Recommendations for a commuter

[suzyj]

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...

[Big T]

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...... 

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........   

PS: And they come in Ducati RED.....   

[FIFO]

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)

http://www.tonelli.com.au/showroom/m-series.aspx




http://www.tonelli.com.au/showroom/m-series.aspx





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)

[Two dogs]

I like those   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  


OMG I just downloaded the aftermarket parts catalogue rearsets gold ohlins look alike forks, gold rotors ,sports exhaust 
pimp my mini bike

[lukevo]

Go a postie bike, 110 cc engine waiting to unleash raw horse power

[Mr.S2R]

Honda Bros!  It's a twin, and single sided swing arm - what more do you want?
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

little weapon the VFR400

[Nibor]

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!!

[Betty]

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.

[goldFiSh]

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.

[suzyj]

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

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.

[Brett76]

[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.

[bigiain]

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

[brad black]

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.

[bigiain]

I 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

[Brett76]

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