Which commuter bike?

It's been a few years since I last owned a bike, having relied on public
transport, bicycling and nabbing my brothers car. I've now got a new job
which will involve 30 miles each way of heavy traffic, and M3 or A3.
Basically, from Kingston-upon-Thames to Basingstoke. To start I'll get a
train over, but am playing with the idea of commuting by bike and am
wondering what bike to get. Friends are saying BMW GS650, although I quite
like the look of a Valdaredo. Of course there may be even more suitable
bikes which you guys may be able to recommend. I'm 6ft and pretty heavily
built.

Having not had a bike for so long, and I was pretty young then, I'm out of
experience on what equipment I would need. I would need everything, from
clothing to security stuff. I'd also be looking to get a loan to cover it
all. So, what's the best bike, the best deal I can get etc?

Thanks

 

elyob says...

Used CB250RS

 

The GS650 doesn't have much oomph and might be a bit tall for a short
fatty.

I suggest you visit a motorcycle dealer and have a look around at a B6
or something similar which you might enjoy a bit more

Clothing: Motorcycle shop
Security stuff: Motorcycle shop
Loan: Motorcycle shop

If you get the bike, clothing, etc. from the same motorcycle shoppe
then you might even get a discount on the clothing, helmet, etc as
they're quite high profit.

 

Hyosung Aquila GV125. I know a very nice man in Kingston who has one for
sale, and I'm not just saying that for my own benefit. Oh alright then,
I am.

 

A Transalp seems almost made for the role, but you would probably get bored
with it. You'd get less bored with an Africa Twin or Super Tenere.

A DL650 would be a better bet as it copes better with motorways. Soft
roaders handle and brake far far better than most folk realise and they are
very comfy. Bit wide at around Transit door mirror height though.

The single cylinder soft roaders lack top end, but are great fun around
town. You'd get bored.

More road oriented, Bandit, Hornet, Fazer, Z750, ER6 and bikes of that ilk.

Suzuki are offering 0% on their range of middleweights, hence me getting a
Bandit for work, commute and a bit of fun. I'm not the most svelte of frame
and it copes well enough. Actually, it is a bloody good bike.

As for clothing and stuff, BGN has already replied and I can't argue against
his logic. The margins on clothing, locks etc will allow you to get a good
discount if it is bundled with the bike.

As for security, datatag and a bloody good lock and chain backed with a
U-lock. Try to ensure you lock the bike to something other than itself, and
use the chassis, not the wheels if possible. Don't let the lock or chain
dangle near the ground. Use the U-lock through the front wheel and around
the fork legs. You can't really do much more.

Other accessories to consider include heated grips and a chain oiler.

 

Supermoto such as KTM.

 

Tim was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Sixty mile roundtrip on a 7l tank doesn't sound like that good an idea
to me.

 

Yep, better put that flameproof suit on. The Dullsville will commute
happily, but for anything else, don't bother. Mine managed to get me to
the South of France and a couple of the French Runs here without a
problem, but it was a literal pain in the arse.

 

Tank is good for 85 miles before reserve on my one. It'll survive the
winter and the plastics are cheap. Much better than risking something
expensive.

 

On Thu, 7 Sep 2006 17:05:49, elyob wrote:

[]

Cat amongst pigeons...

Consider a maxi-scooter such as the Piaggio X9 250. Great weather
protection, good top speed (~90), good mpg, no gears in traffic (CVT). A
daily commuter PTW does not have to be a geared bike, and can be just as
much if not more fun, albeit in a different guise.

Mint 2nd-hand examples with warranty still in place from ~GBP1300.

Mark you the 500 is a far bigger grin-factor...
.... but the 250 is definitely the best all-rounder.

As for protection, on a bike scooter like that, you're not very
concerned about bangs and bruises, only about scrapes. This is because
as long as you hang on inside the frame of the bike, you are protected
by that metal.

Security? They are never nicked. Inbuilt immobiliser, and in the UK no
demand for spares such that the "SHITS" get involved. So cheap
insurance.

Just a thought, it's still two wheels, and it won't upset those
lower-back problems on a day-to-day basis...

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Jim Crowther

<hands out pitchforks>

Everyone got one? Good, good. We'll need one flaming torch for every
four people. Right, I think we're all set.

Off to the castle, no talking until I say so, then I want a nice clear
"Rhubarb, rhubarb". Shake the pitchforks like you mean it, and *please*
no stopping for a wee off the drawbridge.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Podium Placed Ducati Race Engineer As featured in
Performance Bikes

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha Vmax Honda ST1100 wiv trailer

 

Is there a really good bike site where I can compare the prices, and all the
other bollocks of the bikes? The manufacturer websites are pretty poor. The
Honda wedsite at least showed the RRP.

Honda (Tippets) are just down the road, so that's a big plus. I think I also
have to consider locality of dealership/garage.

I do want an all-round bike. Holidays abroad, carry luggage and tent etc,
but full commuter too. Transalp was always one of my favourites ...

That's a very big plus. I think Honda are getting my thumbs up at the
moment. Can I haggle 0% if I'm buying the whole shop?

 

Moon Badger says...

New Bandits corrode like ****. Tori, my girlfriend, has one that is just
over 10K miles and 12 months old that she's owned from new and just
about everything that can corrode has. Also, the paint has worn away
where her right knee touches the frame rail. I have an abused '98 model
65K mile old Bandit 600 that for most of its life has sat outside and
been ridden in all weathers. It rarely gets washed but even that is
standing up to the ravages of time better than her 650 is.

I thought Suzuki scrimped on the original model, but it was seeing how
Tori's has suffered in such a short time that has steered me away from
buying a brand new Bandit and towards something older but much better
built.

 

The minimal tank range was pretty much my point - I commute by bike and
I find the need to fill up every day somewhat annoying.

 

Solution: Don't fill it up every day.

 

Or: Don't live in the arse-end of nowhere.
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