Howdy! I've done the commute from Kits to SFU for a couple of years now. It takes me about an hour from stop to stop- and that goes for pretty much every time of day. I avoid the 135 as much as I can, since it runs along Hastings St, and there's a 35km/h speed limit through the Downtown Eastside, and traffic slows to a crawl around busy times.
My route generally includes the 84 (an express bus) and the skytrain and the 145. The only time I've had difficulties finding a seat is on the 15-minute 145 bus up the hill. Everyone else is heading into the city or to UBC, so I always have time to read or pull out my laptop and work.
I chose to live in Kits because it's vibrant, quieter than the city, socially fluid (you see all types out here), safe, and everyone has a garden. There are quite a few places for $500, and there are so many little produce markets that make the grocery bill easier to swallow. I think it's worth the commute for the payoff when I come home from the Grey Mountain of SFU. Some of my fellow grads have lived in beautiful Burnaby apartments, but are moving because, in their own words, it's a "social wasteland" of highway and shopping malls.
Also- I've cycled from Kits to the foot of the hill and it's been a pretty nice 30-45 minute bike ride (I just put my bike on the 145 and ride up). Then I don't have to find time to get to the gym.
