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My ride from Borehamwood to a similar location took 1hr - 1,15hr (except school holidays when it was 45min).Similar type of journey to the one you're proposing.
In terms of timing you are always vulnerable to traffic and accidents. Filtering looks great from a car but it's not the same as 50-70mph. Equally traffic lights and putting all your gear on takes a while.
The cold is something to consider as well this time of year. Especially the ice if you're living on one of the hilly bits of HW. You'll have to take it easy coming home from work when it's getting icey, and drivers round your way will have no consideration for you required reduction in speed.
I would definitely rent one first for a day to work out the reality.
Another thing worth pointing out is that MP3 riders seem to almost universally be cunts. So if you do go that route please try not to be.
Edit: My 2p riding a 125cc a similar route is that you'll want to get a decent sized one due 1) to the windy sections heading your way, 2) the speed of the fast sections. My Derbi was plenty fast enough for the city and a bit of duel carriage way, but as most will be driving 60-70mph at various points, you'll need something that can happily do 60mph and ideally could be ragged to 75mph. Although I think they look a bit naff the baby sportsbikes with a fairing, etc will be much more practical than anything more basic / stripped.
I would like to tap into the motorbike / scooter thead hive mind for some advice. I am seriously thinking of getting an MP3 500 to commute on and any advice or suggestions would be very grteful
I live about 4 miles outside High Wycombe and work in the City (Moorgate). Currently my commute is cycle to High Wycombe station, train to Marylebone then cycle to the office. Season ticket costs £330 a month. On a good day if everything aligns I can do it in 1h25 door to door, but it is often 1h40, or more if there are train problems. This is just too long, I have no time to do anything during the week and it's really getting me down.
I've toyed with getting a bike license and commuting by motorbike but the time & expense have always dissuaded me. I recently realised I can ride an MP3 on a car license and I am sorely tempted. I reckon I could do it in around 1h / 1h10 m door to door, but this pure finger in the air.
Pros: Quicker, no more expensive (by my reckoning), more flexible.
Cons (and my mitigation for each):
Dangerous - but I've cycled through central london for 10 years and trust myself, my defensive riding & my reflexes.
Weather will put me off: See above.
My main concern is will the MP3 be actually much quicker? How easy to filter will it be? I guess the only real way to find out is bite the bullet, spend the cash and then stick it all back on eBay if it doesnt work out, a potentially expensive experiment though. Any comments or suggestions very welcome...