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Which Middleweight Commuter Bike

Guoseph

Guoseph

Active member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Location
Alameda
Moto(s)
Husqvarna 701E, KTM 250 EXC-F
Name
Alex
Recently my commute changed from a 20mi short jump (a mix of city/hwy/bay bridge) to 45mi primarily hwy (down 880 and then a bit of 280). Thinking of getting a middleweight commuter type bike. I won't be commuting daily on the bike, but right now only time I really get to ride is riding to/from work, so might as well enjoy it.

A few considerations:

1.) Comfort - Good wind protection, comfy stock or upgradable seat, more upright seating position
2.) Convenience - Low/Easy maintenance, long range, hard luggage compatible
3.) Highway Gearing - Tall 6th (and enough low end grunt to pull it) for low rpm highway cruising

Contenders:

BMW F800ST
Good: Good low end/midrange, belt drive
Bad: Expensive, quirky BMW controls

Honda VFR 800
Good: Smooth V4 power, older ones can be had fairly cheap
Bad: A bit porky

Honda NC700X
Good: Fuel Efficient, tuned for low end
Bad: Not available used

Not in the running: Wee Strom and Versys because they are so ugly :p

Thoughts?
 
Have you considered a medium sized cruiser with a small/medium windscreen?
 
Guoseph said:
Honda NC700X...

Not in the running: Wee Strom and Versys because they are so ugly :p
Click to expand...

And the NC isn't? :laughing


Consider the FZ6, Ninja 650, SV650S. Comfortable, good wind protection, reliable, low-strung, cheap used, and you can get full Givi luggage.
 
So the VFR is "a bit porky", and the NC700, with 1/2 the horsepower and 90% of the weight isn't? :laughing

If you want a true middleweight, and a good value; look at the Suzuki Bandit 600 or SV650, Yamaha Seca II, Honda 599 Hornet, Kawasaki 500 Ninja or zzr 600, or Ducati Monster 600.
 
I would go with the NC700X. Unless dealers are charging a premium, the new price looks pretty good, and the bike ought to be a great commuter machine.
 
go test ride the beamer. oil change every 6K miles, belt drive so no chain maintenance, and lots of rider comfort. the left/right signals get some time to get used to.

it is expensive tho.

how bout a used VFR?
 
I gotta tell you, Sir, I do about 100 a day and my FA is doing a splendid job. It's very comfortable, offers good element protection via the full fairing, the engine is just wonderful and cruises beautifully but can go sporty if you like, and so far maintenance has been very straightforward. I have the hardbags installed and plan on completeing the set with the top case soon for longer trips. It's a bigger bike but not huge, and it doesn't feel "big". Price point is very reasonable as well.

There were some other excellent suggestions also but I thought I would share my experience as an every day dude! Happy hunting!
 
DaveT319 said:
Have you considered a medium sized cruiser with a small/medium windscreen?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't like cruiser seating position, foot forward just feels weird to me

Roadstergal said:
And the NC isn't? :laughing


Consider the FZ6, Ninja 650, SV650S. Comfortable, good wind protection, reliable, low-strung, cheap used, and you can get full Givi luggage.
Click to expand...

The NC is too, but not quite 500+ wet like the Viffer (I think).

650 class bikes are fine for the most part, the thought behind this is that the 800cc bikes might be able to loaf a little more on the highway.

SlideSF said:
So the VFR is "a bit porky", and the NC700, with 1/2 the horsepower and 90% of the weight isn't? :laughing

If you want a true middleweight, and a good value; look at the Suzuki Bandit 600 or SV650, Yamaha Seca II, Honda 599 Hornet, Kawasaki 500 Ninja or zzr 600, or Ducati Monster 600.
Click to expand...

Agree on NC700 being porky, ultimate power shouldn't be an issue, my main goal is to find enough torque to short shift and ride "lazy", which the NC is designed for.

crick said:
go test ride the beamer. oil change every 6K miles, belt drive so no chain maintenance, and lots of rider comfort. the left/right signals get some time to get used to.

it is expensive tho.

how bout a used VFR?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think the belt is def pushing me in that direction. What rpm do you run at 75mph? How much does the parallel twin vibrate?

RaptorFA said:
I gotta tell you, Sir, I do about 100 a day and my FA is doing a splendid job. It's very comfortable, offers good element protection via the full fairing, the engine is just wonderful and cruises beautifully but can go sporty if you like, and so far maintenance has been very straightforward. I have the hardbags installed and plan on completeing the set with the top case soon for longer trips. It's a bigger bike but not huge, and it doesn't feel "big". Price point is very reasonable as well.

There were some other excellent suggestions also but I thought I would share my experience as an every day dude! Happy hunting!
Click to expand...

Sorry, but what's an FA?
 
Btw, thanks everyone for the quick responses :)
 
Used Triumph Sprint ST or a FJR1300 or ST1300 perhaps?

You are a few years away from spotting a good used current gen Kawasaki Ninja 1000.
 
Seems like the Beemer F800 and VFR are the popular choices. True mids with great lineage. either one would be a winnah! :thumbup
 
I feel like this question has been :deadhorse so many times. People come in asking for advice but always have one they know they'll end up getting regardless of what people give as advice. There are tons of options out there and tons of threads you would find on the topic if you did a search.

My advice? You can get a cheap 1st gen SV, buy a new sergeant or Corbin seat if you're a pansy and add a windscreen and be good.

Yeah, I'll probably get flamed for being a dick, oh well.
 
Nah, not at all. There are so many great bikes out there that can do the job, it's hard to choose. I guess many already have something in the back of their mind to start with but they like to get input to see if there is a better option. I get that. In my case I ended up picking something a bit unexpected and it worked out nicely. But it wasn't easy.
 
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