Commuter - wot to buy?

[sinned]

I am thinking of a second, low cost bike for commuting. Will still keep the SV1000 or its upcoming replacement for the real rides.
My commute is Johnsonville to the city 10km - 50kph all the way unless I venture onto the motorway. So open road speed and power is not an issue.
It will be parked in public areas and may get get knocked over, so something that doesn't easily damage
Cheap to buy so something a bit older is okay
Low running costs - especially petrol
I don't want a scooter
The two wheel equivalent of a toyota corolla - reliable an frugal

I was thinking of a 125 - 400cc bike that is easy to ride in traffic

Any ideas

[Phurrball]

Based on my experience, an FXR 150 would be ideal...depending on your size of course.

Mrs P's one has no problem hauling me around, all the while getting around 30km/L!!

[hXc]

My Spada mate. Cheap as chips to run, a decent bike to ride - and not low on grunt for the occasional blast after work.

[jrandom]

FXR150 or GN250.

SG350 Goose.

Suzuki singles all the way.

[FROSTY:Me]

I'd suggest maybee an older XJ series bike --maybee a 83-87 900
not too far down on grunt for commuting
Or a revere 600/650
Best bet could be a suzuki 500 twin or kwakka 500 twin

[jrandom]

older XJ series bike --maybee a 83-87 900... revere 600/650... 500 twin

We don't all 'commute' the way you do, Frosty!



The man asked for < 400cc options, which I agree make the best pure commuters.

[FROSTY:Me]

We don't all 'commute' the way you do, Frosty!



The man asked for < 400cc options, which I agree make the best pure commuters.

well I still think he's limiting himself--the 500 twins are light /easy to ride and stop on a dime

[jrandom]

well I still think he's limiting himself--the 500 twins are light /easy to ride and stop on a dime

Fairy muff. How much could you buy one for and what sort of gas mileage would it get?

[riffer]

I reckon this would be a bloody excellent commuter.

NT400BROS.

Honda reliability. 400cc Vtwin. No fairings.

$2400 buynow

or an XJR400 for $2300 buynow.

[sinned]

well I still think he's limiting himself--the 500 twins are light /easy to ride and stop on a dime

I don't mind going up to 500cc so long as the bike is easy to ride etc and doesn't drink like the SV

[HTFU]

My commute is Johnsonville to the city 10km - 50kph all the way unless I venture onto the motorway

A GN 250 would be the ticket. A second hand 2004-2006 model can be had for around $2000-2500. Even though they are now chinese made they are still reliable, just finish is not as good. Mine did over 20000km of open road at 100-110km/hr. I did 210km on 5L at 80km/hr so at your speeds would be even cheaper than that.

Enough power for lane splitting at the lower speeds and it has no engine lash when you throttle off (new bike is not as good in slow moving traffic as GN was). Bonus is everything is easy to get at so easy to do oil and filter yourself and adjust the chain etc so that would keep costs down and air cooled so less hassle than older water cooled bikes.

I would have kept mine if I didn't need the $2100 I sold it for to buy my gpx.

[FROSTY:Me]

Mate take it froma bloke who was commuting 60km a day in 50km and 100km zones. The GS is bikeing perfection. Its light ,it runs on the smell of an oily rag it really handles commuting perfectly.
I did that 60km trip for 3 years on a range of bikes and the GS was best at it bar none
er besides a rather INSANE FJ1200 but we really wont go there --aye Sarge??

[shafty]

Whats your budget range Dennis?

[sinned]

Mate take it froma bloke who was commuting 60km a day in 50km and 100km zones. The GS is bikeing perfection. Its light ,it runs on the smell of an oily rag it really handles commuting perfectly.
I did that 60km trip for 3 years on a range of bikes and the GS was best at it bar none
er besides a rather INSANE FJ1200 but we really wont go there --aye Sarge??

Hi Frosty - GS are you referring to this bike: http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...500_e_1999.php

GS500 naked or faired - guess that doesn't matter except naked costs less if dropped.

[MacD]

I use a Yamaha SRX400 for commuting, the engine is based on the standard Yamaha XT400/600 single and is pretty bulletproof. Maintenance consists of regular oil changes and not much else. Tyres don't wear out (BT45s), chains don't wear out (well certainly not at the rate of 1000cc machines) etc.

I'd considered both a Suzuki GS500 and a Honda Bros 400 as options, but having had an SRX600 previously I was keen on another single.

Another option is some sort of dual purpose bike as they seem to be called now. That way you can do some gravel riding on the weekends too (which is my next plan).