Northern Virginia commute into Washington DC on a motorcycle?

[Andreas Nahr]

Hi -
I recently moved to Falls Church in Northern Virginia, and am currently
taking the Metro from West Falls Church to commute into DC (Dupont Circle
area). It's become too unreliable, and I am considering getting a
motorcycle to commute into work via 66.
Is anyone out there doing this? The advantages I see are:
- Motorcycles are exempt from Rte 66 HOV restrictions
- Since the bike won't be using a space, parking is free at my firm; I can
put it in a corner of the garage.
- It's cheaper? (Currently I spend $6.10 a day for metro/bus = about $1,500
a year. The bikes I'm considering are an early - mid 80's Virago 535, a
Rebel 450 or something similar; What's the yearly maintenance/operating
cost like on a bike like that, assuming it's in decent shape when I get it?)

My question is will the commute be shorter than the hour it takes me now?
From what I can see in the metro before it descends into/ascends out of the
tunnel before Ballston is that 66 is relatively empty around 8:30 am and
5:45 pm

Thanks much!
A

[Tim Morrow]

Post by Andreas Nahr
I recently moved to Falls Church in Northern Virginia, and am currently
taking the Metro from West Falls Church to commute into DC (Dupont Circle
area). It's become too unreliable, and I am considering getting a
motorcycle to commute into work via 66.
Is anyone out there doing this?

Andreas; you definitely need to subscribe to DC-cycles...

http://www.dccycles.com/

Tim Morrow

[Polarhound]

Post by Andreas Nahr
- It's cheaper? (Currently I spend $6.10 a day for metro/bus = about $1,500
a year. The bikes I'm considering are an early - mid 80's Virago 535, a
Rebel 450 or something similar; What's the yearly maintenance/operating
cost like on a bike like that, assuming it's in decent shape when I get it?)

Based on around 10k miles/yr, several of us recently came up to figures
ranging from $0.23-0.30/mi to operate our bikes. YMMV.

[Jaalinta]

Post by Andreas Nahr
Hi -
I recently moved to Falls Church in Northern Virginia, and am currently
taking the Metro from West Falls Church to commute into DC (Dupont Circle
area). It's become too unreliable, and I am considering getting a
motorcycle to commute into work via 66.
- Motorcycles are exempt from Rte 66 HOV restrictions
- Since the bike won't be using a space, parking is free at my firm; I can
put it in a corner of the garage.
- It's cheaper? (Currently I spend $6.10 a day for metro/bus = about $1,500
a year. The bikes I'm considering are an early - mid 80's Virago 535, a
Rebel 450 or something similar; What's the yearly maintenance/operating
cost like on a bike like that, assuming it's in decent shape when I get it?)
My question is will the commute be shorter than the hour it takes me now?
From what I can see in the metro before it descends into/ascends out of the
tunnel before Ballston is that 66 is relatively empty around 8:30 am and
5:45 pm
Thanks much!
A
--
_________________________________
"I find your lack of faith disturbing"
- Darth Vader, Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope
Andreas Nahr

Andreas-

Based on my experience (Aspen Hill, Md to Independence Ave) the motorcycle
commute is definitely cheaper and I get to work about 15 minutes earlier
compared to taking Metro. And if Metro Rail and Bus keep raising their rates
(as they are threatening to do again) it makes riding the m/c to work all that
more cost attractive.
My cost figures for riding the XL1200C (incl parking cost, maint and gas) is
about $3.20 per day compared to metro rail and bus which costs me $8.80 per day


Just be careful of the knuckleheads out there, especially some of the metro-bus
drivers and the taxi-cab drivers in downtown.

Ride Safe-
Jaalinta
'99 XL1200C Lazer Red & Black "Lil' Devil"
'02 FXDWG3 Black w/ Gold Flames "Darksider"

[Mike S.]

I'm going to top post here since I'm not really responding to anything
specifically in the posts below. Flame away!

I don't think I could do it! I'm out here in SoCal where lane splitting's
legal, and I don't think I could stand just sitting there in DC traffic
without going nuts! What's the f#*$ing point of owning a motorcycle if
you're just stuck in the same traffic as the cages? The cops would LOVE me!

When they make splitting legal around the Beltway, I MAY move back. Well,
that and change the weather! Brrr! I remember that winter thing, and don't
miss it.

Spring and Fall are another story...

Mike

<snip>

[William Peterson]

I've been driving to D.C from the North for 4 years now. Nowhere around
D.C. will the commute take less then a hour. Everything around there takes
at least a hour. There will be a lot of stop and go. It can take me over
30 minutes to go from one exit to the next. I haven't done it yet, but I'm
thinking about riding my motorcycle in when Spring comes.

Generally, a motorcycle is cheaper on maintenance then a car. Also gas
mileage is better then almost all cars.

bill

Post by Andreas Nahr
Hi -
I recently moved to Falls Church in Northern Virginia, and am currently
taking the Metro from West Falls Church to commute into DC (Dupont Circle
area). It's become too unreliable, and I am considering getting a
motorcycle to commute into work via 66.
- Motorcycles are exempt from Rte 66 HOV restrictions
- Since the bike won't be using a space, parking is free at my firm; I can
put it in a corner of the garage.
- It's cheaper? (Currently I spend $6.10 a day for metro/bus = about $1,500
a year. The bikes I'm considering are an early - mid 80's Virago 535, a
Rebel 450 or something similar; What's the yearly maintenance/operating
cost like on a bike like that, assuming it's in decent shape when I get it?)
My question is will the commute be shorter than the hour it takes me now?
From what I can see in the metro before it descends into/ascends out of the
tunnel before Ballston is that 66 is relatively empty around 8:30 am and
5:45 pm
Thanks much!
A
--
_________________________________
"I find your lack of faith disturbing"
- Darth Vader, Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope
Andreas Nahr