What bike for commuting to CHCH from Akaroa?

[Hads]

I'm just after some advice on what bike would be recommended for a daily commute from Akaroa.

I currently have a KLX250s for commuting from Loburn, but the range on this won't be really good enough for 160km of riding and the seat is a bit uncomfortable for long rides.

One thought was maybe a DRZ400?

There is also the consideration of using a car, purely because the hills might get fairly icey in the mornings, especially if tackling them in the dark.

As for requirements:

Low maintenance
Below $5000 in cost
Comfortable on long rides

It would be nice to be offroad capable for weekends, and getting up the steep gravel driveway when wet.

[The End]

I've got this for sale currently.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/178135-Honda-CB900-Hornet-2007

Was perfect for me when commuting approx 130kms a day from a rural area to Auckland city.

Good on gas, and enough power to have fun on weekends as well. Very low on maintenance and a very reliable Honda engine :)

[EJK]

Commute from Akaroa? Daily? Oh boy, you'll need a supersports bike with color matching leathers.

[Scubbo]

not a DRZ -- maybe a dr650 (with mods) or a KLR650 stock is pretty good for long distance road with "ADVADVADVADV" ability

just look for one without an "ADV" sticker on it, they go for 2K less

[Akzle]

busa .

[EJK]

busa .

Don't you know? They are slow around the hill!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DkrqVMoDVeI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Hads]

not a DRZ -- maybe a dr650 (with mods) or a KLR650 stock is pretty good for long distance road with "ADVADVADVADV" ability

just look for one without an "ADV" sticker on it, they go for 2K less


What are the issues with the DRZ? Why I ask is the cost of rego is a lot less for the 400 vs 650cc bikes.

[Hads]

You would want something with a lot of torque maybe a 650 adventure eg Vstrom bike but not all have the most comfortable seats. Getting up a steep gravel driveway in the wet would require knobblys but they would be unsafe on a wet road. Its not a route I would consider to be safe in the dark on any bike though as there can be wandering stock on the road. One option could be if you could get cheap bike storage at Litttle River just drive over the hill and ride from there. Good Luck

The other concern I had was the ice on the road on the hills, I know the summit road has issues, so I'm sure that road does?

[Scubbo]

they are as comfy as the klx250 --- even with better seat/padding etc --- it's just not a nice bike to do 160KM daily on.. + it won't last that long at high speeds, it'll be fun the first time you do the twisties then you'll be saying damn I wish I had a bike that was more comfy

don't get me wrong the drz is a great GREAT bike, for the odd long trip / offroad/gravel road thrash but long distances arent that great (It only has 5 gears, and they are close together so to do 100KPH it's revving high and is a buzzy engine to begin with) the KLX has 6 gears so would probably be better at cruising if you just opened her up a bit and put larger front sprocket on

I hear you can just chuck the klx300 cylinder block onto the klx250s or there abouts and it's got that much more grunt, might be worth looking into ? as its the same everything but the piston/jug or somthin? but the 300 is a dirt only bike for some-reason, if they had sold klx300 as a road bike it might have given the DRZ a run for its money?

[ellipsis]

...after 27 years of using SH75 daily or almost I reckon I'm qualified to say that you want a cage for what you require...there are many days I don't even want to travel on that road in my truck due to fucking immense southerly or even more immense northerly winds blowing the fuck out of you...anyone who thinks they will be commuting that road every day on a bike is expecting a little too much from themselves...

[Grumph]

...after 27 years of using SH75 daily or almost I reckon I'm qualified to say that you want a cage for what you require...there are many days I don't even want to travel on that road in my truck due to fucking immense southerly or even more immense northerly winds blowing the fuck out of you...anyone who thinks they will be commuting that road every day on a bike is expecting a little too much from themselves...

Dead right I'm sorry to say. I did Diamond harbour - Chch in all weathers on a 350 twin for years. But never on a weekend as the bloody sightseers made it too dangerous. I've ridden probably every road on the peninsula many times but i would not commute on a bike on that route.

[Hads]

...after 27 years of using SH75 daily or almost I reckon I'm qualified to say that you want a cage for what you require...there are many days I don't even want to travel on that road in my truck due to fucking immense southerly or even more immense northerly winds blowing the fuck out of you...anyone who thinks they will be commuting that road every day on a bike is expecting a little too much from themselves...

This is what I suspected, I was just hoping I was over thinking it, part of the reason I created this thread, now the hard part, convincing my wife I can keep a motorbike whilst having a cheap second car...

[ellipsis]

This is what I suspected, I was just hoping I was over thinking it, part of the reason I created this thread, now the hard part, convincing my wife I can keep a motorbike whilst having a cheap second car...


...tell her nuthin...

[Oakie]

busa .

I thought to myself, "someone will say 'Hayabusa' within 10 posts". Yep.

[T.W.R]

Cheap 4x4 ..... How often is the road closed at the during the winter :rolleyes: and the grit season last for ages aswell.

[Tazz]

Ural ;)

You don't need a 4x4, an AWD is good enough and carry chains in the winter. It's not terrible often, some years not at all, but it's nice to be able to get out of the place or home those few times that it is.

For a bike/cage split you will definitely be on the bike more throughout the year.

If you think the bike you have now is uncomfortable you will loath the stock DRZ seat. Even modded it is not a good commuting motor or bike IMO. Look it up and you'll see a few reasons why.

I would forget about getting something for offroad as well on that kinda commute personally and focus on I would grab a little Ninja or something that style rather than trying to get something for offroad too. Even a Hardly shouldn't have trouble on a gravel driveway. That said the DR650 and KLR650 mentioned have quite the following and if one of those is the best tool for the job then the rego is justified really.

[neels]

If you think the bike you have now is uncomfortable you will loath the stock DRZ seat. Even modded it is not a good commuting motor or bike IMO.
I can personally attest to this.

Buy something sportsish in the bike department, and something cheap and bog standard in the car department. Riding in the rain or freezing cold will not be fun, so take the car, and if the road is too bad for the car it'll be closed and you can have a sleep in.

[Oakie]

Buy something sportsish in the bike department, and something cheap and bog standard in the car department. Riding in the rain or freezing cold will not be fun, so take the car, and if the road is too bad for the car it'll be closed and you can have a sleep in.

What he said.

[AllanB]

The other concern I had was the ice on the road on the hills, I know the summit road has issues, so I'm sure that road does?

Ice - It is covered in snow several times a year ........

[Asher]

Personally I would struggle to think of a worse road to ride on a cold and windy winter morning.

[pritch]

OK my first thought was a Hyabusa but it was obviously going to be a popular, if silly, suggestion.

So I sat here racking my brains and anything that appealed was way over budget: KTM Duke 690, Yamaha MT-07, Honda NC750X etc etc.

All things considered I think I'd seriously check out that Hornet.
And no, I have never met the owner, but I did own a Hornet and loved it. And yes, I actually did ride it to Akaroa one day.

[BrendonF]

Personally I would struggle to think of a worse road to ride on a cold and windy winter morning.

Holly bloody hell!!! I had no idea it got that bad on the Akaroa GP.

I personally would not want to commute daily on that road, but if I did I would have a think about a Vstrom or something similar. Big road bikes likes Busa's and what I ride are fun and very capable commuting and touring bikes, but no good on rough roads or step gravel drives

[pritch]

I personally would not want to commute daily on that road, but if I did I would have a think about a Vstrom or something similar.

The budget limit was $5,000, a quick look didn't reveal many of those, otherwise a sensible choice.

I was standing at the top of the hill talking to a Kawasaki cruiser rider when we heard scraaaaaaape - scraaaaaaaaape - scraaaaaape as a bike came up the hill.
Mr Kawasaki said, That'll be a Harley." And it was. So I'd cross them off the list as well :yes:

[BrendonF]

The budget limit was $5,000, a quick look didn't reveal many of those, otherwise a sensible choice.

I was standing at the top of the hill talking to a Kawasaki cruiser rider when we heard scraaaaaaape - scraaaaaaaaape - scraaaaaape as a bike came up the hill.
Mr Kawasaki said, That'll be a Harley." And it was. So I'd cross them off the list as well :yes:

Haha, yep. Seen a few tractors trying to be sport bikes on that road.

[ellipsis]

...a Sportster is the bike you want...and a battered old Toyota, two door shopping basket...simple...

[Smifffy]

A Toyota AWD/4WD cage and a Honda/Suzuki bike of any type. Will go forever and do almost anything you ask of em.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Bmw s1000xr. Best of all worlds

[EJK]

Bmw s1000xr. Best of all worlds

Not sure which world sells SXR for $5,000.

[HenryDorsetCase]

$5000 down and easy monthly payments.

OP why spend two hours plus a day commuting? Especially if you end up in Merivale-by- the-sea. Just buy a house in town, stay there during the week and go to Akkas for the weekend. You know it makes sense

[AllanB]

All things considered I think I'd seriously check out that Hornet.
And no, I have never met the owner, but I did own a Hornet and loved it. And yes, I actually did ride it to Akaroa one day.

My Hornet and I enjoyed many hundreds of trips over that road (hmmmm I wonder how many I did, 8 years ..... most that way.....shit!)

Fine ride for the hill and they can be fetched at a good price. Reliable as an anvil.

[AllanB]

$5000 down and easy monthly payments.

OP why spend two hours plus a day commuting? Especially if you end up in Merivale-by- the-sea. Just buy a house in town, stay there during the week and go to Akkas for the weekend. You know it makes sense

Townhouse. Not a bad plan really.

[Hads]

$5000 down and easy monthly payments.

OP why spend two hours plus a day commuting? Especially if you end up in Merivale-by- the-sea. Just buy a house in town, stay there during the week and go to Akkas for the weekend. You know it makes sense


Have been offered my parents bach for next to no rent for a while, so will save a bit of cash while putting up with 2 1/2 hours of commuting each day.

[The End]

My Hornet and I enjoyed many hundreds of trips over that road (hmmmm I wonder how many I did, 8 years ..... most that way.....shit!)

Fine ride for the hill and they can be fetched at a good price. Reliable as an anvil.

*cough*

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/178135-Honda-CB900-Hornet-2007?p=1130954769#post1130954769

:lol:

OP feel free to send me a PM if you want to talk about it further :)

[BrendonF]

Not sure which world sells SXR for $5,000.

haha, yep. Try about $27-30K