View Full Version : Advice Needed
I am changing jobs in a few weeks time and I need some advice, not about the job, but Biking.
Firstly - I currently have an SV650 K4, full fairing. I had my heart pretty much set on a GSXR 600 K6. My commute is going to go from 20 miles round trip to about 65miles round trip. Would the Gixxer still be a good choice or perhaps a 750 would be better or a complete different bike altogether. Looks do matter a lot, Mrs Noufy must like it :oops:
Secondly - I have been using a spada all wetaher jacket and Frank Thomas all wetaher trousers and they have served me well over the last 3 years. However in a longer commute I don't think they will be that good. I am specially thinking of the cold and obvioulsy wet weather. WOuld Leather give you better protection against the cold as opposed to goretex and what about the rain and obviously hot weather? I do not want to go the 2 sets of gear route I would rather have a very good all weather gear, even if it does cost quite a bit more. I heard Rukka are very good. And what of boots/gloves. I currently have Daytona boots and eska gloves.
I try to ride everyday except in the snow/ice.
All comments much appreciated.
The Gixxer might be fun but for a 65 mile commute every day, you've got to be kidding.
If you're going to be doing lots of miles, you want something comfortable, with plenty of torque. I would suggest that a 600cc bike isn't enough, and the agressive position of any Super Sports bike will ensure that you're rather fed up with your aches and pains after a few weeks.
I'd suggest something along the lines of an old VFR, or perhaps something more upright. But certainly in that kind of size.
I do like the VFR, but not sure about seat height and all. I am 1m68 whcih is about 5'5 and not a lot of bike I feel comfy on. Whatever I go for will be new.
Just to explain, I used to commute between Islington and Gatwick every day... a round trip of nearly 70 miles. This would be a combination of industrial, motorway, urban and city roads.
That's 350 miles/week, some 1500 miles/month, which means your service intervals are going to come up very quickly on the SV.
After a few months, it was knackering me out too much along with the pressures of redundancy, and I had to resort to catching the train. I've never in my life appreciated rail travel so much.
I don't put my experiences entirely down to the bike... but it would've been easier on something more comfortable and powerful, and the Gixxer just wouldn't have fitted the bill.
Filipe M.
25-01-06, 09:36 AM
For that kind of distance my guess is you'd be better off with a touring bike... comfy seating, relaxed position, fairing protection, the whole lot.
Since you're a bit "vertically challenged", maybe the H*nda Deauville would suit you... :? Not exactly what you'd be looking for, but... :?
Jelster
25-01-06, 09:46 AM
I used to commute on a K4 Gixer everyday, 40+ miles round trip, taking in the Eastern section of the M4 (from J4) across town to East London. The Gixer was fine, I never did find the GSXR "uncomfortable", but.....
I hated clocking up the miles on a sportsbike. It was cleaned once sometimes twice a week, without fail and it still looked good after 18 months of commuting, but the milage put the value down. So that is something to seriously consider when making the choice of new bike.
I'm about 5'9", and the K4 was always comfortable, except when I had back problems, I could reach the bars, or get my feet on the pegs, but dooing both was agaony at times. If you really want to look at an IL4 sports bike suitible to do a lot of miles on, the Honda CBR600F would be my weapon of choice.
The riding position is comfortable and the seat height similer to the GSXR. It still delivers all the sports bike performance but these days is considered a bit of a middleweight sports tourer. The VFR is a great bike, sit on one and try it. The bars are above the yoke so the riding position is not so focused.
The SV is still a great commuting bike (hence me just getting another one) in naked or faired versions.
As for clothing, go and talk to the guys in your local Hein Gericke store, they are usually very helpful and have a wide range of clothing so you can try on various different styles.
.
I used to commute 100 mile round trip (Portsmouth to Basingstoke) everyday, rain or shine on an Aprilia RS125. I can't ever remember it being bad at all. Never felt wrecked when I got home.
Filipe M.
25-01-06, 09:54 AM
I used to commute 100 mile round trip (Portsmouth to Basingstoke) everyday, rain or shine on an Aprilia RS125. I can't ever remember it being bad at all. Never felt wrecked when I got home.
How many centuries ago?... :shock:
I used to commute 100 mile round trip (Portsmouth to Basingstoke) everyday, rain or shine on an Aprilia RS125. I can't ever remember it being bad at all. Never felt wrecked when I got home.
How many centuries ago?... :shock:
Well I am only into my 4th year of riding, so about 3 years ago I'd say.
Cloggsy
25-01-06, 09:59 AM
Just a thought, but what about a Viffer 800 :?:
Just a thought, but what about a Viffer 800 :?:
They make you feel like you are 50!
On the other hand, they are very accomplished mile eaters and are surprisingly good to ride. They will surprise a few sportsbikes.
I don't know if bike engine size or price is a governing factor, if not what about a triumph sprint st, beautifull bike & goes like hot **** off a stick, i def wouldn't want to go that distance on a sports bike daily (prob me age though).
As for the clothing, if what you have has served you well why not put thermals on underneath for the extra distance in the cold.
Daytona waterproof boots seem to have a good rep.
Thanks for all the advice guys, not really what I wanted to hear but still good advice. I will browse thrtough the various websites to check teh different bikes mentioned.
Foey, no engine size or price is not that much of an issue, but do want to be sensible, I dont want to go for a £25K bike if yiou know what I mean.
I alerady have windstoppers and a BMW undersuit, but did find it a bit chilly this week. Hence why I am wondering if I cna get better.
Foey, no engine size or price is not that much of an issue, but do want to be sensible, I dont want to go for a £25K bike if yiou know what I mean.
Sure i do but when i'm the sole winner of this fridays Euro Million jackpot i'll keep you in mind if that's ok. :wink:
Flamin_Squirrel
25-01-06, 10:23 AM
I suggest you try the commute on the SV and see how you feel about its comfort, then test ride the GSX-R600 to see if you think you can live with it.
I disagree with Billy about a 600 not being enough. Ok I've only ridden two different sports 600s (and not even a GSXR yet) but their engines seem perfectly useable.
I was considering the 600 and 750 myself, leaning more towards the 750, because if im gonna buy, might as well pay a bit more and get some more horsies. That was until a wise friend pointed out that not only will a 750 want more fuel (where as a 600 will use less than the SV if ridden sensibly), cost more to tax and insure, but most importantly as both you and I commute on the bike, it'll eat tyres too.
a 600 will use less than the SV if ridden sensibly
Sorry, but it doesn't. I only get 100 miles on the RR where I would get 130 miles out of the SV on the same amount of fuel.
Flamin_Squirrel
25-01-06, 10:38 AM
a 600 will use less than the SV if ridden sensibly
Sorry, but it doesn't. I only get 100 miles on the RR where I would get 130 miles out of the SV on the same amount of fuel.
Really? Hmmm. Just going by what I've heard, and not having got my mitts on a SS600 (yet) I guess I'll take your word for it.
On the other hand, I doubt you've ridden it sensibly yet :lol:
Or you inferior Honda gets lousy fuel economy :wink:
On the other hand, I doubt you've ridden it sensibly yet :lol:
Ha ha. Probably right.
On the RR I tend to pootle at 7 - 10k rpm. If you ride lower than this (4 - 5k rpm) it feels a bit flat when you compare it to the top end (which is crazy and addictive) and the low down grunt of the SV. This may account for the ****ty mileage.
Cloggsy
25-01-06, 10:44 AM
the RR tends to feel a bit flat when you compare it to the SV.
Many a true word Scoobs :lol: :lol: :lol:
I disagree with Billy about a 600 not being enough. Ok I've only ridden two different sports 600s (and not even a GSXR yet) but their engines seem perfectly useable.
I said this more from the point of view of Torque, and that once you're 20 miles into the same journey that you did yesterday, and the day before, after a long day's hard work, the last thing you might want to do is have to crank the bike up to 10,000 rpm just to get some progress.
I also don't know the kind of roads that we're talking about here, I just know what it would've been like for my commute last year - and the SV was not ideal.
the RR tends to feel a bit flat when you compare it to the SV.
Many a true word Scoobs :lol: :lol: :lol:
*** MISQUOTE ALERT ***
:lol: :lol:
Flamin_Squirrel
25-01-06, 10:48 AM
the last thing you might want to do is have to crank the bike up to 10,000 rpm just to get some progress.
Thats ok, you don't.
Peter Henry
25-01-06, 11:20 AM
As Billy mentioned it must surely depend a great deal on the roads to be travelled? If largely motorway then perhaps not the SV...but in most other situations then why the hell not? :?
If a lot of motorway then maybe a bigger bike which is less focussed and that has a lot of wind on power as opposed to you tap dancing on the gear lever all of the time?
But you know you really want a Ducati...dont you? :wink: :lol:
But you know you really want a CBR600RR...dont you? :wink: :lol:
You knows it Pedro. :wink:
As Billy mentioned it must surely depend a great deal on the roads to be travelled? If largely motorway then perhaps not the SV...but in most other situations then why the hell not? :?
If a lot of motorway then maybe a bigger bike which is less focussed and that has a lot of wind on power as opposed to you tap dancing on the gear lever all of the time?
But you know you really want a Ducati...dont you? :wink: :lol:
I actually DO want another 749, but having had mine stolen, which is when I got the SV, I don't think I'll be able to sleep knowing it could happen again.
The commute is gonna be A road and Motorway with a couple of mile son B road. The SV was always a "temp" bike after the Duke was stolen and was waiting to build up some NCB and also see what's new for 2006.
northwind
25-01-06, 12:36 PM
If I was you, I'd look Deuville-wards... the ultimate distance commuter. Small enough to filter well, not too expensive, good weather protection, tough, fairly economic, run like clockwork. Unfortunately, they're also powered by clockwork ;) They are Not Fun, but they are fantastic. I had one for a week or so while I fixed some stuff on it (my boss's dad binned it, not me!) and used it a lot, (to "test" it, ahem) and going back to winter commuting on the SV was no fun at all. Not that the SV's a bad commuter by any stretch, but the Deuville's just so good at it.
Then again, on those great days when I leave the office and the roads are miraculously dry, I'd not be on anything but my SV.
For winter gear, I'd look at heated stuff... Not essential, but good to have. I just use grips at the mo but i think next year I'll get a heated vest. Or a car ;) Cordura/goretex is miles better than leather for waterproofness and warmth- though if you get it really wet, it can take ages to dry. The new Spada 2-finger gloves (the HG Pathan ripoffs) have been getting great results in tests for warmth and waterproofness.
Cloggsy
25-01-06, 12:47 PM
If I was you, I'd look Deuville-wards...
A lad at my bike course has just bought a Dullville (get to see it next Tueday,) after being knocked off his blandit 600 :-k <note to self> Steer well clear of bike which are 'dull' </note>
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Peter Henry
25-01-06, 12:53 PM
after being knocked off his blandit 600
Y'see even the car drivers don't like them! :lol: :lol: :lol:
I'll put a vote in for rukka trousers. Never ever leaked, and good protection too when I fell off.
My personal vote would be to keep the SV, and get a second bike for the miles. Take a look at something cheap to run, eg a Diversion 900 (shaft drive) or a dullsville or a faired blandit. My instructor had a divvy and he was about your height so that might work.
The thing I would worry about is that if you use the same bike for commuting as having fun on the weekend, you could end up spending a lot on it, and reducing the desire to get out and ride it for pleasure. It's also handy when there is something wrong with one of them.
I have looked at teh various websites and teh Deauville will most definitely not get pass Mrs Noufy. The SP2 looks nice :twisted:
Not sure hondas are gonna be the way for me they all seem to have high/higher seats compared to others. Plues weight of bike is also an issue, must be able to lift it up in case I do drop it.
The Gixxer is still my prefered choice at the mo. GSR600 looks cool, but if am gonna go that route I'd rather wait for the B King, next year is it? Or a BMW
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