. 370Km/hr. Save time getting to the airport, and if your old fashioned flat 6 doesn't start the fan on the front rotating, you can ride there in just as quick a time. And waaaayy cooler than the Kawasaki that Tom Cruise rode in Top Gun.

[Mister Warning]

Honda VFR800 awesome bike - leave my overnight and nav bags at work so no luggage. Makes my day....

[Capn Bloggs]

leave my overnight and nav bags at work so no luggage.
No study at home? Tut tut! :=:)

[DeRated]

No study at home? Tut tut! :=:)

He has MSFS.....

[Mister Warning]

Bloggs I sit at work on PPrune and studying the manuals til the phone rings and we scramble!
My time off is my time, not theirs!

[geeup]

Whilst in GA I commuted on motorbikes.
Even in the wet season.
Now days all to hard

[ShyTorque]

Definitely a Ducati Panigale V4 S. Almost as fast as your average bug smasher. 370Km/hr. Save time getting to the airport, and if your old fashioned flat 6 doesn't start the fan on the front rotating, you can ride there in just as quick a time. And waaaayy cooler than the Kawasaki that Tom Cruise rode in Top Gun.

Getting caught driving/riding over 100mph in UK is very likely to result in an automatic driving ban. For someone like myself who has no practical alternative other than driving myself to and from work, on an average speed camera infested route (average speed max 50 mph), the published top speed of any vehicle becomes merely academic.