Recommend me a cheapo bike to commute on...

Recommend me a cheapo bike to commute on...

Author
Discussion

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

233 months

Wednesday 21st February 2007
quotequote all
biker's nemesis said:


Had a KTM LC4 Supermoto 3 years ago. Great fun at the weekend and ok for my 30 mile round trip to work.

Tank range was about 75 to 80 miles.


Sounds ideal - might be a touch over budget though knowing KTMs - I'll certainly take a look though

6x6

142 posts

208 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
ER5. The mrs has one and I ride it to work from time to time.

I have two other 100hp machines and riding this thing is just such a giggle because you can absolutely wring its neck. The handling is great (relatively) and totally forgiving so you can take complete liberties. It's also bomb proof and great around town.

Keep it clean though or it will dissolve before your eyes!

dern

14,055 posts

280 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
hugoagogo said:
oh an RD might be comfy, but who wants to tear it apart and rebuild it every two weeks? especially the crappy Brazilian ones

That certainly wasn't my experience of my well worn 'crappy' brazilian bike.

DennisTheMenace

15,603 posts

269 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
A fazer will be well up for the job , this one has lovely heated grips as well yes

www.pistonheads.com/sales/137067.htm

tentative

62 posts

211 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:
biker's nemesis said:


Had a KTM LC4 Supermoto 3 years ago. Great fun at the weekend and ok for my 30 mile round trip to work.

Tank range was about 75 to 80 miles.


Sounds ideal - might be a touch over budget though knowing KTMs - I'll certainly take a look though


I ride a KTM Duke II into town every day and it is a great laugh. Much more enjoyable than the trip used to be on an R6. As you say - you may be stretching the budget but should get close.

hugoagogo

23,378 posts

234 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
dern said:
hugoagogo said:
oh an RD might be comfy, but who wants to tear it apart and rebuild it every two weeks? especially the crappy Brazilian ones

That certainly wasn't my experience of my well worn 'crappy' brazilian bike.


no offence like

but seriously, sporty strokers aren't for commuting

ducatidesmo

2,095 posts

208 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
Xr650, XL500????!!!???!!!???
Best bet would be an nx600 Dominator IMHO

hugoagogo

23,378 posts

234 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
thasswot i said, twice!

a nice dominator for about 1500 quid or a newer, (maybe tamer) fmx650 with little supermoto front wheel for maybe 2000

what are those slr650 semi trailie scrambler 'city bike' things like? is a fx650 'vigor' the same thing?


Edited by hugoagogo on Thursday 22 February 19:47

wassy

632 posts

256 months

Thursday 22nd February 2007
quotequote all
Honda NTV 650, minter for less than a grand, shaft drive, Honda build quality.

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

233 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
6x6 said:
ER5. The mrs has one and I ride it to work from time to time.

I have two other 100hp machines and riding this thing is just such a giggle because you can absolutely wring its neck. The handling is great (relatively) and totally forgiving so you can take complete liberties. It's also bomb proof and great around town.

Keep it clean though or it will dissolve before your eyes!


I want something different and exciting though. The ER5 is neither I'm afraid.

6x6

142 posts

208 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
Carrera2 said:
6x6 said:
ER5. The mrs has one and I ride it to work from time to time.

I have two other 100hp machines and riding this thing is just such a giggle because you can absolutely wring its neck. The handling is great (relatively) and totally forgiving so you can take complete liberties. It's also bomb proof and great around town.

Keep it clean though or it will dissolve before your eyes!


I want something different and exciting though. The ER5 is neither I'm afraid.


You said cheapo bike to commute on. Besides, just how much excitement do you want on a dank dark February evening trying to get home from work in the peeing rain?

Anyway, it's not what you got, it's the way you ride it. I find getting every last ounce of performance out of the ER just as rewarding as a thrash on the CBR

To be fair I didn't catch the last line of the original post - but if you think there's no fun to be had on bikes like this you are lost, my son!



Edited by 6x6 on Friday 23 February 08:53

Carrera2

Original Poster:

8,352 posts

233 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
6x6 said:
Carrera2 said:
6x6 said:
ER5. The mrs has one and I ride it to work from time to time.

I have two other 100hp machines and riding this thing is just such a giggle because you can absolutely wring its neck. The handling is great (relatively) and totally forgiving so you can take complete liberties. It's also bomb proof and great around town.

Keep it clean though or it will dissolve before your eyes!


I want something different and exciting though. The ER5 is neither I'm afraid.


You said cheapo bike to commute on. Besides, just how much excitement do you want on a dank dark February evening trying to get home from work in the peeing rain?

Anyway, it's not what you got, it's the way you ride it. I find getting every last ounce of performance out of the ER just as rewarding as a thrash on the CBR

To be fair I didn't catch the last line of the original post - but if you think there's no fun to be had on bikes like this you are lost, my son!



Edited by 6x6 on Friday 23 February 08:53


Fair enough - I still don't want one though If I buy a 2nd bike it'll be something that I actually want rather than something that makes sense if you see what I mean.

I look at a supermoto and I want to ride it. I look at an ER-5 and want to push it over.

verysideways

10,240 posts

273 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
So back to Dominator/Ten/SuperTen/AfricaTwin then?

black-k1

11,951 posts

230 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
verysideways said:
So back to Dominator/Ten/SuperTen/AfricaTwin then?


Or the F650?

aeropilot

34,729 posts

228 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
hugoagogo said:
or an old dominator


Huh.......eek

I think I'd rather have a modern bike to commute on. Commuting with a vintage bike, even a fully restored one would be a nightmare.

hugoagogo

23,378 posts

234 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
not a bloody norton! laugh

a honda nx650 dominator

fergus

6,430 posts

276 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
verysideways said:
So back to Dominator/Ten/SuperTen/AfricaTwin then?


Or the F650?


I'd go for an air cooled for total maintenance ease, other than chain, etc. I used to have an F650 as a first bike and the chain snatch was outrageous!

hugoagogo

23,378 posts

234 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
is it the f650 cs that has the belt drive?

aeropilot

34,729 posts

228 months

Friday 23rd February 2007
quotequote all
hugoagogo said:
not a bloody norton! laugh

a honda nx650 dominator




I can't help being an old git....