Commuting - What to get?

[sauluk]

Am moving house which changes my 26 mile round semi urban trip to a 60 mile motorway jaunt.

I ride my bike in all weather as long as the temp is >8 degrees. The 600RR has done me proud, I absolutely love it and don't really want to part with it but it seems a waste to pile on motorway miles when it's already at 16k for all the touring she's done!

Shortlist so far is:
BMW F800R - Underpowered? Not enough wind protection for winter motorway runs?
BMW F800GS - More practical but doesn't excite me too much
Street Triple R - Nippier but can it take the mileage without depreciating like a stone?
VFR800 VTEC - I do like these but look a little bit dated now

I'll be doing around 12k p.a. purely commuting so obviously don't want something that's going to take too much of a knock by putting the miles on. Budget is c£5k and I'd prefer something <5yrs old.

[Fruity-ya-ya]

BMW F800GS - More practical but doesn't excite me too much

Never ridden one but i've had lots of people rate them. I think they are a very tidy looking bike but then I ride a Gladys so make of that what you will.

I'm sure one of the more experienced folk on here will provide you a more learned opinion but from your shortlist I'd be looking at the GS ;)

[Bibio]

60 round trip or 60 there and 60 back?

get something cheep and cheerful and preferably with a shaft drive like a K100 with crash bars.

[Jammy]

Got to wonder, if its just 60miles of pure motorway... a car? Or if not that some sort of cruiser?

[hardhat_harry]

CBR125 over 120 miles per gallon and nearly 400 miles tank range.

Street Triple depreciate very slowly, I got one when they first came out, after nearly 3 years of riding I sold it for £350 less than I bought it, that was a great result.

[Biker Biggles]

Keep what you got.Its a Honda so will be reliable,its already four years old so you have taken the depreciation hit.Anything newer you buy now will plummet in value as you put miles on it.

[Jammy]

Cant believe i didnt think of this earlier

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Honda/Honda-NC700X-2012-current/

Honda NC700X. Will do 75mpg (as tested by MCN) Apparently has enough underseat storage space for a helmet and will cruise comfortably with its lowdown power

[Thunderace]

Keep what you got.Its a Honda so will be reliable,its already four years old so you have taken the depreciation hit.Anything newer you buy now will plummet in value as you put miles on it.

^This!

[embee]

I was going to suggest the NC700 (one sort or another) too. There are quite a few very low miles examples in dealers comfortably under £5k. Fuel economy has got to be worth something, 70mpg real world vs probably mid 50's for similar alternatives, 12k miles/year saves around £300 estimate in fuel.

Not sure what insurance group they are, must be fairly modest I'd think.

Likely to be pretty reliable I'd guess, all built in Japan at present if that's worth anything.

[Sir Trev]

Train?

[andrewsmith]

KTM Duke, true 80mpg possible

[yorkie_chris]

Why spend so much on commuter? Just buy some bag of crap to run to death.

Yammy 900 (60mpg), dullville similar, BMW flying brick (can do 60+)... loads out there that have good weather protection, shaft drive, long lasting. You'll get a good example for c£1500.


Whatever you get do not just run it 120 mile a day, or you'll kill it in 6 months. Doesn't matter if it's brand new, go through the thing, service it properly, gopp all the electrics in dielectric grease etc etc.

Oh and add some decent handguards, muffs over the top and heated grips as well...

KTM Duke, true 80mpg possible

But you'll never see it.

[missyburd]

Yammy 900 (60mpg), dullville similar, BMW flying brick (can do 60+)... loads out there that have good weather protection, shaft drive, long lasting. You'll get a good example for c£1500.


Or even (heaven forbid) an SV!!! (60+) :p

[mikerj]

Cant believe i didnt think of this earlier

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikereviews/searchresults/Bike-Reviews/Honda/Honda-NC700X-2012-current/

Honda NC700X. Will do 75mpg (as tested by MCN) Apparently has enough underseat storage space for a helmet and will cruise comfortably with its lowdown power


They are supposed to be good bikes, but if the OP suspects the F800R is going to be a bit underpowered then he will hate the NC with a passion.

[L3nny]

I have just bought a VFR 800 V-Tec and it's a great bike, they may have been making them for 10 years but they have been constantly making various improvements so the newer ones are better.

It would be a great commuter bike, especially with the luggage apart from the fact it is a bit on the thirsty side.

However it is, IMO, better to ride on the road than the CBR 600 so you could get rid of that and just have one bike.

I am also facing a longer commute soon and was considering using the VFR but I will probably just get a cheap diesel car, with a heater :)

[sauluk]

60 miles round trip. Cheers for the suggestions all, thinking about it I like the one where I keep the CBR as I've had it from 600 miles so know its been well maintained etc. I don't think I'd lose ok much by putting another 10k on it.

Might have a go on an F800 just in case I like it

[Littlepeahead]

I've got the F650gs, would have loved the 800 but no lowered option. I have gone to work on it a few times which is 120 mile round trip. It's economical, comfortable especially when I use the Airhawk seat pad and easy for filtering through the London traffic. Heated grips for winter too. A taller screen is my next purchase as even at a mere 5ft2 I get a bit battered on the motorway. Mine is a 2010 and cost 6k but that included full various luggage, computer and other extras. My commute costs over £5k a year now on the train!