What to do for a around town bike?

[Jason748]

OK... I'm sick of paying almost $4.00 a gallon for diesel in my daily driver, for my 10min trip to work through town every day...
I want something fun but reliable, and if I feel like it to have some fun running through the local bluffs on it as an alliterative to my 748.
So I'm thinking a motard... but what's really out there.
Right now I'm looking at - DRZ400SM, the new yamaha WR250X, I also looked at KTM's and H-Burgs but dealer support in my area is shit.  Anything else you guys think might be worth a look?

[Jeff]

Buy something you can get parts for.... anywhere!...

[backMARKr]

Mmmmm Husky...

Jason...actually have one of these right now....tamer version of Kyle's 570SMR.

[spyderchick]

Baby ninja, el cheapo and good on fuel.

[gntbldr]

I have the DRZ400SM and Love it.
I wanted the Husky but with only paying 5300 OTD for the drz I couldn't pass it up.
I modified the carb as have many many others at http://www.supermotojunkie.com/ and I'm getting 55mpg wfo. Around 65 with taking it easy.

IMO it is the most versatile bike I've ever owned. When it comes time for trail riding I throw some knobbie tires on it and have at it. Goes through everything my xr400 did. I took it down to the gap last year and it outperformed my 6er hands down with little effort.

Parts and support is as big of an arena as the ninja 250 but the drz doesn't mind going down, being picked up, and rde like it never went down. Just make sure you get some bushwacker hand guards. They help keep the bars straight.

[cbirk]

I just acquired an 86' 500 Interceptor through a client.  Thats going to be my all around. Honda quit making parts for it though. Jason, I would go motard or dual sport if I were to buy an all around bike. A 250 Ninja is too gutless in my opinion, plus going off-road is awesome.

[tzracer]

Baby ninja, el cheapo and good on fuel.

Remember to factor in ALL running costs : purchase price, insurance, fuel, tires, etc. Tires can be a significant expense for a street bike. Then decide how much it is really going to save or how long will it take to pay for itself. You may find that the savings are not very significant, especially for an expensive, high maintenance bike.

I commute by bike (29 years). I don't do it because it saves any money, I do it because it is more enjoyable than driving.

My wife as a Ninja 250. 75 to 80 mpg, $75/year to insure. Not really underpowered for an around town bike. I have ridden it to work and it is more than adequate for the job.

10 minute commute, how many miles? Ever think about using a bicycle? Or a small scooter?

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

HD softtail. Easy on tires, 50mpg and comfy.

[Jason748]

Yea, I sat down over the last couple weeks at took a long look at everything and there is a cost savings for me, I'd never call it significant, but it's still there.  But you're right it'd be more about starting and ending my day in a better mood... Might have to take the long way to and from work  

I'm trying to avoid the "niche bikes"  like the husky, even though I'd love to have one    I'm just trying really, really hard to be sensable... man that's hard to do
I seriously thought about the Ninja 250 & 500 as well as 650 and a few other like bikes, but I don't have a real want for another sportbike in the garage, have enough already.
I also did the scooter thing for a couple years a while back, and not wanting to go that direction either.
I do ride my bicycle on occasion (it's just under 8 miles each way) and it's fine once and a while, but I have bad knees that don't take well to pedaling.

The option to swap to knobbies is also very appealing, both for off road & Ice in the winter... damn-it there went all my cost savings and then some!

[Jason748]

HD softtail. Easy on tires, 50mpg and comfy.

Ya, know I got a lazy-boy, a 5hp B&S and enough spare wheels laying around I could replicate that with better performace to boot!

[Jason748]

  Gee...thanks Jim... just want I need, another forum to spend hours on... 

[gntbldr]

hehehe, yer Welcome Jason.

I'm tellin ya, it's relly something being able to go from this:

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To this:

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Ins for me is less than $100/yr full coverage at 100/300/300 (I think that's the order of it all)


A pilot power on the front is still in awesome shape after 4,000 mi and it's the same size as my race bike's front tire. So plenty of fronts.

And you can get either a Duro rear or a Kenda rear from DennisKirk for less than $65 shipped and a rear lasts for over 4,000 mi too.


I got an IMS oversized tank on mine and can get about 180mi out of it before reserve if I take it easy and when going gonzo on it I'll get 160mi/tank.

Oil filters can be bought for about 10 for $20. And chain and sprockets will probably wear out at around 15-20k like my old klr650 did.