Your pick for best comunter?

**milktown** · 12th May 2013, 12:28

if you're not after the newest most advanced efi and fancy anti lock breaking systems and just want a cheep commuter, you cant go wrong with a nice UJM from the 80's. the market is flooded with them so you can pick one up for about the price of a posh dinner at a snobby auckland restaurant. plus if you like to tinker or customize the possibilities are ENDLESS.

**leathel** · 12th May 2013, 12:33

Wide bars can be cut and moved in a bit.... DR/XR 650 would be my pic

GN250

I coun't think of anything worse with the factory bars... yes they are narrow but the angle your wrist sits and isn't great for control around town IMHO

Something tall and imposing with a good rumble and gaps open.... XR/ DR fits well

So does this and your hands are above the roof

But I dont think it will go that well on the tight maneuvers

One of the bare style bikes with less flaring to break would be good too...

**st00ji** · 12th May 2013, 13:58

Originally Posted by Drew

You're losing me bro. I don't understand the question.

RF900 then. Go well, cheap to run, thrive on neglect, and do sick fucking wheelies if ya got the balls.

You're welcome.

cliff notes, the wife is pregnant with twins so stretching budget for 690 not ideal. plus it sounds like they dont appreciate getting wet.

RF does sound promising!

^those crazy ape hangers crack me up

**Drew** · 12th May 2013, 14:03

Originally Posted by st00ji

cliff notes, the wife is pregnant with twins so stretching budget for 690 not ideal. plus it sounds like they dont appreciate getting wet.

RF does sound promising!

^those crazy ape hangers crack me up

Suzuki seem to be the best bike to neglect. I don't recomend it of course, it will still cost in the long run.

RF400 or 600 if you can find one would suit your needs better, as ya don't have to pay the big bike registration cost. Ya gotta embrace the ugly factor too. Paint it bright yellow so it looks like you enjoy standing out like a sore thumb.

**FJRider** · 12th May 2013, 14:52

Originally Posted by Drew

Paint it bright yellow so it looks like you enjoy standing out like a sore thumb.

As sick as it would be ... He WOULD be seen though ...

Suzuki riders ... eh .. !!!

**FROSTY:Me** · 12th May 2013, 15:52

I spent more years that I like to admit commuting the Dauckland public carpark (motorways)
On everything from GSXR's to full on tourers. By a fair degree the best bike purely for commuting is the Suzuki GS500.
Fitted with a small blade fairing and a pack rack. Sexy they aint. But run on the smell of an oily rag,Plenty of punch in that 60-110km/h range,light to chuck around.
Yep they are a boring bike for anything else but for commuting they IMO are king.

**Berg** · 12th May 2013, 21:29

Kawasaki ER6n. Mrs Berg did 30,000kms a year on hers commuting from Kapiti to Wgtn and loved it. Good upright riding position, reasonable power, reasonable brakes etc. Her current GSR750 is a better all rounder but the ER was a fantastic commuter.

**Brett** · 12th May 2013, 23:11

probably DR400 motard for me.

**Drew** · 13th May 2013, 07:21

Originally Posted by Berg

Kawasaki ER6n. Mrs Berg did 30,000kms a year on hers commuting from Kapiti to Wgtn and loved it. Good upright riding position, reasonable power, reasonable brakes etc. Her current GSR750 is a better all rounder but the ER was a fantastic commuter.

Nope, to be avoided like the plague if being left out to the elements. The build qualiity on those things is worse than a Suzuki!

My wife's ER started having serious electrical issues from exposure, and the forks rusted, as did many other things.

**st00ji** · 13th May 2013, 19:53

i was thinking to get a cover for any new (to me) bike to put over it while its getting wet. will be under cover over night, but cant get a good hiding spot for it inside at work :P

**FJRider** · 13th May 2013, 20:02

Originally Posted by st00ji

i was thinking to get a cover for any new (to me) bike to put over it while its getting wet. will be under cover over night, but cant get a good hiding spot for it inside at work :P

Anything that susceptible to adverse weather shouldn't be used to commute. If water gets in and can do harm stopped ... how bad will it get at motorway speeds .. ??

**Ocean1** · 13th May 2013, 20:03

Originally Posted by Drew

Nope, to be avoided like the plague if being left out to the elements. The build qualiity on those things is worse than a Suzuki!

My wife's ER started having serious electrical issues from exposure, and the forks rusted, as did many other things.

Is interesting. The only thing that deteriorated much on ours was the zinc plating on some fittings, like the shock preload nut. Cleaned up easilly enough.

I hate things like fork chrome pitting, it's not even cheap materials selection, it costs as much to do a crap job as it does to do it properly, it's just lazy, piss poor quality control.

**skinman** · 13th May 2013, 21:15

I cant suggest a good splitting bike as I dont have to split for my commute but I do carry a cover in the top box & put it on during the day (the bike not me), the BMW is terrible to split with (900ish wide)