Recommend me a commuter

[ZackDaniels]

Are 4 bikes packed into a single car garage enough? No apparently not...

Looking to change my average commute from 0 miles to about 40 each way. On top of that it will be parked in all kinds of areas prone to vandalism and theft. I don't want to subject the Max to that. It's 100 mile range would get old quick and it would break my heart to find it keyed or missing.

So I'm off to ebay and craigslist scavenging for dirt cheap banged up rides for the sole purpose of beating on. Here's my list of models so far to keep an eye on. With the NC700x or even the new CB1100 that's supposedly good for 60-70mpgs at the top, but I figure my odds of finding one of those even in salvage condition for <$1500 are non existent.

Honda NC700X, 64mpg, 3.7gal, 192 mile range, FI - Built in helmet storage - ABS


Suzuki dl650, 50mpg, 5.8gal, 250 mile range, FI


Kawi KLE650, 50mpg, 5gal, 210 mile, FI


Kawi EX250, 64mpg, 4.8gal, 250 mile range, Carb


If anybody happens to own one of these or an otherwise solid (200+ mile range) small bike able to do crazy cab filled city streets and highways well let me know. The 83 and VLX are both up for sale in the spring, and as much as I'd love to just use one of those for this purpose they're both crippled with a 100 mile to reserve range.

Anybody commute on their shadows? If you regularly get 200+ miles to reserve post your numbers!

[CrazyDave]

so you are looking for something that gets good mpg , and you don't care about too much if someone vandalizes it?

[ZackDaniels]

Good mpg and/or good range to prevent needing to put gas in it daily. The not caring about vandalizing means it's gotta be cheap as hell and already pretty rough.

Something tells me a half bike half car doesn't get 200-300miles to a tank It certainly wouldn't offer me the mobility to get in and out of random traffic situations provided by crazy cabbies.

[Scuba77]

My wife had a Ninja 250 and it got very impressive gas mileage. I took it to work a few times and had no issues on it even on the super slab. Now it sounded like a mosquito on the slab and just a bit light but no problems keeping up with traffic.
The dang thing was also a lot of fun ...even if I looked like a monkey humping a football while riding it.

[vzshadow]

Triumph Bonneville. They make three models, but the Bonneville SE has been discontinued so there are some great buys out there. Most fun I ever had with my clothes on!

[ikillbugs]

Originally Posted by Scuba77

...even if I looked like a monkey humping a football while riding it.

[cza888]

My '07 ss750 gets 185 miles per tank, and that's with cobra streetrods and stage 2 jetting.

And no, 4 bikes in a single garage isn't too many I've had 5 and was still looking for the 6th

[mblosch]

Why not keep the VLX for the commuter? Truth be told, those other bikes are not going to average their posted MPG. The VLX should get 50 mpg, mine does. Yeah the fuel tank is smaller in the VLX, but stopping every other day to fill up wouldn't be enough of a difference. You will more than likely have to stop the same on the others.

[John Hopkins]

Well I've got 6 at the moment, but I am making a new year resolution not to buy any more bikes..I don't have a car..

Why not use that 1983 VT750 you have, they hold the road and any money you save by riding a smaller bike will be eaten up by the cost of the bike and the insurance..

John

[John Hopkins]

ikillbugs..

That 97 vulcan you have, has the plastic oil pump gear..I hope you know about that..

John.