You will have to take into account a few things first.

Does it rain or snow often where you live?
Riding a bike consistently in these conditions can be extremely difficult, if not impossible some days.

Do you have the proper driver's license to drive the motorcyle?
States require specific licenses for motorcyclists.

Will you need to bring much to or from work?
You won't be able to pack much on that motorcycle and loading up a backpack isn't always a practical solution.

Those are just a few off the the top of my head that you will need to consider.

I used to ride motorcycles quite a bit when I was a kid and well into my late teens. I thought I was a great rider. I had years of experience and knew how to handle a bike really well compared to many other cyclists. During those years I probably crashed about 15 times. I never hurt myself seriously, but all it takes is that one time to permanently injure or kill yourself. I did ride a few times years later and couldn't believe that I used to ride often when I was younger. I tried driving a chopper in heavy traffic in Los Angeles and a few times in San Diego and was pretty nervous. I love bikes, but I know that if I buy one now I'll definitely go down at some point and I just don't think that is worth the risk.

Be sure to check the stats on motorcycle accidents, license restrictions and practice riding tons before you make that decision. The link below has some information and stats on motorcycle crashes.

Good luck and stay safe!
Source(s):
http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/motorcycle/

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Well, it's definitely not bad, but you may not want to drive 40 minutes at first! A lot of people are usually scared just first driving the motorcycle, so first drive to people's houses and errands. Then, when you begin to gain experience, you can go farther.

Though driving 40 minutes away on a bike is very economical, you'll have to fix your hair, and if you wear a suit or uniform, be sure to keep that from getting messed up!
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I don't think it's realistic to want to take a bike to work everyday, although it might not be bad do use it very frequently.

1. Inexperience: Like the poster above mentioned, you'll need to take into account your inexperience. My first time on a bike scared me to death, so I wasn't keen on going much further than a few minutes down the road. Obviously, this should go away with practice.

2. Luggage: Also, if you need to carry anything to work with you, you'll want to make sure it will fit on the bike easily and securely. If you need to take a briefcase, you'll want to figure out how to keep it strapped to you or the bike. Heavier items may also change your balance, so keep that in mind.

3. Dress code: Your work place probably has a dress code of some form. If you need to dress in business formal or casual, it's going to be hard to keep everything clean and in place on a bike. Keep your hair in mind too - helmets weren't designed for runway models.

4. Parking: Wherever you work, make sure you have parking available at or nearby. Some businesses may allow you to take your bike close to the building, but others may require you to park it like a normal vehicle. Obviously, parking in many cities is quite expensive, and while there may be a reduced rate on bike stalls, it may prohibitive for some people.

5. Traffic: Relating back a bit to the inexperience thing, traffic is something you need to take into account. If you're in a place where there's heavy traffic, or very aggressive drivers, it can be hard when you're on a bike. Start/stop riding isn't much fun, and semi trucks can really affect the way you ride. Also, if you're used to taking the bus, the 40 minute drive may be a lot more, or a lot less, depending on routes/traffic/bus lanes.

6. Weather: This can mean daily or yearly weather. Does it usually rain on your way to work? Is the road frequently wet? Does it snow often/ever? These things will really make a difference to your ability to ride every day, if not even year-round.

My best advice is to pay attention to other bike owners. If they seem to be out on the roads every day, then you might be in the clear for yourself. I'd still suggest keeping some bus tickets around, or have a back-up plan to get yourself places.
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That kind of depends on you and the commute. I take my bike to work everyday, I also happen to live 20min from work. If I lived 40min from work, I'd still take it. Why not, 40min is not a long drive.

Even if the whole drive were highway (which is boring as hell), it's still only 40min. I would definitly do it. It really depends on you.

An added benefit here is that motorcycles are allowed to 'whiteline' and at red lights, you're allowed to pass and get in the front of the queue.

Once you start riding, you'll see how addictive it is!
Source(s):
personal exp.

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Yes it is realistic and even longer commutes are enjoyable and easier on a motorcycle. The savings in gas alone can be convincing. The privilege of riding in the HOV lane and parking reserved for motorcycles is also an incentive.

In Los Angeles (where your Flickr site says you are located) it is legal to pass between cars in certain situations (like rush hour traffic) if it is done in a "safe and prudent manner". It's called Lane Splitting.

Driving to work (20 minutes away during non-rush hour traffic) in my car took 2.5 hours one way and 1.5 hours the other way. My motorcycle riding co workers got there in 30 minutes.

Weather is something to consider. If you don't mind putting on rain gear and getting splashed or muddy, even that won't stop you. But on the worst days (not too many in L.A.) you can always switch to a car or public transportation.
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How valuable is your time savings. Suppose, the time savings 30 minutes one way. Then in a day you would realize one hour of commute time savings.

The additional hour could be used for recreation and relaxation. How much are you willing to pay for the additional hour? Do you have the capability to pay cash for a new motorcycle?
Source(s):
A vehicle is a luxary.

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I think you'll need to decide on a few questions to determine if getting a motorcycle is realistic as your main form of commute. Here are some questions I would ask myself if I were in your shoes.

1) What is my primary objective in getting a motorcycle? Is it to save gas and money as most motorcycles have better mpg than cars (i.e. 2008-2009 Kawasaki Ninja 250 reports having 50-70 mpg)?

2) Is the route from my home to work a fairly safe route, or do I need to be on the highway in order to get to work? If there is a lot of traffic or I need to be on the highway, is it worth the risk riding a motorcycle everyday where one careless driver can cause me to crash?

3) Will it be acceptable or will I be looked at differently by my colleagues or clients if they see me riding a motorcycle in to work and walking in the office with a motorcycle jacket, helmet, gloves or any other protective gear?

4) If I have a car and motorcycle, how much will the insurance be for both of them? In Boston, MA, my car insurance is $1,400 annually and I got quotes for $1,200 additional if I were to purchase a motorcycle (2008-2009 Ninja 250) so I've put buying a motorcycle on hold because I didn't want to spend $2,600 a year just on car and motorcycle insurance.

5) Lastly, how much am I willing to spend on a motorcycle and does this make financial sense? Some nicer bikes cost easily near or over $10,000. I would try to make sure my emergency fund has at least 6 months reserve before making any large purchases. It might come down to a cost vs benefit thing where spending $5,000 on a motorcycle will save x amount of dollars on gas so in 1 year or so, that $5,000 has already paid for itself and the real cost savings come in the 2nd year and after.

Hope you find the answer you're looking for. If you're also looking to buy a home, check out my new site (last week) www.TheWiserHomeBuyer.com
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It depends where you live. Sure won't work anywhere that gets snow in the winter. Other than that it would be fine, not to mention more fun. Make sure you invest in some good rain gear and perhaps some cold weather protection.
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