What Bike, £5Kish, Mostly Motorway Through Scottish Winter
Discussion
Right, I've got about £3K to £5K burning a hole in my care worn jeans and need another bike for commuting 100 miles a day through the amazing pot holed, vehicle infested, cold, dark and miserable M8 run between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
I'd love a Superduke GT but don't want to subject one to commuter duties. I started by looking at a cheap CBF1000 (2008ish era), then FZ1S (2010ish), then VFR1200F, possibly a GTR1400....All seem OK, any owners on here with opinions would be gratefully received. These satisfy the low budget criteria.
However, too many buttock pinching moments over the years on wet, salty, grey misery have me pining for traction control, modern electrical trickery and good lights to keep me feeling cosy and safe whilst avoiding certain death on all sides.
Any thoughts? A 2017 1000SX is looking promising but straying in to over budget territory, any others?
I'd love a Superduke GT but don't want to subject one to commuter duties. I started by looking at a cheap CBF1000 (2008ish era), then FZ1S (2010ish), then VFR1200F, possibly a GTR1400....All seem OK, any owners on here with opinions would be gratefully received. These satisfy the low budget criteria.
However, too many buttock pinching moments over the years on wet, salty, grey misery have me pining for traction control, modern electrical trickery and good lights to keep me feeling cosy and safe whilst avoiding certain death on all sides.
Any thoughts? A 2017 1000SX is looking promising but straying in to over budget territory, any others?
CBF1000s are thirsty, and headlights are only OK if you go the HID route. The brakes are OK but no more so and that's if you clean them regularly
In your shoes I'd get a Suzuki V Strom 650. Good lights and weather protection, comfy, and very good on fuel. Nobody wants to play fuel light roulette then have to get your wallet gouged at Harthill
In your shoes I'd get a Suzuki V Strom 650. Good lights and weather protection, comfy, and very good on fuel. Nobody wants to play fuel light roulette then have to get your wallet gouged at Harthill
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/triu...
Heated grips and brush guards. Handles well, decent stoppers. I fitted Halfords 150% brighter bulbs in my old one and it was plenty good enough for country lanes in the dark. The finish will stand up well, too with a liberal dose of ACF/XCP.
Heated grips and brush guards. Handles well, decent stoppers. I fitted Halfords 150% brighter bulbs in my old one and it was plenty good enough for country lanes in the dark. The finish will stand up well, too with a liberal dose of ACF/XCP.
You'll get bored of the SuperDuke's thirst and 18k valve service interval quickly doing 100 miles a day.
Only answer to this conundrum is a NC750X and a Superduke.
Says the man with a NC750 for commuting 70 miles a day and a Super Adventure.
The NC really is as dull as you'd expect but I don't feel too bad smashing dull commuter miles on it. Very easy to service yourself including the valves.
Only answer to this conundrum is a NC750X and a Superduke.
Says the man with a NC750 for commuting 70 miles a day and a Super Adventure.
The NC really is as dull as you'd expect but I don't feel too bad smashing dull commuter miles on it. Very easy to service yourself including the valves.
Rubin215 said:
£5k will buy a decent small car which will be cheaper to run overall and comes with a heater, radio and seats.
The M8 is an absolutely miserable commute on a bike and will put you off biking for life, trust me on this.
I agree with this. Comfortable car with an efficient diesel engine.The M8 is an absolutely miserable commute on a bike and will put you off biking for life, trust me on this.
My neighbour does 70 miles a day commute.
Since he moved in he’s had an FZ1 and a ZZR 1200. Both of them ended up looking like they’d been in the sea for 6 months.
Last winter he bought a small car. 1. He’s dropped the bike or been knocked off at least twice per year riding through central Edinburgh. 2. It puts him right off motorcycling as a hobby.
I see he’s back using the bike this ‘summer’
One thing he did say is when the ZZR gives up he’s getting something lighter to pick up
That’s something to consider as well.Drawweight said:
My neighbour does 70 miles a day commute.
Since he moved in he’s had an FZ1 and a ZZR 1200. Both of them ended up looking like they’d been in the sea for 6 months.
Last winter he bought a small car. 1. He’s dropped the bike or been knocked off at least twice per year riding through central Edinburgh. 2. It puts him right off motorcycling as a hobby.
I see he’s back using the bike this ‘summer’
One thing he did say is when the ZZR gives up he’s getting something lighter to pick up That’s something to consider as well.
Yup.Since he moved in he’s had an FZ1 and a ZZR 1200. Both of them ended up looking like they’d been in the sea for 6 months.
Last winter he bought a small car. 1. He’s dropped the bike or been knocked off at least twice per year riding through central Edinburgh. 2. It puts him right off motorcycling as a hobby.
I see he’s back using the bike this ‘summer’
One thing he did say is when the ZZR gives up he’s getting something lighter to pick up
That’s something to consider as well.Never once been knocked off my car and had to pick it up while commuting.
As an aside, a guy I worked with was running late one day so went for a gap that wasn't there and ended up being skittled off the bike; in his anger/frustration/pain he got the bike upright again and jumped back on it to move it into the side of the road.
After a minute or so of trying to get it back down into first and just not managing he realised that the reason why was actually because of his broken ankle, torn ligaments and dangling foot rather than any mechanical issue with the bike itself.
I used to bike seventeen months of the year through fire, flood, hurricanes typhoons, brimstone, plagues of locusts and volcanic eruptions but the older I get the more risk-averse I have become; commuting by bike just doesn't appeal to me any more.
Edited by Rubin215 on Sunday 14th July 01:42
Pragmatically get a cheap car for those sort of commutes; warmer, safer, cheaper to run.
If it must be a bike it should be a Honda just for reliability; NC750 sip petrol, CBF1000 much quicker but watch for the stator on Mk1 (Mk2 are pretty much bullet-proof). Or if you're ego can cope with it a maxi-scooter.
But this is PH so it should be something expensive, fast, fragile and expensive to maintain.
If it must be a bike it should be a Honda just for reliability; NC750 sip petrol, CBF1000 much quicker but watch for the stator on Mk1 (Mk2 are pretty much bullet-proof). Or if you're ego can cope with it a maxi-scooter.
But this is PH so it should be something expensive, fast, fragile and expensive to maintain.
Rubin215 said:
£5k will buy a decent small car which will be cheaper to run overall and comes with a heater, radio and seats.
The M8 is an absolutely miserable commute on a bike and will put you off biking for life, trust me on this.
I would be inclined to agree with this, providing no ULEZ curveballs/issues.The M8 is an absolutely miserable commute on a bike and will put you off biking for life, trust me on this.
I take my motorbike to Glasgow from time to time. The M8 heading in to / out of the city centre is rotten on a bike; lane change etiquette is non-existant and the standard of driving is abysmal. Be careful out there.
Noticing someone mentioning a maxi scoot above, my 20 miles on the M6 was much more pleasant and less soaking and cold on my Burgman 400 than it is on the V7. It got stolen off my drive, so there's that. But the 650 has heated grips, height adjustable screen, heated seats, electric mirrors, room under the seat for helmet and probably waterproofs. it's not quick but will easily cruise at motorway speeds. If I had cash and garage space, I'd happily get another scoot for the commoot.
AKjr said:
I would be inclined to agree with this, providing no ULEZ curveballs/issues.
I take my motorbike to Glasgow from time to time. The M8 heading in to / out of the city centre is rotten on a bike; lane change etiquette is non-existant and the standard of driving is abysmal. Be careful out there.
As another all-weather 60 miles of motorway bike commuter I'd add another vote for this. This winter will be my last one on the bike, and I try to avoid riding in the dark / sI take my motorbike to Glasgow from time to time. The M8 heading in to / out of the city centre is rotten on a bike; lane change etiquette is non-existant and the standard of driving is abysmal. Be careful out there.
t weather anyway. Not had any incidents in 14 years of doing it, but it's only a matter of time.If you must, I'd go for one of the giant trailies. My choice was R1200GS, and that, the Triumph mentioned or anything similar is the tool for the job I'd choose.
I run a CBF1000 as a commuter. I was going to buy an NC750 DCT but Honda could not supply one so I bought a MK2 CBF. The CBF has been epic. Comfy sit up and beg riding position which is adjustable for seat height and a doddle to ride. It is smooth, snatch free and is so easy to launch off the line. It has rapidly become the go to option for myself and my son in a garage full of bikes. I haven’t even registered the Fireblade for road use this year as a result leaving it for trackdays only.
The CBF has also proven excellent at 2 up touring. We toured through Germany into Austria and Italy on it last year. Again comfortable and enough power at 100 hp for all except the must have 150 minimum small penis brigade. Honda do an excellent luggage system of panniers and top box, although I only use the topbox for commuting.
The CBF has also proven excellent at 2 up touring. We toured through Germany into Austria and Italy on it last year. Again comfortable and enough power at 100 hp for all except the must have 150 minimum small penis brigade. Honda do an excellent luggage system of panniers and top box, although I only use the topbox for commuting.
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