Urban riding - for road warrior types

[jposttx]

That was another one to consider xr1200 hd? Need longer travel better springs I guess?

[curbjumper]

I love urban riding; anything with enough power to punish traffic, and narrow enough to fit is good- I love the Ducati 2 valve air-cooled engine for city riding, wet clutch version please, but the low maintenance of the Sportster & Buell makes for many worry-free rides.
Long travel susp is a bonus; The KTM 530EXC is nice for U-turns over high curbs, stairs, or any other obstruction that would stop a road bike, as are any DR, KLR, or XRL.
About the only thing I've ever disliked in 30 years of city riding is forgetting when hard side bags or boxes are on... for obvious reasons.

[sargev55]

lets see how this goes :)

sportster 1200, bonneville t100 or scrambler, ducati 696, street triple.

[DELTATANGO]

The Nighthawk S was about 25 years ahead of it's time.

[southwade]

Originally Posted by Grainbelt

Kawi Versys.

Tall, decent suspension, great powerband for the city.

This, naked and ugly (less prone to theft)

[pilotguy299]

I've ridden my X and my Aero in DC many times going to work. Commuting in and out of the city I prefer the Aero, as it is a bit more nimble. If I had to live in the city, I'd probably go with a nighthawk.

[vicmitch]

V-Strom works for me, but my Victory Sport Cruiser gets me through as well

[flkovacs]

Originally Posted by vicmitch

V-Strom works for me, but my Victory Sport Cruiser gets me through as well

looks like you got some great advice, but it really depends what stirs your soul. if that is not an issue, there are some nice scooters out there, with storage built in that i'd recommend (bmw has one). you could also consider going electric for around town - short jaunts - may even land you free parking and charging spots (or is that only in california?).

the wee is a a wee bit too wide for tight spaces i'd anticipate in the city.
low end torque, tall seating, narrow (is lane sharing allowed there?), perhaps even loud, good suspension, lights.

my f800r is a nice city bike, but let us know what you come up with,
ferenc

[sixspeed]

Originally Posted by curbjumper

Rules violation! Fouling the gauge.

[jposttx]

Originally Posted by DELTATANGO

The Nighthawk S was about 25 years ahead of it's time.

So what is today's nighthawk s?
Seems like the "standard" 600s like te sv or wee strom are just right

[Ron Bullard]

Not exactly an apples to apples comparo, but my SV has been great in and around LA.

"Naked" model, so fairly upright and easy to maneuver, pretty lightweight, L-twin (or however you call the design) keeps the bike narrow. Stone reliable, good brakes, and plenty of power for 90mph freeway blasts when it's necessary. Do the simple basic maintenance they require and pile the miles on without worry. Mines 11 years old, so it's not exactly on the top of any thief's list.

I've blasted my little XT350 dualsport around LA, and it's nice too - lightweight, with surprising power (for what it is), but the brakes and suspension are lacking. I imagine that a DRZSM or something close would be super maneuverable and also an excellent choice.

Originally Posted by jposttx

I looked around a little here - did not see where this was addressed lately

Just got back from a trip to - the City - NYC
I taxied and subwayed - but saw a huge assortment on the road- vespas and naked bikes seemed to rule
What a crazy environment to ride - got me thinking about what would work there for me
I live in small town America - I commute 30 rural miles to another small town on my VTX
BUT I used to live in DFW - rode a xt500 and a nighthawk S
I think the S or xt would work well in NYC

What do you guys think would be a "safe" choice for this kind of riding - plus adding some escape to the road ?
Something moden - Maybe a vstrom? Not moving but just curious what you lurkers think?

[Kai Ju]

Honda 919, owned one for 22,000 miles and used it to commute in LA, splitting lanes etc. Not popular = less likely to be stolen.

[vicmitch]

the wee is a a wee bit too wide for tight spaces i'd anticipate in the city.
low end torque, tall seating, narrow (is lane sharing allowed there?), perhaps even loud, good suspension, lights.


lane splitting is illegal but it is the norm. in NYC. Bikes are usually going at twice the speed of the cages. The wee is quite slim and gets the job done.

[southwade]

Honda nc700x
kawasaki er-6n
suzuki 650 v-strom
ducati hypermotard 796
yamaha fz8
ktm duke
triumph bonneville
kawasaki versys
husqvarna nuda
triumph speed triple
triumph street triple
kawasaki z1000
ducati monster
aprilia dorsoduro
ducati streetfighter

[MookieBlaylock]

nyc is kind of scary on the bike as cities go. Theft not so bad in the bay area so i like the ktms, fast thin and very good compliant suspension