Commuter bike

[Jayne]

Hey guys,

Gonna be buying a bike to commute to uni on in September and from looking around it's probably either a Suzuki gs500 or a Kawasaki E-5.

Anyone have any experience with either? Which is going to cause me least trouble, bearing in mind it's going to be run all through winter.

Or have I missed a trick and is there another bike I'd be better off with?

Cheers folks.

[ian789]

I'm in the same boat as you! There is also the Honda CB500.

Which uni do you go to?

[Jayne]

Newcastle University

Me and my girlfriend have a flat in Sunderland though, hence the need for the commuter. xD

[ian789]

Nice what course you doing?

And what is your budget for the bike?

[Jayne]

Mechanical Engineering (conversation killer xP)

I'm looking below £1,500 ideally but I guess £2k or so.

[ian789]

I've seen ER5s for around £1000 - it was a 2001 and about 30k miles. Similar prices for the CB500 if you go slightly older.

[Paxovasa]

Any bike can be a commuter bike

I would get a naked bike, as when you drop it it wont cost much to fix

I did ride my bandit 600 through two winters and never had a problem (although that was 2007 and 2008 winter) this winter I used both the bandit and XT.

The XT is the better bike for winter riding (although this winter was a bad one).

If you want a bike that will be good to commute on and will also give you some weekend fun, good when two up and good for touring on, then I will suggest a Bandit 600. (not the modern 650 bandit that is made by pedro the Spanish goat herder).
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Jayne]

Cool, thanks Ian xD

Good advice Pax, might be worth getting a 600 rather than a 500 maybe.

hmm... something to think on anyway

[Paxovasa]

I bought my bandit in October 2007, it is a 53 plate it had 12,500 miles on the clock and I paid £1600 for it.

Private deal from a guy at Washington.

So you will be able to get a very tidy bike for your budget (not just a bandit)
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[el_oso]

gpz 500 are the best value for money i think.
mate picked his one up for £400.

it is basically the same as the er-5 just a bit sportier

btw: i think physics or mathematics is more of a conversation killer than mec eng. the response i usually get is.
"wow you look quite normal for a physicist"
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Clanger]

I would personally stay away from the GS500, nasty piece of kit, rust buckets, they also feel very wobbly anything over 75mph on the front end.

Have a look at the good old sturdy Honda Bros 650 or similar bikes. Sturdy, hold their value, forgiving and planted. Couriers use them because they are so reliable and solid.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Zedxfarin]

Get a honda cub 90
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Montesa Cota 350cc, Yamaha DTr 125cc, Yamaha Timberwolf 250cc, Yamaha YZ 250cc, Kawaski kmx 125cc, Kawaski kmx 200cc, Yamaha TY80cc, 175cc Chinese Dirt Bike, Chinese Wanyge 125cc, Mini & Midi Moto 50cc - What i have owned.

[poorboyspost]

Those are really great bikes.

https://www.ciao.co.uk/Reviews/Kawasaki_ER5__81864
https://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/suzuki-gs500-review
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Pimp my RIDE

[Ingah]

Based on too much forum reading i can tell you the following:

GPZ500S. Best value for money.
CB500. Best fullstop. But you pay for it, disproportionally so.
ER5. Often described as a "big 125" for mixed reasons. Quite cheap. A bit less powerful.
GS500. Very cheap (and often feels it, apparently). Least powerful. Worst finish. I probably wouldn't buy one as the reviews are so mixed.

I've also accidentally put them in the order i'd look to buy them (GPZ first, obviously).

That said, you're better off looking for the best example you can find rather than restricting yourself to a particular model. When i went looking for a 500, i restricted myself to the CB500 (as it was the "best") and ended up desperately putting down a deposit on a bike 170 miles away, and it was a heap i bought (problem after problem) because a riding school had previously owned it, and ran it into the ground ready for me. And the dealer was a lying knob, so i didn't get anything but angry and fobbed off. And significantly lighter in the pocket.
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-- Ingah