Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Mr Skrunts on 15 September 2010, 20:54:39
-
What bikes would you lads recomend for doing courier service. Possibly long distance work, needs to be presentable.
Just asking on behalf of a friend, and how much would you invest in such a bike.
Plus are there any couriers on here, what things should bike couriers whatch out for.
Just helping a friend out, new job, all advice welcome, as they need to get themselves a bike.
TIA. :y
-
For distance/motorway type couring - probably a Honda pan-european. Expensive, but very comfortable and last forever.
-
Suzuki 1200 bandit
-
Not much protection from the elements. ;)
Lovely for wheelies though. :)
-
Suzuki 1200 bandit
I am not a biker but even I would have thought that was'nt suitable.
-
Chain or shaft drive for the job.
-
Does the bike need to be a high Ccc
Seems the job is approx 400 miles a day between offices for the same company.
-
Shaft drive requires less maintenance, which is an advantage in that job.
Big engine would be best, for the same reasons a big engine is best in a car if your doing 400 miles per day, :y
-
Does the bike need to be a high Ccc
Seems the job is approx 400 miles a day between offices for the same company.
That can't be safe. 400 miles a day in a car would have you shattered by the end of the week.
-
Takes a lot less time to do it on a bike though, so more time to rest - seemples. :y ;D ;D
-
Does the bike need to be a high Ccc
Seems the job is approx 400 miles a day between offices for the same company.
That can't be safe. 400 miles a day in a car would have you shattered by the end of the week.
Not really... I used to do 200+ miles a day in the car and another 500 or so in the lorry ;)
-
I like looking at bikes, but would never go on one!
However this is the bike for the job Skruntie, a BMW K1200 LT. A tourer that eats the miles in comfort, has storage bins, and isa BMW! Well they are good enough for the police and military 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/Transport/BMWK1200LT.jpg)
:-* :-* :-* 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
-
Not as reliable and possibly more expensive than the Pan European. ;)
-
Going by what Albs posted this a current contender.
(http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk106/skruntie/Bikes/21212.jpg)
-
Thats the one. :y.......wouldnt be seen dead on the ugly contraption myself, but if I had to do 400 miles a day It would be the tool for the job. ;)
-
Not as reliable and possibly more expensive than the Pan European. ;)
A BMW not realiable! :o :o :o What's this heracy I'm hearing? :-/ :-/
:D ;) ;)
-
Get an ex-plod ST1100 Pan Euro. Ignore the later 1300, they make folks reach the end of their string far too early, hence plod simply stopped using them and caused Honda to recall them. On the 2nd hand market, they are a fair price but, not for me, thanks....
Could happily do several countries in a day on my old company ST1100.....
-
What bikes would you lads recomend for doing courier service. Possibly long distance work, needs to be presentable.
Just asking on behalf of a friend, and how much would you invest in such a bike.
Plus are there any couriers on here, what things should bike couriers whatch out for.
Just helping a friend out, new job, all advice welcome, as they need to get themselves a bike.
TIA. :y
Think you are a closet biker Pip :) ;)
-
What bikes would you lads recomend for doing courier service. Possibly long distance work, needs to be presentable.
Just asking on behalf of a friend, and how much would you invest in such a bike.
Plus are there any couriers on here, what things should bike couriers whatch out for.
Just helping a friend out, new job, all advice welcome, as they need to get themselves a bike.
TIA. :y
Idiots in cars opening doors >:(
-
I remember when couriors all used CX500s
-
I remember when couriors all used CX500s
Yup, had one for yonks. 4 stroke with valves and shaft drive and water cooling. Ran just fine..... 8-)
-
Not as reliable and possibly more expensive than the Pan European. ;)
A BMW not realiable! :o :o :o What's this heracy I'm hearing? :-/ :-/
:D ;) ;)
Not saying they are particularily unreliable, just not as reliable as the pan european - st1100 as Brucie rightly states, and for what they are, they are very overpriced imo.
-
Get an ex-plod ST1100 Pan Euro. Ignore the later 1300, they make folks reach the end of their string far too early, hence plod simply stopped using them and caused Honda to recall them. On the 2nd hand market, they are a fair price but, not for me, thanks....
Could happily do several countries in a day on my old company ST1100.....
Seem to remember the 1300 had some sort of serious issue when it first came out. cant quite remember what (linked brakes ??) spoilt its reputation somewhat though. :y
iirc Honda initially denied there was a problem, but after plod had quite a few issues with the bikes, they relented, but it was a bit too late.
-
I remember when couriors all used CX500s
Yup, had one for yonks. 4 stroke with valves and shaft drive and water cooling. Ran just fine..... 8-)
Usually referred to as "the ugly duckling" or "plastic pig" iirc - had to shoot them to stop them running though. ;)
-
I remember when couriors all used CX500s
I had one of these for a number of years, full fairing, a lovely bike, not particularly fast but that suited me... ;D
My last bike was a Honda Nighthawk, basically a retro CB750, I Americanised it with a screen and spotlights, loved it. Sold it after health problems took the fun out of biking, a silly thing to do looking back... ::)
-
What bikes would you lads recomend for doing courier service. Possibly long distance work, needs to be presentable.
Just asking on behalf of a friend, and how much would you invest in such a bike.
Plus are there any couriers on here, what things should bike couriers whatch out for.
Just helping a friend out, new job, all advice welcome, as they need to get themselves a bike.
TIA. :y
Think you are a closet biker Pip :) ;)
I would love one but I dont think I would last too long.
But a big lottery win with a lot of private ground I would start a collection of my favourite bikes from over the years.
KH 250 or 400
RD400
Suzuki X7
Honda CBR 1000/1100 6
Kawaski Z1300
Laverda Jota
Ducati Desmo
Bennellie 750/6
Suzuki GT750 (Flying Kettle)
Kawaski 750 Turbo
All shite by todays standard's I suppose but I dont care, I just like the big bike feel.
Plus there are lot's of today's modern bike both sports and tourers I like.
Plus I like the bike powered kit cars and the car powered trikes.
Dont even get me started on the car/rally/race car collection I would build if the money was available.
But we can all dream.
-
Checked with a mate who has owned a wide variety of bikes over the years, is a bike mechanic/CBT instructor and who has done more than his fair share of courier work , mostly Norfolk to London runs and ,as Albs and others have said, a pan-european gets his vote :y
-
Not as reliable and possibly more expensive than the Pan European. ;)
A BMW not realiable! :o :o :o What's this heracy I'm hearing? :-/ :-/
:D ;) ;)
Not saying they are particularily unreliable, just not as reliable as the pan european - st1100 as Brucie rightly states, and for what they are, they are very overpriced imo.
Ah, right thanks Albs! :y :y :y
Thanks for answering my query as I was wondering if I was asking one of those questions no one could actually answer! I know really nothing about motorbikes, but am impressed by so many big ones (BIKES!!!!) I see, and the old BSA and Triumps of my childhood! 8-) 8-)
I am still unclear though as to why the other bikes mentioned are so much better (apparently). Is this based on engineering reality, or mans preffered perception for say posing reasons?? :-/ :-/ :D ;)
-
Pannie 1100, no contest. my current bike (RF900 Suzuki) is more sporty, but would have my pannie back in an instant. Mine was ex-AA patrol bike, but did 75k miles without a murmur before I put another 13k miles on her Totally reliable, comfortable, and inspires confidence. Avoid the 1300, "pan-weave" at 110 mph due to a suspension design problem killed that one for the police after several officers DIED riding them with no other vehicles involved!!
S/H you can get a really good 100 pannie for £1500 or less. Buy the one with ABS and heated everything, and you won't be dissapointed.
HTH??
Mike.
-
Honda Deauville.
Shaft drive
Fairing
Built-in luggage (might want to get the larger size pannier lids)
Can get a 'big bore' kit (I think).
Don't need any more than that really. :y
-
Honda Deauville.
Shaft drive
Fairing
Built-in luggage (might want to get the larger size pannier lids)
Can get a 'big bore' kit (I think).
Don't need any more than that really. :y
might want to get the larger size pannier lids
I would urge caution there DJ as some bikers seem inclined to take things to the extreme :o ;D
http://www.snotr.com/video/2895
-
Honda Deauville.
Shaft drive
Fairing
Built-in luggage (might want to get the larger size pannier lids)
Can get a 'big bore' kit (I think).
Don't need any more than that really. :y
might want to get the larger size pannier lids
I would urge caution there DJ as some bikers seem inclined to take things to the extreme :o ;D
http://www.snotr.com/video/2895
;D ;D That is WAY beyond extreme!!!
-
I remember when couriors all used CX500s
Yup, had one for yonks. 4 stroke with valves and shaft drive and water cooling. Ran just fine..... 8-)
They even did a turbo version! :o
-
Chain or shaft drive for the job.
Shaft definitely better from a maintenance point of view - at 2000 miles a week a chain can go off the corect tension etc very quickly. Only downside of a shaft is it can make a bike handle unpredictably in poor road conditions. If this work is continued throughout winter for example then its possible to have the back end stepping out for no other reason than the shaft drive - I have personally experienced sliding towards the apex of corner (as opposed to away from it, as would be expected) if riding a little too aggressively. Dont get me wrong, I do not consider this serious enough to avoid a shaftie- and would support the general consencus that a pan 11 is the right tool for the job - but if i was biking all though winters again it would be a factor in my decision making.
-
What bikes would you lads recomend for doing courier service. Possibly long distance work, needs to be presentable.
Just asking on behalf of a friend, and how much would you invest in such a bike.
Plus are there any couriers on here, what things should bike couriers whatch out for.
Just helping a friend out, new job, all advice welcome, as they need to get themselves a bike.
TIA. :y
Think you are a closet biker Pip :) ;)
I would love one but I dont think I would last too long.
But a big lottery win with a lot of private ground I would start a collection of my favourite bikes from over the years.
KH 250 or 400
RD400
Suzuki X7
Honda CBR 1000/1100 6
Kawaski Z1300
Laverda Jota
Ducati Desmo
Bennellie 750/6
Suzuki GT750 (Flying Kettle)
Kawaski 750 Turbo
All shite by todays standard's I suppose but I dont care, I just like the big bike feel.
Plus there are lot's of today's modern bike both sports and tourers I like.
Plus I like the bike powered kit cars and the car powered trikes.
Dont even get me started on the car/rally/race car collection I would build if the money was available.
But we can all dream.
The Guy across the road has a Jota, it sounds lovely.. but not as nice as his Manx Norton with Mega pipe on :o :)
I used to like the X7 too :y
-
Speaking as an ex courier with a lot of experiance of distance and city work... My main choice would be either a K series beemer or a pan euro with a flip screen fairing i`d also go for a kwaka gt750 with a full fairing and maybe a decent set of panniers...But make sure you keep on top of your services and budget for a good set of waterproofs i.e. Dainese with built in body armour and 2 pairs of waterproof gloves as you will get cold and wet...Plus fork out for R.A.C. recovery and other such expenditures.....I had 2 bikes 1 for work and 1 for back up and if your going down the self employed route keep all ya reciepts..... :y :y
-
i was a motor cycle courier till last year when i got hit of my bike and bugged my knee up.But when i did it i had a Honda pan european and went like a dream and was very good on petrol :y
-
Thankyou so much for all the replies.
As memntioned the info is for a friend, and from what I gather the Pan european is at the top of the shopping list at the moment and an 1100 at that.
Will post again if they get a bike.
many thanks for all replies. :y :y :y :y :y :y
-
i'd say Honda Deauville or a Pan, you want shaft-drive really, Honda's are bullet proof.
Ex-Plod BMW RT's go cheap at auction, i saw 08 plates for for just 4k at auction, in very good condition, be more expensive to maintain then Pan, but the boxer engines are suited well to the job, as they are not high-reving just provide loads of low down torque.
Bandit totally unsuitable for courier work, no weather protection, crap for any decent storage.
RT will offer loads of weather protection, even plod versions had heated seats!
-
you really need 2 bikes.
a small bike up to about 500 cc and a large bike.you are doing this to make money and running a big,heavy bike round town is just wasting money.
also bikes breakdown or if you have accident drop it etc and if you off the road you not makeing money.
-
you really need 2 bikes.
a small bike up to about 500 cc and a large bike.you are doing this to make money and running a big,heavy bike round town is just wasting money.
also bikes breakdown or if you have accident drop it etc and if you off the road you not makeing money.
That sounds like good advice to me. I was only a courier for one year back in the times when speed cameras were hair driers held at the side of the road ..... But I do like that.
Only other words of wisdom that I would offer are that if working all year - fit handlebar muffs - ugly as sin but so much appreciated after even a single winter without.
-
i`m glad i gave it up really cause you have to put the hours in to make any decent money and when you do it all goes back into the bike and plus after a while you start to hate bikes and riding em for pleasure.....but i did enjoy working down the smoke for 6 months before returning back to wolvo and brum depots and going back on the distance circuit.....
-
i`m glad i gave it up really cause you have to put the hours in to make any decent money and when you do it all goes back into the bike and plus after a while you start to hate bikes and riding em for pleasure.....but i did enjoy working down the smoke for 6 months before returning back to wolvo and brum depots and going back on the distance circuit.....
Pleased to see you enjoyed your taste of civilisation, Bertie! ;) ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D