Who has a 20+ ONE WAY commute? Do you scoot?

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:24 pm

I was informed recently that I need to report to work from another location, so my commute has gone from 10 miles one way to 30+ miles one way (24 miles if I take the MP3 or car and go on the freeway, but much of the freeway is too fast paced for the Buddy at around 70mph...).

The entire route can be done off the freeway, but there's a 8 mile stretch that typically is moving slow enough that I can do it on the scooter.

I took my Garmin Nuvi (GPS) and set out to give it a shot bright and early this morning (Saturday), so I could see what it looks like with out having to deal with all the traffic.

On the way there, I went one route, which took about an hour (about 10 minutes of that was on the freeway, so I could probably figure an additional 10 minutes of travel if I DIDN'T take the freeway) and was 32 miles. On the way back it was about the same amount of time, but instead of driving on the east side of Lake Washington, the Garmin had me going on the west side of the lake. The commute was on much faster roads (though it still avoided the freeway), and was 7 miles longer.

The shorter route was more scenic, and I much preferred that and the slower speeds. The GPS was trying to get me to go the longer, faster, route on the way there as well, but I knew the way for about 1/3 of trip, so I ignored the Garmin (...."recalculating"), which is why I was able to try the east side route.

On the way back, I passed a Hummer, and couldn't help thinking to myself: "When I get home, I will have gone 65 miles, used less than a gallon of gas, and had a fun outting. THAT guy, on the other hand, would have used around 6 gallons of gas (combined freeway and side road driving), and has no idea what fun he's missing". Fuelly indicates 12-16 mpg for Hummers (combined on/off freeway driving), which is around $3,890 a year (assuming 16mpg)--if that person drives 15K a year. If I assume 85 mpg for my scooter (sometimes it's better, of course), it will cost me $202 a year for fuel to go that same number of miles. Sorry, slight sidetrack, but it just blows me away how much money people spend that they could be saving/investing if they were driving a more fuel efficient vehicle. Not to mention the price tag that they have to shell out.

Their fuel bill alone would buy a scooter each year.

Anyhow 32 miles vs 37, and I like the 32 mile route better. I kind of doubt I'm going to be doing that commute on the scooter too often, but who knows.

Anyone else out there with 20+ ONE WAY commute, and what do you think about it?

I did get to see this once I got to the half way point.

hal888 · Post by **hal888** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:48 pm

I have only about an 18 mile commute each way to work, and I can ride along some really wonderful roads before I get into the city. I love my rides in and out, and even if I'm stuck in traffic it doesn't really bother me any more.

For me, the issue of a longer commute is hours of daylight. I don't like to take longer rides at night - there are just too many variables including a lot of wildlife. As the days get shorter, the time getting to work and leaving work also changes, and there comes a time between late November and Mid-February when it just doesn't work anymore for me.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 8:27 pm

Some very good points. Darkness also means you can't see debris and potholes as well, and when there are a lot of cars on the road, a scooter (with it's one headlight) may not stand out as much...might just appear like a car with one headlight out in the distance or something.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 9:51 pm

once or twice a week I have a 38 mile each way commute.

It is certainly enjoyable on the buddy, though the last bit is in rush hour traffic and very annoying.

I prefer doing it on my Kymco, which is more made for the job. I still rarely take the highway on that one because it's often very aggressive driving for 5 minutes, then total stop, rinse, repeat. People get anxious and weird, cut you off, etc. So the scenic route is much less stressful.

I am not sure I would do it every day however.

jprestonian · Post by **jprestonian** » Sat Sep 01, 2012 9:59 pm

27.3 miles one way, five days a week. Not quite an hour each way, depending on traffic lights (50 -- yes, I counted!) and school buses.
.

anthony · Post by **anthony** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:23 am

I have a very short commute, but my thinking is this: if I had to commute 20+ miles to work, I can think of no better way to do so than on a scooter. I drove a car for most of my life, and my commutes for the many jobs I've had have largely been stressful and frustrating. I never feel this way when I'm on my scooter; I might get mildly annoyed when, for example, a cager pulls right out in front of me because they don't see me, but that feeling is ephemeral, and in no time I'm back to having a big smile on my face because I'm enjoying the ride so much.

I will confess, I only started riding a scooter this year, so maybe it's different because it's still a somewhat new experience for me. Whatever the case, I love any opportunity to ride my scooter, and so a longer commute wouldn't faze me one bit. It sure as hell beats the way I used to feel driving a car to work!

vwgrl1999 · Post by **vwgrl1999** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 5:26 am

My commute is 32 miles one way and I do it on the Stella as often as possible. We've had fantastic weather here this week and I've riden the scooter every day! I head into work in the late morning/early afternoon and head home well after dark. It takes me about 40-45 minutes one way at an indicated 50-60mph.

My main concern is always visibility so my Scorpion jacket has reflective stripes on it and I recently added some reflective tape to my Fulmer helmet. I've never had a problem being seen....except by semi-truck drivers at an interstate interchange area.

I really enjoy my daily rides to and from work on the scooter! The big seller for me is that I can't be bothered by my phone going off if I can't hear it over the sound of the wind around my helmet!

Tristik · Post by **Tristik** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 9:58 am

~~
I currently drive about 20 minutes to work via the freeway in the car. My factory is moving another 22 miles further away from that over the winter to give us more space. Those 22 miles are on non-highway roads.

Luckily, I work 3rd shift. Very little traffic to and from work. Come next spring (or earlier), I plan on riding my Blur every day where there is no rain in the forecast regardless of temperature.

I'll be riding to work at night, but it will on roads that I am very familiar with. My only concern will be watching for various Wisconsin wildlife (deer, raccoons, turkeys) on the road. I can't see paying for gas in my car everyday for that at my current wages and the Blur triples my cars gas mileage.
~~

squidsie · Post by **squidsie** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 11:26 am

I start a new job soon about 30 miles away from where I live. I could stay off the freeways to get there. Google Maps shows it will take about an hour to get there. I am thinking I might try it one of these days on the scooter to see if it's doable. I really hope it is because it would be extremely nice to get so much riding in. I have only been riding for a month though and that is what makes me nervous!

claygone · Post by **claygone** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 12:44 pm

My commute is 22 miles each way. That was the reason I got the Blur. It's a few back roads and a route that the top speed is 50mph. I find it a great way to get to work.

JHScoot · Post by **JHScoot** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 1:03 pm

i have a 40+ mile round tripper 3 days a week if that counts. its in heavy urban traffic, but right after "rush hour" both morning and evening. a lot of people still drive like its rush hour, though

i like it. sometimes wish it was 4 or 5 days a week

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun Sep 02, 2012 4:53 pm

I suggest taking whichever route has less traffic. A few miles difference is no big deal but the added mental exhaustion of having to watch out for distracted, hurried, rush hour commuters makes a huge difference. I sometimes would take a 30% longer route home just so I could do it relaxed.

Also if you have to ride rain or shine, like I did, invest in some good rain gear including gloves and boot covers. It will be your best friend.

I also think armored riding pants are a must for a congested daily commute. Rush hour drivers are prone to more than your average number of last second lane changes and other wacky moves that put a scooterist at increased risk.

Lastly, if you are riding the Buddy at night upgrade to a PIAA HS1 Super Plasma bulb. You'll wonder how you ever rode at night without it.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:05 am

squidsie wrote:I start a new job soon about 30 miles away from where I live. I could stay off the freeways to get there. Google Maps shows it will take about an hour to get there. I am thinking I might try it one of these days on the scooter to see if it's doable. I really hope it is because it would be extremely nice to get so much riding in. I have only been riding for a month though and that is what makes me nervous!

When ever I'm trying a new route and am a bit concerned about it, I first check it out in the early morning hours on the weekend. Less traffic, and less pressure to hurry.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:11 am

Skootz Kabootz wrote:I suggest taking whichever route has less traffic. A few miles difference is no big deal but the added mental exhaustion of having to watch out for distracted, hurried, rush hour commuters makes a huge difference. I sometimes would take a 30% longer route home just so I could do it relaxed.

Also if you have to ride rain or shine, like I did, invest in some good rain gear including gloves and boot covers. It will be your best friend.

I also think armored riding pants are a must for a congested daily commute. Rush hour drivers are prone to more than your average number of last second lane changes and other wacky moves that put a scooterist at increased risk.

Lastly, if you are riding the Buddy at night upgrade to a PIAA HS1 Super Plasma bulb. You'll wonder how you ever rode at night without it.

Hard to say which route will have less traffic, but the shorter route should be a little slower and a little less hectic.

I do have some good rain gear, including waterproof heated gloves and heated grips, so that's covered. Unfortunately, there's no garage parking there, so the scooter will be sitting out in the rain, so I don't know how often I'll decide to ride due to that...

I do have armored pants, and I hear you (and agree) about them being better for safety, but they are so cumbersome to put on, and so uncomfortable to ride in that I never wear them unless it is very cold out (as they also have an insulating layer).

I do have the plasma bulb on both of my Buddy's. I agree it's a nice upgrade.

Witch · Post by **Witch** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 3:26 pm

I had a 23-mile commute for a while when I lived in California. All I had was a scooter to do it with. Taking the buses for the same trip pushed about 3 hours and $4 each way, but on the scoot it was usually about 45 minutes. Burbank to Santa Monica, lane splitting about half the way on the freeways. I'd be the only one moving for a good amount of the trip! Coming back might take up to an hour and a half, but it was still way faster than the bus or a car.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 4:40 pm

My commute is just over 20 miles each way and I've done it for 4 years.
Takes me about 45-50 minutes depending on traffic and trains (I just don't understand why we need to let coal trains or cargo trains run in this country during peak commuting hours).
I sometimes make mine a little longer and take a really scenic route home.

If your commute will be as pretty as the pic you posted and you aren't pressed for time, I say "go for it" as often as is practical.
It's whatever you are comfortable with. Some see anything over 10 miles on a scooter as crazy or unnecessary and others go for cross-country trips.
I'm in the middle. I'm taking the afternoon off (for my B-day) and going on an 80 mile ride up Boulder Canyon and through some of the Rocky Mountains just for the hell of it.

Whatever you decide, have fun and be safe!

rick71454 · Post by **rick71454** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 7:56 pm

Hello michelle_7728:

You are on my thread about 2009 Buddy 125 upgrade to Big Bore Kit 161cc.

I have a commute of 26 miles one way from my home to work in a small suburb of Portland Oregon......called Estacada. Along the way there are stretches for miles in which I ride full throttle. According to some, this is why my engine got overused and the compression sank. So I got the Big Bore Kit, installed. For those who seen my thread, there is an issue going on as my speed went down instead of up. How weird!!

Here are some suggetions...........................
When the dark winter arrives, you might not see pot holes until you hit them.

The roads are slicker with rain and applying your front break could flip your Buddy and you on your side as this happen to me.

Wear protective visible clothing no matter how hot, cold, and wet.

A shop owner suggeted that if I am going to gun my 125cc engine at full throttle for so many miles, I ought to stop the engine for a few minutes in the midst of my commute to cool my enjine and not redamage it .

Not sure about the 4th fourththird suggestion, but definiately the first 3 three...........please be mindful of those.

Thanks
Rick71454

KeLynn · Post by **KeLynn** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:34 pm

I'm juust under at 19 miles/45 minutes one way. I try to scoot unless I have a reason to need my car, or unless I'm running late (taking the car/expressway knocks almost 20 minutes off my commute, not counting the extra time it takes me to gear up and get my scooter out of the garage).

I just got my scooter this spring, but I plan to commute with it until the highs dip below 40F or until it starts getting dark too early (I ride through a few rough areas and have no desire to head into those on a Buddy in the dark).

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:39 pm

I ride about 25 miles each way, the scoot seems to deal with it just fine.
Me however, it has become another story altogether.....

avonpirate · Post by **avonpirate** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 3:22 pm

I commute just 15 miles a 22 minute trip. I'm a newbie, and this morning I am glad I grabbed a down jacket and put it on over my armoured jacket. Leather pants over my shorts, tucked into leather hard toed boots. Next time I will wear leather ski gloves as my suade gloves work better in July and August. It was 35 degrees on my departure ... should be a beautiful fall, warm ride home.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 6:26 am

rick71454 wrote:Here are some suggetions...........................
When the dark winter arrives, you might not see pot holes until you hit them.

The roads are slicker with rain and applying your front break could flip your Buddy and you on your side as this happen to me.

Wear protective visible clothing no matter how hot, cold, and wet.

A shop owner suggeted that if I am going to gun my 125cc engine at full throttle for so many miles, I ought to stop the engine for a few minutes in the midst of my commute to cool my enjine and not redamage it .

Rick71454

Thanks for the comments, Rick71454,

No worries about my riding in the dark. I'm with you there. Not my preference, so I'll drive when it starts getting dark early.

Regarding slick roads, been there, done that myself...one of my Buddys was totalled when it had less than 1,000 miles on it from a woman pulling out in front of me in the rain, and that's exactly what happened...I went down and slid right into the side of her SUV. Bought that Buddy back, and several hundred $, and 3 years later, it's been going strong now for an additional 5,000 miles.

Regarding reflective riding wear, I exclusively ride with a high viz yellow jacket and high viz yellow helmet now. I'm convinced it has saved numerous cars from pulling out in front of me (though I still ride like they can's see me)...but at night, I'm under no illusions that that will help.

And lastly, the route I'm going to be going has 70% roads that are 35 miles per hour or less, so I'm good there.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Tue Sep 11, 2012 3:25 pm

I have a 6 mile commute each way... IF I decide to go straight there. The past several mornings, I've been taking the "scenic" route, punching in around 35-40 miles. Mainly sticking to the parkways up and down the Potomac before they become overrun with cagers and the sun starts to rise. It's been getting a little brisk lately, fall really came in overnight! I overestimated my ride in a few days ago, opting to go south and out of the way. I got past Fort Belvoir, turned back north and had an "oh $hit" moment when I realized I was cutting it down to the wire. I got in with just 8 minutes to spare. That's huge when I usually get in 45 minutes early to ease into my shift. Needless to say there were a few text messages checking in to see if I overslept or if I meant to drop a dime (*take a sick day*) and forgot to call!

kary · Post by **kary** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 8:49 pm

My commute is 23 miles each way. I have been using the scooter to commute and have been loving it. I have tried several different routes and will choose between them based on time and traffic. My scooter is a SYM Citycom 300 so it is freeway legal but I have been avoiding the freeway and having fun on the backroads. Freeway ride is about 30 minutes backroads take close to 40 but they are a much nicer ride. My biggest issue was last night riding home it was cold. I work until 10 pm on Monday and Tuesday and got home chilled last night. Brought a liner for my jacket tonight.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:44 pm

13 miles each way. Some highway, some city depending on how I choose to go. Sadly, none of it in any way pleasantly scenic. I do scoot depending on my needs.

Collette · Post by **Collette** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 2:27 am

I only average a 4 mile ride to work everyday

but once upon a time . .

I was riding 20+ miles one way to my boyfriend's house, sometimes twice a day (Ahh . . love) it was a straight shot for 15 miles and then a little turning through downtown. I loved the ride !! It always gave me a minute (or 60) to clear my mind. I like how riding the scooter forces me to have peace.

avonpirate · Post by **avonpirate** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:00 pm

Frost on the pumkin this am .... but I think I've got my scoot attire down. Over my office wear, Leather pants tucked into boots . My rechargeable heat vest under my armoured jacket. Silkie neck gator. Found 'lobster mitts' on sale at Walmart for $4. (thumb and forefinger glovelike; rest of hand in mitten) Panoptix glasses under full face helmet, clear visor down. Ride home will be very warm.... in hte '80s. I'll have to stow most of this. Great warm up for the coming ski season.!!!!

Modern Buddy

Who has a 20+ ONE WAY commute? Do you scoot?

Who has a 20+ ONE WAY commute? Do you scoot?

23 mile commute