Lets start a list

[Andy M]

Well chaps, hopefully the company hack will be going back shortly and I'll be working indoors again. This however leaves me with a need for a two wheel commuter capable of doing 40 miles a day on a mix of city streets and dual carriageway 5 days a week except when it snows. Initialy this will be my MZ. However MZ's are pretty inefficient, especially if it siezes more than once every few years and parts are getting hard to come by. I therefore have a thought that I should get something simple and efficient that in addition could be used for the odd camping trip. Some sort of off road/green lane capacity would be nice, so would a decent range (like a weeks commute, but I'm thinking that's not going to happen).

So, if you had space in the garage and say £2K to spend what would you look at? My list so far is:

Triumph Bonnevilles/Scramblers: suspect they are out of my price range, but having two bikes with the same gubbins would make sense and I might push the boat out/wait longer for this.

Enfield Bullet. Had one, liked it, not convinced about dual carriageway performance day in day out though.

Enfield Bullet Diesel: Suspect the fuel payback would be longer than big bits of the bike would survive for.

C90: I have an urge to try riding one somewhere silly and an obvious commuter. Not sure I'd like the M621 on one though.

125/250 cc Universal Japanese Trail bikes: I have no idea what to look for. I liked my XT600, so would probably go look for the 250 version. Any idea what rots/falls off? How are they for range and service intervals, 2000 mile oil changes would be a killer. Would 10 miles at 65 mph destroy them?

BMW F650: While I'm not sure after the waterpump in the desert incident, prices have collapsed and this would do everything I want. FI I like, watercooling I don't.

MZ500's/Harley MT 500/Rotax engined ex-army : Seem the tool for the job, but no idea what's good and what isn't. Do I hear things about awkward servicing?

Insurance and fuel costs are going to be a big factor as my second bike cover is out of date so I'll be starting at zero.

So, suggestions please on what I should be typing into e-bay and the insurance sites. If you think I should get a Cagiva Elefant, Moto Guzzi or a Harley please say why, there isn't a right answer and I don't care about badges or styling if you think it'll do the job 

If you have something for sale, please feel free to add it to the list, but I'm more likely to buy next year rather than next week, so I'm at the thinking stage rather even planning to buy.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[SteveC#222]

Until recently I was commuting 40 miles daily on a Suzuki GN250 cruiser style thingy. Not exactly exciting, but it was very reliable, did 70+ mpg and cost very little to run ( except for oil which it liked to drink - normal apparently). It would cruise at 60 mph ish so maybe a bit slow for regular dual carrigeways and not really off road - I always fancied putting the engine in a trail bike frame as it's a cracking torquey little engine.

Otherwise, what about a Honda FMX/SLR 650 single? decent enough bikes but never very popular (not powerful enough) so may be cheap.  Proven Honda engine, 50-60ish mpg? reliable - might be worth a look.

[andy230]

Andy

My MZ Skorpion is pretty hard to knock.  Bulletproof engine, parts available (but perhaps slightly restricted, but a man of your calibre will not struggle), and if its standard (mine is a rat, so inventiveness is necessary) it may be even better.

I am however, slightly incredulous at the cost of some parts (if you buy genuine), but I think this is the same for most modern bikes.  And good tyres are always dear, ditto chain and sprox.  Geniune clutches, etc etc.  Levers are cheap!  I have been up and down the motorway 2 up all day, with luggage, and while its not very comfy (low bars, high pegs, and a plonked-on dualseat from a ZZR) it has enough power (slightly tuned and too high geared) and always get there.

My 1991 DR650 is a nail, and is rotting, and the engine sounds like a bag of spanners.  But its been reliable economical transport for about the last 10,000.  Spares I buy 2nd hand on ebay (ie exhaust, 30 quid, switchgear etc). I fully plan to run it till it dies.  I suspect this will entail the engine falling out the frame.

Cheers

a

[Dogbad]

I reckon you ought to go for the Enfield option, they are an absolutely supah - Dupah machine and will never, ever let you down . Actually I believe I saw one for sale on a Motorcycle forum recently, The Thumper Club or some other silly name it had

[guest18]

Your commute sounds like a carbon copy of mine!!

1. MZ Skorpion traveller or Honda Dullville. (Both very reliable, available at the right prices, often owned by people who actually maintain them and both are capable of good economy)
Or 2. if you can find one cheap enough one of the modern middleweight twins with hard luggage and some sort of fairing.

Having enjoyed the benefits and comfort of lockable luggage I've made a mental note never again to have a commuter/working bike without, and the fairing will be worth its weight in gold when the sleet and spray is slicing into you at 70mph in the dark 
You may also want to consider fitting louder horns...

Final tip while I remember, get a hi-viz waistcoat/jacket that is the same pattern as the emergency services, it seems to help on the mornings when the sun is not yet up and half the car drivers are still asleep/can't see out of their misted up / inadequately wiped windscreens. Naff all use when the visibility is normal mind you 

[robG]

Andy , as you may remember I'm running a 1982 Cb250Rs . My commute is about six miles , most of which is dual carriageway .Mindful that I'm riding a bike that's almost thirty years old ,I don't thrash it in the manner of my first {1986 },but it still pops along at 65 and will easily exceed that . I'm getting somewhere in the region of 60/70 to the gallon . Spares are readily available but some bits are getting rare .A lot is on e-bay{ Although Boyd seems to struggle to buy anything   } I have no plans to sell as it's doing exactly what I bought it for . Regular oil changes are a must 1500 miles at the most. However it doesn't need much . Price for a good 'un seems to be between £295 and £595 , depending on the optimism of the seller .

Rob

[trophydave]

Transalp.Mine is 20 years old and is still in very good condition,although it is an Italian import so little winter use here apart from a couple of Dragon Rallies.60mpg given my old fart riding style.Basic engine that lasts forever.Newish ones aint cheap.Easy to work on,the valve clearances are an ar$e but that's all.Will cope with off roading better than I can.

[Steffan]

Andy,
we all would like to love Enfields but they are just too high maintenace IMHO. Look at mine nursed and kissed both of them. Mains gone on one and the other's brakes went to wet shit the moment I cleaned out the dust. Also replaced the clutch plates, generator (still can't race the lights) and gave it a decoke and new head gasket and I am not alone..

If you could control your right hand an MZ would be perfect - but alas  

I agree with Andy the 660 MZs are cheap and that mill gives me 60+mpg and sometimes depending on the conditions more again. Parts are not Enfield cheap but there is good back up and when you think you can get a reasonable Skorpion for 600 quid, it's a bit of a no brainer. For under 2K you would get a minter of a Baghira trail or motard. They are a conglomeration of Euro parts anyway so there are always bits that will fit and there is a some very knowledgeable folk out there only too ready to help.

Steffan

[squirrelciv]

I'd go for a big thumper trailie, either the Dommie or one of the DR's. Good fuel ecconomy (I used to get 60+ to the Gal), enough road presence/speed not to get bullied on busier roads and fairly capable of the odd camping trip too. The sit up riding position is a boost for commuting and the bars go over most wing mirrors. If the trip was all through town then maybe a smaller verion like the DR350, but any long motorway/dual carriage way stints I reckon bigger is best.

As an aside, I'm lovin' shaft driven bikes at the moment. I clock up 13k+ a year and not having to fuss with chains most weekends is great If your thinking along similar lines how about a smaller boxer. The 650 maybe?? Also a guy in work swears by his Moto guzzi V50 though I seem to remember you having issues with that particular mark

[guest18]

While we're chatting  to get back to your original list:.. apologies if I abuse anyones pride and joy!

Triumph Bonnevilles/Scramblers: Too expensive, year round commuting will kill the shiny bits, no weather protection

Enfield Bullet. Too slow for dual carriageway commuting, no weather protection

Enfield Bullet Diesel: Being passed in the dark and rain by half asleep heavies doing 65mph at 0700 in the morning whilst you're creeping up to 50mph will wake you up. It will also be one of the most frightening experiences of your (rapidly shortening) life..

C90: As above but less stable 

125/250 cc Universal Japanese Trail bikes: Still too small for sustained dual carriageway/motorway commuting. You want it to be as pleasant as possible in the circumstances, not the sort of thing you'd do to win a Japanese gameshow!

BMW F650: Why pay that much extra for a tankbadge when so many middleweight thumpers will do everything this will, or nearly?

MZ500's/Harley MT 500/Rotax engined ex-army : MT500 Armstrong: too old, MT350 Harley Davidson not bad (80mph flat but soft tuned so seemed to do it everywhere) but still no weather protection. possibly ok if you add screen, legshields etc etc

Sorry to seem dull but little things will become big disadvantagtes in the depths of winter, you have fun bike/s so this one needs to make life as easy as possible when you're wet cold and just want to go in get a cuppa and warm up. The last thing you want to do is need to go back out and adjust the points/chain/tappets/brakes etc etc etc. Also as you know staying warm and dry can need a bizzare collection of clothes in the worst of UK weather, I imagine you need to arrive at work looking like an employee they might want to keep rather than a refugee from a jumble sale (no offence!). Some sort of weather protection *on* the bike will be a thing that makes you thank me even as the rain soaks through your trousers... 
But then you know all this Andy, you just don't want to admit to yourself that you ought to buy a boring bike 

[bullet350]

 cb500?

 80mph all day for 200'000 miles if you want. 55mpg at the absolute minimum, and a tank that goes onto reserve at 220 miles. get the twin-shock one for cheaper tyres and parts (not the more modern one). as relibale as a knife and fork and a tidy 10'000 mile one can be had for £1300ish

 bullet350

[guest18]

 cb500?

 80mph all day for 200'000 miles if you want. 55mpg at the absolute minimum, and a tank that goes onto reserve at 220 miles. get the twin-shock one for cheaper tyres and parts (not the more modern one). as relibale as a knife and fork and a tidy 10'000 mile one can be had for £1300ish

 bullet350

Slap an aftermarket full fairing on it, heated grips and a set of lockable panniers and the job's a good un  very good choice!

[Richard]

How about that funny 500 twin off road Kawasaki thing.

EL500 ?

Richard

[Andy M]

Thanks Guys,

All great stuff.

I'll admit I'm a bit anti Honda after what the CB100N cost me in parts, but that was 15 years ago so I should get over it now. The Guzzi (and BMW Airheads) I'd need convincing about, they seem to be pretty elderly classics that have the needs of the Bullet but not the parts. Newer Guzzi's I won't touch with a long pole, we are now 12 weeks into getting Dad's Nevada an MOT and it's still off the road. Tappets I'll do, sump off to change the oil is insane and even worse when the gaskets take three weeks to arrive and a disk eight!

Steffan is right about the MZ. I could be very tempted to buy yet another one (as a second spare!) and try to get the lead weights out of my right elbow. Not sure "Dear, I need a lift to pick up another blue smoker" will go down too well indoors! Need to have a chat with the MZ boys, see what bits from ETZ 250's will fit the 251/Saxon/Kanuni's.

Weather protection doesn't really worry me. I've ridden naked bikes in bad weather and am pretty used to it. The job is mostly jeans and a logo'd shirt (and I'll be boss on most days), so there won't be any hassle with rain suits etc. Fairings always strike me as something you break when you fall off and something to remove to get at the bits.

The Kawasaki's are interesting. I should have added the ER-5 to my list. Dad had one before the Guzzi and it was very good. Now a KLR type thing with that motor, that'd be on the list.

Keep 'em comming 

Andy

[Jez F]

Where did you go for the Guzzi gaskets? I ordered some parts for my T3 and for a friends V50 the other week from Corsa Italia and from Moto Mecca and they both delivered within 2 days. You only have to drop the sump every other oil change to swap the filter over by the way, Am I biased towards Guzzi's, afraid so but we all have our foibles! How about a 600 Divi or Honda NTV650,Gs500, 600 Bandit? loads about and cheap bits, should easily do the commute, uninspiring admittedly but if you're looking for a ride to work hack I wouldn't go for anything shiney, pretty or obscure.
Jez