Motorcycle and Scooter Commute Stories

Shortly after a the end of an exercise on the Air Force Base, I put in for some leave and decided I was going to make my trip home on my motorcycle. It was a Yamaha 650 Maxum and I loved that ride. The overall duration of the trip was 30 hours as I didn't do any site seeing along the way; but here's a tip for you two wheel travelers; If you are passing through maryland in the mists of the night, you might consider pulling over and spending the night in a local motel. I didn't and I regretted it as I had to pull over on the side of the road until the fog lifted. Yes the fog.

Another trip home from work on my Fatboy... I started my trek home from work. Met with a partner (Ray), I occasional run into on my trip home. We were traveling down the street when a New Toyota Solora passes us in the rt lane and proceeds to change lanes into ours without signaling. The woman driving, I dont think gave it a 2nd thought. We then changed lanes to the rt lane to get away from the woman, when she comes upon slower traffic and again changes lanes into ours without signaling. This happens about 2-3 more times.

It's been my experience that bikers tend to enjoy riding together while commuting. It's a bit of an unspoken thing. As a BMW rider, I've also noticed Beemer riders have quite an affinity for other Beemers on the road. This can oftentimes make for fantastic and fun commuting.

So there I am in a pouring rain on my fabboo new V-star (purple honey!) stopped at a major intersection at the bottom of a steep hill waiting on the light when I notice the woman in a panel van in the right lane a car or two ahead of me sticks her head out the window and looks me dead in the face. I figure she's another one of those "Is that a chick on that bike?!" gawkers and I simply smile and wave back.

It was a beautiful summer day in Santa Cruz California. I was on my way home from work on my 2002 GSXR 1000. I was traveling on a 2 lane road behind an old yellow F150 pickup truck. He put his right turn signal on and started to slowly change lanes. I started to pass on his left side as he was now partially in the right lane when he suddenly to my suprise decided to make a U TURN. As shocked as I was I did not panic and pound the rear brake. I grabbed a handfull of front brake which caused me to do my first stoppie. After comming to a complete stop i was close enough to touch his gas cap.

I just bought my scooter a few days ago and i had never rode one before. I test drove one that was the exact model and i felt comfortable. 150cc and 55mph was what i wanted to get to work and school. Well i left work early to beat a incoming storm. I came to an intersection to make a left hand turn. The road was wet and i turned wide. I fell on my left side and skidded to the curb. I couldn't tell if there was a car behind me but i made it ok. Little shaken but good nonetheless. Got up turned around and went home. Thank goodness i had a helmet and a jacket.

Like everyone that lives in northern NJ you must use one of the major highways. Mine is RT 80. I have been riding for sometime but never experienced RT 80 during the rush hours. It was a hot day and figured it would be a great ride. After the ride I have decided that I value my life way more then a couple of gallons of gas. Also, by the looks of it alot of other rides figure the same.

Riding to work in Montclair, CA.from Riverside area. I tend to stay off the freeways because of the traffic and construction in the area. So a majority of my travel is on major throughfares off the beaten path on my 2007 Fatboy. I was traveling home, one evening (about 4:15pm) when I was stuck beside a Toyota Corolla. I noticed as I ventured by that there was a woman on a cell phone leaning to the left (phone on that side). As we progressed at about 45 mph, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed she was slowly moving into my lane. I moved over a bit and honked, still no acknowledgement.

I picked up my bike on Saturday. I had just recently passed my certification test, so I was anxious to ride. After a weekend of family abandonment in order to "practice" It was Monday morning and time for my ride. I had already driven in many times. 14.5 miles around the lake and up the creek. It would be all back roads. I am not a freeway person. The temperature was 42 degrees, chilly for many, but invigorating for us Minnesotans. What a joy!

I commute from wakefield to Hull (in the UK) everyday, about 115m round trip. Been feeling a bit rough for a few days, went to work anyway, as the day dragged on I felt worse, and worse. Gave up after lunch and stupidly thought I'd make it home ok. Got out of Hull, onto the M62, then off it again due to a police diversion. Held it together until rejoining the motorway some miles later, felt really bad and totally messed up the corner and hit the crash barrier about 45mph and fell off, the bike (moto guzzi aluminium) carried on without me to the end of the slip road then toppled over.

Last summer, I was leaving my office in San Francisco and headed toward the 8th st on ramp for the Bay Bridge. Those who are familiar with the on ramp know that it is a two lane on ramp that merges in to one lane. In variably the on ramp is a parking lot at rush hour, cars are lined up inching onto Eastbound 80 that leads to the bridge. This day was no different. And like other similar days, I carefully split the two lanes to get onto the freeway. As I was proceeding, I noticed a large 6 wheel pick-up truck up ahead to my left.

Commuting during January in Virginia is difficult. I lived in Herndon and commuted about 25 miles to Alexandria - near Washington DC. One afternoon, in Jan. 2000, I found myself looking at snow that was supposed to come later that night. It was only 19 degrees Fahrenheit and my battery was too weak to turn over the engine. I attempted to bump start my motorcycle by pushing it down an incline in the snow covered parking lot, but the rear tire skidded along every time the clutch was released. I finally got a jump start and headed home.

Yesterday I was on my way home from work, and had just pulled out onto an arterial street from filling my bike's tank ($4.00 fill up as opposed to $30 for the minivan). I had changed to the inside lane on this 4-lane street, which put me next to the center "turn left anywhere" lane running down the center.

On a daily basis, this is my best AND worst commute.

I don't know why I continue to take this two lane highway that snakes through a mountain connecting Riverside and Orange County. I should be smarter than that. But I do, and if you are thinking of taking the Ortega to commute, maybe you will benefit from my experiences.

The Pro's: Gorgeous winding roads and TREES (hard to find in the desert of SoCal)

I'm spoiled.. I live in NE PA, & my commute is 48 miles each way, through The Delaware State Forest & several designated State Game Lands.. the only "traffic control device" between my home & my work is a sign that says "Hunt Safely"... I can take the "long way home" which takes me through the Promised Land State Park, "Sky Top" & "Lords Valley"..

I started riding my first bike last spring, a 1983 Honda 450, after a fantastic riding/safety course at a local college on Easter weekend.

It's only a 15 minute ride to work, most of it on a 12-lane freeway at rush hour, with construction going on in at least 2 places along the road.

November 6, 2003 - Its a normal ride to work in California on I15 from Murrieta to Rancho Bernardo, CA. I reach highway 78 and traffic backs up as usual. About 2 miles into lane splitting I pass 3 CHP officers on thier bikes (not splitting). No problem, we ( another bike is following me) are safe and sane. Doing about 25mph I notice a 2 door Camaro open the drivers door directly in my path! I nail the brakes and find out how much traction BOTS dots DON"T have. Bike finally low sides on the right and I slide down the road on my Roadcrafter.

There I was, minding my own business, riding along at 4:30am on my way to work. It was clear when I pulled onto Hwy. 223 but I hit patchy fog within a couple miles. I left my PIAA driving lights on because they actually burn up the fog as I'm riding through it.

Up over a hill, slight turn to the right and then there's a short straight section down the other side. Fog is getting a little thicker. I'm about halfway down this straight section when all of a sudden all I can see is a herd of elk running across the road in front of me.

Out on my regular saturday afternoon ride with my mates... we were driving down the motorway in the far left lane as our off ramp was aapproaching. As we started to turn off the motorway a BMW came flying from nowhere (I later found out he didnt want to miss his turn off and proceded to change across 3 lanes at once to make the off ramp), as you can imagine the carnage that followed. This BMW clipped my front tire sending me flying off to the left of my bike.

The year I bought my first motorcycle I had many obstacles to overcome; I had to first get rid of an old boyfriend who told me not to buy a motorcycle, risk being disowned by my parents because I wanted a motorcycle, and convince my boss that I was going to buy one anyway, so he might as well help me find a good one. Finally, I purchased a used Kawasaki 450 LTD and was in heaven. I sold my car to help pay for the bike. The weekend after purchasing my bike I enrolled in the Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginner riding course.