I commute on a 2006 BMW F650GSA(thumper), mostly secondary roads and take if off road a couple times a year. I've had 60K trouble free miles(mostly) and the few problems I did have were covered under warranty(3yr,36month). I've also owned a DR250SE and a WR250X during this time frame and commuted on them, as well. I'm ready for a new commuter with more excitement and face the same dilemma, as which bike is best, for me. The new 2013 Hypermotard is currently at the top. 18K mile valve inspection, 150-200 mile tank range, upright seating position, ABS, traction control and commuter to hooligan with the press of a button. Right now the price and a fear of "wet" electronics are my biggest reservations. The Street Triple R is the obvious choice. It's a proven bike, affordable, wins every bike shoot out, in every magazine. Fuel mileage seems poor and the forward leaning position are my very minor reservations. Any variant is of a BMW 1200 does not appeal to me. I don't like the side-to-side feel of the boxer engine, in commuting traffic. Harley's do not appeal to me, everyone has one. The BMW 700/800 offers a nice package but in most reports I've read , people label the performance as dull. The Yamaha Super Tenere would make a great touring/commuting bike. Long service entraval, ABS, Traction Control, Reasonably priced, proven bike. My reservation is simply, it's a fat pig. The Triumph 800's do not inspire me at all. Can't really say why but I've ridden the Roadie and simply didn't like it. The new Honda 500s are not what I'm looking for but I may be surprised once I see them in living color. I'd like more info on the 2014 Suzuki V-Strom, if anyone has some. I test rode a beautiful Motto Guzzi V7 Stone. I love the idea of the bike but I didn't not enjoy the tractor like feel of the ride and for the money, a Street Triple R is just a few dollars more. The Aprilias are not on my list because the dealerships seem to disappear with the wind. The 2013 Hyper, Super T and Street Triple R are on my short list, along with a cheap trailbike for wood's riding. Good luck and enjoy the search... nlp
650 Strom.... full luggage, touring capable, mild off road, 270+ miles to a tank, almost maintenance free, and lots of aftermarket, forum support as there are thousands on the roads, and cheap to buy and run. No other bike ever, is more well rounded.
I think the fuel economy is much improved in the 2013 model. Doesn't help the lean of course ... http://www.ashonbikes.com/content/triumph-street-triple-r
No one made any mention of money, just the referenced Honda. No one suggested he spend more than the Honda cost for a different motorcycle.
The implication was there I think, and certainly there is a strong undertones in this thread of the necessity of buying an exotic machine to help you "live life". Life happens on the open road, and the more miles you can put on out there the better the life, in my not so humble opinion. Seems some people lose sight of it, especially with how quickly they can call other motorcycles "reliable and boring". Just my two cents.
Interesting. I took "live a little" a different way. I assumed the OP wanted something sporty or wild, but not necessarily expensive, since the list of bikes included supermoto styles.
Don't discount the intangible things that stir you when you ride your bike. The things that have you taking the long way round when you can sometimes. More miles makes more enjoyment does it not?
The obvious implication of the exchange I was referring to was that somehow the guy who goes into the dealership and buys a NC700 is somehow not living his life. As if two guys who go into the dealership with 10 grand, one who comes out with a Street Triple is living his life more then the guy who comes out with a NC700. In fact, both of them are living very similar lives, they spend their time going to a dealership and buying motorcycles. I was just commenting on how I see this trend in a lot of younger people these days, defining themselves by the material objects they buy, in this case, pretending that exchanging money for one sort of motorcycle is "living life". Simply put - don't lose sight of the meaningful things - which in my opinion, is something that is happening with people who follow the line of reasoning I was referring to originally. Cheers
When I am really living life I am up in the mountains exploring new trails or on a twisty country road ... Right now I am stuck in the city lol
Don't know about anybody else, but I would buy a bike based on what I was going to use it for. I just can't see buying a Ducati for a "daily driver" If you want an exotic sport bike, and actually intend to use it as a sport bike, then get a Ducati. But do not expect it to be a good daily driver. Such bikes are to high strung and uncomfortable for "transportation"
By saying "Ducati" like they make only one type of bike is just insane. The Multistrada is one of the best roadgoing bikes out there today. The Diavel is very comfortable, and quite capable for a "muscle bike". I had a first generation 2V Multistrada, and it was an extremely good bike to travel on, and was hella fun in the canyons to boot. The Monster is a pretty fun bike, as well as the Hypermotard - and neither have extreme riding positions. They make some great race bred bikes - and going back to the 916 most would agree their sportbikes require some dedication to put up with the ergos on your daily commute - but to say it's exotic and not well suited for daily driving shows how absolutely out of touch you are. "high strung and uncomfortable".... you could not be more mistaken if you tried.
I can say this because I've owned them, Don't get the BMW. While mine has been more reliable than I thought it would be, a daily driver, they are not. SV650, Ninja 650, Hell even an older Supersport like an R6 or CBR 600rr can be made comfy and easily stir the soul. All of those are good for 100k miles if looked after.
Well, I've been riding my 2012 Ducati Monster every day, rain or shine, since June last year. It's my daily commuter. It's really comfortable and it's been really reliable. And it's been a great daily driver. It's my main transportation. I only drive when I go with the wife and daughter. And the reason I bought my bike, the reason why I picked the Monster, was because I want to use it as a commuter. The same reason I bought my Sportster ten years earlier, to use it a a commuter. I needed a bike for commuting and back then HD was the only brand that can be bought easily here. So, I bought my sportster I used it as a commuter for ten years. I rode the bike every day just like I do with my monster. At the time being I'm thinking about getting another bike. An adventure bike like Tiger 800, or TR 650 or BMW Sertao, or another naked bike like a Street triple. I haven't made up my mind yet. Whatever bike I pick, it has to be able to be used as a commuter. I won't buy a bike that can only be ridden on weekends. I figure I will ride it one day and the monster the next day
a BMW not a good daily driver.... I've had K-bike, airheads, oilheads - and put tons of miles on each of them with as much reliability as an owner could ask for. Extremely reliable and fun to own and ride, NO more problems than any other bike I've owned. So a person has some bad anecdotal stories about his ownership experience, and tries to tell a person asking for advice to avoid BMW because they're not daily driver material.... well, I sure wouldn't be listening to that kind of advice in the face of knowing how many satisfied owners there are around the world.
Given the ops age and the bikes they listed... A nc700 is as far from what they are looking at. The hyper is fantastic motorcycle for sporty riding as stock. You can do things to it to make it more touring focused. The monster is a decent balance of comfort fun and sporty. But if it was my dollars and I was looking at the bikes you are looking at. It get a street triple. And see if I could find a hard bag kit for it. Btw and to put things in perspective we own a hypermotard, r100gs, dl650, sv650 and a Honda919 with hard bags
I've found many.....60 at last count since 1968 - pick a brand and I've probably owned one or two. It's tough to buy a bad new bike these days - everyone gets a troublesome unit from time to time, but that doesn't mean the brand deserves to be blackballed off someone's list completely.