Hi, I'm probably going to get hung for suggesting using a 999 as a daily commuter :-D But, has anyone got real world figures for running one as a daily commuter? Currently looking at options for my next bike and want something I am interested in riding on a daily basis. I have previously run GSXR's as a daily commuter and am looking to see how servicing costs and intervals vary and an approximation of fuel consumption etc. My commute is a good mix of dual carriageway and central London, totalling approximately 300 miles per week. Any other constructive feedback appreciated. Many thanks. Mick
Hi and welcome. :smile: Commuting on a 999 , well I wouldent. Its hardly built for comfort,or riding in traffic. Like taking a thoroughbred racehorse out pony trekking.
I commute on my 999 a fair bit, up to 200 miles per week or so. Not so much this year though. If it were a little less susceptible to the effects of rain, I'd commute on it exclusively (except when work demands I bring the car in). But that's just me.
How do you find it Loz? How many miles do you get from a tank of juice and what are the service intervals like? Are the electrics really bad in the rain then?
I commute on my 749, 150 miles per week, a bit of dual carriageway and then through into south London. I've avoided the rain myself, but I hear that a few electrical issues can prevented quite easily and cheaply. I love commuting on the 749, it's skinny enough to get through aisles of traffic but not massively agile. The wrists take a battering but I'm never aching after doing the trips (only back hurts if I have a heavy bag). Can get hot if stuck in traffic but that means you have a reason to ride fast to cool it down! I can't help you with tank capacity :smile:
I also commute on my 749 all year round, it's the ultimate commuter bike. The skinniness is such a plus I hardly ever have to stop. If you're a polisher forget it, it will break your heart but I've always been more of a rider than a polisher. You will definitely get to know your bike well, if you use it rain or shine you will become fluent in error codes but at the same time realise that nearly all of them really mean 'clean the fuel pump relay'. Salt will eat your pride and joy so hopefully you have access to a hose at home? (I don't) But yes in summary, I've commuted for three years solid, shelled out loads on repairs etc but still love it. If I didn't live on the tenth floor and have no garage/hose I definitely could have saved some of the money I spent on repairs.
I once encountered a guy in a supermarket car park, while I was astride my all year round ST4s, who was riding a clearly well used 999 with a Tesco bag balanced carefully on the tank having done a bit of light shopping. Hero!
I do about 9000+ miles a year so one and a half services and it would alternate between minor and major each year, couple of sets of tyres. Bout a £1000 - £1400 I'd have to pull out paperwork to make a serious estimates, that's an absolute guess There some repairs that you could chuck into the equation but it's hard to know for sure what is caused by the commuting and what would have happened regardless over that mileage.
I find my 999 a right pain in town especially during hot weather. It cooks my right leg and the fan kicks in in slow traffic a lot. I've got an 05 model, maybe the earlier less tuned bikes keep cooler. I put higher bars on mine(cyclecat) but you can swap the std bars round for a similar effect apparently.
A good friend of mine commutes to South Kensington on his 999 and he doesnt complain, but then he using some fairly straight roads and its an easyish journey. I fear the communte into Central London during rush would kill the clutch in double quick time. I use my ZX7 for communting duties, especially handy as it would appear that scooter riders dont quite understand that I need to lean the bike to ride it away
Why not. If you can stand the riding position, go for it. Wont cost that much more than most other bikes uless you do mad mileage, in which case pay a friendly dealer to teach you how to do belts etc yourself and save some dosh that way
I have a 999 and have used it for a small commute to work this year in fine weather. But it's only about 20 miles and is country riding with a bit of motorway. Were I to work in Geneva (50 miles away) with its attendant traffic jams, I would buy another bike for the purpose - probably a Mutley of some description. The 999 is no fun in traffic and not many of it's many great attributes shine at 70 mph on a motorway. The racer's crouch is rubbish for traffic, your all round vision is restricted and the mirrors are obviously crap. If you're out for a thrash, supersports riding position is perfect. If you're trying to deal with a snarl up of numpties, it's less than ideal. My 999 also runs very hot in traffic and seems miserable. Servicing costs are more frequent than a Mutley too. My 2p but everyone is different.
Thanks for all the responses folks, especially those of you who have been brave enough to commute on yours. My biggest tow concerns would be that the servicing costs would kill the enjoyment and that they appear to run hot and unhappy in traffic. Had similar responses on another forum too. Still, will keep looking into it all as I need to own one before i get too old to assume the position :-D)))
