Motorbike for couriering on.

[texmo]

I need a bike that;
A) can do 120km/hr with ease on the motorway.
B) is light and nimble for getting around innercity traffic.
C) is easy to mantain.
D) is cheep on gas ( although not a major when your doing 400-600km a week can make a diffrence).
E) is comfortable for sitting on for long periods of time (in saying this there a few people who courier on sports bikes eg a cbr250rr)
F) Scince I will be on the road for over 55hours a week there is a good chance It will be droped a few times, So although I dont want to rule sports bikes out completly but ferrings might be a bit of a pain.
G) I can fit a radar detector to.
H) Will be reliable and wont break down such as a honda.
I) Is 250-400cc.

Can you guys please have a little think about this and give me some advice? please keep the pointless drivel to a absoulte minimum. Oh and the reason I am changing from a scooter is so I can do jobs in the greater auckland region instead of inner city as there is a lot more money in it.
Thanks in advance for all the great advice your about to give me.
Texmo

[SuperDave]

How about a Suzuki SG350 known as a 'Goose'?

[TwoSeven]

something like a cbf250 or cb600 would do it (and similar models in other brands). Tend to go for newer than cheap because having an unreliable bike will cost you.

The old benly was a good bike, still see traffic wardens on em, so must be a few around.

[Magua]

Suzuki Bandit 250, (gsf250?). No fairings. Talk to Antallica I'm sure he'll have some positive things to say about it.

[texmo]

I was looking at a supermotard bike and though that might be pretty good, any comments?

[Jackrat]

I was looking at a supermotard bike and though that might be pretty good, any comments?

Yeah,or just about any mid sized duel purpose bike.
Top handling around town,best visibility your going to get,leap small buildings in a single bound,ect ect ect.

[ZorsT]

I was looking at a supermotard bike and though that might be pretty good, any comments?
was just about to suggest one of those...

[texmo]

Anybody have a clue about supermotard bikes? like what models are good pros cons ect? where can I get one?
I will either buy a brand new bike or a 1995 or newer bike that hasnt been messed around with, and wont break down on me.

[Motu]

Yep,you need a dual purpose,grunt from zero to rung out,low gearing for easy low speed running,nimble steering and very easy to ride at slow speeds,good visability sitting taller than traffic,wide bars for instant reactions.Only down side I can see is a piss poor seat - but you are young and pain is what happens to other people.

Go and check out the Gas Gas 400 Motard at Mt Eden.

[texmo]

Mt eden are the fellas on the corner of mt eden road and bostn right? across the road from heldains?

[Motu]

Hell ain't got no Danes' mate....

[crashe]

Mt eden are the fellas on the corner of mt eden road and bostn right? across the road from heldains?

yep thats them.... talk to Mike or Chris in there.

[sels1]

Agree with the duel purpose bike comments. Seen the new XT660 Yamaha?
The F650 BMW (GS or CS, not Dakar) is popular with bike couriers in London - probably most comfy seat of its class.

[FlangMasterJ]

If you are after a bullet proof supermotard you can't go past the new Suzuki DR400SM. They use the very reliable DRZ 4 stroke engine. Just do regular oil changes and check the valve clearances every so often. In inner city traffic it couldn't be beat.

[Sniper]

Its gonna suck downgrading to a motorbike aye texmo.

PT

[clint640]

If you are after a bullet proof supermotard you can't go past the new Suzuki DR400SM. They use the very reliable DRZ 4 stroke engine. Just do regular oil changes and check the valve clearances every so often. In inner city traffic it couldn't be beat.

Yup, the DRZ would be a good pick, you'd need to change the seat though.
If you can stretch your capacity limit the bigger singles will need less maintenance than the lighter DRZ motor. The XT660R mentioned above would be good - a nice comfy seat & a well proven motor, they even have EFI which makes em pretty light on gas. A KTM 640SM would do the job nicely too but you pay quite a bit more than the XT for the better power, suspension & brakes, especially if buying new. The beemer F650 GS/CS are probably the most comfortable of the breed & very light on gas but they are heavy & expensive.

Cheers
Clint

[Lou Girardin]

DL650?
Not so hard on chains as a single. Economical. Cheapish to run. It's a Suzuki.

[dawnrazor]

Honda CB 500 parallel twin. Bullet proof engine. Without doubt the most common courier bike in London. Check out BIKE magazine august edition, theres an article in there about them, in stores now. Would be perfect for the job, don't know if they where that popular here though.

[FlangMasterJ]

Honda CT110 :2thumbsup

[Biff]

CB600s are big with dispatch riders in London, but they're not the most economical machines. Fazers are also up as the choice of those that know. Apparently.

[texmo]

Its gonna suck downgrading to a motorbike aye texmo.

PT

I agree, no spare tyre to throw on when you puncture, no glove box, not a step through, making it harder to get on and off, not as narrow for around town ect... But my bike is a little too slow and hard to mantain, I have to put oil in it 2 times a week tighten the clables once a week, just basic 2stroke/scooter stuff that needs to be done every 500k's.

I am either going to get a;
A) gillera runner or similar, has plenty of grunt automatic to make life easy 0-100 5.1 seconds 130km/hr all day long step through, Its just a little bit too big.
B) Supermotard bike of some form, 4stroke reliablity, faster, better blance, better clearance, better tyres for curb hopping, better brakes, better suspenshion, bigger wheels, Making for a smoother ride.

[marty]

Honda CB 500 parallel twin. Bullet proof engine. Without doubt the most common courier bike in London. Check out BIKE magazine august edition, theres an article in there about them, in stores now. Would be perfect for the job, don't know if they where that popular here though.

i'll second that - a great article. how 'bout that buell?

[fredie]

can u make good money in auckland . motorbike courier

[Romeo]

I heard that Zeocen (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=5741) might be selling his '90 GPX 250, supposedly they're bulletproof and get amazing milage. Might be worth a PM.

<center><a href="http://liveu-03.vo.llnwd.net/livevideo/image/19/77319/245103_po.jpg"><img src="http://liveu-03.vo.llnwd.net/livevideo/image/19/77319/245103_ps.jpg" alt="Zeocen motorbike kawasaki gpx 250 ninja" /></a></center>

//EDIT: Based on his videos it definitely looks like it's been well taken care of, not thrashed!

[NighthawkNZ]

Can you guys please have a little think about this and give me some advice? please keep the pointless drivel to a absoulte minimum. Oh and the reason I am changing from a scooter is so I can do jobs in the greater auckland region instead of inner city as there is a lot more money in it.
Thanks in advance for all the great advice your about to give me.
Texmo

Years ago I did Eagle Express in the Hawkes Bay... we had a couple of bigger bikes. But one of th eguys had a GB 500 and it was the most econominal.

You don't want a high proformance bike as they are harder to maintain keep it low tech.

Change your oil regularly if it is recommended to change it every 10,000 do it every 7 or 8.

Set aside maintainance days (weekend) and give the bike a good going over looking loose and warn out bits etc.

The 400 to 600 km is pretty low some days I would do that in a day

[sAsLEX]

I heard that Zeocen (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=5741) might be selling his '90 GPX 250, supposedly they're bulletproof and get amazing milage. Might be worth a PM.

<center><a href="http://liveu-03.vo.llnwd.net/livevideo/image/19/77319/245103_po.jpg"><img src="http://liveu-03.vo.llnwd.net/livevideo/image/19/77319/245103_ps.jpg" alt="Zeocen motorbike kawasaki gpx 250 ninja" /></a></center>

//EDIT: Based on his videos it definitely looks like it's been well taken care of, not thrashed!

Cool I will just lend Texmo my <img src=http://www.modelcars.com/products/large/sun2712.jpg> so he can purchase it!

[Quasievil]

If you are after a bullet proof supermotard you can't go past the new Suzuki DR400SM. They use the very reliable DRZ 4 stroke engine. Just do regular oil changes and check the valve clearances every so often. In inner city traffic it couldn't be beat.

yEAH GET A dr YOU WILL BECOME GREAT MATES WITH THE LOCAL PETROL STATIONS, WHATS THE RANGE 170 KMS ?

(oops caps)

[idleidolidyll]

I second the Goose suggestion: wickedly economical and utterly reliable but with light weight and good handling.

Never forget that you're there to make money so don't be too tempted to waste it by buying a sport bike if it's not needed. Even a Yamaha SR250 or NZ250 Suzuki would be great if you can find them in good condition with low km's.

One of my best/most reliable riders in the UK rode a Cossak outfit (long distance). He regularly delivered parcels between Cardiff, our base, and North Wales/Northern Britain.

The next best courier we had started with more expensive bikes: BMW, Suzuki Katana etc but eventually he saw the light and bought an ugly, cheap economical Honda "Plastic Maggot" CX500.

He went from being a broke arsed student to buying his own home in just a few years.

[MVnut]

Kawasaki KLR650

[Macktheknife]

The fact that this thread is over 2 years old doesn't make you think he might have got it sorted by now?

[idleidolidyll]

The fact that this thread is over 2 years old doesn't make you think he might have got it sorted by now?

the fact that it appeared in the 'new posts' section suggests that it is still being read by interested people.

[breakaway]

^ No that's because someone posted in it. New post = someone just posted in a 2 year old thread :D

[Pancakes]

Well for all those people still interested a Street Magic would be good as. If your not cos this is and old thread, there's lots of new threads to post in!

Powre = gas and more motor to worry about. Buy something that a punter will buy off you later, if you get a sportsbike a proper rider will be your target market and would probably click on that your a courier. Small bike also looks less out of place on the footpath when riding or parking, you'll be off it and walking/running enough that the seat won't matter as much as you'd think. Auckland M'Bike couriers don't get as much of the long disdance work as say a London one would. Being able to go through lights, across parks or up Swanson St near BK etc will be more handy than off the lights power. Have fun! Maybe be a cycle courier? That was the best job I ever had fun-wise and have mates that still do it including one who is 140Kg's who's just started.

[idleidolidyll]

^ No that's because someone posted in it. New post = someone just posted in a 2 year old thread :D

exactly, someone read in it and posted in it so ipso facto; they were interested in it now

sherlock would understand