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

[rusty]

Currently doing 65 miles a day round trip on a Transalp, it does around 68mpg. I used it through last winter and will be carrying on commuting year-round on it.
The only time I use the car is if it’s snow/ice or ridiculously windy. Decent kit makes the world of difference, as does having drying cabinets at home and work so kit is always dry when you put it back on.

I did the same commute for a while on an Xmax 300 scooter, cheap as you like to run, I think it averaged about 90mpg, but it was a slog on cold, wet, windy winter nights.

Not sure where you’re commuting but mine takes me in and out of west London so apart from being cheaper than the car it also saves a chunk of time most days.

[mboy]

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 !?

And I had a 690 SMCR too (well, Gasgas SM700, identical bike) until recently... Absolutely would not want to do this commute on that! The route is all open A roads, Supermoto's are fun on back roads that are tight twisty corner after corner, but absolutely tiresome on open A roads and no fun at all in anything less than optimal weather conditions.

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?

I'm absolutely not planning to spend 4hrs of my day 5 days per week, commuting to a job... Not even for 3 times the salary on offer (it's not a well paid job, not much more than min wage, just something to get me back on my feet)... 40mins each way is as much as I want to do already to be honest... For the days when the weather isn't playing ball, I'll just have to take the car, park it up a mile from work, and walk that mile in I suspect...

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

Fair point... I think for now, assuming I get offered the job, what I need to do is just put a new set of tyres on my KTM and a few tanks of fuel through it, and reassess where I'm at once that next set of tyres is worn out... Hopefully in a few months, rather than a few weeks!

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.

Riding a 125 on open roads around traffic, that's some serious commitment! I mean, I fully get the cost saving reasons... And I think were the commute not mostly open 50/60mph roads I'd be planning to do the same... Not convinced on it as a plan on roads where I'd become cannon fodder to anything and everything if I so much as let go of the throttle for half a second though!

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)?

Yeah, I guess if the bike and other running costs are cheap enough, another 5 or 10 quid per week on fuel cost is the least of my worries I suppose... Tyres would last longer on a VFR800 than on my 1290 that's for sure!

[Lutin]

Has nobody suggested a Honda Deauville yet?

[A_morti]

Ok. Given the difference between the time spent by train and by bike and the modest salary, I'll revise my answer.

A versys 300x would be about quick enough, big/comfy enough, is fuel injected so should stay reliable, and it'll cost naff all in fuel.

Other than that any fuel injected 500 twin, for example cb500x.

[Yorick]

If it's gonna be a winter commuter, it needs a fairing
In winter, a bike without fairing is like a car without windscreen

[Rockburner]

One thought... Walking a couple of miles a day will do wonders for your general health and fitness.

[KungFooBob]

BMW F900XR's are on 0% PCP at the moment.

If you make the balloon payment after 36months to keep it, you don't need to worry about going over the miles.

[Ian]

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.

I got rid of mine 2 years ago, only because a very nice VFR800Fi came up locally and I wanted to try one. My ZZR was from 1995 and I never had any carb trouble. Looked like shit but dead reliable.

[mboy]

One thought... Walking a couple of miles a day will do wonders for your general health and fitness.

As a general rule, I absolutely agree... I just think that planning for 6 miles per day (3 each end) walk as part of a commute that also involves a 45min train journey as well, is giving over too much time and effort just to get to work...

We have a Labrador that gets exercised twice a day for what it's worth, a mile or two each time... I tend to walk him most evenings, the GF in the mornings or at lunch (she works from home)...

I'm also quite a keen cyclist, when time and motivation allows... I'm far from the fittest or most in shape person out there, but I'm also far from averse to the benefits of exercise too... I just think that planning to spend 2hrs of my day, 5days per week, 48 weeks per year, isn't the best use of my time to be honest...

@Noggin's point about a Brompton has validity... I am not particularly a fan of them mind (I would much rather my bicycles were proper sized, with proper sized wheels), but the reality is I would only need a bike for one end of the commute, so arguably a 2nd hand beater that owes me next to nothing and is about as desirable to steal as a venereal disease, wouldn't be such a bad idea, especially considering the one thing that my local train station does possess is a LOT of "secure" cycle parking (I have Gold rated cycle locks to use already too)... Certainly that would knock 1hr+ each day's commute if taking the train...

I do have a REAL soft spot for 5th Gen Honda VFR800's mind, and any excuse to get back on one (only sold my last one as was starting to do a lot of 2up riding, and needed a bigger more comfortable bike for pillion use) would be ok by me...

[ZRX61]

I used my ZRX11 for commuting for a while... also 55 miles each way. Used to take about 45min on the ZRX vs 60-90min on 4 wheels.