Author Topic: What's your commuter bike? (Read 9948 times)

Mooney78865 · « **on:** November 16, 2016, 08:50:21 PM »

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....

Jim Rich · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2016, 08:56:24 PM »

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.

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:06:26 PM »

20 miles commute.. last year I used a Madass 125.. hoot .

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..

before that a Buell Uly.. too much of everything for commuting..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFeuPWgDB9k

Farmer Dan · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:09:01 PM »

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.

tpeever · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:14:17 PM »

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.

tpeever · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:16:23 PM »

Quote from: Jim Rich on November 16, 2016, 08:56:24 PM

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

Testarossa · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:19:37 PM »

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.

charlie b · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:22:25 PM »

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.

n3303j · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:36:43 PM »

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.

Retired now and every day is Saturday.

Lannis · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:40:07 PM »

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!!

Lannis

jas67 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:12:10 PM »

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.

oldbike54 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 16, 2016, 11:18:01 PM »

This may in fact be the first time a K1200S has been defined as a commuter bike

You can probably leave at 8:15 AM and arrive at 8:00 AM because it can bend the space/time continuum .

Dusty

Jukebox · « **Reply #12 on:** November 17, 2016, 01:31:34 AM »

Me
Griso and a DR650.
They do the job.

Harry

Darren Williams · « **Reply #13 on:** November 17, 2016, 05:49:12 AM »

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.

chaoselephant23 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2016, 06:44:12 AM »

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

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.

Dilliw · « **Reply #15 on:** November 17, 2016, 07:19:25 AM »

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.

mauricedonini · « **Reply #16 on:** November 17, 2016, 07:52:15 AM »

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.

lti_57 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 17, 2016, 07:54:55 AM »

Right now the only bike I have a 1995 ST-1100 does a good job of being my commuter bike and long distance ride

lost · « **Reply #18 on:** November 17, 2016, 09:20:05 AM »

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.

JJ · « **Reply #19 on:** November 17, 2016, 10:14:51 AM »

These days, I work from home...so my only commute is to the garage!

I just choose the bike depending on my mood for the day...and the distance I need to ride!

"The Yellow Horse!"[/i] or.... Moby Dick - aka "The Great White Whale"

image

hosting

Doug McLaren · « **Reply #20 on:** November 17, 2016, 01:07:40 PM »

I do about 15 miles each way and I'm using a Suzuki 650 V Strom, previously I used a Guzzi V 65 GT.

SmokinJoe · « **Reply #21 on:** November 17, 2016, 01:16:09 PM »

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.

darkstar1269 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 17, 2016, 01:21:08 PM »

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.

jGuz · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2016, 02:40:18 PM »

R NineT during the warmer days, Norge on the colder ones

goozy · « **Reply #24 on:** November 17, 2016, 02:58:23 PM »

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)

Scud · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2016, 03:30:17 PM »

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.

JeffOlson · « **Reply #26 on:** November 17, 2016, 03:40:09 PM »

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.)

Mooney78865 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 17, 2016, 05:31:12 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on November 16, 2016, 11:18:01 PM

This may in fact be the first time a K1200S has been defined as a commuter bike 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....!

Mooney78865 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 17, 2016, 05:37:46 PM »

Quote from: tpeever on November 16, 2016, 09:14:17 PM

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.

normzone · « **Reply #29 on:** November 17, 2016, 06:16:06 PM »

Quote from: fotoguzzi on November 16, 2016, 09:06:26 PM

20 miles commute..

this year a DR 650.. hoot PLUS. can do freeway 75+ easy. 50+MPG .i think I'll keep it..

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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Author Topic: What's your commuter bike? (Read 9948 times)

oldbike54