Total Motorcycle Community Forums

earwig wrote:I am kinda confused about this thread... any cruiser/standard with a smaller cc engine <1000cc with some saddle bags (hard or soft) would be plenty practical... no?

Well, it's true that any bike can be pressed into service as a commuter but most bikes weren't designed as such. In particular, standard bikes are almost extinct today (which absolutely baffles me) and cruisers, while plentiful are not exactly ideal. They tend to weight an awful lot, are not as manueverable, and are built primarily for form rather than function. On top of that, most of the bags that either come with bikes or added after market are tiny. If a person wanted to do their family's weekly grocery shopping it'd take 5 or even 10 trips to get it all home. It also looks like the cruisers with the smaller engines are often cam'ed for high rev'ing performance without low-end torque and have surprisingly disappointing gas mileage.

If I came across a cruiser in good shape for a really good price, I'd go ahead and use it, but they don't tend (at least around where I live) to be found at good prices. I'd sure like to find, though, an inexpensive, reliable, easy to maintain bike that can carry enough cargo as to be useful. I'm mostly baffled by the apparent fact that there aren't many others that share the desire -- that bike buyers are almost exclusively entertainment oriented rather than toward practical transportation.

i told you... get a goldwing.

look at what it can do.

http://www.wimp.com/retriever/



if it can do that, im sure it'll haul all your groceries and other stuff just fine.

Ask gadjet for a pic of his KLR in full setup.

Might be exactly what you're looking for, but it ain't gonna be cheap.

Pizza Hut seems to think a scooter does just fine...

http://www.dennisflood.com/photos/galle ... 070023.jpg

But in my opinion, if you want to take a whole weeks shopping home, get a cage. I don't really think you want a bike and you're just stirring the pot....

Stop being a cheapa$$ and spend some money on a BMW or Honda. What type of bikes are you referring to as "standard" that aren't around anymore? Besides the pacific coast... You can find lots of LARGE saddlebags for any bike BTW.

aflundi wrote:

earwig wrote:I am kinda confused about this thread... any cruiser/standard with a smaller cc engine <1000cc with some saddle bags (hard or soft) would be plenty practical... no?

Well, it's true that any bike can be pressed into service as a commuter but most bikes weren't designed as such. In particular, standard bikes are almost extinct today (which absolutely baffles me) and cruisers, while plentiful are not exactly ideal. They tend to weight an awful lot, are not as manueverable, and are built primarily for form rather than function. On top of that, most of the bags that either come with bikes or added after market are tiny. If a person wanted to do their family's weekly grocery shopping it'd take 5 or even 10 trips to get it all home. It also looks like the cruisers with the smaller engines are often cam'ed for high rev'ing performance without low-end torque and have surprisingly disappointing gas mileage.

If I came across a cruiser in good shape for a really good price, I'd go ahead and use it, but they don't tend (at least around where I live) to be found at good prices. I'd sure like to find, though, an inexpensive, reliable, easy to maintain bike that can carry enough cargo as to be useful. I'm mostly baffled by the apparent fact that there aren't many others that share the desire -- that bike buyers are almost exclusively entertainment oriented rather than toward practical transportation.

I know exactly what you need, and I have one (not for sale). It will do everything that you mentioned, gets 55mpg, has hydraulic actuated valves (even variable timing) and will carry a passenger and a month's worth of groceries. It even has standard ABS. Plus, it still has a large parts inventory and will easily last 300k miles. Its my 2005 Toyota Echo Hatchback, now marketed here as the Yaris.

What you're really looking for is a UJM. They don't make them anymore, partly because the American market has become specialized. It's either a sportbike, a touring bike, or a cruiser. The type of do anything bike you want has a limited market, and that segment of the market is supplied with all the older bikes that are still in good running condition. These bikes are beginning to reach the end of their broad appeal to those who aren't satisfied with the newer bikes. It will take a few years, but the bikes from the early 80's are getting harder to get replacement parts for, and fewer places will work on them. There will still be a lot of these bikes on the street, but fewer of them will remain suitable for use as a daily driver. When the supply of these bikes gets low enough, the manufacturers will start supplying models to fill the vacancy their absence creates.

It doesnt sound like you need a MC, but rather a very economical compact car. In this thread, people have recommended tons of different kinds of bikes, but you have found something wrong with every one. I have a feeling there is no perfect answer for you.

Why not get a hybrid compact car that will save you tons of money in the long run without having a target on your back riding a MC. If your commuting on a bike for purely economic reasons, you happened to pick a form a transportation that you are 3 times more likely to be killed compared to a car, per mile driven.

If you dont have your answer yet, I doubt it will be forthcoming on this forum.

swatter555 wrote: In this thread, people have recommended tons of different kinds of bikes, but you have found something wrong with every one. I have a feeling there is no perfect answer for you.

He never said anything bad about the Moto Guzzi. So that IS the perfect bike for him - SAPAUL and I were Correct

Didnt hear him say her was going to buy one, so dont hurt your arm patting yourself on the back yet!