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Motorcycle/Moped
joshofalltrades
Class TraitorSmoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
Class TraitorSmoke-filled roomRegistered User regular
I live on the edge of Abilene, TX and the work commute is about 7 miles with hardly any traffic. It feels like I'm wasting gas driving my car to and fro every day with just myself in it. I know how to ride a motorcycle but it has been years, and I never did it on 70 MPH roads. I always wore a helmet and other protective gear.
Would it be worth my time and money to look into a motorcycle for this short drive? Or would it be better to look into mopeds? I would welcome suggestions for either one. I'm wanting to keep it relatively cheap, with good gas mileage and it doesn't need to be flashy.
Would it be worth my time and money to look into a motorcycle for this short drive? Or would it be better to look into mopeds? I would welcome suggestions for either one. I'm wanting to keep it relatively cheap, with good gas mileage and it doesn't need to be flashy.
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My current bike is a 2007 Yamaha VStar 650 (bought used in 2010 for about $4k), which easily handles highway speeds and gets 50 mpg. However, I did notice it being sluggish on mountain roads, so I've been tempted to upgrade to a 950cc. Like most cruisers, it does not turn all that well (I've hit my pedals when turning hard), but the lean over riding position of sport bikes annoys me.
And yeah, I'd prefer a cruiser over a crotch rocket unless the gas mileage is just so good on one in particular.
However, if you think you'll be saving a lot of money with even this, you might want to read the article.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
However, I would suggest upping to at least a 500cc bike/moped, because just barely hitting 70 mph is dangerous on a bike. You really need the ability to accelerate faster than traffic in order to feel safe. Even if you don't normally speed, you feel claustrophobic around cars when riding, so you end up passing, just to find spots where you are clear on all sides.
Also, windshield. Holy cow, I will never again live without a windshield.
Your low maintenance bikes are Japanese: Honda and Yamaha. Buy a used one with low miles during the fall/winter, when people are trying to dump their bikes for cheap.
So I agree with him. If you're getting a sport bike, get a 500-650cc. If you're not very experienced I wouldn't go higher than that as sport bikes become exponentially more mental above that
I would not recommend a scooter/moped at all for your purpose.
you'll be much better off than with a 250cc/300cc racer-styled bike.
Used SV650S (standard, has windscreen but no lower plastics, upright riding position compared to cruiser, less aggressive than crotch rocket)
V-Strom
Kawasaki Versys
Honda CB500F
etc.
Standards are good, as they neither have the high weight/low mpg of a cruiser or the plastics/obnoxious insurance of a crotch rocket.
I have a SV650S from about 5 years back, and it gets 40+MPG (never measured it) and can blow the doors off most sports cars.
Actually I was unaware that automatic motorcycles were a thing.
The likes of the Honda Silver Wing or Suzuki Burgman. Big (600cc), automatic, with decent weather protection, usually some enclosed storage under the seat (50 litres for the Burgman 650), economical, and well up to a motorway commute.
I then found that a used motorcycle was waaaaaaaay cheaper than a scooter with a comparable engine.
Also I ended up going with a 250cc, and when I have to go on the highway at 100-115kph it's super uncomfortable... I also recommend going 350cc or bigger.
Really want to save oil a bicycle will do it and 7 miles is not terrible if you can find a pass to the office easy enough.
He's talking about "standard" motorcycles, which is a class of bike (not referring to the transmission). There are a few bikes without a clutch, most scooters I think, but that's not what we're talking about.
CB750 is the old school classic, and now Honda has a whole line of 500s that are right up your alley. Something like this is what he recommended:
http://powersports.honda.com/2014/cb500f.aspx
If you could find an old triumph bonneville that would be lovely as well.
Can one add a sidecar to a cruiser, or does such a thing need to already be attached at the point of sale?
Sidecars change the riding characteristics of the bike. Its like learning to operate a completely different animal. Plus big cash.
But for reference you can add a sidecar to anything with enough money, but finding something like a ural with a sidecar is the way to go on the cheaper side. Your talking big money above that for anything modern.
If that comes around and you want a comfy bike for both, just buy a touring bike. Sidecars basically make it impossible to turn, from what I've heard.
If that were true, then how do all the people that ride outfits (motorcycle with sidecar) ever get home?
Slowly is how they get home, Its a big old weight to have out on one side of the bike. Just weird feeling. Touring bike for sure if you have a passenger but honestly 12-18 months on a bike before you even think about having someone ride with you.
A touring bike can weigh as much as 900lb's and it is not something that you want to buy as your first bike. I have a affinity for the 883 sportster as a first bike. They hold value, are not crazy fast but quick enough to get out of trouble and are as reliable as gravity.
I'll be right back, I just laughed out both of my lungs and must make haste to the emergency room.
Also, my first street bike was a Triumph Daytona 675. Amazing motorcycle if you want a crotch rocket, but they are not cheap.
Alternatively, I now own an Aprilla Shiver 750. It's a Italian bike, with a straight up riding style and you can get a windshield for it. I bought it brand new, in 2012, for 7020$ out the door. You should be able to get a better deal in Texas, because AF1 racing is based in Texas and they sell motorcycles on the cheap and are an amazing group of guys.
I would recommend the Aprillia over all the cruisers, because it turns well is decently fast and I still get 50-60 mpg.
Look up AF1 racing and call them and tell them what you want in a moped/motorcycle and they will set you straight.
― John Quincy Adams
Compared to the Ducati I had before that it was a paragon of reliability.
That's like comparing the reliability of Fiat to British cars. Either way, you lose.
How old was the Ducati?
Because yeah, old Duke were about as reliable as an old Ferrari, that is to say you'd spend more time in the workshop than on the road. Ducati have fixed that, though.
Harley haven't.
750ss so really bad. I have a history of buying really terrible, but beautiful, but horrible things. One day if I have enough liquor I will show you the service costs on my 330gt.
or this:
Either way I hate you, but if you mean the first bike, then I double hate you.