New Middleweight?
Discussion
Depends on your experience and how you want to ride!
I commute on a cbr600rr 30miles into town each day. I couldn't think of anything worse than a sit up bike for it! I like the brakes and handling response of the sports bike. I was doing it for two years on an r1! That was stupid as I'd be slipping the clutch most of the way, but fun!
So with no background at all... The street triple r is a fantastic bike in that class! Great torque, handling and brakes. Much better feel on the brakes, which is important for panic braking, much better response on counter steering, ideal for the cyclist who decided they did want to jump out from between those vans into your path.
I had a bonniville for a few weeks! That was a laugh commuting on! Wouldn't want to have done it any more than 2 weeks though... Not recommended.
I commute on a cbr600rr 30miles into town each day. I couldn't think of anything worse than a sit up bike for it! I like the brakes and handling response of the sports bike. I was doing it for two years on an r1! That was stupid as I'd be slipping the clutch most of the way, but fun!
So with no background at all... The street triple r is a fantastic bike in that class! Great torque, handling and brakes. Much better feel on the brakes, which is important for panic braking, much better response on counter steering, ideal for the cyclist who decided they did want to jump out from between those vans into your path.
I had a bonniville for a few weeks! That was a laugh commuting on! Wouldn't want to have done it any more than 2 weeks though... Not recommended.
Thanks all.
Actually the Street Triple is the bike I want, but again, not on the 'cheap' insurance list. What was wrong with the Bonny? I would have thought that was the perfect commuter? I was actually considering a Thruxton...
The Monster is interesting, although has failed every comparison against the Street Triple unfortunately. Not sure that should influence me seeing as I can't get a triple anyway.
Gladius has never appealed, the XJ6 just looks a little boring, like purely a commuter. I like the look of the Shiver but the Aprilia forums are full of issues.
What do you think of the KTM 690 Duke? There are pretty hard to get hold of here (Canada) but look ok.
Currently I'm thinking:
Ninja 650
Thruxton (not sure if I'm old enough for an old looking bike just yet ha ha)
KTM 690 Duke
?
And yes, I'm a relative beginner rider. Probably buying new though, so I want something I will not get bored of, and therefore not worry about depreciation on.
Actually the Street Triple is the bike I want, but again, not on the 'cheap' insurance list. What was wrong with the Bonny? I would have thought that was the perfect commuter? I was actually considering a Thruxton...
The Monster is interesting, although has failed every comparison against the Street Triple unfortunately. Not sure that should influence me seeing as I can't get a triple anyway.
Gladius has never appealed, the XJ6 just looks a little boring, like purely a commuter. I like the look of the Shiver but the Aprilia forums are full of issues.
What do you think of the KTM 690 Duke? There are pretty hard to get hold of here (Canada) but look ok.
Currently I'm thinking:
Ninja 650
Thruxton (not sure if I'm old enough for an old looking bike just yet ha ha)
KTM 690 Duke
?
And yes, I'm a relative beginner rider. Probably buying new though, so I want something I will not get bored of, and therefore not worry about depreciation on.
Ah Canada, so are you commuting in a busy city (London here) or more bigger rural areas?
The bonnie was slow, brakes were terrible and suspension was there to make the bike comfy rather than grippy. But... It was great fun! I like the look of the thruxtons but never ridden. Looks a better spec than the bonnie so might be a good commuter.
The Ktm 690 is a little nutter, great fun.
The bonnie was slow, brakes were terrible and suspension was there to make the bike comfy rather than grippy. But... It was great fun! I like the look of the thruxtons but never ridden. Looks a better spec than the bonnie so might be a good commuter.
The Ktm 690 is a little nutter, great fun.
Bob_Defly said:
I am looking at possibly getting a 2013 Ninja 650, I want something sporty looking that I can also commute on if I want to, or do longer journeys.
But I don't know what else is out there, what natural competitors should I also be looking at?
Nothing Supersports.
Suzuki GSX 650F, worked a treat for my London commute and was one of the cheaper bikes to insure. Looks pretty good too But I don't know what else is out there, what natural competitors should I also be looking at?
Nothing Supersports.
ETA: you'll need to change the exhaust to something a bit fruitier though
Mario149 said:
Suzuki GSX 650F, worked a treat for my London commute and was one of the cheaper bikes to insure. Looks pretty good too
I've also commuted through and out of London on a BMW F800S which was also pretty good. Not as good in town as the gearbox wasn't as slick and the clutch was heavier, but I did get much better MPG on it, especially on the motorway (60+ as opposed to 40ish on the Suzuki). BMW is also cheap to insure like the other bike, a bit more comfy at higher speeds (it has high-is clip ons letting you lean into the wind a bit rather than the full on bars like the Suzuki, but you could put flat bars on the Suzuki like I did). If you carry a pillion on any kind of regular basis, BMW is also better as the preload/rebound damping can be easily adjusted on the back without having to use daft tools/skinning your knuckles.
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