Advice for new commuter bike

I'm buying a new bike and need a bit of help.

It's mainly a commuter bike ... so it needs to be good in the city, and
skinny enough to squeeze through cars when they're backed-up at rush
hour. My current Spada VT250 is great, but on longer rides and with a
pillion I want something more comfortable, and with a seat on the back
that doesn't look like an after-thought.

I look at a Bonneville and think it's gorgeous, but is it practical as
a commuter? I'd even go a scooter but haven't found one that I like
with bigger engine. Is an SV650 or a Monster comfortable on the back?

And one last thing, something that's not too heavy on the petrol will
appeal to my greener sensibilities.

Cheers!
Andy.

 

In aus.motorcycles on 22 Nov 2006 19:32:22 -0800

Pillion comfort is a personal thing, your pillion will ahve to try
them all.

I have no problems getting through traffic on my Guzzi which is a bit
of a barge. It's about width more than anything....

I'll put in a plug for the Breva 750. I'm seriously thining of buying
one as it seems to be a viable replacement for my current workhorse.

Zebee

 

Suzuki Bergman 650 cc scooter.

Theo

 

keep the spada and buy the bike you really want

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 23 Nov 2006 13:04:42 +0800

Big bloated horrible things.

The new Aprilia 500 Scarabeo is a smaller lighter better looking bike
if only because it doesn't look like it has been eating at McDonalds.

Zebee

 

I would imagine that any of the bikes you mentioned would be fine commuters.
Personally I commute 40 km's each way a day of a Honda Firestorm and find it
great for the job, it's also about 10% more ecconomical than the 600 that it
replaced. I've never been a passenger so I wouldn't know about the comfort
for a pillion.

Krazykol
Firestorm

 

that must have been some damn piece of Shit 600

 

I'll second that! We were commuting 30ks each way in Bris traffic on a
Firestorm. It was a great fun, awesome sounding machine. But there's no
way I'd describe it as economical! A tank of fuel would go in 180kms
(and it was the late model, large tank one!), and a rear tyre would be
gone after 6000kms (or about 3 months). Factor that into the running
costs, and she wasn't exactly cheap.

But yeah, apart from all that - damn fun piece of machinery.

Thanks!
Matto
05 Sprint ST - 1050cc's of commuter bike!

 

In aus.motorcycles on 23 Nov 2006 14:20:18 -0800

Tyres are a biggie for a bike used for commuting.

A pair of tyres for the hack Guzzi cost about ohh.. $300. And last
around 10,000-15,000km depending. (usually 1 front to 2 rears, with
the rear at least 10,000km but various things affect it)

Most sportbikes would get through 2-3 $300 rears and 1-2 $300 fronts
in that time...

Being a well known exponent of "one bike is never enough", I'd say
keep the spada for commuting, buy a larger bike for the longer trips
focused on those longer trips.

Zebee

 

Bugger all power those Bonneville's cant ever out run an old fart on a BMW.

Boxer

 

But, but it only weighed the same as my Cali. It did feel lighter though.

Theo

 

BMW K1200R

 

Whilst I certainly don't hold any ill feelings over the incident it still
ranks as my all-time most sphincter puckering moment on a motorcycle.

Just picked up a really cherry 2002 Honda Hornet 900, a really lively little
ride and perhaps a good commuter (although the 600 Hornet or a 600 Suzuki
Bandit may be more suitable).

Boxer

 

I can't imagine any 600 4cy being much different. I was using about 6.5
litres per 100 km's on it and now I use about 6 litres per 100 km's on the
Storm.

 

I must be doing something wrong, I have only done 4000 km's on the Storm and
see no appreciable tyre wear at the moment and I get 280 km's out of a tank.

 

try twisting the storms throttle some more and getting above 4000rpm and see
what happens to your fuel consumption

 

Well, a few years back, when I was commuting, I found the Hornet 600 a
very poor commuter.

It used too much fuel and tyres to be economical in that role.

I bought an old DX125 Yammie, for less than the price of a pair of tyres
for the Hornet.

BTW, is the Hornet for you or are you seriously moving into the bike
trader business?

regards,
CrazyCam

 

The Hornet is for sale, a Red 2002 model with 32,000 on it at $7,995.

Boxer

 

Yes I should try that. It seams like I only average about 130 km/h on my
daily communte, I'll aim for 160 just to get the fuel consumption down.

 

*shrug* - dunno - maybe there was something wrong with ours then.

280kms was my record on that machine. All highway riding, whilst being
very economical on the throttle, just to see how much I could eek out
of her. Last 45 mins was cutting back through the city with the reserve
light on, whilst making note of ever servo I passed, just in case.
Normal commuting (2-up), about 180kms was all we could count on without
getting nervous about pushing.

Tyres were Metzler Sportec something-or-others, and a Bridgestone
BT012/020 combo (lasted longer than then Metzlers, but not by more than
1500kms. Cheaper though, and didn't seem to be any handelling penalty.
Metzlers were better in the wet, but not by enough to make em worth
it).

Fun, though.

Thanks!
Matto
05 Sprint ST - 6000kms now, and still plenty of tyre left. 6.6L/100kms
avg in-town, 6.0 highway, according to the trip computer.