Daily Commuter

[alanmcd]

Curious if many ryders use a Spyder as their daily commuter vehicle or their daily driver? We will be using it as a part time commuter vehicle in addition to a touring fun machine.

-Alan

[jcthorne]

Not every day, but I do commute to work on a regular basis on my Spyder. I have to admit weather plays a large part in how often.

[flaggerphil]

If I wasn't retired I'd look very closely at using my RT as a daily commuter. In the past I used motorcycles as my daily transportation when I lived in Hawaii, the Philippines and Key West.

[daveinva]

Daily commuter here, ride into work 3-4 days a week.

The good:
-- Plenty of room in the frunk to pack a work bag/lunch/gently folded suit coat/grocery run on the way home from work
-- Big, weird bike = more drivers see me on it than on two wheels
-- I've commuted in every kind of nasty mean weather but heavy ice and driving snow, totally confident on it.
-- GREAT brakes have saved me more than once

The bad:
-- Gearing up (and down) for a relatively short commute is a PITA, but I can't help myself, I'm an OCD ATGATT
-- My Spyder's got to warm up a bit (one bar) before it runs well, can't just hop on and ride
-- MPG nowhere near as good as a two-wheeler
-- No lane splitting (yeah, it's illegal here, too-- but in a pinch in a nightmare of a traffic jam, the option to split is sometimes the safest route... no can do on the Spyder).

Overall? If I still owned a car, I'd probably commute more in the car than on the Spyder. Don't get me wrong, I love riding it every chance I get, it's just not as convenient as a car nor as flexible as a small bike/scooter. Paradoxically, I'd probably enjoy riding the Spyder more if I had a LONGER commute-- it's just a bit involved to ride just a few miles door-to-door.

[CyncySpyder]

And we've done many road-trips but most those miles were from daily commuting right here in the Cincy/NKY area as we live in Covington and I work in Sharonville.

Its doable as a daily driver, but as with anything, and as others have mentioned, you need to be prepaired for any weather, cause I'm sure your well aware of Cincy weather changing frequently. Back in 2011, we even rode all winter long, minus 6 days due to too much ice/snow on the roads. Don't really do that anymore, cause we learned our lesson about the corrosive effects of road salt on our trailer hitch.

And don't forget about the Cincy area Pot-Holes from hell, they can really do a number on you cause unlike a 2 wheeler, you can't miss them nearly as easily. We've lost a few things off the sled from hit'n some nasty holes, especially on I75.

Keep rain gear stored in one of the saddle bags, cause you know the weather forcasts around here are rarely accurate

[harrypottar]

Not anymore!!!

I work from home and my wife got mad at me for riding the spyder down the stairs, now I have to keep in the garage...

harry

[finless]

35 miles each direction to work. Mostly freeway but some areas of bumper to bumper traffic.
Love being able to ride in the HOV lane

Bob

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Everyday commute? Of course, if the weather ain't crappy or cold! About a mile each way from home to coffee shop 4 or 5 days a week and 30 miles each way for a weekly coffee/breakfast get together with guys from church. That one I refer to as the "Christian bull s***ters" group! Plus trips to the local NAPA store and weekly Lions lunch. Hmmmmm, maybe it's all those short trips why I'm only getting about 26 mpg, suppose?

[Chupaca]

I am retired but ryde everyday. Will range from 15 to 80 miles. If I was working I would go back and forth and love it. Well may have an issue if it is all heavy traffic. These are not great parade machines. In heavy traffic I don't care which model or year they will get hot...

[happyspyder2039]

Curious if many ryders use a Spyder as their daily commuter vehicle or their daily driver? We will be using it as a part time commuter vehicle in addition to a touring fun machine.

-Alan

Yep I ryde Rain Snow or shine unless its icey

[bodymanpainter]

I ride ours to work when the wife isn't riding it! When see rides it I ride my beast the Honda VTX 1800N.
Toby

[szohar]

I do ride it to the office when weather is good, love it!!!


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[Bogie]

Yes, as the weather permits I put more miles on riding to work than pleasure riding.


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[joebryanjr]

I also work from home but ryde it to lunch every day, weather permitting. Then longer fun rydes on weekends with friends. It is great for small grocery runs, also.

[eagleeye299]

I use mine to commute to work when ever possible. I look forward to those long after work rides home. Takes about 30 min to get to work and about 2 hours to get home.

[Bob Denman]

...Riding whenever the weather allows...
The Jeep gets way less use; once the riding season breaks out!

[TonyMac]

Daily commuter here. A brutal 4 miles to work and with the new 2014 taking back roads, it just gets to operating temperature. On the way home, it is get on the highway, go down three stops and home in 7 minutes.

Downside on the 2014 is the frunk is significantly smaller than the 2008. I can barely get my full face Arai helmet in there and then it is wedged halfway down. The jacket and gloves go in the back. The side cases are pretty much worthless. Thinking about going to my dealer's Spyder Days when the BRP reps will be there to tell them to make the bags bigger. Of course, I'm not going to buy a new Spyder for a while but they did so much to make the 2014 perfect, they just missed on size.

Luckily I work for a tech company so I can wear jeans and boots and t-shirt everyday so I don't have the hassle of changing into work clothes. Same comments as upthread in that all the lights on and the bright yellow color, I feel like I'm more easily seen.

[finless]

Ha! I forgot I made this a while back.

My commute on Socal Freeways




Bob

[Kraut]

Nearly every day. I'm a retired teacher, now working part time as a substitute teacher. Whether it's elementary, middle, or high school, the kids love it and it's a good ice-breaker for new classes.

[eddieshep999]

Here in the UK we have a time change from GMT to British Summer Time

British Summer times ends the last weekend in Oct when the Time is changed to GMT giving more light in the mornings and darker nights for the Autum/Winter period - I don't tend to ride the Spyder much to work during this time as I only have about 3 miles to go from my home to my place of work and its dark in the morning and dark in the evenings with cold temp and Sometimes frost/snow with salt being added to the road surfaces

Once we change to British Summer time the last weekend in March this now gives us lighter mornings and lighter evenings for the Spring/Summer period - unless is raining I use my Spyder as often as I can

It means I share the annual mileage between my Car and the Spyder

The only issue is the Spyder electrical system does take its toll on the Battery due to the constant short journeys
So I ensure the Spyder is put on a Battery Tender after each short trip - Longer trips are ok

Of the two I enjoy riding the Spyder the most

[ARtraveler]

I did the daily commuter thing from 2001 until 2011. It was always on the "bike of the moment". From 2008 until 2011--Spyder time.

My commute was 25 miles one way, so got to ryde 50 miles each day--regardless of other stuff. Rain or shine from April through October. My car was only used a few times each summer.

Since I no longer have day jobs in Anchorage, I now have my daily commute to pick up the mail. 50 to 100 miles per day--most days.

[JXVolker]

Every day that weather allows I ryde to work on my 2012 RSS. It is about a 30 mile round trip and somehow I always manage to take the long way home.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Ha! I forgot I made this a while back.

My commute on Socal Freeways

What video editing program do you use, and how easy is it to use? I hope you don't say a Mac program! Not that have I anything against Apple, it's just that that's not the available platform at my church!

[BlkHawk73]

Won't have mine until next year but certain don't see why I wouldn't use it as a daily driver/commuter. Have but a 6 mile ride to work and it's not a biggie with the Bonneville the days I don't have to bring my son to summer camp (solo seat that is NOT being changed). Not ashamed to say it would be 100% weather dependent as I'm a fair-weather rider.

[Silvervette05]

And we've done many road-trips but most those miles were from daily commuting right here in the Cincy/NKY area as we live in Covington and I work in Sharonville.

Its doable as a daily driver, but as with anything, and as others have mentioned, you need to be prepaired for any weather, cause I'm sure your well aware of Cincy weather changing frequently. Back in 2011, we even rode all winter long, minus 6 days due to too much ice/snow on the roads. Don't really do that anymore, cause we learned our lesson about the corrosive effects of road salt on our trailer hitch.

And don't forget about the Cincy area Pot-Holes from hell, they can really do a number on you cause unlike a 2 wheeler, you can't miss them nearly as easily. We've lost a few things off the sled from hit'n some nasty holes, especially on I75.

Keep rain gear stored in one of the saddle bags, cause you know the weather forcasts around here are rarely accurate

Good to see you back, You ok ?