Commuter bikes, which is your favourite?

[Springbokki]

Following on the response I got from the NC700X thread, I'm intrigued to know what people like to commute on...
Comfort, weather protection, economy...etc...

I'm not in a position to make a purchase now, but would like to have a few specific ideas, in case a great deal were to appear.

I'd consider trading the car in, getting a commuter bike and keeping the CBR as the toy (which it currently is now)...

So... experiences..?

[Destruktor77]

So far, I've had little 50 scooters. Honda CG 125, Cagiva 125 Mito & Planet, Hyosung GT125R, Curvy SV650N. And a small while on a 2003 Ninja.

I have to say. I can't think any of them being better than the other at commuting.

In my eyes, if you like riding it then you like riding it. When it comes to commuting, unless it's something big like an Adventurer that might be difficult to filter I think I'd be fine.

EDIT: Now come to think about it. Both my 2-stroke Cagiva were tuned to High Compression and hi Rev powerbands. Commuting I did have to try and rev them a lot more. And kept having to change the plugs due to low revs and bumming around in the traffic flowling them.

[femaleacid]

So far, I've had little 50 scooters. Honda CG 125, Cagiva 125 Mito & Planet, Hyosung GT125R, Curvy SV650N. And a small while on a 2003 Ninja.

I have to say. I can't think any of them being better than the other at commuting.

In my eyes, if you like riding it then you like riding it. When it comes to commuting, unless it's something big like an Adventurer that might be difficult to filter I think I'd be fine.

EDIT: Now come to think about it. Both my 2-stroke Cagiva were tuned to High Compression and hi Rev powerbands. Commuting I did have to try and rev them a lot more. And kept having to change the plugs due to low revs and bumming around in the traffic flowling them.

Kinda agree on the 50/125cc on this. People have always said the smaller bikes are best to commute with and also can be quite fun. Thrashing them around is a lot easier than anything over 500cc

My scooter is down for commuting too.

[STRAMASHER]

SV650S!

Been commuting on mine for about 7 years. All year all weather.

Starts on the button everytime.

Narrow (clip-ons) and nimble (thin-ish tyres and great turning lock to lock), so can get in about the traffic like I'm on a trials bike.

Noisy!

Fast away from the lights if needs be. (Lower the gearing to make it king of the traffic light GP, I'm back to OE though....too revvy at cruising speed.)

I average 55mpg , 10mile city commute.

180miles average before I need to go a petrol station. Still never filled up more than 15litres. (I have extended my range by 20 miles after using http://www.fuelly.com for a while.)

Cheap insurance. Cheap to run.

Still a ton of fun when you want to take the long way home.

Heated grips and a hugger and away you go.......

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g87/stramasher/08112008302.jpg

[Roberrrrt]

SV gets my vote on this too. Guess it depends what kind of roads you tackle on the commute.

[pookie]

To date, the sv650s curvy was great for the 7mile each way. When the commute went to 23miles each way I bought the sv1k. Fuel economy and tank range has fallen but much less effort on the long stretches.

I enjoy the kwak but havent managed to get a 52ltr top box on it yet to make it practical. The lower fairing is a cause for concern when jamming in between the scooters in the motorcycle bays so the sv1k remains all weather choice. I realised having a fun bike makes the commute a little bit more interesting ( I rode a gs500e for a while and whilst practical was dull and rattly).
Wind protection isnt much of a factor as 1/3rd is town and 2/3 on dual carriageways, usually busy.
How long is your commute and what types of roads are you riding on.

[NTECUK]

Id have thought one of the super scooters get a vote.
250 or 400 ones big seats and weather protection

[leebex]

Id have said sv650 was ideal :cool: we are on here after all, but then 4 miles across town, then 650 is a bit big in some peoples eyes, a 400 bandit or similar is better suited.

those maxi scooter just look too bulky for my liking, longer than a canal boat :rolleyes::D

but as said by others, Id rather commute on a bike I enjoy, than ride some turd I despised.my current bike isnt ideal for town commuting due to its long gearing, but im enjoying riding it so its not really an issue......for now :p

[andreis]

I'd think anything not too big would do a decent job. I commute on my Tiger 1050, which is not small by any measure. But it's not that thirsty for a liter bike (5.5-6L/100km ~ 50MPG Imperial) in town and I don't have the money to get myself a real commuter right now.

If I had some money, I'd get myself a 125/250 scoot or a bmw G650 (yeah, i know it's left-field).

For the tall folks:
The G650 eats about 3.5-4L/100km ~ 75MPG Imperial, which is close to what you'd get from a 250 (the ninja 250 gets around 4.0L/100km, the honda cbr250r gets around 3.5L/100km) or from a nc700. It has plenty of room and lots of carrying space if need be. It has the fuel tank under the seat, just like the nc700x, but no space under the former tank. You can also get a decently cheap one and it's decently light (~160kg fully fueled). It's only disadvantage is its fuel tank size. It has only 10L, which means about 300km range. Not bad, but could definitely be better.

For the shorter folks:
The scooter world is full of good examples. A yamaha xmax 250 gives you good poke with lots of space and weather protection, can have abs and eats around 3-3.5L/100km.

[yorkie_chris]

Depends how far you go...

[andrewsmith]

Depends how far you go...

Agreed

If your going 5 or 10 miles through traffic at speeds lower than 40ish, a 125 or 250 will be adequate.
15 to 20 a 250 will do on low speed roads, or a 600-700 single or twin on open roads. Anything above 20 a practical 650 upwards twin, triples or fours.

This is coming from a man who commuted 20 miles each way (Newcastle to Sunderland) on a YBR for 5 months

[ravingdavis]

I agree with the shouts for the SV650. I had two bikes last year, a YBR125 and the Gixxer. Rode the 125 into work for the first few weeks and then lost the will to continue with that and rode the Gixxer instead most of the time. This was almost purely because I was so used to having the option of using the power of a big bike that I found it very hard and not so enjoyable using the smaller machine. The SV has got more than enough poke to keep it entertaining and make sure that 'power' option is available when needed while being pretty sounds economy wise.

[Blurb]

So I don't have too much experience to add being very new to all this but I commute 20 miles from outer to the other side of central London each day... The sum total of my experience is 800 miles on a YBR 125 and 100 miles on an SV650 doing the exact same commute.

I wouldn't dream of going back to the 125. I wouldn't say there has been any impact on filtering or manoeuvrability, in central London it's packed so tight of you **** up your planning the extra control of something more upright is no use when there is simply nowhere to go.

However, the confidence, extra power and ability to move away from the other idiots has made each mile calmer and much more enjoyable!

I'm sure the same goes for anything 400 and over but I havnt once thought of going back to the YBR.

[barwel1992]

Fz1 for my commute of 35miles one way on fast straight but buissy a roads it's a tiny bit better than the sv on fuel as. I Don't have to thrash it to get past streams of cars

[yorkie_chris]

...and 100 miles on an SV650 doing the exact same commute.

I'm sure the same goes for anything 400 and over but I havnt once thought of going back to the YBR.

Give it until the fuel light comes on :-P

[JamesMio]

180 miles before the light comes on?

Heck, I really need to get my SV looked at then, I'm lucky to get 90 at the minute...

[wyrdness]

The SV's a great commuter bike, it ticks pretty much all of the boxes. However, I'd be very tempted by the Street Triple as my next commuter. It's got nothing in the way of weather protection, but is simply one of the funnest bikes around. My Speed Triple was an amazing commuter bike, but complete overkill for London traffic. The Tiger 1050 is good, but a bit too wide and top-heavy for complete commuting satisfaction.

The worst thing I've ever commuted on was probably a Dullville. Don't ever be tempted by one.

[Lozzo]

180 miles before the light comes on?

Heck, I really need to get my SV looked at then, I'm lucky to get 90 at the minute...

180 is around what I get using my Versys fairly hard - if I'm gentle with it I can get up to 230 miles from the 19 litre tank.

My SV650S was lousy on fuel, I mean proper lousy. I was lucky to get 130 miles from a tankful no matter how nice I was to it.


Honda C90 is the ultimate commuter.

My best ever commuter was a battered old Honda CB250RS I got given. It came to me with 135,000 miles on it and I then pressed it into service doing a 100 mile round trip every day down 3 motorways in rush hours. By the time I gave it away to a mate it had clocked up 192,000 miles on the original engine, and I only did two proper oil changes. It leaked so much from a crack in the lower half of one crankcase and required such frequent top-ups that I didn't feel the need to do an oil change as it kinda did its own as I rode. I measured the oil loss at about half a litre a day, which meant it got the best part of two oil changes a week. Thank god for cheapo recycled oil in 25 litre drums for about 30 quid at our local motor factors

[STRAMASHER]

180 miles before the light comes on?

Heck, I really need to get my SV looked at then, I'm lucky to get 90 at the minute...


Should have made that clear, light comes on at approx 160 but cos I have been being a nerd and noting my fuel consumption on the that fuelly site I can easily get another 20 miles out reserve without getting paranoid that the bike will run out in the Clyde tunnel! :)

[BBadger]

The Sv was nice due to the effortless torque it provided.
Been going into london every day on my ninja and tbh i absolutely love it as its slim and quick but its a fair amount of work.
The Dr SM is perfect though, good amount of punt, a good top end for the long stretches and still not to bad on fuel economy annddd its tiny and weighs nothing, its perfect.

Mid sized single or twin is the way to go i feel, small light and still good on fuel.

[andrewsmith]

180 miles before the light comes on?

Heck, I really need to get my SV looked at then, I'm lucky to get 90 at the minute...

Its that zorst mate! Give me it ;)

[speedyandypandy]

I 'commute' in this every day weather permits for the 2 weeks I'm out there.http://www.stp-norway.com/Rutefly/CHC332L2/images/02_TF5_28%20CHC%20332.JPG Travel out and in this http://www.rotorsales.com/Pages/Model%20Pages/Sikorsky/S92/S92-2-lg.jpg

Use the SV for fun the 4 weeks I'm home :D