Motorcycle commute
 

I've been considering commuting to work on my motorcycle for a while now, but I haven't delved into the practical aspects of it. Interestingly, I don't believe I've ever come across a motorcycle in the parking lots.

If you have experience with this, particularly around the NYC airports, would you be willing to share? Your insights would be much appreciated.

Flew with a guy in LAX who did it. He would strap his luggage works to the back of the bike. Hardest part he said was the leather, the rain, and the heat.

I probably wouldn't do any sort of long commute in a big metro area... if you already ride you know that kind of traffic is very fatiguing.

And if you do it long enough you're likely to get hit in rush hour traffic. Really not worth the career risk, or even six months on STD.

Anymore I only ride when and where it's fun and safe. And dry.

Did he carry his helmet and other safety gear on the trip with him?


Understood, Dad...

I'm aware of the details involved in riding a motorcycle, so thank you for that. My inquiry is specifically about the practical aspects of incorporating it into the life of an airline pilot, from those who’ve done it.

Can’t speak for NYC but the ORD employee lot for my airline has quite a few motorcycles and specific parking for them. Like others have said I think the biggest impediment besides the usual risk is storing all your protective gear and getting your luggage there. I’m not sure I’d leave expensive gear even in the crew room and bringing it on a trip is going to be massively inconvenient.

In a past life I knew a guy who rode his motorcycle to EWR and parked it somewhere by the bike racks at Terminal C. Worked out great for him, but he only bid one or two-day trips so he basically just had a backpack with him.

In theory you might be able to come up with a decent mounting system for a framed bag and something meant for a top box. That to me seems the trickiest part. Saddlebags for a flight kit? :D

where does your helmet and riding gear go once you get to the airport? what if it is raining? does your suitcase get wet? 5-day trip? etc

If you have never come across a motorcycle in the parking lots, maybe that is a "clue"

Imo at least at my airline and my base it’s theoretically possible it’s just a huge pain in the ass. You can keep a crappy spare bag in the crew room racks to toss your gear into so it doesn’t get stolen, keep a poncho and some covers with you for your bag, etc etc, it’s just at some point you’re spending kind of an insane amount of effort just to be able to commute via motorcycle.

I flew with a guy that would carry a small / soft bag on the Motorcycle. He would leave the overnight bag in the crew room and swap out the items that needed from home. Once he got to the airpot, he would change and leave his gear in the crew room.

I flew with a CA that rode his motorcycle but he only did day trips and lived 10-15 mins from the airport parking lot. He strapped his flight kit to the back of his Harley with bungee cords. I can't remember what he did about a helmet? But it wouldn't surprise me if he just didn't wear one at all. He also decided it was a good idea to ride the employee bus all the way to the parking lot and ride his motorcycle home & back during a 3 hour break between flights.

Understood, Dad...

I'm aware of the details involved in riding a motorcycle, so thank you for that. My inquiry is specifically about the practical aspects of incorporating it into the life of an airline pilot, from those who’ve done it.[/QUOTE]

Nice attitude, You'll soon just be another statistic.

​​​​​Nice. Seems like an optimal and rather seamless strategy.


For the few who feel the need to offer unnecessary lectures or pass judgments. I've raced competitively on tracks for a decade and have been primarily commuting on motorcycles for over 25 years. I appreciate the concern, but I'll be okay.

Given good weather, motorcycles serve as a superb way to get around. Alternatives in the tri-state area involve enduring bumper-to-bumper traffic or relying on a rail system reminiscent of a third-world country.


The seasoned sage has spoken. It's truly amazing to witness your unwavering commitment to engage in disputes about anything and everything, with absolutely anyone.

Motorcyclists understand the risks. OP didn’t ask about those.

Still, the attitude was unnecessary.

Ive been riding for decades and do a bunch of motorcycle touring every year, and have thought about riding to work. To me the issue just presented too many hassles for the reward. I’d think that a lot depends on the bike and the type of trip. There’s a big difference in packing for a trip when riding a touring bike vs a sport bike. Saddle bags and a trunk carry a lot of stuff and you can leave your helmet and protective gear locked in them once you get to the airport. Strapping a full sized roller board suitcase to any bike could obviously be problematic, but a nice soft side duffel bag could easily work. Some of the sport bikes these days come with small saddle bags and there is always after market trunk mounts that would work and could be quickly removed when not going to work. Givi makes a nice trunk that is very well priced if you don’t need to have your bike’s brand plastered all over everything that you own, cough cough Harley guys. Weather is always an issue, but rain gear can get you home, and if the weather is bad on the go to work day, just leave the bike in the garage. Mesh riding gear could easily cover your uniform while also providing protection. It’s very doable, but only you can decide if it’s worth it.

not really. The attitude of “you’ll be another statistic” is the inappropriate one. Nobody bats an eye when airline pilots buy a Mooney, but if you dare get on a bike they have to pretend to be your dad. Some things are dangerous, and worth it. For many of us, motorcycling is included in that

I have and decided it wasn't a good idea. I have no idea if you're a 55 y/o ex grand prix racer or a 25 y/o noob squid who just bought a liter bike and was raised to think there's no such thing as a bad outcome.

and yet, the answers to their questions about the logistics remain the same either way. But you HAD to pass judgement on the risks they didn’t ask about

You can figure out the logistics. Keep an old suitcase in the bag room and store your riding gear in it. It probably won't get stolen because it's in a crew room, accessible only to pilots, and because it's out of sight in a suitcase. Assuming major airline... there have been thefts at regionals but maybe now that they all get paid six figures they're not as light-fingered.

You might not want to store super-expensive gear in the bag room, so use a basic set for the commute. You can lock a beater helmet to the bike for chrisake.

I do motorcycles and GA. And skiing. But with this job I'm careful about how I do it. No "must get there on time" flights in bad weather. Same with bikes.

But I only commented in case the guy was a noob... you can buy a bike and get an M license with little to no mentoring in many places. Or it might help somebody else reading this.

cool. Maybe ask instead of declaring your judgement first?

Lots of us do it at LAX. I've always used adventure bikes like the GS or similar. Top box stows the gear and helmet gets locked to the bike. Aerostich Roadcrafter for commute gear with boots, gloves, etc.

The ability to filter in California and park in the central garages makes it an easy choice for me for many years.

I looked pretty hard into this when I still had a BMW RT and employee parking at IAD was in the garage.

It would have worked out using a lighter-weight Briggs strapped to the pillion and wearing a Roadcrafter. However, I ended up selling the bike, and employees have now been banished to the purple economy lot so it's not as advantageous as I'd like.

But with hard luggage and a decent wearable swiss army knife like a roadcrafter, I'd say super-doable and even fun.

Has multimillion-dollar career that has taken years of personal sacrifice.....


Wants to meat-rocket to work.


K

Y'know the beauty of this?

You don't have to do it! And that guy can! Everyone wins!

why do you care? Lots of people do dangerous things. OP didn’t ask you about risk

OP you’re a Jack-ass.
Go ride your crotch rocket in New York traffic with New Jersey drivahs then get back to us.

people share...and boom !

thanks dad
lectures
"judgements"

OP asked for experiences about the logistics, not lectures and about differing risk appetites.

I know there is a PHX CA with WN that does it. Seems like he just strapped his bag to the bike if memory serves. I think the locale is the biggest deciding factor, like in PHX it's mostly dry and warm, so hauling riding gear around is less important. In NY, I dont know if the payoff is worth the hassle.

I’ve commuted for 3 yrs now. Ride is about 25 min home to airport. I have Givi luggage on a Ninja 300: 56 liter top case, easylock side bags, and easylock tank bag. I have my rollaboard in my locker, so just transport dirty clothes home and clean clothes back (via plastic grocery bag), plus my briefcase. Trips are typically 6 days long. I have my all-weather gear stored in the side bags. When I get to work I take my clothes and briefcase out of topcase, and then that’s where I store my helmet.
I also have a rack mounted to the top case. That’s where I lash my rolled up bike cover.
All in all it takes me about 5-10 more min dealing with the mc over a car on either end.
Sometimes, if I have a lot to carry into work, I’ll transport the entire topcase to my locker. Givi makes a “trolley” for the topcase which makes it like a rollaboard.
Also I use electric gloves and vest for winter. I find it effective down to 20 deg or so. Bout the only thing I’ll decline to deal with is frozen precip on the roads.

here is what OP asked

I control-F'ed "logistics" and just didn't see it pop up.

"my bad" apparently

Yep. As a rider, I have some insight. The childish reply to someone else’s insight shows he’s looking for confirmation though, not insight. That’s my “judgement”. Dismissing someone else’s advice based on the notion they have more experience than you is poor form, naive, and disrespectful.

Friend of mine ( not a pilot) had stenciled on his helmet, “O Positive. Organ Donor.”

when you searched, did you find anywhere that they asked if riding was too risky for our careers? I bet not

it’s like you don’t know Rick at all……


I’ll throw some judgment of my own in….a Ninja 300 is a scooter…not a motorcycle.

And can we stop with the use of “they”? A person is a person….not plural.

Using 'they' like that has absolutely nothing to do with "the current thing"

"The patient should be told at the outset how much they will be required to pay."

[3]"But a journalist should not be forced to reveal their sources."[3]

This use of singular they had emerged by the 14th century, about a century after the plural they.[4][5][2] It has been commonly employed in everyday English ever since

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they

Its actually funny you mention scooters, because that is the correct answer here. One can easily put their suitcase in front of the seat between their legs.

On a big scooter (Think Suzuki Burgman) you'll hardly notice it.

I know a guy that commutes with his HD Ultra Classic. He keeps all his gear in the lockable storage on the bike. Sets the cruise control and listens to podcasts or music on the way. Sounds nice.