London commuter

bigdom86 · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :

Hi all

Thinking of adding a decent commuter to my stable, looking for something cheap-ish to insure, good mpg, bit of storage and fairly upright (6ft1 and 20st, I have rode sports bikes most of my biking life and CBR600 was my old commuter but was causing me too many shoulder and back issues with my size so I got rid of it for a MT09 - this is a bit too much for commuting - tiny tank, mpg is pretty crap in stop start traffic, and insurance a bit crazy - will hang onto it but want something year-round to commute on).

Thinking of a midrange scooter like a Forza300 as has loads of underseat storage of gym bag etc, or a boring NC750S with a top-box.

Ideally if I could get around 60-80mpg would be good with a tank-range of atleast 100-120miles, something upright, top-speed I don't give a crap about as this will be for London commuting only so majority 20-30mph roads and a tiny tiny bit of 40mph if I am lucky, but would still want something with a little poke so was thinking either a 300cc scoot or the nc750 as that would tick the mpg boxes although look a bit crap, ran some numbers and either of these 17-18 plate is coming back around £500 PA insurance vs £1500 PA for the MT09 (which I will keep for weekends in the summer on ride-outs)

Cheers

bigdom86 · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :

oh and parking isn't an issue, I have secure parking on my worksite behind security and at home is garaged, alarmed up etc

Amber Phoenix · *Formerly known as* **Arfa__** Joined: 01 Feb 2013 Karma :

For a commuter hack, get something older and cheaper to buy/run/insure, then save your MT09 for fun. Think ULEZ, so ignore anything pre 2007 (unless it's Euro3 and has certificates to prove it).

On your list you should have:-

Honda CBF600
Yamaha FZ6 S2
Suzuki SV650 later Euro 3 one.
BMW F800ST
BMW F800GS

Should get most of them £2 - 2.5k ish.
The Beemers are prob best for mpg at about 65-70 ish
Stick a Givi box on back and you'll be sorted for year round commuting.

I've an FZ6 S2 and pay £250 insurance, fully comp, class 1 business use, Romford postcode, driveway parking (Surety with IAM).

Big scooter would be dead practical, but it's a scooter and not to mention a thieving scum magnet. Either way, for a commuter, be less focused on an exact model, pick the bike local that's had least abuse and best maintained.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

bigdom86 · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :

cheers for the suggestions, the BMWs are pretty pricey tbh for what they are and have heard horror stories about maintenance, the FZ6 doesn't look too bad but wasn't looking to go too old as then I have issues in terms of consumables and needing repairs etc so that was why i was thinking a 300cc scoot or nc750 as you can get near new ones for around £4k so would in theory last longer for a commuter than say a 10 year old commuter

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

barrkel · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Jul 2012 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Amber Phoenix · *Formerly known as* **Arfa__** Joined: 01 Feb 2013 Karma :

bigdom86 · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :

cheers all, not too sure I should be worried about bike-jacking? or maybe I am riding with rose-tinted glasses, as I have commuted on MT09 with no issues which is apparently a thief magnet and sports bikes, CBR, R1 etc with no issue, my commute is from just past Orpington and into Chelsea and Paddington through Tulse Hill, Clapham, Battersea etc - but maybe I should think twice about a maxiscoot, can most people even tell the difference between a 125 and 300cc scoot?

Only reason I was thinking to get a 17-18 plate was because the price isn't hugely difference to a 10 year old commuter jap bike, there was a FZ6 parked up today at work with top-box and didn't look too bad tbh so definitely an option

droog · Spanner Monkey Joined: 03 Dec 2019 Karma :

Sorry if already mentioned but have you thought about the Honda Deauville?

Has everything you want from a commuter;

Relatively cheap used buy

Shaft drive so no chain to keep adjusted and lubed,

built in panniers

from 09 or earlier is ULEZ exempt (I think?)

Cheap to maintain and run

Not a thief magnet

People say they are dull and boring - but that can be a strength in a commuter bike e.g. At 6am in the morning, in pissing rain riding in heavy commuter traffic I'd probably rather be on a Deauville than my CBR.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Ride whatever you like. London isn't as bad as people seem to think. People commute in London on as wide a range of bikes as you will see parked up outside any biker cafe at the weekend.

Don't go for anything too slow. You want to get away from traffic lights fairly swiftly. Avoid anything ultra-wide, but don't worry about a couple of inches.

It helps to have good mirrors and be fairly upright so you can look around easily. Good brakes/ABS is useful, and suspension that can handle really shit road surfaces.

I also wouldn't worry about tank range, unless you live miles away. London also has petrol stations.

DJP · Crazy Courier Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Karma :

bigdom86 · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :

DJP · Crazy Courier Joined: 11 Dec 2011 Karma :

bigdom86 · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2015 Karma :

What about the versys 650, the twin headlight ones look rather nice

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :