Best Commuter bike for under a grand?

[Bizzle]

What do you think?
I have been looking at all sorts of things but im still a bit stumped in which direction to go. I do about 80 mile round trip per day 70% motorway (M25 - with filtering) and 30% A/B roads (mainly filtering)

Any ideas folks?

[Fire99]

seen on ebay a few VFR 750's for around the 1k mark.. been tempted myself as an upgrade to the GPZ500 hack..
Engines are good for 200k amazingly if properly serviced.

[m3psm]

I use a TDM850 to great effect. I do 50% motorway (M11) and 50% city and it's great. The advantage over a VFR is ground clearance to clear kerbs for tight filtering and a good ride height to see over cars, plus it handles surprisingly well.

Other choices would be VFR, Fazer (if you can get one that cheap), Zephre, Bandit or an old BMW.

Traillies are great in the city but terrible on the open road so I'd avoid that route. Sports bikes are too low and are hard work on your wrists at low speeds.

I was looking around recently and decided to stick with the TDM because nothing else ticked all the boxes.

[Buelligan 984]

GPZ 900??

Dave

[tentative]

KTM Duke - nice and high ride position which is great for filtering and also a great laugh to ride

[F.M]

GSXR 750...maybe an 1100 if you can stretch to it...

[black-k1]

Ex plod BMW. Will run for many miles, cheap to service/run, comfortable and parts the traffic better than Moses with the Red Sea. Ideal for commuting if not exactly top of the fun list!

[Fire99]

black-k1 said:

Ex plod BMW. Will run for many miles, cheap to service/run, comfortable and parts the traffic better than Moses with the Red Sea. Ideal for commuting if not exactly top of the fun list!

Where do you find an ex plod BM?

[black-k1]

Fire99 said:

black-k1 said:

Ex plod BMW. Will run for many miles, cheap to service/run, comfortable and parts the traffic better than Moses with the Red Sea. Ideal for commuting if not exactly top of the fun list!

Where do you find an ex plod BM?

One on e-bay at the moment:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-K1100LT-IC-Lreg-TAX-MOT-...

They do appear in bike trader, on e-bay and in MCNs bike mart from time to time.

[y2blade]

Buelligan 984 said:

GPZ 900??

Dave

old school cool

[Bizzle]

tentative said:

KTM Duke - nice and high ride position which is great for filtering and also a great laugh to ride

Don't they have a horrendus tank rage tho?

[hornetrider]

The Duke is SO not suitable for commuting! Terrible tank range, shite on the motorway, no weather protection, no luggage provision - just no no no!!

[theturbs]

Also, my KTM Duke wanted to rattle itself to bits. A fun bike undoubtedly, but not for an everyday commuting role. Tank range was around 90 miles (mix of dual carriageway and city).

Didn't realise that TDMs and VFRs can be picked up for this sort of money - they would probably get my vote.

[Fire99]

theturbs said:

Also, my KTM Duke wanted to rattle itself to bits. A fun bike undoubtedly, but not for an everyday commuting role. Tank range was around 90 miles (mix of dual carriageway and city).

Didn't realise that TDMs and VFRs can be picked up for this sort of money - they would probably get my vote.

To be honest i cant imagine picking up a Duke for under 1k.
Yeah there are some early 90's vfr's going for around the 1k mark in reasonable condition.
TDM's the same.. none are likely to set the world on fire but will no doubt have some decent poke and be pretty reliable..

[Fire99]

black-k1 said:

One on e-bay at the moment:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-K1100LT-IC-Lreg-TAX-MOT-...

They do appear in bike trader, on e-bay and in MCNs bike mart from time to time.

How tempting would something like that be. Gotta be pretty comfy for an old hound!

[figbat]

You can get Yamaha Thundercats for under a grand now - nice fat torque curve for a 600, 160 - 180 mile tank range, all day comfortable for rider and pillion, unburstable engine and at the weekends she'll pick up her skirts and show her sporty side. Big fairing makes it useful on the motorway and keeps the weather off. Not as good as a trailee in town, but better than a full-on sports bike.

[dern]

My brother picked up a 600 fazer for £1300 from a dealer. Done a few miles (30k ish) but it's in fine order.

Thundercats are great commuter bikes.

Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th July 22:22

[Bizzle]

<Mr Burns Voice> "Thundercat eh?
"Exxccceeellleennntt"

[Bizzle]

I know two posts in a row are bad, but what about a "Thunderace" Again, can be had for under a grand. Look quite nice too.

Any experience?

[Fire99]

Bizzle said:

I know two posts in a row are bad, but what about a "Thunderace" Again, can be had for under a grand. Look quite nice too.

Any experience?

Not personally but i hear they are a storming, slightly comfy bike!