Long Commute

[butch3r]

Hi all.

My commute has been 6 miles to work and 6 miles back. It takes me about 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic on the freeway, # of traffic light stops, etc. It's not a bad drive. However, I'm taking a job which will be about an hour fifteen minutes away (It'll take longer considering hills and wind). I had to do an hour drive before and it's definitely a pain in the butt. Literally. I was wondering if I were to do this drive daily, can the PCX handle that? How about if I only do it once a week and the rest of the time stay in the area, how crazy would that be to the PCX? It seems like the PCX has the best combination of MPH, MPG, and price. I was thinking that maybe I should get a motorcycle for such a crazy drive. I'm guessing motorcycles hold more gas than the PCX. Should I stay with my PCX? I want to. Or should I get something else? Recommendations for good MPH, MPG, and price combo?

Thanks all.

[Tom192]

My pcx is doing a 70 mile round trip at the moment approx 1:10 each way, bike will be absolutely fine, your bum on the other hand may not be! Obviously keep up with the maintenance as 2500 miles flies by with me doing 70 a day but longer runs have seen me hitting 129 mpg

[WhiteNoise]

Wait! butch3r, how did things work out on the (drill-less) rear rack you wanted for pizza deliveries? You never got back to us. Sign me, curious WN

[butch3r]

Wait! butch3r, how did things work out on the (drill-less) rear rack you wanted for pizza deliveries? You never got back to us. Sign me, curious WN

My in-laws pizza place is worried that pizzas will slide around more with the turns on a scooter and there's less shock absorbers on bumps then a car our here in L.A. That's their logic. So it has been a no go so far.

[butch3r]

My pcx is doing a 70 mile round trip at the moment approx 1:10 each way, bike will be absolutely fine, your bum on the other hand may not be! Obviously keep up with the maintenance as 2500 miles flies by with me doing 70 a day but longer runs have seen me hitting 129 mpg

ok great. that gives me some comfort. that's the drive for me. 72 miles each way.

[Mister Paul]

Better on a Forza. Much better.

[gn2]

72 miles each way.

Will be doable but absolutely no fun at all on a 125.
I wouldn't consider anything less than a 300 for that distance, a 400 would be more realistic though.

[ScooteringAbout]

UK here, I've done 100 miles plus in a day no issue. US roads are different.

[Bash On!]

UK here, I've done 100 miles plus in a day no issue. US roads are different.

And LA roads are different than most US roads. If 6 miles is currently taking you about half an hour, even given different routes, are you sure 72 miles will only take 75 minutes?

+1 on something larger than a PCX. I think I'd save the purchase money and use it to get a place closer to the job. Nearly 150 miles round-trip each day in LA traffic would be brutal. Life is too short for that kind of punishment.

[Bash On!]

Wait! butch3r, how did things work out on the (drill-less) rear rack you wanted for pizza deliveries? You never got back to us. Sign me, curious WN

My in-laws pizza place is worried that pizzas will slide around more with the turns on a scooter and there's less shock absorbers on bumps then a car our here in L.A. That's their logic. So it has been a no go so far.

Saw a _bunch_ of pizza delivery scooters in San Jose, Costa Rica. Roads and traffic at least as bad as parts of LA. Perhaps Ticas don't care if the cheese is stuck to the top of the box. Try a test run--proof is in the pudding.

[Alibally]

It would require a service every 3 or 4 weeks as well at that mileage.

[Tom192]

70 miles each way will be pushing it!

[thunderkat59]

I traded my Burgman 400 for a 2011 PCS with 500 miles and dont regret it. I would determine where you are going to spend the most time. To me, the 400 was a chunker in urban traffic. Too big and cumbersome for me. I would love to have a big bike for long trips, but since I do 99% of my riding in town, I wouldn't want to go back to the 400 if I could only keep one. If the long trips were infrequent, I would just get used to it

[Jge64]

Certainly the PCX can do it , but I think in the long run, you will tire with something this small.

[Bash On!]

It would require a service every 3 or 4 weeks as well at that mileage.

Yep. The PCX's short maintenance interval could indicate that the scooter was not intended for the kind of high-mileage use contemplated by the OP.

[Mel46]

I had a Burgman 400 for quite a while and loved it. However, as above, it is not an easy bike for mostly in town use. On the road though, it was extremely comfortable. I could easily do freeway rides for hours on end. I ended up trading down to a pcx 150 because my wife and I spend so much time riding in and around town. That doesn't mean that we don't go on the road with them, though. We recently took a 250 mile ride on them. To do that we definitely bought custom seats and tall windscreens. Something to think about if you are doing long rides...comfort is important, as well as wind protection.

[Mister Paul]

It would require a service every 3 or 4 weeks as well at that mileage.

Yep. The PCX's short maintenance interval could indicate that the scooter was not intended for the kind of high-mileage use contemplated by the OP.

8000 mile intervals on the Forza 300. It's why I chose it over the Kawasaki J300.

[gn2]

8000 mile intervals on the Forza 300. It's why I chose it over the Kawasaki J300.

Despite the promising 8000 mile intervals the Forza hasn't exactly covered itsself in glory in the reliability stakes.
Quite a few people have gone through rear brake pads long before the first 8000 mile service and have had difficulty getting fuel pumps replaced.
Also the non availability of the correct size rear tyre in the USA is a complete disgrace.

[katschamne]

Like most said you can certainly do it although after awhile the comfort level might get to you. I still have my PCX 150 but I'm going to sell it. I bought a 2009 Silverwing and I love it. I have no problem with it in town or on the highway. I can tell you my husband and I took a trip down to Springfield, IL. He was on his motorcycle and I was on the Silver Wing. I had no problem keeping up with the 70 mph speed limit or the hubby. That was a 400 mile round trip in one day. There is no way I would have done that trip on the PCX.

[Mister Paul]

8000 mile intervals on the Forza 300. It's why I chose it over the Kawasaki J300.

Despite the promising 8000 mile intervals the Forza hasn't exactly covered itsself in glory in the reliability stakes.
Quite a few people have gone through rear brake pads long before the first 8000 mile service and have had difficulty getting fuel pumps replaced.
Also the non availability of the correct size rear tyre in the USA is a complete disgrace.

Brake wear isn't about reliability is it? Or service intervals to be honest.