what bike, commuting
Discussion
Prizam said:
Tmax is great... But i also want to enjoy riding some times. 
I guess it makes sense if i keep the R6 as well though... Hummm
I test rode a 400 burgman before i got my deauville. I guess it makes sense if i keep the R6 as well though... Hummm
For a tool for getting to work and back on a big maxi scooter is really hard to beat. If keeping the r6 aswell it an option then i would definately consider a scooter. The two different riding styles would really complement each another.
Yamaha MT07:
Must be..
- less than 4 years old - YES
- 50mpg or better - YES
- Relativity nippy when i need it - YES
- Good on long motorways - YES(ish)
- Slim enough to filter in London - YES
- Fun on the twisty s (Don't want an elephant) - YES
Would really like...
- Belt or shaft driven - NO
- ABS - YES
- Traction - NO
- Around 5/6k or less... Less is better. - YES (New)
- not galactic mileage (Less than 15k on the clock) - YES (New)
Must be..
- less than 4 years old - YES
- 50mpg or better - YES
- Relativity nippy when i need it - YES
- Good on long motorways - YES(ish)
- Slim enough to filter in London - YES
- Fun on the twisty s (Don't want an elephant) - YES
Would really like...
- Belt or shaft driven - NO
- ABS - YES
- Traction - NO
- Around 5/6k or less... Less is better. - YES (New)
- not galactic mileage (Less than 15k on the clock) - YES (New)
Mr2Mike said:
286kg makes it a heavy bike, there can be little argument about that. Have you ever ridden a modern sports bike out of interest?
R1, Fireblade, VFR800, ZZR1400 (OK that's more sports-tourer according to some ), RSV Mille, Futura... and Tuono, Multistrada (two versions) - but never a BMW GS 
If I had to have a sports bike I think it'd be the RSV... not because it's 'better' in any way than the R1 or Blade and certainly not faster than the ZZR, but it just made me laugh like a drain when I rode one.
Guess I have to ask: have you ridden a Pan Euro?
I was down at my local Yamaha place sitting on bikes and trying out a few ideas and the MT-07 struck me as an ideal commuter other than lack of weather protection.
I was looking at stuff like the Super Ten and the FJR1300 but they're both really heavy and in the case of the XTZ really wide as well.
I have a nasty feeling that I may be looking at two bikes to get everything that I want. Or sticking with the VFR which does pretty much everything I want.
I was looking at stuff like the Super Ten and the FJR1300 but they're both really heavy and in the case of the XTZ really wide as well.
I have a nasty feeling that I may be looking at two bikes to get everything that I want. Or sticking with the VFR which does pretty much everything I want.
graphene said:
That recent CBR600F looks alright. Plenty of cheap, nearly new Suzuki GSXF650s.
I got a go of the CBR600F when the VFR1200 was in for a service. Initially not impressed as I wanted a go on the fireblade demo, but headed for home. Then on the way home decided I was having a laugh so did a 70 mile detour along the twisties and had a great time.Not much power, and they're too small for me (had to unfold myself a bit after getting off) but it handled well and was great fun to ride.
If I needed to commute I'd consider one.
Prizam said:
Well, here goes a very specific "What bike". Required for around 10k a year, all weather.
Must be..
- less than 4 years old
- 50mpg or better
- Relativity nippy when i need it
- Good on long motorways
- Slim enough to filter in London
- Fun on the twisty s (Don't want an elephant)
Would really like...
- Belt or shaft driven
- ABS
- Traction
- Around 5/6k or less... Less is better.
- not galactic mileage (Less than 15k on the clock)
The only bike i can come up with is a BMW F800 GT. mixed reviews, some of the older ones appear to have had a few issues.
Alas, i give this one over to you, the all knowing PistonHeads collective.
You have just described an R1200R, go get one :-)Must be..
- less than 4 years old
- 50mpg or better
- Relativity nippy when i need it
- Good on long motorways
- Slim enough to filter in London
- Fun on the twisty s (Don't want an elephant)
Would really like...
- Belt or shaft driven
- ABS
- Traction
- Around 5/6k or less... Less is better.
- not galactic mileage (Less than 15k on the clock)
The only bike i can come up with is a BMW F800 GT. mixed reviews, some of the older ones appear to have had a few issues.
Alas, i give this one over to you, the all knowing PistonHeads collective.
Maxheadroom said:
You have just described an R1200R, go get one :-)
Lovely bike... but not too much wind protection.I have indeed entered old man bike territory and gone for something I thought I never would have.
The budget has been blown and its not too good on filtering. But ticks all the other boxes and few few other things i hadent even though about.
2014 BMW R1200 GS TE.
Cost has been covered in other areas, didn't think I could afford it before. And i guess ile have to get used to the filtering.
Pick it up Saturday.
Mr2Mike said:
I've sat on one 
I'm sure it feels ok once on the move and is great for touring duties, but you can hardly deny that it's a heavy bike. It's about 100kg more than a modern sports bike.
I never said it wasn't heavy... you don't notice the weight so much once the wheels are turning but it is a bit of a workout to move around by hand. The fact is that it changes direction a lot quicker than you might expect. I'd like to see sports bike riders try this... I'm sure it feels ok once on the move and is great for touring duties, but you can hardly deny that it's a heavy bike. It's about 100kg more than a modern sports bike. (granted it's not 150mph but you'll see what I mean)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cms0bkNj7A
Edited by Wedg1e on Tuesday 21st April 01:48
Wedg1e said:
Mr2Mike said:
I've sat on one I'm sure it feels ok once on the move and is great for touring duties, but you can hardly deny that it's a heavy bike. It's about 100kg more than a modern sports bike.
I never said it wasn't heavy... you don't notice the weight so much once the wheels are turning but it is a bit of a workout to move around by hand. The fact is that it changes direction a lot quicker than you might expect. I'd like to see sports bike riders try this... I'm sure it feels ok once on the move and is great for touring duties, but you can hardly deny that it's a heavy bike. It's about 100kg more than a modern sports bike. (granted it's not 150mph but you'll see what I mean)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cms0bkNj7A
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 21st April 01:48
Prizam said:
Lovely bike... but not too much wind protection.
I have indeed entered old man bike territory and gone for something I thought I never would have.
The budget has been blown and its not too good on filtering. But ticks all the other boxes and few few other things i hadent even though about.
2014 BMW R1200 GS TE.
Cost has been covered in other areas, didn't think I could afford it before. And i guess ile have to get used to the filtering.
Pick it up Saturday.
Very nice - let me know how you get on with it as I do see commuters on wide handlebar machines but don't know how they get on with them. My current favourite is adding an MT-07 to the garage. Needs to get past the present-MrsSteelerSE though.I have indeed entered old man bike territory and gone for something I thought I never would have.
The budget has been blown and its not too good on filtering. But ticks all the other boxes and few few other things i hadent even though about.
2014 BMW R1200 GS TE.
Cost has been covered in other areas, didn't think I could afford it before. And i guess ile have to get used to the filtering.
Pick it up Saturday.
It has landed...
Top box is yet to be fitted (Send with wrong bracket) and might get a shouty exhaust on it. Though the standard one is fairly good.
On the sensible ride home i inadvertently got my foot down, so must have had some reasonable lean on it. And even managed an average of 58 MPG (With a very strong headwind).
The headlights are awesome! I think its fitted with HID's. Or some kind of super LED equivalent.
The absolute s
t tone of features on even the standard "TE" model is mind boggling, but simple to use and very easy to get used too.
The engine is a peach, loads of torque and plenty quick enough when you want it too be. this one is the Liquid cooled model with more power.
Filter remains a concern, though i did do some on the way back home and it was fine. I guess it depends on how tight the roads are ware you do it.
Top box is yet to be fitted (Send with wrong bracket) and might get a shouty exhaust on it. Though the standard one is fairly good.
On the sensible ride home i inadvertently got my foot down, so must have had some reasonable lean on it. And even managed an average of 58 MPG (With a very strong headwind).
The headlights are awesome! I think its fitted with HID's. Or some kind of super LED equivalent.
The absolute s
t tone of features on even the standard "TE" model is mind boggling, but simple to use and very easy to get used too.The engine is a peach, loads of torque and plenty quick enough when you want it too be. this one is the Liquid cooled model with more power.
Filter remains a concern, though i did do some on the way back home and it was fine. I guess it depends on how tight the roads are ware you do it.
Looking good. Can I ask how much you paid?
To be honest you will quickly get the hand of identifying gaps you can squeeze through, i have seen some of the regulars in London making good progress on the big BM's - and when you cant make sure you move over and let the less bloated bikes through
To be honest you will quickly get the hand of identifying gaps you can squeeze through, i have seen some of the regulars in London making good progress on the big BM's - and when you cant make sure you move over and let the less bloated bikes through
yammyfan said:
I run a 2014 cb500x for my 240 mile round trip 3 x a week. I do Bristol to Central London so it was bought to allow me to filter and achieve top mpg. Could do with a few more cc's but it will sit at 90 and do the round drip for £20. Also slows me down - If I did the trip on my r1 id be banned by now.
Weak point is the chain and the stock is ste.
I looked at all sorts tigers, bmw 800 and 1200's and the nc750x.
How do you find the weather protection? I am test riding one this week after discounting the NC750 (was a bit too boring really). I test rode a CB500F which I loved but really want a bike with luggage and a bit of protection (they didn't have the CB500X demonstrator there at the time). The only niggling thing that is stopping jumping in as i am worried about outgrowing the performance, but looking at bigger bikes (possibly VFR800 / CBR650 / Triumph Sprint GT) i am struggling to justify the extra cost and reduction in mpg and increase in running costs. Weak point is the chain and the stock is s
te.I looked at all sorts tigers, bmw 800 and 1200's and the nc750x.
I want a bike for commuting, occasional touring and very occasional pillion, but also be fun to hustle on a nice day. I am no speed demon so I am probably worrying over nothing.
Wedg1e said:
Well I'd say Pan European, but that's just because I ride one.
A screaming horde of experts will be along shortly to tell you how slow, heavy, unweildy and unstable they are, but most have only read that on the internet, they've never ridden one.
I remember filtering on a Pan through Knightsbridge and then through South Kensington in a particularly heavy peak hour. I was in the zone. I was unstoppable. Chumps on bikes half the width couldn't keep up. Nutters on narrow bikes, with no sense of self-preservation (like foreign fast food delivery riders), they couldn't keep up either. A screaming horde of experts will be along shortly to tell you how slow, heavy, unweildy and unstable they are, but most have only read that on the internet, they've never ridden one.
It's technique, not small bike size. Get the Pan European dude.
Prizam said:
On the sensible ride home i inadvertently got my foot down, so must have had some reasonable lean on it.
How did you manage that, do you ride duck-footed?Nice bike though, I worked with a bloke who had one and it always thought it looked like a good bit of kit. With regard to filtering, you should be ok for any gap that doesn't require you to fold your mirrors in, though it seems to be popular to go for those sort of opportunities for London riders.
AceOfHearts said:
yammyfan said:
I run a 2014 cb500x for my 240 mile round trip 3 x a week. I do Bristol to Central London so it was bought to allow me to filter and achieve top mpg. Could do with a few more cc's but it will sit at 90 and do the round drip for £20. Also slows me down - If I did the trip on my r1 id be banned by now.
Weak point is the chain and the stock is ste.
I looked at all sorts tigers, bmw 800 and 1200's and the nc750x.
How do you find the weather protection? I am test riding one this week after discounting the NC750 (was a bit too boring really). I test rode a CB500F which I loved but really want a bike with luggage and a bit of protection (they didn't have the CB500X demonstrator there at the time). The only niggling thing that is stopping jumping in as i am worried about outgrowing the performance, but looking at bigger bikes (possibly VFR800 / CBR650 / Triumph Sprint GT) i am struggling to justify the extra cost and reduction in mpg and increase in running costs. Weak point is the chain and the stock is s
te.I looked at all sorts tigers, bmw 800 and 1200's and the nc750x.
I want a bike for commuting, occasional touring and very occasional pillion, but also be fun to hustle on a nice day. I am no speed demon so I am probably worrying over nothing.
The wind coverage isn't too bad - i have the taller Honda screen but could do with some more height as I am around 6ft 1". The bike is not a rocket ship by no means but power delivery is constant and will sit at 80/90 all day log and achieve brilliant mpg. I would steer clear from the Honda luggage - it is truly awful. The locking mechanism came out in my hand after the 3rd use and i have spent more time trying to push them back together. I would suggest buying a stock bike and adding the extras with after market parts! there are loads about!
I got the bike with the main driver being i needed to slow down on my commute. This bike has done that. There is plenty of information on the CB500x forum where i have a long running diary covering the last 30k miles in 2014.
PM me if you want more information - or if you are local your welcome to borrow it for a bit and see what you think.
Including 50mpg or better in your criteria is totally missing the point.
MPG is your smallest problem when riding. Tank size is hugely more important......(just for sake of mind)
So for your 10,000 miles lets see what a 50mpg bike would cost?
MPG
50 200.0 908.0 £1026.040
40 250.0 1135.0 £1282.550
30 333.3 1513.3 £1710.067
20 500.0 2270.0 £2565.100
Just buy a decent bike that requires as little maintenance as possible, with as few tyre swaps and cheapest on insurance and the lowest depreciation.
MPG is the least of your worries !
MPG is your smallest problem when riding. Tank size is hugely more important......(just for sake of mind)
So for your 10,000 miles lets see what a 50mpg bike would cost?
MPG
50 200.0 908.0 £1026.040
40 250.0 1135.0 £1282.550
30 333.3 1513.3 £1710.067
20 500.0 2270.0 £2565.100
Just buy a decent bike that requires as little maintenance as possible, with as few tyre swaps and cheapest on insurance and the lowest depreciation.
MPG is the least of your worries !
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