What's a fun commuter bike?

Jfaden23 · 11-26-2012, 12:52 AM

Was looking pretty hard at the SV series (and still am) but it's hard to get a decent one in california at the moment. A couple days a week I have class in a city 45 miles from where I live, but I'm not looking for a strictly commuting bike and still want to have fun in town/in the mountains (where I live).

At the moment Yamaha FZ8s and Suzuki SV 650s are attractive to me at the moment but both seem limited in my area. Any other suggestions? Budget around $4500.

Sequentialshift · 11-26-2012, 02:38 AM

Ducati monster

Shamrock627 · 11-26-2012, 02:48 AM

Triumph Street Triple R

Jfaden23 · 11-26-2012, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequentialshift

Ducati monster

Heard ducati is a more expensive bike to own. Any truth here?

Jim Moore · 11-26-2012, 05:44 AM

I would think the DR in your sig is perfect for that. Skinny (for lane splitting), tall (good visibility), easy on gas. It's perfect for that job.

Süsser Tod · 11-26-2012, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Moore

I would think the DR in your sig is perfect for that. Skinny (for lane splitting), tall (good visibility), easy on gas. It's perfect for that job.

Thumpers are not all that fun in the highway, the vibration gets old after a while.

The Yamaha FZ6 and FZ6R are very good all around bikes, but I have prefrerence for the FZ6 over the more budget oriented FZ6R. There is also the Suzuki GSX-F 650, which is a faired Bandit, and the Bandit 1250, terrific bikes to eat miles.

acura9927 · 11-26-2012, 07:37 AM

Ninja 300
CBR250- 60 to 70 MPG no matter how you ride.
CBR500

Dont overlook the 1st 2, cheap to buy new and insure. Believe me I own a little 250 when I say it can do it all. When I bought my bike I thought it was going to be hell on the freeway but thats been the opposite it can do NORMAL freeway just fine. Even better for freeway is the Ninja 300, in fact I would love to add a Ninja 300 to the garage as these little bikes are a blast.

tandersn9 · 11-26-2012, 07:44 AM

suzuki TL1000S ; )

When it's not winter time and school is in session I do two hours per day of commuting 3-4 days a week on mine, plus all other places I go.

bluspyder · 11-26-2012, 07:45 AM

Drz 400 sm. Or any other supermoto.

Sent from my DROIDX

Dem0nDuck · 11-26-2012, 07:55 AM

I thought my ZX-14 was great for it. The S1kRR is great for it as well but you could get the ZX for the price you are looking if you try. It is comfortable ... has plenty of torque... is supprisingly nimble.... easy to mount a radar detector (hidden) on it... The only bad thing is it is not a skinny for splitting but its not huge either.

RobMoore · 11-26-2012, 08:20 AM

Sv650s

kevinwilly · 11-26-2012, 08:27 AM

I'd say something naked/half faired. The FZ6 is a good bike for what you describe. The triumph speed/street triples, ducati monsters (and no, they are not really more expensive to own- especially if you are at all handy and can do the maintenance yourself).... sv650 is probably good, but I had one for commuting for a while and didn't like it- but I came from a liter bike and mostly missed the low end power that came with that.

I'd just stay away from actual supersport bikes (gsxr, cbrRR's, etc) because they are not the most comfortable.

Anyways, I am of the opinion that bigger bore bikes are better for commuting. Yes- they are worse on gas... but the extra power really comes in handy.

singram · 11-26-2012, 08:29 AM

F4i. Surprisingly wide power band for an 600cc I4, A somewhat relaxed seating position putting you more upright than a true-on RR(even the 01-03 split seat isn't too bad for long rides)and well within your budget.

Furad · 11-26-2012, 09:51 AM

1000cc or more or you wont be able to merge on the freeway bro.

harleyxlc · 11-26-2012, 10:06 AM

I guess I should be thankful my <1000cc bikes have been able to merge on to freeways...whew!

How do you define a "good commuter bike"? mpg? Hard bags? Freeway comfort?

My opinion of good commuter bike is reasonable insurance rates, low theft appeal, great gas mileage. For example, a ninja 500 is not high on the list of bikes to steal, soft bags abound and great gas mileage. And low maintenance costs.

Bikes like a zx14 are wonderful to ride, including long distance (I know, I have one), but I don't like it topping the stolen bike list when it comes to commuting and leaving it out. And even older models are above the $4500 budget.

I didn't find my naked bike was bad on the freeways, but if I had to pick one for commuting and had one bike, I wouldn't pick something like a monster or triple. Bags were horribly annoying for my speed triple and I have other bikes that are more comfortable on the freeways.

Honda VFRs are decent (since I have one, i am a fan of the 5th gen). Hard and soft bags, decent mileage, sporty yet comfortable. And definitely within your price range.

The two you listed would be good choices, at least the 650 for your price range, maybe increase the distance you are willing to travel to find a bike, too?