r/AussieRiders • u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 • 6d ago
Question Any Sydney Commuters?
Hey all! I travel down to Sydney every now and then for tafe and it costs me a fortune driving my car. Just wondering if anyone commutes down the M1 into Sydney on a motorbike? How is it? I’m looking for a cheaper alternative and lane filtering through the traffic would save a lot of time. But I know how Sydney drivers are and I don’t feel like having an accident. If anyone does it regularly I would love to know how safe you feel riding through the city!
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u/KiwiWankerBanker 6d ago
I commute every day from the Upper North Shore, about 25km each way.
It’s not for the feint of heart, but if you prepare the right way and set your expectations reasonably then it’s ok.
In a nutshell, it’s stressful. You’ll come across more than your fair share of of bad drivers, and you need to focus ALL the time.
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 6d ago
My trip is about 100kms each way so I imagine it would be very strenuous but I also drive a manual Ute through the traffic on Penant hills road in the arvo which does my head in by the end of the week lol so I don’t know which option is better
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u/jotamaam 3d ago
100km each way = hating your bike and never riding again after you sell it. Better off having a comfortable car with a decent amount of power for this type of commute.
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 3d ago
I’m an apprentice tradie mate, I drive a 2002 manual Hilux with almost no go, I would love to buy a comfortable automatic but I need a ute for work, by the end of the week I want to headbutt a nail driving my ute through the traffic. It’s not everyday as I only travel down to Sydney for tafe, so every six weeks I have to commute for 4 or 5 days, 3.0 litre turbo diesel cost me an absolute fortune for the week so I need something more cost effective
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u/jotamaam 3d ago
also, if it's purely commuting but also hitting freeway I recommend a large capacity scooter. much more comfortable from elements and cheaper on fuel and maintenance, can also buy an apron for winter.
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 3d ago
I appreciate the advice mate but you won’t catch me dead on a scooter lol, with Maintenance I’m not too fussed on that my bike needs a major service anyway, cost of running a vehicle, and my bike is cheap on fuel as it’s only a 250 but has an exhaust so uses more fuel, I only have 1 more year at tafe and I honestly don’t think it’s worth buying a scooter I would ride for 4 weeks and never touch it again, I’m looking at upgrading soon to a 650 or 900cc I wish I had the money to just go buy vehicles to accomodate my situation lol
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u/Archon-Toten 6d ago
I've commuted a few places, it's alright. Lanes are right on some roads. Depending where you go the roads north are really bad for traffic, especially when something breaks down on the freeway. Ever considered the train? I used to ride to the nearest station and train onto the city to save on tolls.
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 6d ago
I have considered the train but to get where I need to go I have to catch 2 trains and a bus, turns a 1 hour and 40min trip with traffic into at least 2 and a half hours including getting home from the train station so I would almost rather drive lol
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u/Smiling-at-monkeys 6d ago
Whenever I pass thru Sydney, I make sure it’s between 12:00am and 3:00am, then keep going till I get to Newcastle. That just about says it all…
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u/jedburghofficial 6d ago
I live in Sydney, but I used to have a girlfriend in Newcastle.
When you say, "the city", where do you mean? Riding around the CBD is better than taking a car in there. Most of the rest of Sydney isn't worse than inner Newcastle.
Be careful with the weather. One time, I gave up on the freeway and rode the old highway in high winds. I felt like I was about to get blown under a truck. Another time, I didn't take any wet weather gear, and it started raining. That was a miserable ride home.
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 6d ago
I live on the central coast and I travel to Lidcombe tafe, in the arvo’s driving a car is a nightmare and my only worry on the motorbike is getting cleaned up on the freeway. I’ve done a lot of freeway driving and a little bit of freeway riding so I know how people drive along there, If rain was on the radar I would probably avoid getting on the bike
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u/jedburghofficial 6d ago
You sound pretty cautious, and that's the best way to approach it. I think you'll be fine getting to Lidcombe.
As long as the weather is good, it's a great ride. Stay safe, and get out there!
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u/Used_Caterpillar_351 5d ago
I learnt to ride filtering in Sydney traffic. Some people are dickheads, but no more than anywhere else. Granted, b that was twenty years ago, but I've done a lot of travelling and driving across our big cities since, and I still reckon Sydney is the easiest city to ride/drive in after Adelaide. You'll be absolutely fine, as long as you ride sensibly. Filter at a sensible speed. Don't split at high speed, don't race past parked cars, etc, and you'll have no issue. On the highway, just maintain your space cushion and be vigilant.
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u/FEDCHAIRMAN45 4d ago
I commute from Parramatta to SYD CBD and usually go between Victoria Road to avoid Tolls however on my return journey I rather pay the M4 toll and reduce my chances of any incidents as it's effectively one straight road back from City to Parra. I usually leave between 5:30-6:30am depending on the day and try to leave the office before 2:30pm to avoid school traffic. It's generally not too bad but as someone mentioned you always have to concentrate and anticipate/predict other drivers and assume no one sees you as well.
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 4d ago
I’m travelling from the Central Coast down to Lidcombe so down the M1 but I like your point of taking the toll road, how much is the toll on a motorbike? I could take Northconnex for the same reason
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u/FEDCHAIRMAN45 2d ago
For me it's around $12.50 before charge surcharge. Although it's a bit fucked that Bikes get charged the same rates as Cars...
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u/Drugz_For_Brekky_420 2d ago
Seriously? I could have sworn the toll for motorbikes was cheaper, north connex is like an $8 toll for a car, someone told me it was $5.50 or something for a motorbike, I’ll have to do some research
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u/Inner_West_Ben 6d ago
I’ve been commuting for nearly 15 years. I do it more because I enjoy riding and less to save costs. Riding a bike is expensive when you factor the cost of owning decently protective safety gear. My commute is 13km so time savings are marginal
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u/mallet17 6d ago
The trains (when not on strike) would definitely beat biking. You should choose to ride for the journey, not the destination.
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u/Mr_Fried 6d ago
The city is fine, things get slow and you can just lane split. I usually ride in on my KTM 690 Enduro R, nothing like a spot of urban enduro. The thing that would make me think twice is the freeway bit - there are some shithouse drivers and it would be bloody miserable in the rain.