commuter bike?

hep' me, GRM.

so i am likely going from a 10-mile round trip daily commute to a 50-mmile commute, and making less money. this makes finding a non-RX8 for commuting use a good idea. i'm thinking a bike might be more fun than the '93 sentra i'm also considering.

i took the MSF course and have my endorsement; just never had a bike. my commute is about half ~45 mph roads and half ~85mph expressway (although i can certainly go slower...the 8 just doesn't wanna), with plenty of potential to be waiting in traffic. what's a good candidate? i am leaning toward an SV650, but am also wondering what else might work. will a 500 be enough? i'm assuming a 250 is not. i was tossing around the idea of a 250-500cc scooter (that the wife can also use to run to the store), but maybe i'm too insecure to ride one. although i loved our old 49cc scoot.

edit: i know i'm not going to save huge bucks with this plan. but cost is not necessarily the sole driver.

500 is MORE than enough. Even most 450 dualsports will do you well. I'm scared E36 M3less of scooters.... so I can't comment on those. They're just not fast enough to get out of their own way a lot of times. Though some of the new bigger liquid cooled ones probably suck less than trying to rock a Ruckus everywhere.

SV650 would be perfect

i would never take something like a ruckus out of my neighborhood. too bad someone stole my wife's 49cc Vino three weeks after we bought it...that was a useful scoot.

but the 400-500cc scooters top out around 85-100mph, so i'm not concerned about their ability.

EvanB wrote: SV650 would be perfect

+1

SV650 undoubtedly is the answer for everything unless the answer is Miata already. In that case you NEED both.

scooters are sweet! a certain strange part of me really wants a puch moped

CarKid1989 wrote:

EvanB wrote: SV650 would be perfect

+1 SV650 undoubtedly is the answer for everything unless the answer is Miata already. In that case you NEED both.

You have learned well, Grasshopper...

grimmelshanks wrote: scooters are sweet! a certain strange part of me really wants a puch moped

Tie that part up, and lock it away. You do not want one of those. :beentheredonethat:

If the whole point is to save money, buying a motorcycle may or may not be the best choice...add up the cost of the bike itself, along with safety gear and maybe saddlebags or something similar to carry your lunch and homework in, plus insurance, and then remember you'll probably take the car anyway on cold/wet/snowy days or when you have to stop at the grocery store on the way home. The bike will get better mileage, but when you include all the other expenses it will take quite a while to get back to the break even point on your investment.

stroker wrote:

CarKid1989 wrote:

EvanB wrote: SV650 would be perfect

+1 SV650 undoubtedly is the answer for everything unless the answer is Miata already. In that case you NEED both.

You have learned well, Grasshopper...

I have both Quick learner.

stuart in mn wrote: If the whole point is to save money, buying a motorcycle may or may not be the best choice...add up the cost of the bike itself, along with safety gear and maybe saddlebags or something similar to carry your lunch and homework in, plus insurance, and then remember you'll probably take the car anyway on cold/wet/snowy days or when you have to stop at the grocery store on the way home. The bike will get better mileage, but when you include all the other expenses it will take quite a while to get back to the break even point on your investment.

this is all true, and certainly a consideration...but then again i would (finally) have a bike. but seriously, i'm not expecting to break even within 6 months. i'm looking at sub-$3k. that might make an SV650 tough, but something like a GS500 can be found for well under $2k all day long.

it's more about reduced running costs, reduced depreciation on the RX8 (right now 34k on an '04) and putting money towards a physical asset that should retain most of its value, rather than on gasoline (currently ~$180-200/month). insurance on an SV650 would run ~$300/yr.

so i'm setting sights even lower (pricewise)...i can always ride it for a year or so then upgrade to the Speed Triple i really want.

'93 GS500, $1800 http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/1742743901.html

'93 EX500, $1200 http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/1742556914.html

'02 Ninja 500, needs a little work $1400 http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/1741369133.html or

'82 Nighthawk 650, $450 http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/1755038171.html

the nighthawk is interesting, esp b/c i have a buddy down the street with 10 or so old honda bikes in his garage.

stuart in mn wrote: If the whole point is to save money, buying a motorcycle may or may not be the best choice...add up the cost of the bike itself, along with safety gear and maybe saddlebags or something similar to carry your lunch and homework in, plus insurance, and then remember you'll probably take the car anyway on cold/wet/snowy days or when you have to stop at the grocery store on the way home. The bike will get better mileage, but when you include all the other expenses it will take quite a while to get back to the break even point on your investment.

Everyone already knows this. Now go away so we can get back to helping this guy justify the purchase of a motorcycle.

Buzz Killington wrote: '82 Nighthawk 650, $450 http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/mcy/1755038171.html the nighthawk is interesting, esp b/c i have a buddy down the street with 10 or so old honda bikes in his garage.

Nighthawks are awesome (see my garage), but I'd pass on the '82. That's a bored out version of the older engine design, the all new for '83 CB650SC is an immensely better bike that can be had for not much more money (shaft drive, 6 speed, much smoother engine, blah blah blah). The '84-86 Nighthawk S is even better, a little bit quicker and sportier, arguably better looking, though nice examples of those seem to command more money (of course, with old bikes, you never can tell what you'll find. I paid $525 for my '85 with under 8k miles, running great but needing some basic fixes (battery, fork seals, brake pads).

thanks Josh. I was doing some reading on the 'hawks and that's what i found out as well. i'm not in any rush so i can wait until i find the right deal.

Check the cost of consumables on the bikes. Tires can add up real fast if you have a long commute and depending on the sizes/tires available for that bike can make a big difference in running costs.

yes. then again, i'm buying tires for an RX-8 now, and they are not cheap.

i know that none of this is going to result in massive cost savings. what i really need is advice on good bike and gear options.

One thing to keep in mind - bike tires tend to last about as long on the street as R-comps. And don't forget to include gear in the budget.

I use a GS500F for a commuter. It's got plenty of power for it; for that matter, you could use a Ninja 250 and get even more mileage.

Don't overlook Buell Blasts; they are a bit like an appliance bike or a purpose built commuter cycle. They've got a belt drive and hydraulic valves to reduce maintenance. Not quite as sporting as a GS or Ninja though. Wish I had a belt drive right now; my GS500 ate its chain last week...

MadScientistMatt wrote: Don't overlook Buell Blasts; they are a bit like an appliance bike or a purpose built commuter cycle. They've got a belt drive and hydraulic valves to reduce maintenance. Not quite as sporting as a GS or Ninja though. Wish I had a belt drive right now; my GS500 ate its chain last week...

i looked at Buells but they are all still pretty expensive.

i will say that GS- and EX500s are all over the damn place for cheap.

hell, i'd rock a 250 if it can get the job done on 85-90mph sections of the PA turnpike. i'm not impressing anyone at this point and i'm plenty cautious given my 33-year-old reflexes and the length of time since i took the MSF course. anyway, once i get fully comfortable (a year, maybe) i'd probably trade up for something better. my autoX and W2W experience has to translate somehow, right?

racinginc215 wrote:

Buzz Killington wrote: yes. then again, i'm buying tires for an RX-8 now, and they are not cheap. i know that none of this is going to result in massive cost savings. what i really need is advice on good bike and gear options.

I can have tires dropped ship to your house for a few bucks over dealer cost. just to let you know mark up on tires is 200-400% I ride Continental Conti Tours. the local big dealer gets 179.99 For my Front and 269.99 for my rear tire. I get both for 138.99

are you talking car tires or bike tires? what kinds? 'cuz if you can get Hoosiers for cheap, hang on.

my current daily driver tires are Yoko AD-07s i got for $99/ea on closeout, but i don't expect to get more than 10,000 miles out of them (they also double as my autoX wet tires).