What bike for commuting to CHCH from Akaroa?

**Hads** · 21st March 2016, 09:48

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** · 21st March 2016, 09:56

I've got this for sale currently.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...00-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** · 21st March 2016, 09:58

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

**Scubbo** · 21st March 2016, 10:08

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** · 21st March 2016, 10:39

busa .

**EJK** · 21st March 2016, 11:20

Originally Posted by Akzle

busa .

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

**Hads** · 21st March 2016, 12:34

Originally Posted by 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

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** · 21st March 2016, 12:35

Originally Posted by cassina

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** · 21st March 2016, 12:39

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** · 21st March 2016, 12:41

...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** · 21st March 2016, 14:18

Originally Posted by 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...

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** · 21st March 2016, 18:03

Originally Posted by 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...

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** · 21st March 2016, 18:28

Originally Posted by Hads

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...