Your pick for best comunter?

[st00ji]

been riding the wee gsxr 250 daily for about 5 years now, and its taken its toll. long days sitting by itself out in the rain etc.

looking to replace... for pure commuter, what would be the communities pick?

i've liked the 250s narrow nature, great for narrow gaps filtering to the front at lights etc. its good on gas too, at least compared to a car - though im sure there are alot of bikes that could do better.

LAMS compliant not required.

budget to about 5k, the less the better :)

reliability and cheapish to run obviously priority.

your thoughts appreciated!

[haydes55]

Klx250.
Drz250
wr250

Then you can jump over beetles or minis if need be.

I once filtered through auckland rush hour on my old hyosung... horrible experience. Done it once on the motard. Peice of piss. Might be my confidence and low speed skill improving, or the motard could be easier.

[tigertim20]

EX650. little more grunt for motorway shit, agile enough for the carparks and stuff, just big enough for a fun weekend ride through the twisties on friday after work.

Also has factory options for heaps of panniers and whatnot - a friend has one and Im often amazed at how much stuff he can carry on that thing with ease. I could do a weeks shopping and still have enough room for extra shit with the two panniers = top box.

I saw an 08 model for $5,500 on trademe that looks like good buying.

[Magnum Noel]

DR650. Thats what I use as a daily comuter. Big enough for the weekend ride also. Although you would have to have the padding in the seat seen too.

[hayd3n]

600 hornet :) little bit thirstier tho but if you have a limp wrist youll be sweet

[iYRe]

err.. going by all the 250-650's I pass in the traffic every morning, I would say its more about the rider than the bike. Admittedly, there isnt much point trying to ride a 109 or goldwing in the traffic.. (might as well be in a car), but My zrx1100 is nimble, not all that heavy, narrow enough to fit through most gaps (only twapped 2 mirrors in a year going through gaps that even a scooter would hesitate on (not my fault.. gap vs under car)).

I've thought about getting a 500->650 but after trying one, the only real difference is a bit of weight. Most of the time, the issues I see are people meandering through the traffic like a bunch of old women trying to remember where they put their false teeth last night, or people riding like custer's cavalry into the indians. Ride at a constant speed, scan like a fighter pilot, concentrate on controlling the traffic and making it work for you...

so.. just buy a bike, make sure its comfortable for you.. and ride it.

[Subike]

Its not the bike that matters . but the rider,
Others have said this too. You could be happy commuting on a full sized Cruiser if you were comfortable on it.
Or you could be just as happy commuting on a 50cc scooter.
It all comes back to what you are personally comfortable on.
We could, by our individual experiences, recommend any number of bikes, any one of them could do the job.
Look at what you like, and feel happy with, that is what you need to get.
It will come back to the "Sit on heaps in the shops"" when buying, till you find that ride you like.
Then spend the next month learning how to ride THAT bike.
That will then become the Best Commuter for you.

[McFatty1000]

Get a gn250! Or, really, a twin or a single of the like, tend to be better on fuel and are 'skinnier' than the inline fours

srx400 maybe?

[blackdog]

You are all wrong.

http://motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/ktm/ktm_690_duke%20r%2013.htm

[Subike]

You are all wrong.

Now that I could have fun with commuting....hell yes.....just need to win lotto .....

[FJRider]

An older single cylinder (FT/SR 400/500/600 .. ??) ... low/cheaper maintenance costs ... less moving parts to break down. Less worry about clocking up Km's. Less worry about scratches on the paint. Less money tied up in it if it does die. Narrow and light in traffic. An upright riding position for ease at slow speeds mid city. Easy to park. Enough power to keep up on the motorway.

Big dirt bikes with road tyres and highway gearing .. on spare rims. Change the wheels to the dirt tyres at the weekend for dirt use. The old XL500's used to be good for that. And still pretty cheap too ..

[Gremlin]

I'm enjoying the CB900. 88k in 6.5 years, and besides consumables, the clutch cable was replaced at 60k (shortest life they'd seen). Tyres last 20k+ each end. Not sure how long a Hornet lasts actually, as no-one has seen one die from being ridden heaps.

With wide bars, it's not the best in tight traffic, and not a small bike, but a large top box sits on the back permanently anyway. Very torquey, but predictable etc.

[Oakie]

My 600 Bandit makes a great commuter.

[Drew]

In that price range, options are way too many to list. Go round shops and ride everything you like the look of at all. Then get on trademe and buy whatever you liked best.

No two cunts on here will ever agree on anything.

[BMWST?]

its funny people say to big for splitting,,,,the wideste thing on most bikes is the handlebars or riders knees.If i commuted on the GS i would be splitting with the rest,.

[McFatty1000]

In that price range, options are way too many to list. Go round shops and ride everything you like the look of at all. Then get on trademe and buy whatever you liked best.

No two cunts on here will ever agree on anything.

Well, that'd change if someone would agree with me for once...

[st00ji]

im not shy on the split. in moving traffic bike size is not often a concern, though some sections (harbor bridge) have narrower lanes and the concrete barrier seems to have a force-field that extends out from it a metre, pushes the cars closer together. long queues at lights are something else, retards that have half changed lanes or whatever can make things tight. i cant count the number of times i've squeezed through gaps with mirrors 5mm from either handlebar.

narrower bikes do tend to have narrower bars though, particularly on sports bikes i reckon. its not a deal breaker.

would love a duke 690 but way outta my price range sadly.

have given me some things to think about though! cheers folks.

i definitely want something with a bit more power (inevitably). comfort not so important as my commute is only about 30 minutes.

[FJRider]

No two cunts on here will ever agree on anything.

Good luck finding anybody to agree with that ... :doh:

[Voltaire]

its funny people say to big for splitting,,,,the wideste thing on most bikes is the handlebars or riders knees.If i commuted on the GS i would be splitting with the rest,.

I commuted on an R65 all last year, it was perfect for that, cheap to run etc....sold it and picked up a BMW R100 RT , with panniers....
the R100 at the widest point ( mirrors) is 75mm narrower than the R65, at first I was a bit hesitant on splitting but now its fine, awesome in the crap weather but ugly as.
Did a few months on a 200cc Scootah and you get even less respect on that than a bike.
Working on a 500cc Guzzi at the moment so when that's vinned its the new commuter :eek:

[Ocean1]

No two cunts on here will ever agree on anything.

Yes they fucking will!

That 690 would be my pick, but not for your price. Yet. Plenty of mid to big motardy things in reach though.

[st00ji]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-587078005.htm

like.

fairly impractical though :D

[Drew]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-587078005.htm

like.

fairly impractical though :DStu, your fuckin stocks just went up bro!

Practicality is for fags.

[st00ji]

hah. yeah actually it would be more than fine, just hard to justify spending that much when i can get something perfectly suitable for half the price.

wife has twins on the go so budget is a concern :)

have also read a few things online about those 690s having real electrical meltdowns when exposed to weather, not good for something that i would be riding rain or shine.

[Drew]

hah. yeah actually it would be more than fine, just hard to justify spending that much when i can get something perfectly suitable for half the price.

wife has twins on the go so budget is a concern :)

have also read a few things online about those 690s having real electrical meltdowns when exposed to weather, not good for something that i would be riding rain or shine.

You're losing me bro. I don't understand the question.

RF900 then. Go well, cheap to run, thrive on neglect, and do sick fucking wheelies if ya got the balls.

You're welcome.

[Laava]

In that price range, options are way too many to list. Go round shops and ride everything you like the look of at all. Then get on trademe and buy whatever you liked best.

No two cunts on here will ever agree on anything.

I agree with you.

Oh fuck! Guess that makes me a cunt.

[Drew]

I agree with you.

Oh fuck! Guess that makes me a cunt.
I think that would make neither of us cunts, since no two would agree...I'm still a cunt though.

[Brayden]

I saw a guy with a supermoto that motherfuckers bike was narrow as fuck he was fitting through some obscene gaps! I would def get a motard/supermoto as my next bike

[MIXONE]

I find that a ducati monster fills the bill.Commute on it every day.

[danchop]

i like scooters,theyre so small they fit between anything,its like trucks dont even notice theyve been owned

[tigertim20]

i like scooters,theyre so small they fit between anything,its like trucks dont even notice theyve just run you over

fixed!:niceone:

[milktown]

if you're not after the newest most advanced efi and fancy anti lock breaking systems and just want a cheep commuter, you cant go wrong with a nice UJM from the 80's. the market is flooded with them so you can pick one up for about the price of a posh dinner at a snobby auckland restaurant. plus if you like to tinker or customize the possibilities are ENDLESS.

[leathel]

Wide bars can be cut and moved in a bit.... DR/XR 650 would be my pic

GN250 :laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: I coun't think of anything worse with the factory bars... yes they are narrow but the angle your wrist sits and isn't great for control around town IMHO

Something tall and imposing with a good rumble and gaps open.... XR/ DR fits well

So does this and your hands are above the roof

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd316/leathel-one/index.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/leathel-one/media/index.jpg.html)

But I dont think it will go that well on the tight maneuvers :bleh:


One of the bare style bikes with less flaring to break would be good too...

[st00ji]

You're losing me bro. I don't understand the question.

RF900 then. Go well, cheap to run, thrive on neglect, and do sick fucking wheelies if ya got the balls.

You're welcome.

cliff notes, the wife is pregnant with twins so stretching budget for 690 not ideal. plus it sounds like they dont appreciate getting wet.

RF does sound promising!

^those crazy ape hangers crack me up

[Drew]

cliff notes, the wife is pregnant with twins so stretching budget for 690 not ideal. plus it sounds like they dont appreciate getting wet.

RF does sound promising!

^those crazy ape hangers crack me up

Suzuki seem to be the best bike to neglect. I don't recomend it of course, it will still cost in the long run.

RF400 or 600 if you can find one would suit your needs better, as ya don't have to pay the big bike registration cost. Ya gotta embrace the ugly factor too. Paint it bright yellow so it looks like you enjoy standing out like a sore thumb.

[FJRider]

Paint it bright yellow so it looks like you enjoy standing out like a sore thumb.

As sick as it would be ... He WOULD be seen though ... :laugh:

Suzuki riders ... eh .. !!! :msn-wink:

[FROSTY]

I spent more years that I like to admit commuting the Dauckland public carpark (motorways)
On everything from GSXR's to full on tourers. By a fair degree the best bike purely for commuting is the Suzuki GS500.
Fitted with a small blade fairing and a pack rack. Sexy they aint. But run on the smell of an oily rag,Plenty of punch in that 60-110km/h range,light to chuck around.
Yep they are a boring bike for anything else but for commuting they IMO are king.

[Berg]

Kawasaki ER6n. Mrs Berg did 30,000kms a year on hers commuting from Kapiti to Wgtn and loved it. Good upright riding position, reasonable power, reasonable brakes etc. Her current GSR750 is a better all rounder but the ER was a fantastic commuter.

[Brett]

probably DR400 motard for me.

[Drew]

Kawasaki ER6n. Mrs Berg did 30,000kms a year on hers commuting from Kapiti to Wgtn and loved it. Good upright riding position, reasonable power, reasonable brakes etc. Her current GSR750 is a better all rounder but the ER was a fantastic commuter.Nope, to be avoided like the plague if being left out to the elements. The build qualiity on those things is worse than a Suzuki!

My wife's ER started having serious electrical issues from exposure, and the forks rusted, as did many other things.

[st00ji]

i was thinking to get a cover for any new (to me) bike to put over it while its getting wet. will be under cover over night, but cant get a good hiding spot for it inside at work :P

[FJRider]

i was thinking to get a cover for any new (to me) bike to put over it while its getting wet. will be under cover over night, but cant get a good hiding spot for it inside at work :P

Anything that susceptible to adverse weather shouldn't be used to commute. If water gets in and can do harm stopped ... how bad will it get at motorway speeds .. ??

[Ocean1]

Nope, to be avoided like the plague if being left out to the elements. The build qualiity on those things is worse than a Suzuki!

My wife's ER started having serious electrical issues from exposure, and the forks rusted, as did many other things.

Is interesting. The only thing that deteriorated much on ours was the zinc plating on some fittings, like the shock preload nut. Cleaned up easilly enough.

I hate things like fork chrome pitting, it's not even cheap materials selection, it costs as much to do a crap job as it does to do it properly, it's just lazy, piss poor quality control.

[skinman]

I cant suggest a good splitting bike as I dont have to split for my commute but I do carry a cover in the top box & put it on during the day (the bike not me), the BMW is terrible to split with (900ish wide)

[Grasshopperus]

Hornets are great all rounders. This one is a good example, well within your price range http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=592952320

[Drew]

Hornets are great all rounders. This one is a good example, well within your price range http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=592952320It's prolly your bike so I'm sorry, but $5500 is too rich I think.

$4,500-$5,000 would be a fair deal methinks.

Fucking great bikes, I've had one.

[nzspokes]

It's prolly your bike so I'm sorry, but $5500 is too rich I think.

$4,500-$5,000 would be a fair deal methinks.

Fucking great bikes, I've had one.

Reserve is $4250. :cool: