What bike is the perfect commuter bike?

[Rogerborg]

[Howling Terror]

The City Bike 250 Racing Single.

https://i.imgur.com/mxYbAt2.jpg
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[techathy]

Everything is going to be a compromise. I generally commute on a R1200RS or Zero FXS6.5. They both excel in one part of the commute but neither are perfect commute bikes.

Compare the R1200 to the FXS. The BMW lacks the agility of the Zero and feels like a 230kg bike in heavy traffic. On fast roads, however, it's accomplished and simply takes everything n it's stride without putting any stress on the rider. The Zero lacks the weight and stability of the R1200 on faster roads, as well as being a little low on top speed. it also suffers a lot from having no wind or weather protection making it very draining to ride once above 40mph on relatively straight roads. That said, in town its agility, weight (or rather lack of) and no clutch make it much easier to make progress in heavy traffic.

I still think the best bike for an all-round mixed back road, dual carriageway and urban commute I've ridden is the KTM RC400. The GSX-S1000FA would be first if it was fitted with a wide ratio gearbox, unfortunately it's got a close ratio gearbox making 1st too tall and 6th too short... so I bought got the R1200RS instead.
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Bikes: '17 Zero FX ZF6.5, '16 BMW R1200 RS, '12 Triumph Daytona 675

[Tdibs]

Whatever is cheapest, in decent nick, cheap to insure and something that I would not be very precious about. Narrower sporty(er) bike for better filtering, if the majority of the commute is filtering.

The Strom seems like a decent choice though, although being a bit of a boat you will just have to accept you cant make all the gaps.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[c_dug]

As mentioned I do Hornchurch to South Ken every day. I see a few v-stroms, might even see you on the road every now and then.

I've done it regularly on a cbr600f, an xj900 diversion, a vfr800 vtec, and a fzs600 Fazer. I've done it once or more on a cbr125, an sv650, and a 2t Tuono 125.

It takes pretty much exactly the same time on all of those bikes, the speed is in the rider not the bike.

My current Fazer is pretty good as it's narrow and has a really good turning circle. I think it's the best bike I've had yet for getting through standing traffic.

The Diversion was nice because shaft.

The CBR600 had no mirrors and clip-ons, so really tore through traffic until it got very tight, the turning circle let it down once at walking speed or less.

I like a noisey pipe, good in tunnels to get cars moving, better for pedestrians between traffic. Near useless for cars outside of tunnels for the most part, you'll achieve more by planning better than revving the bike at cars.

Don't buy a vtec vfr800, they suck!
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Mart_er6]

[Davemc37]

1. No matter what the question the answer for me at least will never be a scooter,

2. It's a 30 mile each way trip 15 miles city,15 miles a roads or motorways

3. The truliumph st Is probably the best answer so Far but is it worth an extra 40% on my petrol bill AA the vstrom is averaging 50+ mpg

4. Isn't the London mayor bringing in some shut next year about nothing earlier than a 2008 bike?
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born again biker with a mere 23 year gap between bikes.

[Mart_er6]

[Howling Terror]

A good turning circle cannot be underestimated in my opinion.
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Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project