Commuters

[dern]

I've started a thread in the past looking for a new commuter bike asking for specific bike advice. However, certain features I'm after limit the choice somewhat so I thought I'd ask the commuters amongst us whether or not these really mattered that much before I just go out and buy a deauville.

As a bit of a background the blade hasn't been that reliable this year and eats fuel and tyres on this commute and the tank range is cack. I could also do with something more comfortable if I'm being honest with myself.

So, features...

ABS - I thought that this would be a good plan but it massively restricts the choce of bikes (my budget is about 3500). Does it really matter? I've got this far riding in the winter without it.

Shaft drive - I thought that this was essential but I replace the chain on the blade every year or every other year and oil it once a week and it's no great bind so is it really so great?

Tank range - big tank range is essential.

See if I ditch the ABS and the shaft drive then my options open up massively. I could get another GPZ1100 for peanuts and that was a good commuter and simply ate the miles (almost as quickly as the salt ate it) or a vfr... although one thought is that I'll simply get something very very close to the blade which will be a waste of time (I'm keeping the blade by the way).

Thoughts on abs and shaft drive on a commuter?

Ta (again),

Mark

[Chilli]

How long is the commute Mark?

[JVaughan]

I used to commute on my Africa Twin. Great bike with presence when filtering in traffic. add crashbars and no one will want to mess with you. Good visibility all around (your at transit van driver height).
ok, its not gonna wil the traffic light GP against a sports bike but when diving through motorway or two traffic you can see the way ahead..
oh, and being so high up has its advantages when passing females in convertables in traffic (wearing skirts

[dern]

Chilli said:

How long is the commute Mark?

Currently 30 miles each way but potentially could be more - contractor scum you see

At the moment it's a little cross country, mainly dual-c and some cross town round Oxford.

Edited by dern on Friday 29th August 13:26

[PolarExpress]

dern said:

See if I ditch the ABS and the shaft drive then my options open up massively. I could get another GPZ1100 for peanuts and that was a good commuter and simply ate the miles (almost as quickly as the salt ate it) or a vfr... although one thought is that I'll simply get something very very close to the blade which will be a waste of time (I'm keeping the blade by the way).

Thoughts on abs and shaft drive on a commuter?

Ta (again),

Mark

for the 3500 budget, a pre-vtec VFR is an excellent cross country/around town commuter that can eat the miles. After riding the Blade last week, it's very different in terms of overall feel and comfort, although not day-to-day performance when you're not wringing it to the stops. The VFR is uber comfortable, but not out of its depth when it comes to getting the pegs down should you decide to take the long journey home. As with any safety device, ABS is always a nice-to-have which you will never know when you're going to need it. Sadly the pre-vtec VFR only had linked brakes and not ABS.

[toxgobbler]

dern said:

I've started a thread in the past looking for a new commuter bike asking for specific bike advice. However, certain features I'm after limit the choice somewhat so I thought I'd ask the commuters amongst us whether or not these really mattered that much before I just go out and buy a deauville.

As a bit of a background the blade hasn't been that reliable this year and eats fuel and tyres on this commute and the tank range is cack. I could also do with something more comfortable if I'm being honest with myself.

So, features...

ABS - I thought that this would be a good plan but it massively restricts the choce of bikes (my budget is about 3500). Does it really matter? I've got this far riding in the winter without it.

Shaft drive - I thought that this was essential but I replace the chain on the blade every year or every other year and oil it once a week and it's no great bind so is it really so great?

Tank range - big tank range is essential.

See if I ditch the ABS and the shaft drive then my options open up massively. I could get another GPZ1100 for peanuts and that was a good commuter and simply ate the miles (almost as quickly as the salt ate it) or a vfr... although one thought is that I'll simply get something very very close to the blade which will be a waste of time (I'm keeping the blade by the way).

Thoughts on abs and shaft drive on a commuter?

Ta (again),

Mark

I owned a deauville for 1.5 months before I had to get rid of it for something else, I hated it with a passion. I now commute on a CBF1000 A, which is much better, the deauville may have a shafty, but it also has built in panniers (makes it wider than you think) crap mirrors, seriously underpowered for the weight of it and a very bad turning circle, before you seriously buy one, take an extra long test drive. The entire bike is a terrible compromise of design, it's not a good tourer, it's clearly not a fun bike as it has no power and to top it off pillion is uncomfortable (according to the wife).

[rsv gone!]

You say the Blade eats fuel. Do you really mean you have to refuel too often due to the small tank?

Something we noticed on our recent Spain trip was that at the same pace, my R1 actually used the same, if not slightly less fuel than an SV650.

[Phil C]

How about a Bandit 1200 / 1250 - think some of these have ABS - tank range is OK (160+ish) tho' you still have a chain - plenty of quite recent ones around for sensible prices - great engine too...... just a bit heavy for muscling through traffic.....

[dern]

rsv gone! said:

You say the Blade eats fuel. Do you really mean you have to refuel too often due to the small tank?

Yes, sorry, that's exactly what I mean.

[rsv gone!]

dern said:

rsv gone! said:

You say the Blade eats fuel. Do you really mean you have to refuel too often due to the small tank?

Yes, sorry, that's exactly what I mean.

Well don't look at SVs because the fuel light always came on first on that on our trip.

It is a faff. On my commute a tank lasts 2.5 days so I either fuel up near where I work (expensive) or fuel up after every second return journey. I've racked my brains for a commuter to sit beside my R1. I reckon a beemer would make a good commuter. Only downside - expensive to buy due to high residuals.

[The T Boy]

Whilst ABS is a nice thing to have when the time comes when you really need it I don't think it's essential for a commuter.

For comfort and range the Sprint ST is worth a look - I get 220 miles from each tank. It's a lazy bike to ride if you want with plenty of low down torque which makes the commute more relaxing. On the other hand it's alos surprisingly nimble and quick when you want to hoon - definitely on the sports side of sports-tourer.

The only downside is the mirrors which are a bit sticky out and higher than a sportsbike so generally just at the height of van, 4x4 and people carrier mirrors (basically any wide vehicle which leaves even less space for filtering).

[dern]

rsv gone! said:

It is a faff. On my commute a tank lasts 2.5 days so I either fuel up near where I work (expensive) or fuel up after every second return journey. I've racked my brains for a commuter to sit beside my R1. I reckon a beemer would make a good commuter. Only downside - expensive to buy due to high residuals.

I know what you mean. It's not too bad at the moment because I can simply fill up near work and the tank will last for two days back to the same garage with the light having been on for ten miles. When I was commuting down to southampton I was filling up every day which was a huge ball ache. Having a commuter on which I could stick some longer lasting tyres would be a boon too. Mainly though I borrowed a CBF600 (or something like that) for a day and I remembered that bikes could be comfy too. I never really noticed before but because I've been working long hours the blade seems to leave me more tired than it used to.

I was looking at bmws but they are expensive as you say. I looked at a k1200rs (without riding it) but I don't know... I just don't really want one. I considered the deauville as it was about as sensible as you can get but the wife suggested that I'd hate it and the post below has put me off even more.

Dunno. I keep coming back to the vfr800 but it's chain, not abs and the tank range is only a bit more. However, it would be ok to ride and it would be a damn site more comfortable for my commutes and winter trips up north so maybe that would be enough.

Quite tempted to go back to a gpz1100e1 too - had one of those and it was a good commuter. Thunderaces are good value now too.

Edited by dern on Friday 29th August 14:41

[dern]

The T Boy said:

For comfort and range the Sprint ST is worth a look - I get 220 miles from each tank. It's a lazy bike to ride if you want with plenty of low down torque which makes the commute more relaxing. On the other hand it's alos surprisingly nimble and quick when you want to hoon - definitely on the sports side of sports-tourer.

I don't really want to put that much money in to a work bike as it'll live outside so can't afford the 1050 but the 955 would be worth a look - thanks.

[dern]

toxgobbler said:

I owned a deauville for 1.5 months before I had to get rid of it for something else, I hated it with a passion. I now commute on a CBF1000 A, which is much better, the deauville may have a shafty, but it also has built in panniers (makes it wider than you think) crap mirrors, seriously underpowered for the weight of it and a very bad turning circle, before you seriously buy one, take an extra long test drive. The entire bike is a terrible compromise of design, it's not a good tourer, it's clearly not a fun bike as it has no power and to top it off pillion is uncomfortable (according to the wife).

Christ, not good then! .

[dern]

Phil C said:

How about a Bandit 1200 / 1250 - think some of these have ABS - tank range is OK (160+ish) tho' you still have a chain - plenty of quite recent ones around for sensible prices - great engine too...... just a bit heavy for muscling through traffic.....

Cheers but a fully faired bike is pretty essential.

[dern]

So, in conclusion - no big ringing endorsements for abs or shaft drives (I can cope with a weekly lube)?

[Chilli]

dern said:

(I can cope with a weekly lube)?

Eh?

[trumpet600]

Chilli said:

dern said:

(I can cope with a weekly lube)?

Eh?

Are we back on the subject of pink leathers again?

[jonny_c]

I do 60miles a day on my dl1000 - (in my opinion just as underated as the tl) Got a chain oiler, fine so far withoutABSit's just something to go wrong for me!

It's a big bike so visibility is suberb, tank range 190 miles, and I can sit on it all day!

[rsv gone!]

Chilli said:

dern said:

(I can cope with a weekly lube)?

Eh?

It's what your mechanic does to the chain thing on the back of the bike