Getting a middleweight cruiser as a second/commuter bike

[luckystrike]

Hi all,

Traffic and parking at work has gotten to the stage where I'm seriously considering moving my commute onto 2 wheels.

I've currently got a Yamaha Thundercat which I love to bits, but I'd be less inclined to commute on it as frankly I'm a little precious about damaging it or binning it in rubbish weather as plastic is expensive

As such, I'm considering an additional bike for commuting. In the absence of truly dirt-cheap motorcycles any more (sub-£500 and running) I'd like something reasonably different, so essentially not a modernish inline-4. I've also always been keen to turn my hand at cruiser style bikes as frankly they look ace, and being on a sportsbike can make the 'atmospheric' aspect of biking enjoyment take a back seat to performance.

So, I'm considering a middleweight cruiser-style bike as something to commute on - it keeps the Thundercat shiny over winter, it lets me figure out if I like cruisers to ride rather than look at, and it lets me get to work at a reasonable time.

Does anybody have any wisdom to offer, even if it's saying this is a stupid idea? The two frontrunners are XV535 Viragos (for the price) and Dragstar 650s (for the looks) so if anyone's got specific experience of these relating to commuting in less than great weather, filtering etc. it would be much appreciated.

Similarly, if anyone's got other recommendations I'm all ears - I loved my SV650 for example. Having no real winter commuting experience I'm not sure if it's going to be a case of clean it often and it'll be ok, or 'wtf are you thinking', although I do have a car for the truly awful days.

[luckystrike]

Thanks for the input. I'm aware it's going to be very slow compared to pretty much everything so that wouldn't be the end of the world and it's only got to filter past lines of queuing cars rather than a city centre onslaught, but the rebuild info has given me pause for thought. Thank you.

I'll look into deauvilles but I must admit I don't lust after them. Then again, hopefully neither will scrotes

[luckystrike]

Thanks for the feedback chaps. VFRs are intersting - never considered them, I'll have a look.

[luckystrike]

Mr_Tickle said:

Commute in the thundercat, that's the answer.

It's in far too good condition to subject to that, and as mentioned above I don't want to knacker it by binning it.

Besides, this may or may not also have something to do with the n+1 rule of the number of bikes one should own, but don't tell the missus

[luckystrike]

powerstans said:

Why not try an inline four, big old muscle bike I commute on a Honda CB1300 into Bristol city centre, its a big old sit up lump but I find the handling not bad I have even husselled it around Castle Coombe for a few laps when the Triumph Speed's exhaust came no where near passing the sound check.
Its certainly better handling than the Harley I test rode and it filters in the dual carriageway and motorway situations fine.

She is a bit thirsty but I only commute 5 miles each way each day. Obviously there are Yamaha and Kawasaki equivalents but the Honda reliability and rust resistance for commuting swayed me.

Sorry I missed this earlier. I've considered these - UJMs are awesome so I'd consider another. How do you find it in arsey weather?