In praise of smaller bikes -

[Pwalo]

What I learned commuting in the Wellington wet last week.

1. Mid sized naked bikes are cool for commuting in shit weather. Light enough, and not so powerful that you're worried about spinning up the back. You're not going anywhere fast so lack of a full fairing doesn't matter.

2. Good wet weather gear is a life saver.

3. Sitting more upright is a real bonus when visibility is a bit of a problem.

4. If you haven't practiced cornering for a while you're bollocks until you've recalibrated your brain. Had to commute over Haywards to Petone on Friday morning, and the first few corners around the inlet were really awkward. I'll need to do a few weekend runs to get comfortable again after commuting along SH2 and the Gorge every day.

5. Cleaning the bike every day is a chore. Boy I'm glad I've only got chrome on the handlebars and heelplates.

[XP@]

4. If you haven't practiced cornering for a while you're bollocks until you've recalibrated your brain. Had to commute over Haywards to Petone on Friday morning, and the first few corners around the inlet were really awkward. I'll need to do a few weekend runs to get comfortable again after commuting along SH2 and the Gorge every day.

Yup, you need to get out more

5. Cleaning the bike every day is a chore. Boy I'm glad I've only got chrome on the handlebars and heelplates.

You DEFINATLY need to get out more! (I will be having words with C)
How many times have I to tell you, rainy days are good, because the rain cleans the bike for you! And that cleaning the bike is BAD because you wash off all that lovely protective grease.
All you need to concentrate on is drying out the permanently damp jacket that smells like a dead rat.

[Insanity_rules]

I'll second that praise. My lil naked sportie is a great commuter bike. Very stable at motorway speed and beyond plus being small its great for splitting and easy to park. I rode in that great Wellington weather last week too and not being stuck in a cage was a god send.

[Korea]

What I learned commuting in the Wellington wet last week.

1. Mid sized naked bikes are cool for commuting in shit weather. Light enough, and not so powerful that you're worried about spinning up the back. You're not going anywhere fast so lack of a full fairing doesn't matter.

...and full-fairings catch the Welly crosswinds like a sail!
Have been blown many a time...

[Squeak the Rat]

Have been blown many a time...

All the way????

Fully faired bikes are so easy to clean though.....

[onearmedbandit]

Easy to ride a GSXR1000 in the snow and ice, done it plenty of times myself. So no, no redeeming qualities for me!!

[98tls]

coming back from woodstock rally a few years back it pissed down the whole way..it was so slippery that even the slightest bit of throttle had the back stepping out in some places...i would gladly have swapped the TL for something smaller on that trip home.