ONE COMMUTER TO RULE THEM ALL

[itswoody]

I have spent countless hours searching online for the answer to this question: what is the perfect commuter bike? And more to the point, does it even exist at this point in time?

Forum posts on this topic usually end up enquiring to the specifics of the commute in question i.e. motorway / city / B roads etc and then try to recommend a bike on that basis but I would argue the perfect commuter motorcycle should perform in all these situations and therefore there should be ONE COMMUTER TO RULE THEM ALL.

So with that in mind I've drawn up a list of my requirements for the perfect commuter:

• Excellent fuel economy and large capacity fuel tank for fewer refuels.
• Compact width, upright riding position and light handling for filtering.
• Good wind protection for high speed / all weather travel.
• Comfortable seat.
• ABS brakes.
• Decent headlights.
• Generously timed service intervals.
• Infrequent cleaning required / quality parts that will standup to all weather use.
• Fun factor.

For me the answer has got to be something like a Yamaha MT-07 with tall screen, bigger tank and fairing or maybe a Triumph Tiger 800 with fairing (think watered down 1050 Sport?). Honda NC750X on the face of it meets the bill but I think the low rev ceiling kills the fun factor.

Or maybe a compact sports tourer (think Ninja 300, CBR500R or Kwak ER-6F) could work if it was setup with higher bars and a taller screen?

Either way I'm really struggling to find something that truly meets the above requirements. Is there a bike I've missed that delivers on the above?

EDIT

- I would have put low maintenance on the list but I figure with a Scottoiler it's kind of irrelevant whether the bike has chain / belt / shaft.
- Added infrequent cleaning / quality parts for all weather riding.

[duhawkz]

VFR800 VTec

there a bit on the heavy side and getting the vtec serviced is quite expensive but other than that it ticks all those boxes
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[TheArchitect]

[MarJay]

I'd be going with a GSXR 750 from the last few years.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Mudshark]

- not have to be cleaned after every ride to stop it becoming a rust bucket.

[map]

I remember in Athens the preference was for a tall bike.
This allows good views ahead to spot gaps in traffic.
Also fairly narrow profile.
Able to maneuver required to change lanes. That's going to front of car/bus, turning 90 degrees across the front of it, then 90 degrees back and continue forward and repeat.
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[DMCpro]

Honda NC700

80+ mpg and enough power to get out of trouble
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[Notj7]

I still think my old 600F4i was a great commuter bike once given a double bubble.

Also not exactly a 'bike' but the Honda NC700-D scooter/bike hybrid was totally awesome for commuting. Dead comfy, massive screen, nippy and not too bad looking either.
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Left the forum.

[Northern Monkey]

[Keir]

I liked my later model fazer 600 for commuting.
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[barrkel]

There's different kinds of commutes.

Commuting in central London on a VFR is not pleasant, IMO. Seating position is too far forward to be comfy holding onto clutch at traffic lights, is too wide to filter for many gaps, is too heavy to chuck around from side to side very quickly.

Your machine spec sounds more like a workhorse tourer, like a pan european or something. Look at bikes used by police etc.

Personally, if I had a longer commute that still ended in a congested city centre, I'd probably go with a T-max or similar maxi-scooter.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
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[pyx_e]

Kawasaki Versys ticks all those boxes.
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Shiney!
Kawasaki: ER5, Versys, VN900.

[Carvel]

Gpz500
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2002 Aprilia RSV1000R, Cbr600Fs, Mk1 B12, Vfr400 NC30...

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[Polarbear]

[Radis]

Speed Triple


The only bits missing really is the wind protection (but I don't care too much about that) and the tank range isn't amazing if you are having fun around 130 miles...

For London riding mixed with motorways and weekend jaunts I have yet to ride anything I prefer.

[Quornholio]

A car.
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[ScaredyCat]

[itswoody]

[ScaredyCat]

[Knacker]

I haven't had he chance to ride 1 yet but I'd have a Street triple, looks beautiful, comfy riding position, twin headlamps so I'd guess they have decent lights, would tick all my boxes
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Current: Gsxr 600 Srad - GS125 - DT125
Previous: K1 GSXR 1000

[27cows]

Most of the above are clearly not commuter bikes, unless commuting has become something vastly different now to what it was.

VFR800 for commuting? What kind of ridiculous fucking nonsense is that?

I think I'll get RC166 out and commute to work on that on Monday
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[1198]

I commute on either a 24 year old zzr 1100 or a 2 year old 1198.
My commute is 170 miles each way. I go one way on a Sunday evening, return on Friday.
Occasionally I don't get home at a weekend, so a bike gives me something to do while I'm there!

[Serendipity]

The ideal commuter for me has two wheels.

If the commute is a long one I find an engine is really helpful.

The rest is all open to taste, budget and opinion.

I’ve commuted on all of my bikes and the CBF1000 is by far and away the most accomplished. But then my commute mixes country lanes, motorway and central London on a 60 mile roundtrip. I may think differently for a different journey.
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2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[G]

Why do you want a new bike (with loads of depreciation) AND good fuel economy?

You could just get an older bike with not quite so good fuel economy and still be better off?

[krarkol]

Turbo busa...

Go on a 3 hour ride and you'll still be there in about 20 minutes from the time you set off
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Bandit 600 - deaded