Economical Commuter
Discussion
As others have said you already have the Sprint ST just use that. Just take off panniers (if you have any) for maximum progress.
Surely just running the bike you already have (which is perfectly fine) is way cheaper in terms of the money saving (excuse) than buying a replacement/alternative with a bit better fuel economy wise?
My mates old 2008 Sprint was fine for filtering/commuting in London - the mirrors are the only part you have to be a little bit careful of between rows of traffic.
Ultimately if you just want a new bike just say so lol
Pretending its more fuel efficient could be a nice bonus
Surely just running the bike you already have (which is perfectly fine) is way cheaper in terms of the money saving (excuse) than buying a replacement/alternative with a bit better fuel economy wise?
My mates old 2008 Sprint was fine for filtering/commuting in London - the mirrors are the only part you have to be a little bit careful of between rows of traffic.
Ultimately if you just want a new bike just say so lol
Pretending its more fuel efficient could be a nice bonusEdited by sjtscott on Thursday 20th October 13:59
RE the V Strom and Versys 650's, I haven't ridden the V Strom 650 but do own the V Strom 1000 and have ridden a Versys 650.
The Versy's 650 felt pokey and well balanced for a 650 with a comfortable seat and good high riding position. Basic ABS available on the older models but apparently its effective.
The V Strom 1000 is thirstier than the 650 and I am getting high 30's to 40 at circa 85 to 90 cruising speeds. Its a big stable bike for my relaxed 45 mile each way motorway commute. Apparently the 650 V Strom is similar.
The only main issue I am aware of that effects both the 650 and 1000 V Strom (including mine) is clutch judder for which a fix is available for circa £250 and involves sending your clutch basket off to be re engineered.
Some comment on windscreen buffet but there a multitude of screens and bracket options available and all forums I have read for all these types of bikes recommend aftermarket upgrades.
The Versy's 650 felt pokey and well balanced for a 650 with a comfortable seat and good high riding position. Basic ABS available on the older models but apparently its effective.
The V Strom 1000 is thirstier than the 650 and I am getting high 30's to 40 at circa 85 to 90 cruising speeds. Its a big stable bike for my relaxed 45 mile each way motorway commute. Apparently the 650 V Strom is similar.
The only main issue I am aware of that effects both the 650 and 1000 V Strom (including mine) is clutch judder for which a fix is available for circa £250 and involves sending your clutch basket off to be re engineered.
Some comment on windscreen buffet but there a multitude of screens and bracket options available and all forums I have read for all these types of bikes recommend aftermarket upgrades.
d always takes most of the good ones and puts his grubby fingers over the rest?podman said:
My Dad's CB500 is amazing on fuel...with him riding it, its doing around 70MPG with speeds up to 80MPH.
Id be happy to commute that distance on one of these but they again, you can pick up a second hand ER5 for £1000 which will do the same job albeit being not quite so nice to ride.
Surely you only use that to get up and down the drive?Id be happy to commute that distance on one of these but they again, you can pick up a second hand ER5 for £1000 which will do the same job albeit being not quite so nice to ride.
I use my gsx650f 2010 model for commuting 30 miles each way (unless there is snow/ice) average fuel over 50k miles is 48mpg with a lot of filtering in the afternoon, service intervals are every 3500 miles but is only £25ish on oil and filter, valve clearance checks are done every 14500 which ive had done and none have been out of spec so far. The full fairings do help with the weather but it isn't a light bike at 220kg wet parts are cheap though as it uses most of its parts from the bandit k8-k9 bikes can probably be picked up for 2.5-3k
I commute on a Bandit 1250S. It's a nice lazy bike with lots of torque so you shift up to 6th and it's about the only gear you need on the A1. Perfect as a tool to do the job. Can't be arsed to ride for pleasure at the weekends.
Looks like it does about 44mpg. I have done 185 miles to a tank (4.2 gal / 185 = 44) but I have a 50 mile round trip commute so don't quite have the range for four round trips and it's preferable to fill up near the office than home so I fill every 4th day.
Looks like it does about 44mpg. I have done 185 miles to a tank (4.2 gal / 185 = 44) but I have a 50 mile round trip commute so don't quite have the range for four round trips and it's preferable to fill up near the office than home so I fill every 4th day.
trickywoo said:
MPG by itself is a bit of a red herring on a bike.
You need something with cheap overall running costs.
Tyres are what will kill you. For 180 rear 120 front good tyres but not top / top end you'll be spending between £4 and £5 every 100 miles on tyres.
Soft racey tyres on a superbike maybe but I paid £250 for a set of Pilot Road 4s for mine on which I have done 4000miles so far and barely look worn. Expecting them to last at least another 5000. If I get 9000 miles from them then that's £250/9000 = 2.7 pence per mile.You need something with cheap overall running costs.
Tyres are what will kill you. For 180 rear 120 front good tyres but not top / top end you'll be spending between £4 and £5 every 100 miles on tyres.
E36GUY said:
Soft racey tyres on a superbike maybe but I paid £250 for a set of Pilot Road 4s for mine on which I have done 4000miles so far and barely look worn. Expecting them to last at least another 5000. If I get 9000 miles from them then that's £250/9000 = 2.7 pence per mile.
Yep, I've just replaced the front tyre on my CB400 commuter, was an Angel GT which I got about 14-15k miles out of. Replacement cost was £53 + £15 fitting. The rear is currently on around 8k miles, I'll see 10k easily, £113 + £15 fitting. Overall running costs for the CB400 is tiny, I get 55mpg commuting, one fill up (17 litres or so) last me a full week of commuting, insurance is under £100 a year, VED is £40 a year, chain/sprockets last 15-20k. Tyres - rear once a year, front every 14-16 months, I do 200 miles a week.
podman said:
My Dad's CB500 is amazing on fuel...with him riding it, its doing around 70MPG with speeds up to 80MPH.
Id be happy to commute that distance on one of these but they again, you can pick up a second hand ER5 for £1000 which will do the same job albeit being not quite so nice to ride.
This guy was using a CB500X to commute 120 miles each way, 3 times a week, as well as some 2up touring, http://www.cb500x.com/index.php?topic=798.0, it makes an interesting read, apart from struggling with 2 snapped chains, he didn't have an issue. He purposefully picked it over an NC750 as although down on power, its more fun to ride and still 70mpg.Id be happy to commute that distance on one of these but they again, you can pick up a second hand ER5 for £1000 which will do the same job albeit being not quite so nice to ride.
My suggestion would be an SV650S, cheap, reliable, and with the half fairing a little wind protection, i used to get 65mpg out of mine.
Pothole said:
podman said:
My Dad's CB500 is amazing on fuel...with him riding it, its doing around 70MPG with speeds up to 80MPH.
Id be happy to commute that distance on one of these but they again, you can pick up a second hand ER5 for £1000 which will do the same job albeit being not quite so nice to ride.
Surely you only use that to get up and down the drive?Id be happy to commute that distance on one of these but they again, you can pick up a second hand ER5 for £1000 which will do the same job albeit being not quite so nice to ride.
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