What bike for commuting to CHCH from Akaroa?

[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

[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

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.