Ducati Monster Forum

Love my M750 and planning to keep it for a long time.

But it's not cost effective for me to ride it to work often due to maintenance cost and such.  I do take it out on the weekends and long rides.

Now I want a commuter bike for work...any good recommendation around $1000 to $2000 range? Maybe a 250 dual sport bike?

Thanks.

ps. mostly travel on Highway.

nothing in that range that I would use...  higher than your range, but I'd say the Vstrom 650

good mileage, great riding position, probably not as cheap as your stated range (i've seen them around 3000-5000)

the vtwin engine in that bike will last forever and you'll use it and sell it for most of your price.

250 DS bike won't be suitable for highway use at all.

How many miles is your roundtrip commute?

You might be able to pick up a decent Kawasaki EX500 (500 Ninja) or Suzuki GS500 for that.  Either is a simple sturdy commuter bike that is reliable and easy to keep up.  $1-2K, though, should be several years upkeep on your M750 -- they aren't that expensive to keep up, especially if you learn to do most of the work yourself (which isn't very hard).  I've been riding my M900 daily for over 18 years, and it's done fine.

PhilB

...or even a 1200cc Suzuki Bandit. 

50 miles roundtrip.

thanks for all the comments.

best commuter i have had is a Suzuki DR650

Kawi versys or a 250 ninja

I like the SV650 but leaning toward the ninja 250 due to it price and relatively easy to keep up with as far as replacement parts are cheaper.

Not concerning with power, just something to get me to work and enjoying the fact that i rode a moto to work (im in a better mood when i ride to work).

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far...keep them coming :)

I have a friend who rides a Ninja 250 -- he's 84 years old and has been riding all of his life.  He put a comfort seat on it and high bars and tootles around NYC easily.  It's not a bad bike for what you get.

I'd prefer a more upright riding position, but that's why he put the high bars on it.

I may have a pic of him somewhere.  I hope he's still riding.

might want to look at an FZ-6 - haven't checked their prices but a 4-5 year old one might be close to the upper end of your range - with mostly highway miles I'm not sure a 250 would be big enough especially in Texas - my ex used to have a Virago 535 and trust me at 60-65 it wa fine but more than that you are winding it out - I'd look a little bigger - just my $.02

KLR? Awesome mileage and pretty bullet-proof. Not too spendy and tons of aftermarket parts. Most of the used ones already come with upgrades and sidebags, etc.

I hate to be 'that guy' but if saving money is what you're after, buying another bike is a dubious way to go about it.
The Monster should be on equal footing with most other bikes except for valves. You could acquire a full set and save the
labor on your next adjustment. Someone else will argue that you don't need to attend to the valves all that often, whatever.
50 mi rt commute? You'll have to kill it with MFG to justify cost of another bike.

the question should be a) find me a bike that makes sense on the highway or b) help me come up with an excuse
to by another motorcycle  :P

ok find a CBR250