London commuting and filtering bike?

[Val]

long story short I have nailed it to two second hand bikes:

Honda Hornet CB600F model after 2007 or BMW F800S/ST/R

Question is the BMW really much better in terms of torque?

I have ridden Hornet and love it, can't try BMW though.

I know that at high speed they are both excellent bikes, I need to know how they both compare for slow speed handling and London commute and filtering, twice a day crossing 20 miles through London center from Docklands via Thames river embankment to Richmond M3 - means a lot of start and stop, going in tight places between busses, cyclists and taxis etc. Then I have about 20 more miles M3. Which again some times means filtering.
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[arry]

Why can't you try the BM?


I would want to try one rather than rely on what someone else says about it.

To me, it looks a bit of a high and wide bike with high seat. Unless you're tall, stop start might be more of an issue on it. With that said - even when filtering I'm rarely foot down, but then Central London is a different matter.

Why not something smaller, lighter, cheaper to run? There's a few 250's that'd do that commute no bother.

Or is it that you can only have one bike and want something 'fun' as well as a commuter all in one? At which point I'd question the bike choices anyway.

[Pete.]

I'd put a tape measure up to the BMW and measure the height of the wing mirrors and bars, and compare that to the height of the average van mirror coz it's a royal pain in the ass to keep pulling the mirrors in when it gets tight.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Val]

[arry]

[Rogerborg]

I had a brief ride of the F800R last year. It's low and feels lighter than it is because of the under-seat tank keeping the weight low down (shared by all the 800 twins). Absolute doddle to ride slowly or in stop-start.

I was quite tempted, but it felt a little roguish for my tastes at the time (gearing felt quite short) so I went for a lazier beaky variant (which I then downgeared ).

I don't recall the bar width on the 800R, but I have put shorter bars on my GS pour le filtrage. The 800R felt neater although I think it's actually much the same size.

Didn't try an S/ST. Do want the belt drive though.

Should probably have got a Street Triple.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[bikertomm]

2 Words,

Do it.

https://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o520/bikerrtomm/20130820_192911_zpsce017205.jpg




Out of interest, why after 2007? Or do you mean the new shape/model of 2007?

ABS?


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[barrkel]

Through central London, I'd go for a smaller lighter bike every time. 250 to 400 cc, no more than 160kg. Prioritize light handling, maneuverability, generous steering lock, low centre of gravity, narrow handlebars, good mirror height.

My commute is only 5 miles or so, but it's enormous fun on my SH - I almost wish it was longer.

Another advantage of a lower cc bike is that even if you fully open it up on the motorway, you've got less risk of a ban.

[edit] But then I see it has to be your only bike. That sucks. There is no really good compromise, IMO. A fairly light bike like the Triple would be OK, but still a compromise.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Amber Phoenix]

Which one you're looking at has ABS? (I see both had it as optional extra)
Which has most narrow bars?
Which has mirrors you can fold in at moment notice?
Which is least desirable to a bike thief?
Which can you kit up with crash bars and top box most cheaply?
Which will you be least precious of, as it gets bashed, scratched, squeezed and generally abused on a day to day basis?
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[G]

[Rogerborg]

Oh... if you like the BMW twin, how about what Husqvarna have done with it?
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Val]

[bikertomm]

[G]

[bikertomm]

[barrkel]

[G]

Rear brake - "there's your problem" .

[barrkel]

[Pete.]

[gorillaonabik...]

Chiswick Honda had a few of the BMWs in. If you're lucky, they might still have them this w/end.

Had a Hornet for a year. Great for commuting, terrible for any kind of distance. Fed up of filling up with petrol every time I went, well, anywhere.

I commute (gingerly) around London on a CB1300. Issue is braking as it takes an eternity to stop, especially as I'm 105kgs. Dry weight is easily 250kgs and I have a non-ABS model. However, I sacrifice overall commuting speed with occasional distance stuff I have to do. That extra 60 - 70 miles between fill ups is heaven.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[stevo as b4]

G, how much low end power is ideal though in tight city traffic and filtering in London etc?

Personally I'd have thought that stuff like Iain's new KTM Duke would be perfect for zipping across the city, and they do have enough low end drive surely?

I've seen a KTM525EXC get out dragged in Birmingham on a ring road with in gear roll on's by a Suzuki VL1800, but that is not really the issue or a problem in stop start city traffic is it?

And how much of the drive from a 160bhp litre bike like the older GSXR1000's do you actually need or use off the lights etc? I can only see the advantage of a long first gear/powerful big engine for lots of stop starts in a row, but your surely not going to get up to much more than 40mph between lights, and couldn't a lot of smaller bikes do that with ease too?

The only thing I really understand is the tall wide bars of a trail bike being no good for getting past some car/van mirrors, but how often is a narrow sports bike genuinely better than a traile everywhere else in town?

[Mudshark]

I have a F800GT, I'm 6' just, and can plant both feet down flat (standard seat, there is a low option) CoG is low and no/little change from full tank to empty. commuting's fine (panniers off). Mirrors will fold in.
Had a CBR600F in the past (I know, it's not a hornet) great bike, but, I prefer the BMW, but then I'm old and stupid, and like ABS, no chain, traction control etc.
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R1250RS
XT660X

[G]

F800GT has traction control?
Always fancied one for an 'economical' bike, but don't have any particular need for such a bike.

[map]

FWIW a few years back I was in Athens and experienced their traffic congestion.

The popular bikes for filtering appeared to be the higher adventure/dual sport/enduro type bikes. I'm assuming because narrow profile and higher view over traffic. Interesting seeing the 90 degree change of direction jinks in-between vehicles to maintain progress.

Not sure if that'll influence your choice. It did mine if I'd ever need to commute regularly in a city.
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[P.]

I cannot fault the Street Triple for bashing through London traffic.