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Recommend me a commuter...

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Jamesemt
L Plate Warrior



Joined: 06 Feb 2010
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PostPosted: 10:53 - 06 Feb 2010    Post subject: Recommend me a commuter... Reply with quote
Hi guys, new here.
Long story short - I'm looking at getting a commuter to do the 30 miles each way to work along main roads and am at a loss on what to get. I have a car which does 50mpg and would like to get a bike that will show a significant difference in fuel economy. I've got around ?1200 to spend (maybe a lot more for something that I cant live without... Laughing )

I have a full licence and have had an unrestricted Cagiva Mito and a Baby Blade in the past. I stopped riding about 5 years ago as I was convinced I was going to kill myself - originally got into biking as the natural progression from fast cars and went into it with the wrong attitude - never fell off though...

Was going to get a CG125 but worried that it may frustrate me after a while - looking at getting something to use/keep long term (3 years+). It has to make financial sense from a fuel economy point of view (as I can 'write off' the cash to buy the bike as I've sold a couple of things, meaning the cash is spare anyway). I've got the gear, so what do you recommend? Want something that I cannot get overly carried away with, and if it looks better than a CG that would be great too Very Happy Thinking anything around a 4 stroke 250. Any ideas?
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Alexio
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Aug 2009
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PostPosted: 13:15 - 06 Feb 2010    Post subject: Re: Recommend me a commuter... Reply with quote
Jamesemt wrote:
Hi guys, new here.
Long story short - I'm looking at getting a commuter to do the 30 miles each way to work along main roads and am at a loss on what to get. I have a car which does 50mpg and would like to get a bike that will show a significant difference in fuel economy. I've got around ?1200 to spend (maybe a lot more for something that I cant live without... Laughing )

I have a full licence and have had an unrestricted Cagiva Mito and a Baby Blade in the past. I stopped riding about 5 years ago as I was convinced I was going to kill myself - originally got into biking as the natural progression from fast cars and went into it with the wrong attitude - never fell off though...

Was going to get a CG125 but worried that it may frustrate me after a while - looking at getting something to use/keep long term (3 years+). It has to make financial sense from a fuel economy point of view (as I can 'write off' the cash to buy the bike as I've sold a couple of things, meaning the cash is spare anyway). I've got the gear, so what do you recommend? Want something that I cannot get overly carried away with, and if it looks better than a CG that would be great too Very Happy Thinking anything around a 4 stroke 250. Any ideas?


On a full licence I can well imagine a 125 frustrating you, it frustrates me. However, Honda do a CBF250, basically a CG with a little bit more, and there are loads of cheap 500cc commuters out there which would make the most sense in my opinion. They'll be common, cheap, easy to service, well known as fairly bulletproof commuters and you'll easily find more opinions of people who actually ride them on here.

You could consider a GS500, CB500 or ER500?
____________________
will never give up his CG. I look at my fuel gauge more as a progress bar than a fuel gauge.
G: With my GSXR I do often effectively use it as a scooter with a clutch in town.
ms51ves3: why does it need 500 miles? Are you teaching it how to be a piston?
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Ingah
World Chat Champion



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
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PostPosted: 20:24 - 07 Feb 2010    Post subject: Re: Recommend me a commuter... Reply with quote
Jamesemt wrote:
I have a car which does 50mpg and would like to get a bike that will show a significant difference in fuel economy. I've got around ?1200 to spend


Then don't get a 500cc + bike, as they'll probably be doing in the range 50-65mpg which is not what you've said you want (significant difference)

I think a 4-stroke 250cc is exactly what you're asking for (also cheaper to buy than 500cc+), but it will be quite weak (not as bad as a CG125 though). It's the price you pay for having better fuel economy. Example of CB250/CBF250 seconded as solid idea. I'm sure there's a load of other similar style commuter bikes of the same capacity too.
Alternatively a few of these newer bikes seem to have been designed with fuel economy in mind (although probably not powerful enough for you, the CBF125 springs to mind at advertised 120mpg, and it sounds as though it's the same power as a CG125). Problem is that these new designs will set you back ??? (as you can't pick up a 10 year old example for pennies).
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Ingah
World Chat Champion



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
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PostPosted: 20:24 - 07 Feb 2010    Post subject: Re: Recommend me a commuter... Reply with quote
Jamesemt wrote:
I have a car which does 50mpg and would like to get a bike that will show a significant difference in fuel economy. I've got around ?1200 to spend


Then don't get a 500cc + bike, as they'll probably be doing in the range 50-65mpg which is not what you've said you want (significant difference)

I think a 4-stroke 250cc is exactly what you're asking for (also cheaper to buy than 500cc+), but it will be quite weak (not as bad as a CG125 though). It's the price you pay for having better fuel economy. Example of CB250/CBF250 seconded as solid idea. I'm sure there's a load of other similar style commuter bikes of the same capacity too.
Alternatively a few of these newer bikes seem to have been designed with fuel economy in mind (although probably not powerful enough for you, the CBF125 springs to mind at advertised 120mpg, and it sounds as though it's the same power as a CG125). Problem is that these new designs will set you back ??? (as you can't pick up a 10 year old example for pennies).
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Pickle
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 09 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: 11:24 - 18 Feb 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
You can buy by ER5 off me if you like. PM me for details. Very reliable, good fuel economy, well looked after. Ideal if you only want it for a few years. Thumbs Up
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GSF Jamie 600
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 17 Oct 2008
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PostPosted: 11:27 - 18 Feb 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
Agree with the er5 etc, what about a bandit 400?
But for the love of god put some renthal on it lol
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neatbik
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 12:35 - 18 Feb 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
BMW F650?
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CaNsA
Super Spammer



Joined: 02 Jan 2008
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PostPosted: 12:36 - 18 Feb 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
zzr1400

Twisted Evil
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and
World Chat Champion



Joined: 26 Sep 2007
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PostPosted: 12:48 - 18 Feb 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
...

Last edited by and on 14:49 - 24 Mar 2010; edited 1 time in total
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bigup
Nitrous Nuisance



Joined: 22 Jul 2008
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PostPosted: 13:49 - 02 Mar 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
you need to work out exactly how much you will save in fuel between car and bike

take in to account the cost of the new bike, how long till you break even?
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crowe
Trackday Trickster



Joined: 03 Feb 2009
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PostPosted: 14:09 - 02 Mar 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
also take into account parking costs for a car...very significant if its a few quid a to park for a daily commute.

I own an ER5 and i commute, its good economy and i'm rarely late like the cagers! Razz
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Clanger
Stirrer



Joined: 27 May 2004
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PostPosted: 21:50 - 13 Mar 2010    Post subject: Reply with quote
As I say to most people, look around this forum, there are tonnes of 'what bike next threads', write down the list of bikes you have seen listed, go onto google images, look at all the bikes.

Cross off your list the ones you don't like.

Then go out to a few bike shops and look at the ones you do like, and if possible go for a test ride, (if able) if not, at least sit on the bike and get a feel for it - distance from seat to footpeg, how long the reach to handle bar is, that sort of thing...

Then make an informed decision based on what suits YOU. And not what everyone else suggest...otherwise you might find yourself going round in circles...! Very Happy
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