Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mooney78865 on November 16, 2016, 08:50:21 PM
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I have a 45 mile commute one way to work, with about half of it on four lane freeway the other half two lane highway, and a total of three stop lights. That's the unfortunate part.
The fortunate part is that I live in an area where I can ride virtually year round with the proper gear.
I had managed to put on 11,000+ miles on my Stelvio in about 7 months and began to think I needed to pick up a "commuter" bike to help stave off the mileage I was putting on the Stelvio and or my car.
I managed to convince my wife that it was a great idea (go figure) and I picked up a BMW K1200s. I'm here to tell you if you haven't had an opportunity to ride a super sport touring bike in a while ( I hadn't) things have certainly changed!
Two totally different ends of the motorcycling spectrum....
(http://thumb.ibb.co/iQ6zLa/IMG_0145_1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iQ6zLa)
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That's a commuter bike that can take you to the moon and back, quickly. I commute on a 750 Breva with a top box to carry my brown bag lunch. It happily cruises at 70 - 75 getting 50 mpg.
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20 miles commute.. last year I used a Madass 125.. hoot .
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Guzzi/i-DPDNMvh/1/M/IMG_1476-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/Guzzi/i-DPDNMvh/A)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF3Loc0q-J4
this year a DR 650.. hoot PLUS. can do freeway 75+ easy. 50+MPG .i think I'll keep it..
(https://photos.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-tdCxmTr/0/M/IMG_2018-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-tdCxmTr/A)
before that a Buell Uly.. too much of everything for commuting..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFeuPWgDB9k
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My "commute" is only 5.9 miles so the old Eldo does me just fine. Been a lot of days I wish I had farther to drive LOL.
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Depends on what you are looking for. Either of those bikes seems pretty well adapted to a 45 mile freeway commute on multilane highways. What are you after? Better fuel mileage? If so maybe something like a Wee-Strom would be more efficient. Seems like the Stelvio and the Beemer are going to seem more planted though.
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That's a commuter bike that can take you to the moon and back, quickly. I commute on a 750 Breva with a top box to carry my brown bag lunch. It happily cruises at 70 - 75 getting 50 mpg.
:1:
The small block Guzzis have plenty of oomph for freeway cruising and are pretty efficient
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I commuted on the T for decades, beginning in '84 when I rode daily from Hastings, NY into Manhattan. From '98 to 2001, and from 2007 to 2012, I rode Boulder to Denver several times each week, still on the T. If I had to commute these days I'd use the F650.
My first commuter, in '70-71, was the Harley Sprint. Set me up for a lifetime of Italian bikes.
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My T5's main use was commuting. 30mi each way, about half the time on freeway, half on city streets/highway. I think it was superb for that use.
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T3 was great for the 40 country road round trip miles every day. The Ural got put into service on the days of ice and snow. Last 5 years of work and never used a car. 10,000 miles a year where every work day started and ended with a motorcycle ride. :laugh: Retired now and every day is Saturday.
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Commute ... commute ... I'm not sure I know what that word means.
I have a fuzzy idea but it's far in the past and was associated with something unpleasant, which I can't really remember.
These days, I just RIDE my bikes!! :thumb:
Lannis
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My commute duty is shared between my V7 Special, and BMW F800GT. The V7 is the preferred ride in warm weather, the BMW in cold weather.
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This may in fact be the first time a K1200S has been defined as a commuter bike :laugh: You can probably leave at 8:15 AM and arrive at 8:00 AM because it can bend the space/time continuum .
Dusty
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Me
Griso and a DR650.
They do the job.
Harry
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My commute consists of mostly high speed freeway and a little two lane and surface streets. Mostly I take the FJR. Plenty of storage space for the stuff I have to bring, runs on regular gas with good MPG, weather protection, dependability.
I also ride some of the other bikes as the mood strikes me and they need exercising, such as this morning I rode the WR250x. On the way home I expect to be taking some interesting backroads, just for fun.
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I have been commuting 47 miles each way on the 03 EV Hydro all summer. Half commute is country roads other half is highway. Besides a Newfren clutch plate disaster (which I had surmised was coming) and hiccups from waiting till it broke to fix it, she hasn't let me down. Mileage ranges from 40 to 45 MPG (40 when your goosing it:) Every day riding to work has been a great day :thumb:
I do however find traffic to not agree with the clutch. My beginner skills play a part too. I'm interested in the DR650 or KLR560 or similar as a commuter platform. among other things.
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I used the Griso some this past season but have switched now to the EV for the winter. The Griso can get away from the text/talkers with just a twist of the wrist but the EV is much nicer in weather with the wind protection.
I've added heated liners this year so hopefully I'll get more miles than last year.
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Hi,
30 miles one way in sucky traffic.
Was a Ural Tourist. Now it's a MG California 1100 EV - which is more nimbler in/around traffic.
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Right now the only bike I have a 1995 ST-1100 does a good job of being my commuter bike and long distance ride
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I commute on a Yamaha FZ1 that I put luggage on. If I was going to replace it I would get one of the Zero electrics and save money on gas and maintenance. They have models that can get 160 to 190 miles to a charge.
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These days, I work from home...so my only commute is to the garage! :grin: :laugh: :wink:
I just choose the bike depending on my mood for the day...and the distance I need to ride! :thumb:
"The Yellow Horse!"[/i] or.... :rolleyes: :shocked: :wink: :cool: Moby Dick - aka "The Great White Whale"
(http://thumb.ibb.co/eNcELa/IMG_0183.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eNcELa)
(http://thumb.ibb.co/iCLqtv/JJ_Moby.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iCLqtv)
image
hosting (http://imgbb.com/)
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I do about 15 miles each way and I'm using a Suzuki 650 V Strom, previously I used a Guzzi V 65 GT.
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klr 650 or 04ev cal. 100 mile round trip. Short trips, 800 miles or so ev .
Long trips to shooting events or work at firing range, klr as most ranges I go to are on rough unimproved roads.
Very long trips, 6000mi plus, klr.
Ride around short distances 07 883 roadster.
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14 miles one way. I mainly use my V7 Special in the summer months, but as it has cooled a bit I have been taking my Indian Chieftain. Though the V7 is still being used as a commuter bike by the girlfriend while we are piecing her racer back together after she took a minor spill. Just glad to be able to ride all year round.
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R NineT during the warmer days, Norge on the colder ones
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Hands down a KLR 650 is the perfect does nothing extremely well bike. Tank bag and a knapsack and off to work you go! (better you than me)
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BMW K75s. The little brick is also my airport runner and grocery getter. It's like a super competent scooter with real power when needed. The staring ritual is: turn fast idle lever, turn on key, push starter button once. That's it - no throttle, no second time pushing the button, nothing...
But I often drive one of the Guzzis to work too. Today was the LeMans and she has a different starting ritual. Note that the Guzzi is a she and the BMW is an it.
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21 miles each way. Mostly "freeway" (i.e., sometimes bumper to bumper, occasionally taking 90 minutes!!!). Norge or Vespa GTS 300.
When I'm frustrated with the traffic, or when it is raining really hard, I will drive my luxo-barge. (I don't mind the rain; I mind the idiot cagers that don't see me in the best of conditions, let alone in the dark during a torrential downpour.)
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This may in fact be the first time a K1200S has been defined as a commuter bike :laugh: You can probably leave at 8:15 AM and arrive at 8:00 AM because it can bend the space/time continuum .
Dusty
There are days it feels that way....!
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Depends on what you are looking for. Either of those bikes seems pretty well adapted to a 45 mile freeway commute on multilane highways. What are you after? Better fuel mileage? If so maybe something like a Wee-Strom would be more efficient. Seems like the Stelvio and the Beemer are going to seem more planted though.
Don't care about the gas mileage, only didn't want to keep adding to the mileage on the Stelvio or Z4.(that's my story and I'm sticking with it)
I think I defined "commuter" by the cost of the bike. $5K for the BMW, with a bunch of fancy bits and a new set of PR2s.
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20 miles commute..
this year a DR 650.. hoot PLUS. can do freeway 75+ easy. 50+MPG .i think I'll keep it..
(https://photos.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-tdCxmTr/0/M/IMG_2018-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-tdCxmTr/A)
before that a Buell Uly.. too much of everything for commuting..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFeuPWgDB9k
Hmmm...I'm having a blast using my Bassa for my 13 mile each way commute, but you've put thoughts in my head. What does it take to get into a bike like that DR 650 ?
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got mine this spring with 3,900 miles (2013) for $3200.. sorta stole it.. had a Corbin, big rack and some other goodies..
PO paid over $6k out the door, his knees were bad so had to give up riding, his wife wanted it gone.
It's a no fuss bike Norm.. gas and oil, lube chain ( I hate the chain part but living with it) valves are super easy to set every 6k..
looked like this when I got it,
(https://photos.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-CtqqBPg/0/M/IMG_1808-1-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-CtqqBPg/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-7Hq4t8Q/0/M/IMG_1735-M.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/DR-650/i-7Hq4t8Q/A)
a slow guy can get 60+mpg on it.
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Hands down a KLR 650 is the perfect does nothing extremely well bike. Tank bag and a knapsack and off to work you go! (better you than me)
btdt.. DR more perfect..less complex (air cooled). no doohicky to fix. . at least 60 pounds lighter and a couple inches lower but still lot of suspension and ground clearance.. Brakes about equal (barely adequate), DR feels more happy doing 80mph on stock gearing than the several KLR's I've had, the second gen KLR comes closer to a DR but not there yet..
(https://photos.smugmug.com/All/i-2F8qj9r/0/S/DSCN2266-S.jpg) (https://fotoguzzi.smugmug.com/All/i-2F8qj9r/A)
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I'm not commuting any more, but when my trip involves gridlock I like my Piaggio BV500. CVT, windshield, and lots of lockable storage space make it a great choice on city streets. It will hit the ton and handles freeways with aplomb too. My Vintage hates idling in traffic...
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76 Yamaha RD400, 76 Suzuki GT500, 96 Honda PC800, recently 2015 Guzzi V7 Stone. All of them get me back and forth to my business (42 miles one way) and sometimes business trips.
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76 Yamaha RD400, 76 Suzuki GT500, 96 Honda PC800, recently 2015 Guzzi V7 Stone. All of them get me back and forth to my business (42 miles one way) and sometimes business trips.
Damn! I didn't think anyone still had a Titan! I'd sure like to find a Suzuki GT 750 "water Buffalo" again! I rode one all over Europe in the 70's....
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Bunch of us 2 stroke guys have a T/GT500 rbond on here has one as well. GT750s are out there as well, but you really have to be dedicated to them road worthy. Parts and skill sets have been disappearing at an increasing rate. I think I have done myself in with different makes of bikes. Really hard to keep a spare parts supply up when you have a few vintage bikes. Luckily the RD400, Gt500 and Pc800 are very reliable making it a bit easier to keep them running.
Commuting, Ridding them regularly, also helps to keep them healthy, I really believe they wait for me to open the door and they take their most alluring pose to influence me into picking them that day.
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I had a T500 back when I was young. I bought my '75 Titan with part of my summer's earnings when I realized that I wouldn't be able to afford that lovely bright green BMW R60/6 that was on the same floor. Looking back, these two bikes were remarkably similar. A reputation for reliability, but down a few ponies in the power department. I rode that bike all over and only gave it up when I came across a low mileage '74 Norton Interstate. Great old bikes...
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c229/JamesBagley/bd2054bc81b1aec47f28b56d5ddd3ea0.jpg)
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Yamaha XT250 - my longest journey to work is only 15km.
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Commute ... commute ... I'm not sure I know what that word means.
I have a fuzzy idea but it's far in the past and was associated with something unpleasant, which I can't really remember.
These days, I just RIDE my bikes!! :thumb:
Lannis
Being retired, I'm with Lannis, no more "ride to work, work to ride". Just ride!
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I don't work anymore, so no commute,,, but for running errands and doing the 30 miles into the city for meetings every week,,, hands down no contest my Suzuki DR650.
It's well set up with a pumper carb, opened exhaust and breathing, front sprocket dropped to 14T,,, my DR is so torquey, nimble and responsive,,, I always feel like I'm riding an urban assault vehicle,,,lol,,, definitely has a high grin factor,,,
Kelly
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'93 Strada and '75 Eldo/Watsonian hack.
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I commute from downtown Milano to...downtown Milano: in total a 9km round trip riding on tarmac, stones, railway tracks, possibly in wet conditions.
With my colleagues we call the ride: the Milano MotoGP because at a certain light where a limited access are begins, there are very few cars, and dozens of bikes ready to do their quarter-mile drag :-)
Under normal conditions I ride my bikes in one-week sequences:
1993 BMW K75
1979 Vespa P125X
2003 MG V75 PA
Sometimes I ride a motorbike-sharing Piaggio MP3: it is so bad THEY should pay me to ride around on that pile of crap. :Beating_A_Dead_Hors e_by_liviu
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2015 Indian Scout Sopowa does the deed when weather's fine. 2007 KLR650 Biffy does the deed when weather's sloppy. Don't like to get Sopowa muddy. Biffy never gets washed. Sopowa's powerful, zippy, low, and cute as a baby's butt at bath time. Biffy's sure footed, nimble, sedate, and a real freight hauler.
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Few pictures 0f my T-500 a few years ago
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/lti_57/Suzuki%20T500/100_0414.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/lti_57/media/Suzuki%20T500/100_0414.jpg.html)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/lti_57/Suzuki%20T500/Picture013.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/lti_57/media/Suzuki%20T500/Picture013.jpg.html)
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2011 Vespa S150 (injected) bought new. 30km each way through suburbs and downtown. Been doing it for 5 years now. it will have paid for itself very soon.
25K+ on the odometer. Smallest bike I've ever owned, but the most practical by a mile. Park almost anywhere for free. I can stop for groceries on the way home. Doesn't burn a drop of oil, and tops out around 100km/h depending on the wind direction.
A well sorted Piaggio product (for a change).
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I mostly commute on the Stelvio (XM radio, Pandora etc, good for the stress), but occasionally use the Ambassador, Ballabio, or Nuovo Stornello. Sometimes, I'll sneak the wifes Griso Tenni SE out.
I'm in the middle of restoring a 1967 Aermacchi SS250, and I'm thinking it would make a lovely commuter. Currently, my ride to work is about 50 miles round trip, but we're moving soon and those days will be gone. It'll be more like 125 miles round trip after the move, so we'll most likely, more often than not, be taking the train.
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Few pictures 0f my T-500 a few years ago
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/lti_57/Suzuki%20T500/100_0414.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/lti_57/media/Suzuki%20T500/100_0414.jpg.html)
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h290/lti_57/Suzuki%20T500/Picture013.jpg) (http://s67.photobucket.com/user/lti_57/media/Suzuki%20T500/Picture013.jpg.html)
Awesome! I would love to find a 2 stroke street bike again. Just for the joy of mutli cylinders on expansion chambers!
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I had a '68 T500 Titan. First bike I owned. :thumb: I'd still ride today if I could find one in Hawaii. 2nd bike was an aqua '72 GT750 with double leading shoe brakes on the front. Great engine. :thumb: As the GT series, they all good bikes.
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I am retired and very pleased to not commute any more, but for years I commuted on a K75 (warm weather) and K75RT (cold weather, with occasional ice and snow). Bulletproof and not annoying in any way (important when commuting). Excellent gas mileage and terrific electrical capacity, important in winter when you want to connect heated gear.
Think they will be the last to leave my garage, when I'm dead or otherwise judged incompetent . . . :wink:
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50 miles one way and i alternate between the NT700V, the F800GT and the Breva 750
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I wrestling with this one now. I currently use my V7 but have been considering pulling the trigger on an old Honda PC800.
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I wrestling with this one now. I currently use my V7 but have been considering pulling the trigger on an old Honda PC800.
The PC800 would be a great complement to the V7, and would be an excellent cold weather bike.
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The PC800 would be a great complement to the V7, and would be an excellent cold weather bike.
My thoughts exactly. Thank you for confirming!