Commuting advice please

[zunkii]

Hi People
Please may I have some advice.
I have just got a new job, which is on the other side of London, and I swear if I have to catch the tube to work once more, I’m going to end up killing someone. I used to ride a VFR 750, but due to wife nagging, and family commitments, I have been driving a car for the last 20 years.
I am keen to go back to commuting by bike, and am looking at a large scooter 3-600cc.
I am looking to spend £3-4000 please can anyone give me some advice as to the best bikes to look at, and what to avoid I would prefer to stick to the Japanese brands if possible

Thanks in advance

Zunk

[Itchy]

Just not the Suzuki Burgmans.

They apparently have an oil problem where a design flaw sucks out the oil from the engine via a breather causing the engine to lunch itself.

Did ride a silverwing and thought oh this isn't too shabby.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Rogerborg]

[andyscooter]

My 400 burger is not dead
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[andyscooter]

also London so don't be tempted to buy a piaggio Beverly 350 or a vespa gts300 as they will be stolen
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[M.C]

I like the look of the sportcity 300. If I went down the scooter route (which I briefly considered) it would be one of them or the SH300. Remember scooters are popular amongst thieves, and I believe all the bigger versions of 125 scooters (so SH, sportcity, Vespa 250 and 300's) are sought after because ped boi's like to cram the bigger engine into their learner scoot'.

No one wants to steal a Burgman

[Tierbirdy]

Dunno anything about scooters and wouldnt even consider one myself because Im not sexually attracted to other boys so I cant give you any advice about them But heres something else to think about and be aware of when selecting a bike if your commute takes you through/near Central London

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone

The greedy TfL bastards want more money so will be charging bikes/scooters for the "pleasure" of riding through London as well as cars from 2020, so if this is going to be a long term investment/method of commuting you might wanna get a newer (2008 onwards) bike. Shouldnt be a problem with your budget though.

[defblade]

Remember to include a full set of Gore-Tex, a decent top box and decent security in your budget.

And if half of what I read about bike and scoot parking in London is true, buy a bashed up old Honda (ie, it'll keep going forever but looks like poo) so you don't mind too much when it gets scrapped, knocked over, etc
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[Alpineandy]

You've had a VFR750.... Are you sure you really want a scooter...
There are some proper bikes that are decent for commuting on.
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The above comment isn't necessarily the truth and anyone that says it is, is only correct if it's the truth or they're bigger than me.

[Kaya75]

I hear the R1 are nice scooters, gf and wives often mistake them for "proper" bikes, but you can cite the reputable folk of BCF that they are actually a scooter with larger wheels to aid visibility...

Personally, I don't fancy scooters in London, I feel vunerable in a type 2 bay panel van, I rode my first bike a ybr out of London, the advice my London born and bred missus gave me was.. "Just punch and kick the cars out of the way!" .. And I thought she was jokin! .... Seriously if I was looking at communing through London, it'd be a bombed out cb500 or a fully armoured GS depending on where and when..

Anyway enough scoot, when are you planning on searching e bay for a VFR?

Anyway plenty of London nutters on here with better advice then my insomnia induced ramblings.. Good luck and welcome
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ybr125 Sold, GSF600 K1 Bandit (For Sale), FJR13000 gen2.

[Pete.]

[talkToTheHat]

Had VFR, want scooter? Newish VFR with that automatic gubbins, is it called DCT or something?

Why does it have to be a scooter? If becasue the wife says so, consider the Honda Integra (is an NC750 motorcycle with auto transmission dressed as scooter - has proper swingarm so handles like a bike)

If it doesn't have to be a scooter, then just go hunting for nice modern bike with ABS and some luggage, big topbox and maybe some givi E21s on the side if you need more carrying capacity.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Val]

get Italian scooter they have larger service intervals, Beverly 300 or Aprilia sportcity cube 300

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/aprilia/sport-city-300/2008/
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[stevo as b4]

Not so sure why people are almost shouting VFR at the OP in a rage, if all the guy wants to do is commute to work in a city and that's it.

A scooter is good at the job as testified by millions of other commuters using them

If it's all simply because people have the deeply ingrained 'scooter is raging homosexual and I couldnt be seen dead on one' then it says more about your insecurities than anything else. Or is it that this is a big bhp bike forum and you don't want scooters or mopeds diluting the image, because if so then that's all a bit 'sons of anarchy' style thinking for me.

If the OP only wants an A-B to get to work and has no interest in other riding, probably like a few thousand other UK bike riders then why is a VFR so vital in the city?

If this were a car forum and someone said I need a good small commuter vehicle to get to work cheaply, then It would be no different if people were shouting Subaru impreza sti 330bhp pro drive to the OP. Its the same overkill thinking, or am I just massively missing a point somewhere?

[talkToTheHat]

Actually, i was being polite and exploring reasons and definitions of a scooter. Scooter becasue 'i want an automatic' and scooter because 'wife says i can have a scooter but not a bike' are common clawings back into motorcycle world, hence suggesting automatic vfr and a scooter that is an motorcycle in disguise.

what am i supposed to say, "get divorce then get the bike you want" ?
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Bandit. does. everything.

[stevo as b4]

Yeah if that's how you feel. I've got to hand it to you the poor bloke wants to get to work and back simply avoiding the tube train, and yet you call him a girl, a homosexual and tell him to get a divorce as primary advice on what vehicle to get?

If it's everyone elses opinion too, then maybe someone should have put the big fuck off sign up earlier as the OP mentioned a work that is banned from bcf and makes everyone sick?

He didn't say that he is planning on ride outs, touring or track days, and didn't say anything about what you think his wife may or may not let him buy?

I guess he was being friendly by mentioning he used to ride a VFR years ago, ye by him saying this you are treating him with hostility instead.

If he had said I 'need to commute to work in a city and haven't ridden a bike for 20years, is a hayabusa a good choice?' what would you have said then?

This place is getting a bit shit lately, as scooters are crap, 125's are crap, ER6's are apparently fucking so bad it's better to stab your own heart, and 600cc sports bikes are also a waste of time and shit too?

What does that leave as a generally accepted decent bike on a forum then?

[.....]

[Rogerborg]

[talkToTheHat]

[stevo as b4]

Personally I think bigger maxi scooters generally are not that great, not that stable and don't make much sense. But OP started his possible list at 300cc which sort of puts more normal looking and sporty smaller scooters into the mix that weigh less and ride more like a small nippy scooter, but with 300cc or there abouts. These are about the useful and sensible outer limits for me with regard to scooters, and figures of 30-36bhp and under 140kg ish, are sensible too.

I just disliked the way you were talking to the OP and rather looking down on him or questioning his decision simply based on you were clinging to the fact he once had a VFR750 and so you thought either he was being a girl/wimp or his wife would not let him ride a bike and you were incinuating he was being told what to do or not being allowed a proper bike? You also suggested he was scared of a big bike as any normal human would strap hard luggage to a huge fast bike and get on with it?

I didn't like to say this, but seeing how silly your reply was then I will.

When your XV535 expired you came across as totally lost like a crying little girl, and because you couldn't or wouldn't fix it and did not have a bike it was like you were saying your life was over and you were being hardly rational and coming across as an upset child.

You said you couldn't shop or get by in life without your bike, and that something about your mum realised that you needed a bike to stop you going full loony or insane or something.

I've said nothing unhelpful to OP yet your posts have all been put downs and questions with no useful advice given!

[chickenstrip]

[barrkel]

Well, I have a VFR and SH300 and there's no doubt which one is better for commuting in London - the SH by a substantial distance. VFR is wide, heavy and has a big turning circle, a somewhat heavy clutch, and a leaned-forward position that's uncomfortable at red lights - i.e. every 40 seconds or so. Fuel efficiency isn't great and you're forever switching between 1st and 2nd in town because 1st is so short.

The SH is almost as light and flickable as a 125 but 150% more power. It's less stable when cornering on a bumpy country at 70mph, for sure. If that's your commute, you may want a standard chassis. If it's dual carriageway until you hit traffic-laden urban roads, it's more than fine. 16 inch wheels means it's more gyroscopically stable at speed than a Grom, for example.

It's not the most pleasant for a long motorway slog because upright position + wind blast can tire your neck, and the overtaking lane is sometimes a bit beyond its top speed of 80-85 or so (per GPS) - it yo-yos on the rev limiter. If I had a long motorway bit, I'd consider a Tmax. I'd also consider something like a Street Triple too, however.

SH300 has not been sold new in the UK since 2015. You wouldn't have gotten a new one for much less than £4500 in any case.
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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

[talkToTheHat]

Yeah, the old 535 wasnt economical to fix. And yeah upset. And not scared to talk about it. And now that accusing me of misogyny hasn't worked, you're resorting to the same.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Pjay]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Honda Forza 300, they are supposed to be one of the better commuter scooters out there.

Worth a look at least.

[talkToTheHat]

Kymko Downtown 300 or pay badge tax for kawasaki j300? 30 mighty horses and 190kg or thereabouts. Might be ok on the motorway, punchy enough round town, not a lardy hulk. Is thereabouts on my radar. Also is OP still here?
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Bandit. does. everything.