| Author | Message | ||
     Sillybooze |
Have yet to commit to the bike as of yet. I commute to work in San Francisco from Antioch. It's about 45 miles each way. Still considering other bikes as well. Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated... Thanks!~ | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Do it! It handles traffic situations alot better the the repliracers out there. | ||
| Kaese |
I do it from Pittsburg on a XB. Are you an 8-5er? | ||
| Sillybooze |
Yes ... everyday. I see you riding almost everyday on the blue bike. You've got the Firebolt, right? What made you choose the Firebolt over the Lightning? Not much on the front of the bike for protection from those foggy cold days. Or the super hot summer days in the East bay and hitting the fog bank coming out of the tunnel. Whats your take? edited by sillybooze on January 28, 2004 | ||
| Kaese |
Yeah, thats me. Are you riding or driving? Got a Frank Thomas suit with removable liners that keeps me toasty and dry. I have found that ski gloves work the best at keeping your hands warm short of getting heated grips. A couple of days when the temperature was below 40, my hands weren't the warmest by the time I reached work. I dress down according the the temperature. I have also found that in the summer, going home I sometimes take I-80 to Hercules and catch HWY 4 to Martinez. By going that way along the Bay, I avoid the heat an additional 15 minutes. Worth the extra 10 mile ride in the cooler temperatures. Road is better too. As for the fog Pittsburg is usually right on the edge of the Tule Fog and most times is not a factor after going down the hill to 242. I live very near the Sacramento river and occasionally the fog is pretty thick until going up the hill to catch HWY 4. I chose the Firebolt because of the faring. One of my first bikes was Yam XS100. I was more tired from the wind than riding. Put on a 2/3 faring and solved the fatique factor. Haven't had a naked bike since. edited by kaese on January 28, 2004 | ||
| Budo |
Well, I sold my 1998 S1W and bought a 2002 Yamaha FZ1. I am very pleased with the Yamaha. I added a GIVI windsheld, makes a difference parting the wind. This is a great all round bike. I commute on it. At one point 58miles round trip,pretty much five days a week. I rode to deals gap and back. Spent eight hours in the saddle at one stretch and felt fine. I am 48years old and kinda creaky. I can't stand the RR type bikes. Sure I miss the V-twin. There is something special about them. But I have to have a reliable bike and the Yamaha works real well. I have 9k miles on it and it has not even burped once. Just change the oil/filter, adjust the chain, and go. | ||
| Blackbelt |
heck i got a 2002 X-1, and i do 72miles one way every day. so 45 would be no problem. i say go for it, the XB9S is a bit more comfy than my stock setup. but now i got the Corbin seat and i can go a couple hundred miles or so till i have to make a pit stop. | ||
| Az_m2 |
I used to live in Martinez, just off of Hwy 4. I can't imagine commuting on a bike in that rush hour traffic (unless it's gotten better, it used to be bumper to bumper for about 40 miles). Crashed my '83 V45 Magna at highway speed just before the 580/24 interchange. Lots of memories from living in the Bay Area. Great place to live. | ||
| Baybueller |
I ride Livermore to South Hayward daily on a 9s and find it an exellent lane splitter. | ||
| Kaese |
AZ_m2, no it hasn't got any better. Remember all those orchards they had south of Antioch? No more, all single family homes. I think in Antioch alone, 7500 were built last year. From Bay Point to Discovery Bay/Byron is now solid suburbia. Bart has been built to West Pittsburg. Still have a two lane HWY 4 from Railroad to the Antioch Bridge. I don't know how those people that live there put up with the congestion. I have to agree with Baybueller that the XB is a excellent lane splitter. Small and nimble with some torque. The longest it took me once( and the entire 42 miles was a parking lot) was 1 hour. Not to brag, but I have made the trip with no traffic as fast as 25 minutes. I spent some time in the military getting a good feel of different places to live around this country. Grew up in Kansas, a tour in Alaska, Florida and chose the Bay Area as my home. Great place to live, but sometimes I wish 2/3 of the people would leave. Keith | ||
| Az_m2 |
I would still be there if not for the majority of my family and friends living in Phoenix. Although, the crowd of people did get to me. Take care. | ||
| Kaese |
Sillybooze, what is your take on the posts here? | ||
| Paulson |
Although I only put on about 15-20 miles one way daily, my XB9SL is the best and funnest for the commute so far. My last commuter was a Magna. | ||
| Sillybooze |
Based on what I've read so far, I'm planning on getting the XB9 Firebolt like yours once the tax return hits the bank. I'm looking forward to cutting through the parking lot of traffic out there. Saw you this morning. Got to give it to you man ... hell of a ride in I'm SURE! The bridge was a mess!  Probably come up along side of you within the next few months. Thanks for everyones opinion. This website is a great resource.  | ||
| Kaese |
Welcome to the world of Buellaholics. I don't know if you have any experience with the dealers, but most of them will match any price. You may have some trouble finding an 03 blue one though. I thought I found the last one, but saw one in Livermore a couple of months ago. | ||
| Ironiceberg |
Sillybooze, I live in Martinez and commute to Oakland every day. I see Kaese go by me all the time. I dont know if I can stand seeing 2 Bolts go by me in the morning!!!! What are you guys trying to do to me? LOL! If I didnt have to drive my service van Id be right there with you guys. If you see a white Astro van with DentPro on the side at least flip me off so I know you care. LOL | ||
| Kaese |
Troy, haven't heard or seen you in quite some time. Let me know if you still need to use my gauges. Now have about 10K. I think I saw your van a few times, but not lately. Next time I do, the finger you shall receive, with authority and pipes. |
