Full-size bike for urban commuting?

[ZooTech]

Anyone out there do urban commuting on big cruisers, feel free to chime in~

I do a ton of urban commuting on my Mean Streak, in all traffic situations and all times of day or night. It has "mid" controls, which did take a bit of getting used to (about three days) coming off an '84 NightHawk which was more of a sporty standard. The size, weight, power, and balance of the Mean Streak make it an excellent freeway runner, with ample passing power even in 5th gear, very comfy ergonomics, sport-touring tires, and powerful sport-bike derived brakes. I have ridden everywhere from gravel roads in the cornfield counties on up to the busiest inner city freeways during rush-hour traffic and it's a great bike no matter what the setting. With the addition of an aftermarket seat (from Mustang), I have been able to manage thirteen hour rides without a bit of soreness and just completed a 3-day, 1019 mile trip to Tennessee and back a few weeks ago with no soreness whatsoever. I am 5'10-1/2" tall and weigh 210 pounds.

[DaveTV]

That Mean Streak is a fine looking bike - was at my local KawYamSuz dealer yesterday, and was checking everthing out - they have a 2005 Concours there - this Concours, although not as macho, sexy or plush as the big cruisers, seems to have a lot going for it as a commuting bike - stash boxes in the fairing, removable hard bags, inexpensive price, comfortable seat, proven engine, good gas mileage, all the gauges I like, two odometers - this just may be the ticket ! My old Wing still runs decent tho, and as winter is right around the "cohna"(corner) here in New England, I have plenty of time to shop around.. They also have this Italian "Aprilia" bike - know nothing about them, I think I prefer to stick with one of the "Big 4" japanese bikes

[ZooTech]

The Connie is a very good choice. Considered getting one myself.

[Gummiente]

Considered getting one myself.

...but the motor wasn't big enough, right?

[sapaul]

Sorry Dave missed this one but as I have been labeled a Beemerphile I had to get this one in. The BMW 1150 RT and the 1200RT a are a real mix between sporty and tourer. The upright position and electric windshields let you choose how you want to ride the bike. It's one of the few bike where you can change the characteristics of the bike as you ride. The new 1200RT even has ESA which allows you to change the suspension settings on the fly.

[ZooTech]

Considered getting one myself.

...but the motor wasn't big enough, right?

No, a 1000cc four cylinder has ample power. Thing was, I picked out several bikes all in different price ranges from a $6,000 Bandit 1200 that I could have paid cash for on up to the Mean Streak I have now. My bike purchase was just as much about rebuilding my credit after a divorce as it was about getting a new ride. It was my understanding that Ask Powersports was going to acquire a loan for me and let me know how much I was approved for, and I would choose a bike based on my $5,000 cash and said loan amount. Instead, they just wrote up an application for the Mean Streak (the most expensive bike I looked at) and sent it on over to Wells-Fargo who approved me the next day. I ended up getting a call from the loan officer who said, "Ready to come sign the papers on your new Mean Streak?", and I was like, "Mean Streak? And the rest is history.

The bikes I considered were:

- Bandit 1200
- V-Strom 650
- Concours
- ZRX 1200
- C90
- Vulcan 1600 Classic
- Mean Streak