I need another bike to commute on.....

[SimJen]

I just got a new job and have been commuting on my Gixxer Thou. Its a good 70km round journey and I'm looking at selling my longbed L200 ute to get another bike to mostly do the trip on. I don't want the K's to go up to fast on the Thou.
At this stage Im looking at probably a 600cc naked bike to contrast with the Gixxer. Also the occasional two-up would be cool as the Thou has a Micron and no rear pegs.
Something economical and cheap (say MAX $8K).
Torn between a couple of bikes, CB600 Hornet (not sure if many around though) and a SV650 or a Z750 or something similar. I'm not that keen on the SV as it looks a little too soft for my liking.
It must be said I also like wheelies and corners so I don't want a bike thats too limited in its ability.
The SV might be a little too soft as Im used to the lazy power of the Thou....
Economy is a bonus as I want 45+Mpg for it to be worth while.
Currently the Gixxer gets around 36Mpg if Im lucky.
Just curious to peoples opinions and ideas at this stage.

[Edbear]

Don't laugh,but have you considered a new Royal Enfield? 90mpg and cruises at 110 easy. Comfortable and a bit different. They bringing in a few of the 465cc diesels next shipment - 200mpg!

[onearmedbandit]

Getting up to go to work this morning, my day was brightened by the fact I was riding my thou to work, as I do every day. It makes going to work sooo much more enjoyable. Currently I could not consider another bike, too much of an opportunity cost to miss out any riding on it.

I know this doesn't help at all...

[insane1]

what about suzuki burgmans 400cc or 650cc .

[Sketchy_Racer]

The Z750 Is one HOT looking bike.

Definantly get that one.

Its a Kawasaki so will be great for any loonatic antics !!

[R6_kid]

Yep Z750 would be a good bit of fun. How about a newish Suzuki GS500? Just looks like another bike so cant imagine it getting nicked. If you want you could put slash cuts on it, a street fighter headlight with pro-taper bars, paint it gloss black, and put a 55 tooth sprocket on the back. That way you would look cool as fuck, and could ride to work one wheel, that would save money on tyres!

[Sketchy_Racer]

Nice mental Image you painted there R6 kid.....

[R6_kid]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GS500

Hmm you can get it nekid (FROSTY has one that will be up for sale soon, not sure how much he's wanting) or in baby gixxer form.

There is a baby gixxer one on bikepoint.co.nz for $6k

[Zapf]

spend a bit more for the 900 hornet :)

[Mr. Peanut]

Bandit 600.

[R6_kid]

Bandit 600.

lol im surprised you didnt say NSR250MC21SE

[SixPackBack]

Sooki's are dodgy ...dont get another you'll regret it, I know I am

[Edbear]

lol im surprised you didnt say NSR250MC21SE



Too hard to spell...:yes:

[slowpoke]

It sounds like you are after another sportsbike so just stick with the thou'. There is no economy associated with running two bikes, with two lots of maintenence, insurance, depreciation and rego to handle. Just run the thou' and invest the $8k or wack it off your mortgage and you'll be far enough in front (comparatively) to update your bike every year.
For myself, I got stuck doing the daily commute into downtown Perth everyday at the start of a project and it would have done my head in if I didn't have the daily Traffic Light Grand Prix on the way home.

[SlowHand]

Sooki's are dodgy ...dont get another you'll regret it, I know I am


I knew you were a honda man :innocent:

[07fatboy]

thought about second hand triumph daytona...good fun to play onspecially on the motorway

[SixPackBack]

I knew you were a honda man :innocent:

The Honda riders are gay thing?.....sour grapes from Sooki riders used to riding the 'loaner' one to many times.:shutup:

[SimJen]

Hmm some good suggestions there guys thanks.
No to the Enfield and Scooters, not really my thing....
Im now leaning towards the Hornet 900 as they are cheap for a lot of bike. I was always a Honda man, but now I really have no legiance (sp) as long as the bike is good and reliable.
Don't get me wrong I love my Thou but don't want to waste it on long straight runs to work and I don't think you can have enough bikes. Either way the maintenance will be done by me and if I didn't have two bikes I'd end up with a bike and a car anyway so Im not too worried about the cost of running two.
I've still got to fully convince the wife, but she saw a Hornet and thought it was cool, so Im halfway there.

[SimJen]

Getting up to go to work this morning, my day was brightened by the fact I was riding my thou to work, as I do every day. It makes going to work sooo much more enjoyable. Currently I could not consider another bike, too much of an opportunity cost to miss out any riding on it.

I know this doesn't help at all...

I know what you mean OAB. Riding to work definately makes going to work more fun. I just don't want to wear out my Thou prematurely......
Riding to work makes sense for me as the traffic is a pain in the ass at the best of times, a bike knocks a good ten minutes off the time it takes coming home and costs a lot less in fuel.

[marty]

how bout a motard? brand new dr650 is under $8k, road tyres $500

[SimJen]

Yeah was thinking of a tard, but I'd really want a KTM or something high spec (high maintenance). DR's/XT's are a little slow and not best suited to commuting in my opinion. A new DRZ-400SM is $11k, I reckon a Hornet is a lot more bike for the money......
Either way gotta sell the ute first :(

[pritch]

Its a good 70km round journey

I've been thinking about something similar. Years ago a lot of people used dirt bikes for the urban comute but that distance implies open highway and higher speeds.

A bigger used roadbike that has aleady done most of its depreciating should still be reliable enough for the job. Some weaher protection wouldn't be silly either.

[WarlockNZ]

One word, Hyosung.

on the 250 you can get 400K per tank (17L). Need i say more??

[The Pastor]

sv 650! Nice bike those

[marty]

One word, Hyosung.

on the 250 you can get 400K per tank (17L). Need i say more??


he wants a real bike ffs - what choice do you think he'd take - the gixxer 1000 or the 250 homo? duh

[The_Dover]

Husqvarna TE510 with motard rims.

watch this space.........

[R6_kid]

he wants a real bike ffs - what choice do you think he'd take - the gixxer 1000 or the 250 homo? duh

http://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/Index.cfm/ID/314505

well make sure he doesnt buy that, he might be disappointed with its 'onroad performance'

[slowpoke]

Somethin' different...but still sporty...how's about a Ducati monster? Now THAT would be a fun commute! There's a 900 on Tardme for under 8k.

[Big Dave]

Husqvarna TE510 with motard rims.

watch this space.........

Good choice. Bags of fun.

[SimJen]

Still undecided, not really into Dukes unless its a 916-998, then I wouldn't be using it for a commute.....
Might just pay some bills and put some money into my current ride or perhaps upgrade at christmas to a new model.....oooh '05 Gix 1000 :)

[Flyingpony]

Don't laugh,but have you considered a new Royal Enfield? 90mpg and cruises at 110 easy. Comfortable and a bit different. They bringing in a few of the 465cc diesels next shipment - 200mpg!
And my bike ONLY does 100mpg :mellow:
Wonder if these diesel bikes can be excluded from requiring RUC?

Anyhow, I've heard these Royal Enfield bikes are coming into NZ but nobody knows who is selling them and for how much. You got any details, website perhaps? Thanks.

[marty]

how hard did you look?

http://www.royalenfield.co.nz/index.php

[Flyingpony]

how hard did you look?
:shit: :slap: :o