Commuter motorcycles... What would you choose and why...?

[Taff]

I had good kit, Hein Gericke, and stayed warm and dry myself, but getting home at 18:30 and needing to leave at 06:00 the next day doesn't give kit long enough to dry in the depths of a cold wet winter, and even if it did dry there was always the crust of road salt and diesel stink.

I did it for about a 9 months, it totally killed by biking mojo, each to their own but I'll never do it again.

My old dainese kit did that, 100% waterproof until water started tracking up the sleeve and trouser, that would then take 3 days to dry properly, it was horrible putting that wet cold kit back on.
Laminate goretex sorts that problem and it's dry in a couple of hours. I've been riding in a mega heavy shower leaving work that dried up a couple of miles later and my kit was dry by the time I got home 30 mins later.

[MrLongbeard]

Maybe newer kit is better, at a cost, thankfully I work from home 5 days a week so it's not something I need to worry about

[Taipan]

I commute all year round on a 2026 NC750X Dct. Returns over 70 mpg and being the new model I added comfort seat (very necessary!) and adjustable screen (waste of time). It does what it says on the tin They are know for being an ultra reliable, verry economical, mile muncher.

Downsides is it is heavy (over 210KGs), and with c50bhp its underpowered and slow for a 750. It also has really, really, cheap shit suspension that needs upgrading. But when you see it as just a commuter and not a weekend thrill bike, it doesn't seem to matter, as it commutes very well. But, did I mention, that if you want a bike for weekend thrills as well, don't buy one of these.

Weeksy mentioned teh X-ADV, which is teh same engine and dct, but at 6'2 I always found it a bit cramped on my legs. Better suspension though.

[Ian]

ZZR600 cheap as chips, reliable, easy to work on, nobody will nick it after one winter, it will look like a boat anchor even if you acf50 it, great mpg, tractable at low revs and hilarious from 7-14k rpm. Buy a nitron, replace the fork springs and they handle ok too.
I ran one into the ground for 14 years and it was the best every day bike I've owned

[Whysub]

I rode 120 miles a day (110 motorway and dual carriageway, hardly a bend in sight) for 22 years in and out of London. I never had a fixed, regular start or finish time at the office, varied immensely.

I used a 1985 GSX-R750 for about 8 years and around 140,000 miles of tye 180,000 on the clock. At least until it got written off.

Then had a succession of bikes from Kawasaki GT's, had quite a few Diversion 600's and 900's, a couple of high mileage Fireblades, a high mileage CBR6000, in fact anything I used anything Icould buy cheap.
Treated them with care until they were thouroughly warmed up, and did regular 4000 mile oil and filter changes which seemed to keep them reliable.

Then I bought a very cheap Piaggio 400 scooter. Best commuter ever. Weather protection was excellent, underseat storage and top box meant I could carry loads of stuff, 80 mpg if treated gently, 100 mph was acheivable if not.

No chain or sprockets to replace, cheap parts (lots second hand), cheap tyres. No street cred.
And when the weather was very good, or if I fancied it, I could ride my proper bike for a bit of fun going cross country instead of taking the motorway.

I think I paid more for a jacket than I did for most of my commuter bikes

[Noggin]

ZZR600 cheap as chips, reliable, easy to work on, nobody will nick it after one winter, it will look like a boat anchor even if you acf50 it, great mpg, tractable at low revs and hilarious from 7-14k rpm. Buy a nitron, replace the fork springs and they handle ok too.
I ran one into the ground for 14 years and it was the best every day bike I've owned

My first bike Rode pretty well on snow too Once!! Only once!!

[cvilla]

Do you need to carry stuff, took mine in today but needed the laptop, so one pannier added, makes it wider if you have smaller lanes to navigate*...also shaft drive as a bonus:) which I don't have!

* met a volve estate on the barrow bit today, they went slowing, I leaned the bike over, as they came alongside they asked were they clear, I said I couldn't see as I was in full-face helmet and hanging onto the bike!!

[mboy]

Cheers for the answers so far guys... Food for thought certainly...

A bit more info...

I'm just shy of 3 miles from my nearest train station, there is ZERO parking there so I'd have to walk to it... The trains are only every hour, ridiculously, so though it's a direct route, I'd be leaving home before 7am to catch the 7:45am train that gets to the destination at 8:30am to start work at 9am... The journey by motorbike is under 40 minutes... Even by car, with traffic, it's around an hour, though would then have to find somewhere to park the other end around a mile from work which would mean a 20min walk that end too...

Clothing wise, not a problem... Already own a Rukka suit, suitable boots and gloves, heated clothing etc... The kind of kit I'd have no qualms about setting off for a full day ride in questionable weather, so a 40min commute each way would pose no problems...

I hear where @Taff is coming from on the middleweight Adv bike... Thing is, I already own a heavyweight Adv bike that does 55mpg ridden sensibly... It would certainly do for the moment at least...

As @weeksy says, I think the Big Scooters really have merit for commuting... Thing is, decent ones aren't cheap of course! The Honda X-Adv 750 (basically a cool, scooter version of the deeply unfashionable NC750) really looks the part, makes the right noises etc... But you're dropping £10k on one, saving £10 a week on fuel at best (they typically do around 70mpg compared to low-mid 50's compared to what I have already), and that's just for commuting on... Hard to justify, even for the most competent of man mathematicians!

@Noggin makes a good point about a smaller, more involving bike, and I've certainly had the same thought... When the weather's good, it would be ideal, keep your focus up, keep costs down and be pretty good fun in the way that anything with a total lack of power is when you have to wring its neck most of the time... Problem would come in the depths of winter, no fairing, no creature comforts, and just wanting to get home quickly and stress free after a day at work, not wanting the commute to become an event in its own right!

@Count Steer's point about costs isn't as ridiculous as it might sound... Train ticket (which I've kinda ruled out because of the ludicrous 2hr combined time each direction because of the walk involved at my end) is £2600 annually or £250 per month...

@Rockburner's point about a bike that's easy to maintain yourself does have validity, but then if you're riding it 5 days per week for 48 weeks per year, are you going to want to spend the time to work on it yourself too?!?! Then @v8-powered makes the point about commuting on a bike that you don't really care about... Either way... I keep coming back round to the most unloved of Sports Tourers that there are still plentiful of good ones about for under £2k, superb engine, they have an INCREDIBLE headlight (from Nov-Feb, return home journey's would be made fully in the dark) which is very rare for a motorbike, and they're absolutely bombproof with nothing more than routine maintenance... And I've already owned 2 of them in the past and know a fair bit about them to be fair... The 5th Gen Honda VFR800! The only real downer is they're not particularly great on fuel, high 40's to 50mpg average maybe... But buy a good low miler for £2k now, add 30k miles on it over 2years with nothing other than routine maintenance, and it would still be worth £1200 in 2 years time... Comfortable too, and really only needs heated grips adding to make the commute bearable (I love cruise control on boring roads, but this commute would be on mostly quite open roads where I'd not be using cruise control anyway).

Regardng carrying stuff... Not a lot, only a change of clothes for the day really I guess... Would certainly fit in a typical top box (already have a Givi V47 I could use so would just need a corresponding base plate for any bike).

And yes... I do worry that it would diminish my desire to ride motorbikes for fun in my own time too... But I have other hobbies there too, so as a temporary problem (I don't see me doing this role for more than a couple of years, should I be offered it) I don't see it posing too much of a long term problem for my love of 2 wheels...

As for electric motorbikes... Well I think that small, light ones for urban duties work really well... But the kind of commute I'd be doing, I'd need something capable of much greater speeds and distances, and that costs serious £'s... Which really would be a false economy I suspect. I'd probably rather spend the money on an electric car or van instead to be honest, and then plan to use that more...

Realistically, I understand that I'm likely to want to take the car on occasion, certainly if the weather is bad enough... I need to work out a contingency plan there, where to park, do I keep a mountain bike in the back of the car too to turn the 20min walk into a 5min cycle ride etc... I'm also likely, on a nice day, to want to give my Indian the odd run out too, to make the commute a bit more interesting from time to time...

For what it's worth, I've also applied for a role, with a motorcycle dealership ironically, that I could walk to and from work every single day (or cycle) as it's only just over 2 miles each way... Applied nearly 2 weeks ago and still heard nothing back mind, so hey ho...

[A_morti]

ZZR600 cheap as chips, reliable,

The youngest of them is 20 years old and it has carbs.

They may have been reliable back then, but back then was a long time ago.

[Noggin]

@mboy - based on this -

I'm just shy of 3 miles from my nearest train station, there is ZERO parking there so I'd have to walk to it... The trains are only every hour, ridiculously, so though it's a direct route, I'd be leaving home before 7am to catch the 7:45am train that gets to the destination at 8:30am to start work at 9am... The journey by motorbike is under 40 minutes... Even by car, with traffic, it's around an hour, though would then have to find somewhere to park the other end around a mile from work which would mean a 20min walk that end too...

What about something left field like a folding cycle? My brother used to have something like a Brompton cos, whilst the train station was only a couple of minutes from his home, it was a faff of bus/tubes to get to work the other end.

He used to love it, but not sure if he used it in winter (ex biker, but now a bit of a wuss - likes creature comforts LOL )


And,

Problem would come in the depths of winter, no fairing, no creature comforts, and just wanting to get home quickly and stress free after a day at work, not wanting the commute to become an event in its own right!

How long in time is the commute by bike? I rode the KTM some long distances in cold autumn rain and at Christmas (it was dry by I rode home at night and it was very cold!), both of those were a lot of motorway. But, decent warm clothes and it was ok. I'm not a little person, but the 390 has a top speed of approx 105mph, so you don't need the protection like a full on sports or just much faster bike

Equally, I'm not sure what creature comforts are on a bike (aside from heated grips!) so not sure what is missing! I'd think that in winter it's ideal because it's light and not so much to damage on the off chance of a slip on a dodgy road surface - much more likely to pick up and continue


BUT - you do need to be happy with it for all round

[Jody]

For me, it would be a 690 SMCR or a 690 Duke, depending if I'd be going much over 90 MPH

But you already have a KTM !?

[Taipan]

I rode 120 miles a day (110 motorway and dual carriageway, hardly a bend in sight) for 22 years in and out of London. I never had a fixed, regular start or finish time at the office, varied immensely.

I used a 1985 GSX-R750 for about 8 years and around 140,000 miles of tye 180,000 on the clock. At least until it got written off.

Then had a succession of bikes from Kawasaki GT's, had quite a few Diversion 600's and 900's, a couple of high mileage Fireblades, a high mileage CBR6000, in fact anything I used anything Icould buy cheap.
Treated them with care until they were thouroughly warmed up, and did regular 4000 mile oil and filter changes which seemed to keep them reliable.

Then I bought a very cheap Piaggio 400 scooter. Best commuter ever. Weather protection was excellent, underseat storage and top box meant I could carry loads of stuff, 80 mpg if treated gently, 100 mph was acheivable if not.

No chain or sprockets to replace, cheap parts (lots second hand), cheap tyres. No street cred.
And when the weather was very good, or if I fancied it, I could ride my proper bike for a bit of fun going cross country instead of taking the motorway.

I think I paid more for a jacket than I did for most of my commuter bikes

My second choice to the NC750X was a scooter for the reasons above. I did actually buy a brand new Tmax but they made the later models smaller and it was uncomfortable, so it went. I' d happily have another SH300 for a year round commuter though.

[Wossname]

You hit the nail up there a bit - VFR 800, even the VTEC - don’t be scared of it. I put 32k on both - comfy, fast enough for your job, weather protection, often well looked after by previous owners, not expensive and not attractive to thieves. What’s the difference, really, in your pocket, between 40mpg (VFR) and 50 (others)?

[Bigjawa]

I do 40 miles a day on an ancient CBF125. Most of it is M-way/Dual Carriageway and I'm a 6'1 fatty.

Thing still does 90-100 mpg even though it's thrashed the whole time. Bike was free, costs 27 a year to tax and the insurance is a fiver a month. I use the oil we have in work for the trucks and change it every couple of thousand miles. It only takes a litre. Wonderful little thing.

Because it was the eldest boy's L plate bike it's been on the deck more times than Popeye and looks like F-all squared but the damn thing just sits at 7500 rpm and never misses a beat.

[fdb]

I think i would go for a Triumph Trophy SE. I tryed one and it kept me warm and dry even with stormy weather. The wind protection was massive and the electronic suspension made me feel like riding a flying magic carpet. Was baffled to discover it's possible to have that level of comfort on a bike.

[dern]

Anything that you enjoy riding. It's a big chunk of your life; try to make it fun.

[A_morti]

Let's be honest - motorcycling is not a year-round solution to getting to work every day in the UK. There's going to be days when it's icy, even if you're brave or foolish enough to take on all other weather conditions.

On those icy days you'll have to take the train (assuming it runs) so might as well make it the main plan. The folding bicycle idea mightn't be horrible as then you can bring it with you on the train and not be at the mercy of scrotes nicking a full sized bike you'd leave at the station. So considering you'll be able to spend the travelling time dry and comfortable reading your book or doing the crossword while drinking a coffee, why not make the train your main plan?

[Taipan]

Let's be honest - motorcycling is not a year-round solution to getting to work every day in the UK. There's going to be days when it's icy, even if you're brave or foolish enough to take on all other weather conditions.

On those icy days you'll have to take the train (assuming it runs) so might as well make it the main plan. The folding bicycle idea mightn't be horrible as then you can bring it with you on the train and not be at the mercy of scrotes nicking a full sized bike you'd leave at the station. So considering you'll be able to spend the travelling time dry and comfortable reading your book or doing the crossword while drinking a coffee, why not make the train your main plan?

Snow has stopped me getting to work a few times, and once I had to leave my bike in London, but in 30 years of commuting into London there's only been a few occasions. In rain and the cold I always think I'm better dressed to deal with it than if i had coat and scarf on using public transport.

[Taff]

Let's be honest - motorcycling is not a year-round solution to getting to work every day in the UK. There's going to be days when it's icy, even if you're brave or foolish enough to take on all other weather conditions.

That makes no sense, if I travel to work on 220 days a year, give or take, and it's way below 0 Deg for 10 of those days, then I should catch a train that takes way more than double the time each way for 210 days, and will cost more than running a pannigale every day.

Nah, that doesn't work for me.

[matt]

I think I'd go for a tracer 700/ with a top box,or maybe a versys.Reasonable power, reasonable weight, comfortable, narrowish,economical to own, reliable,good luggage options,wind protection etc.
Also the new Suzuki sv7gx thing looks like a good option,a new one is 7k when it becomes available later this year.
Or maybe a cfmoto mt450? Which could also be used for a bit of green laning if that's your thing?
I currently use a 2015 bmw f800gs for a 36 mile round trip when the weather is reasonable (but I put it away when the weather gets bad as it doesn't take me many more minutes in the car as it's all rural b roads , unless I get stuck behind a tractor)which has been bullet proof and does 60+ mpg ,but i get a strange pain at the top of my back for some reason I haven't been able to resolve? So I'm thinking of changing it later this year/ next year , probably to one of the bikes I mentioned .
I can see how the big scooters would make a lot of sense as a commuter too though.