Spec me a fun commuter?

[Reppyboyo]

So my last post here was over 8 years ago, so thats a fun fact.

Changed job recently which is a 60 mile round trip on 90% motorway, part of which is notorious for traffic jams and its already doing my head in. On the plus side a pay rise has put biking back on the table again.

Trouble is Im well out of the loop now, I havent kept up with bikes for a long time now.

So question is, what would you consider a 'fun' commuter for somewhere between 5k - 7.5k? (preferable towards the 5k mark)
I do intend to take it out on weekends occasionally for some twisty fun as well, so Id rather not your typical dull commuter bikes such as Bandits. Ive read the MT09 is a pretty good middle ground?

I do prefer twins (had two Versys in the past) and triples (Speed Triple 1050 in the past) if that helps at all.

Thanks for any pointers!

[Zen Dog]

If it was me, I'd be looking at either a Z1000SX, or on the slightly comfier side, maybe a Sprint GT.

Haven't tried the Z1000SX but loads of people seem to rate them. A mate recently bought a Sprint GT, he gave me a spin and I was really surprised how good it was. Stonking engine (as you know) but retuned a bit for the GT (it'll happily pull off without touching the throttle). Both are available for your budget.
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Current - '94 VFR750FR, '00 VFR800FI Previous - '10 Street Triple R, '92 MZ ETZ301, '05 TTR250, NSR125R, KMX125, "Honda" Win (chinese copy of an old Honda design with a C90 engine)
My bike trip around S.E. Asia 2010/2011

[Ste]

Would you like your fun commuter to be as fun as your fun fact?

[stinkwheel]

Tiger sport?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MarJay]

I'd look at Z1000SX, Tracer 9 or 900 or whatever they call it these days, BMW F800ST or GT (a bit dull maybe), VFR800 or maybe a GSX-S1000F.

Obviously I prefer the Suzuki, but I'm biassed. It's certainly on the sporty side of sports touring. In fact, if you believe Suzuki's marketing blurb it's actually a sportsbike.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[UncleFester]

If a Triumph, get it new with a warranty, same goes for anything BMW.

Z1000SX for me - love the fact you can remove the panniers and it doesn't look like it ever had them fitted. Good luck filtering with them on though, it's quite wide with them fitted.

You'd pick up a WHF model with the IMU cornering unit and LED lights for a shade over 7k or the previous model ( without the LED headlights and IMU) for less.
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[Kris]

1200 miles a month is enough to think about mpg and consumables. I'd think about a newish Versys 650 with its 56mpg and 21 litre tank, along with cheaper service items.

Nice big screen, heated grips and enough fun for a play at the weekend, if of course you still fancy riding after the week's slog.
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NSR125RR - ZXR750H1 - ZX9R E1 - GSF600S - GSF600SK3 - VFR400-NC30 - SV1000N - ST1100-R - CBR900RR-R - GSF1200SK5 - GSF600SK1 - VFR1200FA - GSXR1000K2 - ZZR1400 D8F
www.prisonplanet.com

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Got a 750 nekkid bike. That's why I have my GSR-750 now - primary use was going to be commuting, got it for a really good price, enough power that it's easy in traffic without stupid long gearing like a thou, and there's enough at the top half of the range to have a lot of fun when needed. The lack of fairings helps to keep things at "you'll probably keep your licence" speeds as well
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DILLIGAF

[Sako]

Street triple 765 would be a good shout, great in city traffic and handles so well it will piss over most things in the twisty roads if ridden well

[ThunderGuts]

[Evil Hans]

[PotatoHead202...]

Would go for a VFR for sure. Second bet would be the Z1000SX or GSXS100F.

Unsure on the Kawasaki and Suzuki for corrosion resistance though.

Would avoid BMW like the plague and wouldn't touch Triumph with the electrical issues I had.
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Honda VFR1200F, Honda CBF500 ABS, CZ125 now CZ175

[stinkwheel]

Or a super scooter. Seriously. Had a go on a mates x-adv and it's actually quite fun. Try a test drive of one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Diggs]

Unless you are planning on fettling and cleaning it every week plus loosing loads in depreciation, I'd go for a dull as dishwater bike for the commute. Save your pennies and buy another one for fun....
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[blurredman]

A Velocette VE.

Shaft drive, and frugal!
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (bored to 295cc) - 38k, 1990 MZ ETZ251 - 49k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k.

[struan80]

VFR1200. Great bike for your needs. Small tank though, 140 miles at a decent speed.

Get a lot of bike for only 5K used.

[photoman]

[Keithy]

Tiger 660 just launched, about a grand over your top end but you could almost imagine they were targeting you specifically!

[Kris]

[Evil Hans]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

[ThunderGuts]

[xX-Alex-Xx]

Unless they forgot that there’s a difference between US mpg and Real mpg.
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DILLIGAF

[Kris]

[PotatoHead202...]