Adventure / Commuter suggestions
Discussion
Evening.
I'm mostly been a fair weather sports biker, currently have a '20 Aprilia Tuono V4 that I love to bits, and I'm saddened at the thought of the good weather disappearing for months, without any riding.
So I've decided life's short, and I need a 2nd bike. I don't plan on commuting on it daily throughout the winter, but a few days a month would be good, I just don't know what I want, in my mind I'd thought of an older Africa twin, but the London ULEZ has written that idea off, so the criteria are :-
£5K tops
Doesn't need to be immaculate at all but definitely mechanically sound
Not bothered about high miles (subject to condition / maintenance)
2007 or newer due to London ULEZ
Adventure style (possibly touring?)
Decent commuter
Comfy, could do a bit of touring on it
Alright for the vertically challenged (5 Foot 7)
Possibly a GS? Or a KTM 990 adventure? I rode my dads 2020 BMW GS in South Africa in February, only on the road, and really like it, but will it be too big for London commuting?
Appreciate any views or suggestions on other bikes, thanks !
I'm mostly been a fair weather sports biker, currently have a '20 Aprilia Tuono V4 that I love to bits, and I'm saddened at the thought of the good weather disappearing for months, without any riding.
So I've decided life's short, and I need a 2nd bike. I don't plan on commuting on it daily throughout the winter, but a few days a month would be good, I just don't know what I want, in my mind I'd thought of an older Africa twin, but the London ULEZ has written that idea off, so the criteria are :-
£5K tops
Doesn't need to be immaculate at all but definitely mechanically sound
Not bothered about high miles (subject to condition / maintenance)
2007 or newer due to London ULEZ
Adventure style (possibly touring?)
Decent commuter
Comfy, could do a bit of touring on it
Alright for the vertically challenged (5 Foot 7)
Possibly a GS? Or a KTM 990 adventure? I rode my dads 2020 BMW GS in South Africa in February, only on the road, and really like it, but will it be too big for London commuting?
Appreciate any views or suggestions on other bikes, thanks !
People tend to recommend bikes they own(ed), so here goes - Tiger 800.
I've had mine over six years, it's the 2013 'roadie' version, i.e. cast rather than spoked wheels (which have the XC designation). I commute year round and it's excellent for the job. 94 BHP means it's quick enough, with decent tyres (Michelin Road 5 or 6) it handles very well. The triple engine is lovely, really smooth and lots of fun. £5k will get you the pick of the first generation, and possibly some of the second generation. You can get low variants in from the second generation (2015-2018). Any model can be lowered by changing the suspension dogbones out, and low seats are available too.
Servicing via specialists such as Muddysump means running costs are reasonable - main dealer service pricing is generally quite steep. In terms of reliability you'll possibly have a gear change mechanism or reg rec failure around 20k-30k miles (I've had both, cost around £200 each to sort) but other than that there are no major issues in terms of reliability.
There are loads of luggage options, including two Triumph-branded choices. A top box makes these very practical for pretty much anything you'd need in terms of commuting.
I've had mine over six years, it's the 2013 'roadie' version, i.e. cast rather than spoked wheels (which have the XC designation). I commute year round and it's excellent for the job. 94 BHP means it's quick enough, with decent tyres (Michelin Road 5 or 6) it handles very well. The triple engine is lovely, really smooth and lots of fun. £5k will get you the pick of the first generation, and possibly some of the second generation. You can get low variants in from the second generation (2015-2018). Any model can be lowered by changing the suspension dogbones out, and low seats are available too.
Servicing via specialists such as Muddysump means running costs are reasonable - main dealer service pricing is generally quite steep. In terms of reliability you'll possibly have a gear change mechanism or reg rec failure around 20k-30k miles (I've had both, cost around £200 each to sort) but other than that there are no major issues in terms of reliability.
There are loads of luggage options, including two Triumph-branded choices. A top box makes these very practical for pretty much anything you'd need in terms of commuting.
Edited by JulianHJ on Wednesday 21st September 20:42
JulianHJ said:
People tend to recommend bikes they own(ed), so here goes - Tiger 800.
I've had mine over six years, it's the 2013 'roadie' version, i.e. cast rather than spoked wheels (which have the XC designation). I commute year round and it's excellent for the job. 94 BHP means it's quick enough, with decent tyres (Michelin Road 5 or 6) it handles very well. The triple engine is lovely, really smooth and lots of fun. £5k will get you the pick of the first generation, and possibly some of the second generation. You can get low variants in from the second generation (2015-2018). Any model can be lowered by changing the suspension dogbones out, and low seats are available too.
Servicing via specialists such as Muddysump means running costs are reasonable - main dealer service pricing is generally quite steep. In terms of reliability you'll possibly have a gear change mechanism or reg rec failure around 20k-30k miles (I've had both, cost around £200 each to sort) but other than that there are no major issues in terms of reliability.
There are loads of luggage options, including two Triumph-branded choices. A top box makes these very practical for pretty much anything you'd need in terms of commuting.
Brilliant Julian, thanks, I'm definitely going to investigate these, I love the triple engine, and that was really another one of my criteria, ideally, was no inline 4s, had plenty of them over the years, I want a V Twin, flat twin, parallel twin, or triple, even another V4, but not particularly interested in an inline 4. Appreciate the suggestion.I've had mine over six years, it's the 2013 'roadie' version, i.e. cast rather than spoked wheels (which have the XC designation). I commute year round and it's excellent for the job. 94 BHP means it's quick enough, with decent tyres (Michelin Road 5 or 6) it handles very well. The triple engine is lovely, really smooth and lots of fun. £5k will get you the pick of the first generation, and possibly some of the second generation. You can get low variants in from the second generation (2015-2018). Any model can be lowered by changing the suspension dogbones out, and low seats are available too.
Servicing via specialists such as Muddysump means running costs are reasonable - main dealer service pricing is generally quite steep. In terms of reliability you'll possibly have a gear change mechanism or reg rec failure around 20k-30k miles (I've had both, cost around £200 each to sort) but other than that there are no major issues in terms of reliability.
There are loads of luggage options, including two Triumph-branded choices. A top box makes these very practical for pretty much anything you'd need in terms of commuting.
Edited by JulianHJ on Wednesday 21st September 20:42
rossw46 said:
Brilliant Julian, thanks, I'm definitely going to investigate these, I love the triple engine, and that was really another one of my criteria, ideally, was no inline 4s, had plenty of them over the years, I want a V Twin, flat twin, parallel twin, or triple, even another V4, but not particularly interested in an inline 4. Appreciate the suggestion.
Awesome 
There's a pretty active community here that's worth a look for a more detailed insight.
rossw46 said:
£5K tops
Doesn't need to be immaculate at all but definitely mechanically sound
Not bothered about high miles (subject to condition / maintenance)
2007 or newer due to London ULEZ
Adventure style (possibly touring?)
Decent commuter
Comfy, could do a bit of touring on it
Alright for the vertically challenged (5 Foot 7)
Possibly a GS? Or a KTM 990 adventure? I rode my dads 2020 BMW GS in South Africa in February, only on the road, and really like it, but will it be too big for London commuting?
Appreciate any views or suggestions on other bikes, thanks !
How far are you travelling when you commute? That would be a big factor in bike choice for me as you start to think more about comfort, bigger lazy engine for longer journeys but think about smaller stuff for shorter runs. In terms of bikes the F800GS would be a contender as I know a couple of people that have had them, toured on them and were a similar height to yourself. The CB500X is a really nice bike that does a bit of everything though without much poke. No idea about the big GS in terms of height - there's probably options but it felt huge and cumbersome to me when I sat on one. There are plenty about in London though so I guess it must work for commuting.Doesn't need to be immaculate at all but definitely mechanically sound
Not bothered about high miles (subject to condition / maintenance)
2007 or newer due to London ULEZ
Adventure style (possibly touring?)
Decent commuter
Comfy, could do a bit of touring on it
Alright for the vertically challenged (5 Foot 7)
Possibly a GS? Or a KTM 990 adventure? I rode my dads 2020 BMW GS in South Africa in February, only on the road, and really like it, but will it be too big for London commuting?
Appreciate any views or suggestions on other bikes, thanks !
The NC is a great commuter but I would guess is less entertaining for touring. I ruled out the KTM 990 as it was so tall - I'm a 31 inch inside leg and was on tiptoes in the showroom with it.
I use a Crossrunner which works nicely for my 35 miles each way into London and for touring. It does run a bit hot in the summer though. I'd probably look for something lighter and more manoeverable next time as a London commuter. Maybe a Tracer 700..? They're supposed to be a ton of fun, nice and light and have the option for luggage etc. That or the F800GS would be my initial thoughts.
rossw46 said:
JulianHJ said:
People tend to recommend bikes they own(ed), so here goes - Tiger 800.
I've had mine over six years, it's the 2013 'roadie' version, i.e. cast rather than spoked wheels (which have the XC designation). I commute year round and it's excellent for the job. 94 BHP means it's quick enough, with decent tyres (Michelin Road 5 or 6) it handles very well. The triple engine is lovely, really smooth and lots of fun. £5k will get you the pick of the first generation, and possibly some of the second generation. You can get low variants in from the second generation (2015-2018). Any model can be lowered by changing the suspension dogbones out, and low seats are available too.
Servicing via specialists such as Muddysump means running costs are reasonable - main dealer service pricing is generally quite steep. In terms of reliability you'll possibly have a gear change mechanism or reg rec failure around 20k-30k miles (I've had both, cost around £200 each to sort) but other than that there are no major issues in terms of reliability.
There are loads of luggage options, including two Triumph-branded choices. A top box makes these very practical for pretty much anything you'd need in terms of commuting.
Brilliant Julian, thanks, I'm definitely going to investigate these, I love the triple engine, and that was really another one of my criteria, ideally, was no inline 4s, had plenty of them over the years, I want a V Twin, flat twin, parallel twin, or triple, even another V4, but not particularly interested in an inline 4. Appreciate the suggestion.I've had mine over six years, it's the 2013 'roadie' version, i.e. cast rather than spoked wheels (which have the XC designation). I commute year round and it's excellent for the job. 94 BHP means it's quick enough, with decent tyres (Michelin Road 5 or 6) it handles very well. The triple engine is lovely, really smooth and lots of fun. £5k will get you the pick of the first generation, and possibly some of the second generation. You can get low variants in from the second generation (2015-2018). Any model can be lowered by changing the suspension dogbones out, and low seats are available too.
Servicing via specialists such as Muddysump means running costs are reasonable - main dealer service pricing is generally quite steep. In terms of reliability you'll possibly have a gear change mechanism or reg rec failure around 20k-30k miles (I've had both, cost around £200 each to sort) but other than that there are no major issues in terms of reliability.
There are loads of luggage options, including two Triumph-branded choices. A top box makes these very practical for pretty much anything you'd need in terms of commuting.
Edited by JulianHJ on Wednesday 21st September 20:42
Getting harder to find a decent one, but cheap to run (60mpg easy and tank range of 220-240 miles, more if you stick to the ever more draconian speed limits around town). Comfortable enough to ride through an entire tank. Very reliable in my experience (weak points are ignition barrel wear - like all Yams, HT leads need better insulation/replacing with carbon core to avoid misfire in damp, stators can fail but only after about 60k miles).
In fairness, I've not tried a newer Fazer etc. but the narrowness of the bike, torque from the parallel twin and cost can't be beat. Especially as anything half decent gets ruined when parked etc.
As already mentioned, people tend to recommend their own bikes - so I will as well - Tiger Sport (1050 version). Had mine from new in late 2013, done 65k miles, comfy/fast/capable. Had a couple of minor issues but hardly surprising given mileage and time - cooling fan went when almost new (no issues since) and the stator failed (known weak-ish point, but fairly easy DIY and part is about £100 from Electrexworld). Only the latter actually needed RAC attendence as the battery stopped charging and then ran out of juice; since then I fitted a voltmeter to the bars so I can keep an eye on the charging performance.
Stick a big 55l litre top-box on it, a Scottoiler, heated grips and handguards and it 'just works' as a tough, understressed commuter capable of long service on both long motorways and trafficky conditions. I also have a 'tail' lead direct to battery for a heated vest. Bar mounted mirrors make it easier to work your way through van mirrors in tight queues, headlights are as good as a car. I average about 47mpg doing 20 miles of motorway and 10 miles of city traffic each way. The 1050 engine has been around forever so is well understood, with parts easily available and plenty of experience in non-dealer garages - no need for a main dealer to look after these.
Stick a big 55l litre top-box on it, a Scottoiler, heated grips and handguards and it 'just works' as a tough, understressed commuter capable of long service on both long motorways and trafficky conditions. I also have a 'tail' lead direct to battery for a heated vest. Bar mounted mirrors make it easier to work your way through van mirrors in tight queues, headlights are as good as a car. I average about 47mpg doing 20 miles of motorway and 10 miles of city traffic each way. The 1050 engine has been around forever so is well understood, with parts easily available and plenty of experience in non-dealer garages - no need for a main dealer to look after these.
Stig said:
I know I'm like a broken record, but having commuted into London for several decades on all sorts, I've yet to find a superior bike to the Yam TDM 900.
Relatively unattractive to thieves too. I know several people with over 100k miles on them but they often need the generator rewound around that point. CB500X would be a good choice too, a mate gone one as a lightweight tourer and loves it. Light, economical and reliable.
To continue the thread of people discussing their own bikes...
You should be into an early 750GS for around £5k. Good points - handles well, enough power to beat most stuff off the lights at 77bhp, decently high riding position for visibility but still low enough for both feet down. Can easily tour with luggage on it as well as a bit of gravel if you're that way inclined. Actually fairly exclusive in numbers in comparison to the big GSs.
I wouldn't want anything bigger or heavier for commuting - if anything the bars are a bit wide for filtering but on the other hand that stops you going for stupid narrow gaps. Certainly the big GSs hold no interest as long as I'm commuting, far too big and heavy. The 750 is a nice bike but not super special, which means I won't be heartbroken if it goes missing.
Obviously similar mid-sized adventures like the Tiger will do a very similar thing. Definitely don't go any bigger than circa 800-ish - more power and weight is an increasing liability for commuting, although I'd say a Himalayan is too breathless to confidently stay ahead of traffic.
Not that I've ridden one but the CB500X looks ideal. Power is enough for commuting and it saves around 30kg on the bigger adventures. Not sure how suitable it would be for longer trips - probably depends if you want a dedicated commuter or more of an all-rounder.
You should be into an early 750GS for around £5k. Good points - handles well, enough power to beat most stuff off the lights at 77bhp, decently high riding position for visibility but still low enough for both feet down. Can easily tour with luggage on it as well as a bit of gravel if you're that way inclined. Actually fairly exclusive in numbers in comparison to the big GSs.
I wouldn't want anything bigger or heavier for commuting - if anything the bars are a bit wide for filtering but on the other hand that stops you going for stupid narrow gaps. Certainly the big GSs hold no interest as long as I'm commuting, far too big and heavy. The 750 is a nice bike but not super special, which means I won't be heartbroken if it goes missing.
Obviously similar mid-sized adventures like the Tiger will do a very similar thing. Definitely don't go any bigger than circa 800-ish - more power and weight is an increasing liability for commuting, although I'd say a Himalayan is too breathless to confidently stay ahead of traffic.
Not that I've ridden one but the CB500X looks ideal. Power is enough for commuting and it saves around 30kg on the bigger adventures. Not sure how suitable it would be for longer trips - probably depends if you want a dedicated commuter or more of an all-rounder.
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