Looks like I might be starting a new job next year at Sydney Uni (fingers crossed).
At the mo I live about 4km from work in Epping, so I alternate between bicycle, monster, and car (when it's raining). I think the commute to Sydney Uni by car from Epping would make me want to kill myself in short order. Same thing on my bicycle would probably kill me from a heart attack, and riding my monster in every day would kill it.
I kinda like both myself and my bike, and I don't want either to die.
So I'm thinking of getting a second (that'll be three for the family) bike; something that's reasonably cheap to buy, cheap to run, doesn't shred tyres, doesn't cost the earth for insurance and rego etc.
A second Spada is tempting (I can't steal Kristyn's as then she'd kill me), but they're just as expensive as the Monster now for rego and insurance (250s are in the same category as 700s).
Is there a 125 that doesn't suck?
How about something in the 500-600cc range that behaves itself in traffic and doesn't drink fuel/tyres?
Initial purchase price is less important, as I'm sure whatever I buy will pay for itself in fuel etc within a couple of years.
Anyway there's just way too much scope, I need help in narrowing down...
Hey Suzji don't know if they export them to AUS but the Suzuki Thunder (125cc) is a great ride. Is my only transport over here and 80% of the time it has the missis on the back as well and handles two up beautifully.
Plenty of power for a 125cc...... ;D
It's built on a real frame, has a real clutch, looks like a real bike and I get about 50km to the litre.
Love my Thunder Monster........ [Dolph]
PS: And they come in Ducati RED..... [thumbsup]
M-125I know what you're thinking, The Tonelli M-125 looks just like an old Style Classic Motorcycle, Your right, but we made it better…
RRP: $2495 Rideaway with 12months unlimited Warranty. (Excl. Government Charges) ;D :D
http://www.tonelli.com.au/showroom/m-series.aspx (http://www.tonelli.com.au/showroom/m-series.aspx)
(http://www.tonelli.com.au/media/18345/tonelli_monkey_m125_4pink.jpg)
http://www.tonelli.com.au/showroom/m-series.aspx (http://www.tonelli.com.au/showroom/m-series.aspx)
(http://www.tonelli.com.au/media/18361/tonelli_monkey_m125_12_anniversary_edition_matt_black.jpg)
(http://www.tonelli.com.au/media/18338/tonelli_monkey_m125_1red.jpg)
Engine Size Single Cylinder 125cc, 4-Stroke
Max Power 5.9kw/8.04HP
Start Method Kick & Electric
Gearbox 4 Speed Manual(1-0-2-3-4)
Tyre Size F:3.5-10 R:3.00-10 inch
Brakes Hydraulic Disc/Disc
Kerb Weight 64kg
Fuel Capacity 4.5L
Seat Height 700mm
Wheel Base 900mm
Overall Dimesions 1375x600x860mm
Price RRP: $2495 Rideaway with 12months unlimited Warranty. (Excl. Government Charges)
I like those [thumbsup] checked them out at the moto show nice bloke who sells them down at Brookvale.
I want one for a commute to work as its hardly worth starting the S2R for an eight k trip.
Saw one up the Old road the other day ,was getting along very well.
You would look good on that pink one Rob ..........running from the police [laugh]
OMG I just downloaded the aftermarket parts catalogue rearsets gold ohlins look alike forks, gold rotors ,sports exhaust [clap] [laugh] [laugh]
pimp my mini bike
Go a postie bike, 110 cc engine waiting to unleash raw horse power [evil]
(http://store.onetenmotorcycles.com.au/userfiles/postieburnout%5B1%5D.jpg)
Honda Bros! It's a twin, and single sided swing arm - what more do you want?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NT650 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_NT650)
Or one of these - unfortunately most bike shops ask ridiculous $$$ for them
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VFR400 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_VFR400)
little weapon the VFR400
Get a vtr250 maybe? They're styled on the monster! Plenty of poke for around town, good on the freeway too. I used to get 320+km off a 12L tank. they're indestructible, easy to do most servicing yourself. Good tyres got me 12k off the front 20k off the rear, plenty of stick. Insurance is cheap and you can find a bargain if you wait. Comfy ride, and it's a v-twin!!
Yeah the mini-Monster seems to be the commuter of choice ... unless of course you want a Chinesee (Chinese/Korean) scooter - plenty of options there ... and they have in-built storage solutions.
But I think we should all get Tonelli's ... if only from a maintenance point of view (licence maintenance that is - although certainly no guarantee). It would make the weekend coffee rides fun again.
Can't wait to see Rob scratching the black off his knee sliders on his pink Tonelli with clip-ons and go-fast noise maker.
Grey imported old school Honda spada. Ask big about it, he used to commute from inner west to norther beaches most days on it. Cheap reliable, and also enough grunt and compliance to be funif you find some twisty bits..
I'd feel that you'd want a 2fiddy to have enough grunt to get you out of a jam in Syd traffic.
Quote from: goldFiSh on December 19, 2011, 11:32:32 AM
Grey imported old school Honda spada. Ask big about it, he used to commute from inner west to norther beaches most days on it. Cheap reliable, and also enough grunt and compliance to be funif you find some twisty bits..
I'd feel that you'd want a 2fiddy to have enough grunt to get you out of a jam in Syd traffic.
Yeah, Spada is near the top of the list. We've already got one in the family and it's an incredibly capable little bike.
Kristyn says I'm welcome to borrow hers for a couple of weeks (she's at MacUni next year, so will prolly ride a pushie in) to see what it's like compared to my Monster.
I put together a spreadsheet including likely depreciation, fuel, rego, greenslip, tyres, maintenance etc for a whole bunch of bikes, then subtracting the cost of an annual rail ticket. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?pli=1&key=0AmT6jEqwqyPUdHF6MUJlMzg5UE8tUGdUY1g4MnV0dEE#gid=0 (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?pli=1&key=0AmT6jEqwqyPUdHF6MUJlMzg5UE8tUGdUY1g4MnV0dEE#gid=0)
Cheapest is a Madass, then CBR125R (even though I doubt I'd get the life out of the 125s).
The CB400/Spada/GS500 etc are all reasonably cheap at ~$300-400 annually over a rail ticket. Naff all, really, especially when you factor in the difference in commute times.
[quote author=suzyj
The CB400/Spada/GS500 etc are all reasonably cheap at ~$300-400 annually over a rail ticket. Naff all, really, especially when you factor in the difference in commute times.
[/quote]
CB400 is a sweet little ride, I can maybe put you in contact with a dirt cheap Spada in need of some love.
Quote from: suzyj on December 19, 2011, 12:48:53 PM
Cheapest is a Madass, then CB125R (even though I doubt I'd get the life out of the 125s).
See if you can get a good test ride in expected traffic conditions on the MadAss before you commit to one - a friend of mine had one for a year or so using it to commute from Ryde to Epping. He eventually replaced it with (surprise surprise) a Spada because the MadAss125 topped out at 90kmh - which would have been OK, but its performance between 70kmh and 90kmh was so ponderous he felt it was almost dangerous in commuting traffic in 80 zones, especially on uphill grades where he'd often have cars he's passed overtaking him as the MadAss struggled up the hill... Shane said Gladesville bridge was _scary_ on the MadAss, particularly into a headwind...
I'd consider one for innerwest/innercity commuting, if I didn't already have a Spada, but if I knew I was going to be commuting in 80zones I'd probably opt for something with a little more power.
big
when we were selling the maddass i found on the incline on dandenong road away from huntingdale they'd do 76 up the hill and 84 down the other side. like many other little things i'd call them unsafe at any speed. you need a certain level of performance, especially in peak hour and from what i remember of sydney it's worse than melbourne. i'd 3ven call a 400 monster marginal, especially the carby ones with their flatspot off idle.
have you thought about a bigger single? vibration aside, they're ok. i have a late pegaso here that has got 34,000km on it's original tyres and they're not a 1/4 worn - it's done a freeway commute for the last 4 or so years.
Quote from: Brett76 on December 19, 2011, 01:37:40 PMI can maybe put you in contact with a dirt cheap Spada in need of some love.
How cheap is "dirt cheap"? (And if it's cheap enough, can I have dibbs if Suzy doesn't want it?)
big
Quote from: bigiain on December 19, 2011, 09:29:23 PM
How cheap is "dirt cheap"? (And if it's cheap enough, can I have dibbs if Suzy doesn't want it?)
big
I will make a call tomorrow. A mate decided he wanted to learn 2 wheels & it didn't end up agreeing with him, since then it has sitting
I have a Suzuki GS500 as a buddy for my Monster to zip about town on. Enough power to keep you happy on the highway and uses 340kms before it hits reserve on the tank. They are cheap 2nd hand and near bullet proof.
How do you find the GS500 in heavy traffic? The reason that I ask is that my Monster (air cooled) starts overheating and carrying on like a snotty toddler if it even smells a traffic jam. Kristyn's Spada (water cooled) just doesn't care.
Indeed if I mandate water cooling to deal with filthy inner-west rush hour traffic, the list of applicable cheap bikes gets small real quick.
My air cooled Monster doesn't like to sit in traffic either but it does not effect the GS(air cooled also) at all. IMO they are a real underrated bike and make a perfect commuter.
Is this representative of the GS500 in Oz?
(http://www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au/images/upload/working/800600L0_GS500L0_ss_c1.png)
Very few of those here in the States, and no Spadas at all.... :(
Quote from: Speeddog on December 21, 2011, 08:39:30 AM
Is this representative of the GS500 in Oz?
Yup. They're reasonably common here.
On a slightly less serious note, it appears the madass is a bit of a cult item, with lots of people replacing the crappy Chinese 125cc motor with bigger crappy Chinese motors...
Madass 185cc & Two Bros Exhaust (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuJcuhvA_HI&feature=related#)
Fully sick.
Brand new Honda 125 commuterbike for $2k?
Even if you don't wanna buy one, you'd _have_ to use it as a negotiating tool for inexpensive 2nd hand commuter bikes...
Quote$2k for a '91 Spada? _Seriously?_ You know you can buy a brand new 2012 Honda for $1995, right? How 'bout 12 hundred, cash, right now?
http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2011/December/CB125.htm (http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewsArchives/2011/December/CB125.htm)
big
"brand new 2012 Honda for $1995"
:o :o :o :o
Whoa.
That's frekin cheap as!!!
can you imagine how craptacular that'd be.
You watch, someone will do the cafe-racer build to it.
[popcorn] [popcorn]
Mmick
Quote from: Speeddog on December 21, 2011, 08:39:30 AM
Is this representative of the GS500 in Oz?
(http://www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au/images/upload/working/800600L0_GS500L0_ss_c1.png)
Very few of those here in the States, and no Spadas at all.... :(
There are more than you think. There is a forum dedicated to them with the majority of owners being from the States.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php)
What you will find is that they only sold the fared versions in the USA from 2004 on IRC. The naked versions were being sold since 1989. The GS you have pictured is my exact bike.
Quote from: brad black on December 22, 2011, 11:13:44 PM
can you imagine how craptacular that'd be.
Do you think? In what regard? Reliability, longevity or performance?
Honda make millions of cheap bikes every year yet they have a reputation for reliability, minimal maintenance and apparently go forever. From a performance point of view these low powered, low-spec bikes are probably the match of most numpties out on the road ... including me [laugh]
A Kawasaki Ninja 250 would be perfect for what you want, very reliable, almost no maintenance, cheap to insure, goes fast enough, and very easy to handle in the traffic. Honda CBR 250 is another option to this, but Ninja looks better.
Quote from: Betty on December 23, 2011, 07:31:24 AM
Do you think? In what regard? Reliability, longevity or performance?
Honda make millions of cheap bikes every year yet they have a reputation for reliability, minimal maintenance and apparently go forever. From a performance point of view these low powered, low-spec bikes are probably the match of most numpties out on the road ... including me [laugh]
Well said Mark.
Number one son can't wait for those to come out. He's decided his first motorbike is going to be a new one, and that's within his budget. Given that he's not a biker, and the only use it will get is ferrying him to uni, it's a perfectly good bike for him.
Quote from: DucatiKabul on December 23, 2011, 09:26:47 AM
A Kawasaki Ninja 250 would be perfect for what you want, very reliable, almost no maintenance, cheap to insure, goes fast enough, and very easy to handle in the traffic. Honda CBR 250 is another option to this, but Ninja looks better.
It might just be the specific examples that I've ridden, but every time I've tried a small kwaka out I've been really horrified at the awful gearbox.
As for a CBR, naah - I don't need to be a try-hard boy racer. I've got my monster for that :)
Quote from: bigiain on December 19, 2011, 09:29:23 PM
How cheap is "dirt cheap"? (And if it's cheap enough, can I have dibbs if Suzy doesn't want it?)
big
I dont know if you know peka ? in qld , he had 1 to get rid of for $500
housemate was going to take it and ride it back from qld , but when he went to pick it up
it wouldnt start for some reason so no sale
this was a few months back , but knowing peka he prob still has it in his garage
i guess my take on putting people new to motorcycling on cheap bikes is like the (now somewhat outdated to to std levels of technology and laws) argument of putting your kids in an old whatever vs a bmw or merc, etc for their first car. if the shit really hits the fan big time, the people who bought bmw or merc go looking for a new car, the ones who put them in an old whatever go to a funeral.
cheap bikes are just that. there's no minimum level of inbuilt safety spec. sure it's light, but that doesn't mean a little single disc is fine, with forks so thin they'll flex so much you can actually see it happening. and so slow it can't get away from trouble. i just don't see them as safe.
and things like postie bikes scare me. i had to ride stuff like that when doing rwc and in the context of current road usage i just don't see them as being road worthy at all. sure they past the test, but panic stop means hit whatever is in the way. put an inexperienced rider on it and you consume a possibly significant amount of their concentration dealing with issues riders on larger bikes don't have. i don't know the answer though.
Quote from: brad black on December 26, 2011, 04:06:31 AM
i guess my take on putting people new to motorcycling on cheap bikes is like the (now somewhat outdated to to std levels of technology and laws) argument of putting your kids in an old whatever vs a bmw or merc, etc for their first car. if the shit really hits the fan big time, the people who bought bmw or merc go looking for a new car, the ones who put them in an old whatever go to a funeral.
cheap bikes are just that. there's no minimum level of inbuilt safety spec. sure it's light, but that doesn't mean a little single disc is fine, with forks so thin they'll flex so much you can actually see it happening. and so slow it can't get away from trouble. i just don't see them as safe.
and things like postie bikes scare me. i had to ride stuff like that when doing rwc and in the context of current road usage i just don't see them as being road worthy at all. sure they past the test, but panic stop means hit whatever is in the way. put an inexperienced rider on it and you consume a possibly significant amount of their concentration dealing with issues riders on larger bikes don't have. i don't know the answer though.
Brad you are ahead of your time (in the nicest way) I agree with better brakes (even antilock) better suspension reasonable power etc.
Motorists have been asking for better equipment in the small car sector and you can see it in the last five years or so they now have ABS, EBD etc fitted without the premium dollars spent.
Hope to see bikes get better equipment in the lower class of bikes, but somehow I cant see that happening just yet.
Mmick
My perspective comes from riding pushbikes as well as motorbikes. My kids also have been riding pushbikes since they could stand up. My main concern with putting them on a motorbike is the difference in weight. They're used to riding <10kg pushies, so I'd rather they didn't hop straight onto a 190kg motorbike - better I think to go via something lighter.
When I was a teenager, living in Canberra before the time of size restrictions for learners, my mates learned to ride on some pretty diabolical bikes. RD350s, big old Katanas, you name it. These bikes had plenty of power (and power that sneaks up on you and kicks you in the arse, in the case of the RD), but I wouldn't have said their brakes or suspension was anything to write home about. In fact the RD didn't even have one disk, let alone two. Sure enough, plenty of my mates wrapped themselves around stuff.
Since those days, all bikes have come a very long way. Your average cheapy beginner 250 has a decent sized disk up front, EFI and monoshock rear, with much better tyres. Even this $2K Honda 125 has a disk brake.