Best Couriering bike?

[blamchez]

Hi all,

Im setting up as a self employed courier but im not sure what bike to use. I'm currently riding a NC30 which is great fun but like to over heat around town.

Can you advise on whats the best bike for economy, reliability, parts etc etc.

cheers
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50cc honda ---> CG125 ---> 125cc jap scooter ---> NSR125 ---> NC30 ---> CB500 ---> ZX7R

[Ciar?n]

CB500?
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Past: Suzuki CS50, Gilera Ice 50, Gilera Runner 125SP, CBR 600 F2, CBR600 F4i, CBR 600RR5,

[Imonster]

What's your budget?

Town work only, distance work only, or a bit of both?
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[stinkwheel]

I'm not expert but certainly for town work I've known a few couriers who opted for getting two or three examples of an older, small capacity, cheap and easy to repair bike rather than one bigger, newer one.

They don't make superdreams any more but something like that. You used to be able to get three vaguely tatty but well running superdreams for the same price as a moderately tidy CB500. This allows you to be riding one, fixing one and still have a spare. Also means you can rob parts and replace them at your leisure if you need to. Keeps you on the road earning money rather than in the garage waiting.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[map]

GT550

Cheap to buy. Cheap to insure. Shaft drive so little maintenance. Parts available via breakers. Less to tax as below 600cc. Can fit panniers & top box easily (if not already on). Can also fit fairing if required for a little weather protection. Engine crash bars available too. Ok for in town and can do a little distance work too. Sounds like a winner.

Downside of the GT550 are the carb diaphragms as they can split. Expensive to replace although refurb ones available from a place in Manchester near Victoria station (google or search here). Failing that they can be bodged to keep going. Also balancing 4 carbs is a knack but once done generally keeps ok for a while (unless other problems).

Failing that the other shaft drive that usually gets a mention is the NTV650 (and variants there of). It's what the Deauville evolved into but don't let that put you off.

IMO things like the Honda CX are getting a tad long in the tooth.
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[neatbik]

Honda cb1 maybe? cheap to run and buy, very very well built and reliable, comfy and good fun too

[Dibble]

[Finglonga]

[Trixie]

I also seem to remember the odd Katana being dispatched? IIRC the 650 was the shaftie - but they are getting on a bit now.
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[mr.z]

[Kal]

The CB500 is dropping below the grand point for decent examples. Fairly bullet proof.

If you got a fair amount of cash to splash try to find a CBF250 - crack on with fly screen, engine guard, topbox and possibly those mit things.

On a side note. Many CX parts can be sourced new though suppliers still, although there is an international movement that the national club is looking at joining to get CX/GL parts remanufactured.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Dibble]

[Kal]

I get 80 to the reserve out of ours, however that is the custom and as a trike it is hauling around a lot of extra weight.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[mr.z]

Custom has quite a bit smaller tank (other tanks do fit but its getting hold of one thats not stuffed) and the smaller rear wheel, although same probably applys with the trike with the gearing and all not to mention carrying that extra load...
A mate had a 650 trike which he ragged the sheeart out of and still got 35mpg if i remember correctly.
Interestingly on the 650 if I'm really spanging it i still get 185 or so, not been on a motorway on it yet but supposedly the economy is even better..

tbh I'd like another 500 twinshock, they are wobbly handling but treat it like what it is and usually it wont disappoint.. but they are getting fewer and the mileages are climbing, when i can afford it i'll probably move onto something modern but straightforward with parts a plenty, but when you've had a shaft drive bike its difficult to go back to pissing about with chains :/
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Kal]

It's wrong and its dirty but I want the 650 Turbo...

Aparently there is a company stateside doing 800 conversion kits... although I may want some suspension if I ever go for that.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Spoon261]

I nearly bought a new Honda CBF250 since my local dealer tried to get rid of it for £2700.

But then I searched the internet for user reviews.
Only one person has reviewed it and posted on several websites.

He reported the chain and sprocket had to be constantly replaced. Not sure but it could be in his 10,000 miles the chain was replaced twice and the sprocket once?

He also had engine trouble, actually loads of engine trouble, it was a real lemon.
And Honda uk refused to help him.

The bike made in brazil and seems to have far worse build and reliability than the bullet proof Honda CG125 they make their.

If anyone has experience owning a Honda CBF250, please write a review of your experiences!

The Honda CB500 was much better with a fairing on, the petrol consumption went for 50 to 60mpg to 60 to 70mpg. The top speed also increased by 10mph?

I have ended up downsizing to a Honda CG125 new model (front disc brake), the brakes are more than enough when they have run in. Changing from the original Pirelli City Demons to the Michelin Pilot Sporty (based on the Pilot Sport) tyres transformed the cornering (I could double the speed in tight corners), improved rolling resistance, comfort, feel of the road, braking and can change direction while in a tight bend and severe braking and yet the tyres are wearing far slower than the Pirelli!

Saying all that the CG125, is very slow to accelerate and is only 50mph in server head wind and up steep hills. But I can leave 500cc bikes and above for dead when on very tight corners and on roundabouts.

What killed the Honda CB500 or CBF500 for me was the 16,000 mile valve clearance shims. I would need the confidence to do it myself since the garages charge several hundreds of pounds!

[mr.z]

There is indeed, they overbore it and tweak some other stuff, not sure of the cost but afaik it was fairly reasonable..
There is a guy in oz who drag races turbos actually, but for some reason he tend to use 500engines and have them overbored, dunno why but i think he gets through a few

Back on topic, a bandit might be worth considering? also they still make the cb250, guess it depends what sort of couriering it is..
If you can afford a good one i'd say the transalp would be bloody fantastic for courier work
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[FreshAL]

Hire yourself a CB500

https://www.hexagonmotorcycles.co.uk/courier.html

[stinkwheel]

I've spoken to a few people who have dispatched on MZ 2-stroke singles in town too. You could probably buy four or five runners for the price of a CB500. They do break down on occasion but not in any major way, the only major pain is the gear lever return spring goes (bungee to footpeg until you can be arsed fixing it) and they occasionally warp clutch baskets.

Piece of piss to work on if they do break, otherwise a bog-basic, piston ported 2-smoke. Air cooled, very frugal on fuel and air cooled so they won't overheat in the summer. If a top-end rebuild takes over an hour (including making a new base gasket), you're doing it wrong.

Surprisingly torquey at low revs (the engine is based on a 1960's trials motor) so they'll scoot through traffic no bother.

Or I suppose for the ultimate town bike, the C90, or the newer innova 125.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I see quite a few Hornet 6's on my travels in London, and more and more CBF600's(de-tuned(80ish bhp) semi faired Hornet) are appearing too.
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[craigs23]

A CB1?

[chris-red]

My dads CX took 26 years before something major went wrong.

He said he got about 120 miles on it before he hit reserve.
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[Itchy]

read Sickpup's courier bike guide here

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=815836#815836

from a man in the know!

I personally recomend an NTV600 or a GT750 (if you are in a hurry) or a CX .
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[hmmmnz]

i would go for a air cooled honda.
or basically any 4 stroke air cooled bike
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[Imonster]