Commuter motorcycle

[Borg]

Ok...not a motorcycle guy. BUT...considering the price of gas again, and commuting 30+ miles a day (one way)...I'm considering buying a motorcycle to commute to work.

Any motorcycle guys out there that would recommend a brand/type of motorcycle to buy for this purpose? Not looking to get some high end thing...but something decent, without busting the bank. You know...

[Pheidippides]

Ok...not a motorcycle guy. BUT...considering the price of gas again, and commuting 30+ miles a day (one way)...I'm considering buying a motorcycle to commute to work.

Any motorcycle guys out there that would recommend a brand/type of motorcycle to buy for this purpose? Not looking to get some high end thing...but something decent, without busting the bank. You know...

I think I may be the only one on here that commutes to work on a motorcycle with any regularity. I think the answer to your question depends on a number of things:

1. What is the nature of your commute (how far, what kind of roads, what time of day, what are traffic patterns what is the weather like)?

2. What kind of riding experience do you have?

3. What style of bike are you looking for?

I can help you more (I know a few others here ride) if I have a better idea on those three things. For my part, I would not commute if I did not have free access to the HOV lane here (in Houston, the HOV lane is super-limited access and protected by barriers on all sides - you can't just go in and out like you do in Utah) because riding a bike in heavy traffic is not very fun. I ride a H-D Road King, which is a bike that is specifically designed for touring/long haul riding/freeways. But others are good as well.

The biggest question is your riding experience. I now have several years of riding experience. When I first started riding, getting on any major road was a really terrifying experience. You probably can't just take an MSF class (please take one!) and then expect to be cruising at 80. It's something you have to work up to as you gain experience.

[cougjunkie]

Honda Shadow.

[Borg]

1. What is the nature of your commute (how far, what kind of roads, what time of day, what are traffic patterns what is the weather like)?

2. What kind of riding experience do you have?

3. What style of bike are you looking for?



The biggest question is your riding experience.

Thanks nik....

1) 34 miles one way. I refuse even in my car to hit I-15..too crazy and congested. I hit the road anywhere from 6am to 7am. I've found some back roads to get to work.
2) none
3) Well, that is what I am kind of hoping some on here can pipe in...but, I'm more in to the 'sport' look I think. Honda CBR....or Kawasaki Ninja....Yamaha FZ6....Suzuki 650.....that kind of thing.

Obviously...I'll have to do some searching around and will most likely buy a year or three older models. But...those are the types I think I'd have fun on and enjoy riding. The "cruisers" I don't think I would get in to.

[Donuthole]

I think I may be the only one on here that commutes to work on a motorcycle with any regularity.

I think Robin once mentioned driving a motorcycle to work, but maybe that has since changed.

[RobinFinderson]

I am still a motorcycle commuter. I ride a BMW Dual-Sport, which is a 650cc bike that is relatively light, and can handle both dirt and street conditions.

Here is my informed recommendation:

Kawasaki KLR650



This is an awesome bike. It is essentially the BMW bike that I ride, with none of the BMW whistles and bells. It is extremely popular, so parts and service are easy to find. It is light, has great fuel efficiency, and handles well in both rain and sunshine. It is also pretty cheap, compared to models like my BMW. It looks cool, and there are tons of great after-market accessories, like ammo-can saddle bags. If I could go back in time, and make my bike choice again, this would be my bike. It can also be taken into the dirt, if you put on the knobbies. It handles similar to a street bike, but has the suspension to take hills, dirt and curbs.

[Pheidippides]

Thanks nik....

1) 34 miles one way. I refuse even in my car to hit I-15..too crazy and congested. I hit the road anywhere from 6am to 7am. I've found some back roads to get to work.
2) none
3) Well, that is what I am kind of hoping some on here can pipe in...but, I'm more in to the 'sport' look I think. Honda CBR....or Kawasaki Ninja....Yamaha FZ6....Suzuki 650.....that kind of thing.

Obviously...I'll have to do some searching around and will most likely buy a year or three older models. But...those are the types I think I'd have fun on and enjoy riding. The "cruisers" I don't think I would get in to.

If you're going to go sport bike, my recommendation would be to, first, take the MSF course (I will repeat this again - take the MSF course) and, second, keep your engine size small at first. I'm not experience with sport bikes, but people I know and trust suggest that you go with the lowest end Ninja, for example, which I think is only around 250ccs (the other upside is that it is a cheap bike - about $4k brand new).

You certainly don't want to go with, say, a Hayabusa or a CBR 1100 or something like that. The reason why is that with as much power as a Hayabusa has, one small mistake on the throttle means you've just done an unintentional wheelie and/or crashed into the back of the car in front of you. And you will make mistakes on the throttle, with the brakes, etc. while you're learning how to ride. Consider the driving skills of a newly minted 16 year old driver - that's about where you will be on a bike. You have to learn how to see differently when you ride - again, the MSF class is the greatest place to start the learning process.

There are others on here that are more in touch with the sport bike segment than I am (I want to say Shaka, and I see Robin has chimed in as well) and I give great deference to their thoughts.

[Pheidippides]

I am still a motorcycle commuter. I ride a BMW Dual-Sport, which is a 650cc bike that is relatively light, and can handle both dirt and street conditions.

Here is my informed recommendation:

Kawasaki KLR650



This is an awesome bike. It is essentially the BMW bike that I ride, with none of the BMW whistles and bells. It is extremely popular, so parts and service are easy to find. It is light, has great fuel efficiency, and handles well in both rain and sunshine. It is also pretty cheap, compared to models like my BMW. It looks cool, and there are tons of great after-market accessories, like ammo-can saddle bags. If I could go back in time, and make my bike choice again, this would be my bike. It can also be taken into the dirt, if you put on the knobbies. It handles similar to a street bike, but has the suspension to take hills, dirt and curbs.

What's the wind resistance like at highway speeds, I wonder? I'm too addicted to my giant windshield to do without it past about 50.

[Surfah]

My old man commutes when the weather is decent on his Honda VTX 1800.

[Borg]

Thanks for your input. Yes, I will definitely take the motorcylce safety course. I actually thought it was mandatory? Could be wrong, but that is what I thought.

I won't be going off road with this...strictly a commuter.

I think cycling these same roads will actually translate to helping me be a better motorcyclist (should I get one). Being uber sensitive about cars on my road bike has to be directly correlated....it's just the speed and power that has to be compensated for.

Will continue to do some research, but am appreciative of any other recommendations and comments as well.

I'm clueless when it comes to this.

[Surfah]

Thanks for your input. Yes, I will definitely take the motorcylce safety course. I actually thought it was mandatory? Could be wrong, but that is what I thought.

I won't be going off road with this...strictly a commuter.

I think cycling these same roads will actually translate to helping me be a better motorcyclist (should I get one). Being uber sensitive about cars on my road bike has to be directly correlated....it's just the speed and power that has to be compensated for.

Will continue to do some research, but am appreciative of any other recommendations and comments as well.

I'm clueless when it comes to this.

If this is going to be a commuter bike, I'd stay away from the sport bikes. If you're not a fan of the cruisers like Junkie and Niku ride then look at something like the Suzuki SV650 or SV1000.

[UtahDan]

With all due respect to my pal Nik, am I the only person who views riding a motorcycle every day as being in the same category as sky diving? The sort of thing you do when young and unattached, but not once you have people counting on you? Maybe its just me.

[smokymountainrain]

With all due respect to my pal Nik, am I the only person who views riding a motorcycle every day as being in the same category as sky diving?

I tend to agree, but in his defense, it sounds like Nikuman is pretty cautious with it. Riding only in a HOV lane protected by barriers, etc.

[RobinFinderson]

What's the wind resistance like at highway speeds, I wonder? I'm too addicted to my giant windshield to do without it past about 50.

When I first started riding at highway speeds, I remember thinking, "Holy crap! This is a lot of wind!" Now my body is used to it, and I don't even think about it, even though I am typically riding at about 70+ mph. But I suppose the wind is significant. Wind and weather are two of the biggest drawbacks of motorcycles. I ignore both. I ride in the rain and sunshine.

[Surfah]

With all due respect to my pal Nik, am I the only person who views riding a motorcycle every day as being in the same category as sky diving? The sort of thing you do when young and unattached, but not once you have people counting on you? Maybe its just me.

No. Our 2nd Counselor rode his bike everyday until he went down on 495. He has 5 kids under the age of 10. After that no more bike. Gidget won't let me ride. And my dad only started riding again a few years ago when all of us kids were pretty much grown.

Everyone who rides will crash at some point. It's not if, but when. I have a friend who was killed on State Street in Orem when he slammed into the back of an SUV with his wife on the back. He died instantly. She survived. They were preparing themselves to be sealed and were on their way to sign papers for their first home.