Is this even close to sanely possible?

[Sev]

Allstate wanted $4800/year for my bike, fully insured. I went with Progressive and pay just $400.00/year.

As for the commute, 100 miles isn't all that uncommon. I do it every single day, what with running the kids ten miles in the wrong direction every morning to get them to the sitter's house. The longer the commute on the bike the better, as far as I'm concerned. Work sucks, so having a bike waiting for you after you punch out is a welcome sight.

That's soooo true, I spend every summer working 12 hour shifts bouncing back and forth between days and nights every two days. After a 12 hour night shift you feel like you want to die. But I walk around the corner of the guards shack helmet in hand and I see my bike just sitting there waiting, and I take the long way home. It's worth it.

[jmillheiser]

the ride home though short is always better than the 10 hours spent on the clock. Even if I get a really expensive 10,000lb toy to play with at work (im a reach truck operator, in a 1.3 million sq/ft warehouse)

[camthepyro]

I have progressive, and it was only $212 a year. And I'm 17, and I dropped out of school. If they can give me that low of a price on a 450cc bike, then I'm sure you can get a good price on a 250cc bike. Of course, I had the least amount of coverage possible, and my bike is 24 years old.

[Chris8187]

Insurance quotes really depend on what state you live in. Some people get outrageous quotes with some companies while others good some good deals. I know progressive won't even touch motorcycles in New Jersey.

[MikeyDude]

Well... for what it's worth... I'm a "new" rider and I got full coverage from Progressive for my Harley SuperGlide for $473 a year. It has to do with area, driving record, and what type of motorcycle. I don't even have an endorsement yet...

.02

[dieziege]

I'm in California...the desert/mountains east of Los Angeles. I get all the "benefits" (heh) of living in SoCal and every once in a while (four times this winter) an inch or two of snow that melts within a day or two. At a guess, insurance won't be a problem once I shop some decent companies. But first I've got to figure out what sort of bike I'm really looking for.

The 250 seemed an easy choice... cheap, reliable, less chance of throttle-mistake induced loss of control... but whatever I get must be safe going up hill on an interstate...it sounds like 22HP isn't going to cut it...

I think I'm going to see how a Suzuki GS500 fits... then shop for similar bikes. I really want something competent, fun, and reliable. And cheap. I don't mind outgrowing it... after all, I've got a bigger bike sitting there waiting for me to be ready for it.

Not set on a cruiser as such. In fact I like enduros... My friend's BMW is really cool ... I'm keeping my hands off 'cause I don't want to wreck it for her, but I can easily see myself with one of those, or a R1200GS, in a few years. My house is on a dirt road, so whatever I get will see at least 1/2 mile of dirt a day... plus there are a lot of trails and dirt roads worth cruising in this area.

[JCS]

With a 100 mile round trip commute you are looking at a 50 mile ride twice a day. With a 250 cruiser you could do it but they are notoriously underpowered. On a 250 Ninja this would be a piece of cake. Just don't be afraid to rev the motor up. This is what it is made to do. A 500 Ninja or GS500 would be a little more roomy and comfy. Something like your friends F650 or a KLR 650 would work, too. Throw some soft bags or a tank bag on for your work stuff. Buy a good rain suit.
You should get some practice time in to learn what's going on. Take the MSF.

I admit that my view is a little different than some. I don't think a ride of this length is a big deal except for weather. (I don't live in So-Cal.) My wife claims she has added at least 3 to 4 years (so far) of useful life to her high mileage car by commuting on her bike.

Do it!

[Kal]

Before we moved to Leicester I was wokring out in the sticks here. Everyday was a 100 mile round trip.

I was riding an 11 bhp, 125cc fire breathing monster...

So yes it can be done, easily.

[dieziege]

I was riding an 11 bhp, 125cc fire breathing monster...

I envy you. I would like to do the same. I'm horribly confused about the performance of these bikes. I need to be able to ride up 15 miles of 6% grade at 70MPH and 2 miles of 10% grade at 55MPH. Those are minimum safe speeds given prevailing traffic and the a$$hole drivers around here. My old VW TDI could roll along those hills at 75MPH no problem (well, that was wide open in 4th on the 10% grade... but no major problems) and it only had 90HP spread over 3200lbs...that's what, 35lbs/hp? 22HP spread over 600lbs (bike+fuel+rider+laptop+margin) would be about 27lbs/hp... should have no problem at all matching traffic up those hills. But then people say that a 250 is capable of maybe 75MPH flat out on level ground. I figure I'm missing some critical fact...probably wind resistance.

You have the advantage of living in a land with no mountains and few large hills. I am able to skirt the local mountains but I'm stuck in the hills, which means I start out at 4200 feet, climb to just 5500 feet, and then descend to 500 feet by the time I reach the office. Going home of course means regaining all that lost altitude.

[Chris8187]

The ninja can get into the 80s fine, but acceleration and such won't be the greatest obviously.