Living Car Free - Anyone Have A Motorcycle?

If you do, please, please take a certified riders course of some sort. I would hate for you to end up as a statistic. Way too many new riders get on and ride and get seriously injured or worse. Motorcycles can be fun and a reasonable form of transportation.

Aaron:)

+1000 I took it last weekend and I have to say it's worth it's weight in gold.

I've never owned a motorcycle. I'm seriously considering purchasing a "Kawasaki Ninja 250" or a "Honda Rebel." I just saw on the news where motorcycle sales have really went up recently. This trend is expected to continue as people try to find ways to live with high gas prices.

In between those two is another Honda, the Nighthawk 250. Whereas the Rebel is a very nice cruiser, and the Ninja a really nice small sportbike, the Nighthawk is a good old, plain, motorcycle. Same drivetrain as the Rebel, more upright sitting position, absolutely vanilla styling.

Now, guess which of the three is the best for daily commuting?

Yep, the Nighthawk - the one that doesn't fullfill a 'cool factor' from either side of motorcycling. It's the same old story: To get a motorcycle that's excellent for day to day commuting, grocery getting and general work use, you have to stay away from the one's that are trendy in style. And those bikes never sell well, so they disappear from a manufacturer's line rather rapidly (the Nighthawk survives as the bike of choice for a lot of motorcycle training courses).

The Nighthawk is the motorcycle equivalent of the hybrid bicycle. Just as practical, useful . . . . and completely unloved in the marketplace. But it sells enough to survive.

I like the simplicity of the Nighthawk

Does it have the capability to put some storage options on it? Not sure how that works

I have a great pic of my 450 Nighthawk loaded down with a weeks worth of camping gear. You can get saddlebags and a tank bag that will take care of most of your needs. Also available are luggage racks/ passenger backrests and throw a helmet box on it. You'd be amazed how much stuff you can fit on them. Again, I prefer the 450 because of the extra horsepower when you need it.

For years the Honda Nighthawk 250 has been priced way higher than the Rebel. The Rebel has better features too.

All of the Japanese motorcycle companies make wonderful small street bikes and don't sell them in the USA. I'm envious of the Europeans.

Small Dual Sport motorcycles are great for city transportation. They cost more but are more durable and can be ridden off road. My favorite is the Yamaha TW 200.

Here are two comparison tests of small displacement cruisers done by Motorcycle Cruiser magazine. It doesn't matter that they are old because the companies only change the paint color from year to year.

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/beginner_motorcycles_comparison

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/250cc_cruiser_comparison

Someone has offered to buy my car and I will be car free soon (if they get their financing). I would definitely buy a motorcycle before buying another car.

If you do, please, please take a certified riders course of some sort. I would hate for you to end up as a statistic. Way too many new riders get on and ride and get seriously injured or worse. Motorcycles can be fun and a reasonable form of transportation.

Aaron:)

Thanks for the advise wahoonc. One of these "basic motorcycle courses" is located just a few miles from my house.

In between those two is another Honda, the Nighthawk 250. Whereas the Rebel is a very nice cruiser, and the Ninja a really nice small sportbike, the Nighthawk is a good old, plain, motorcycle. Same drivetrain as the Rebel, more upright sitting position, absolutely vanilla styling.

Now, guess which of the three is the best for daily commuting?

Yep, the Nighthawk - the one that doesn't fullfill a 'cool factor' from either side of motorcycling. It's the same old story: To get a motorcycle that's excellent for day to day commuting, grocery getting and general work use, you have to stay away from the one's that are trendy in style. And those bikes never sell well, so they disappear from a manufacturer's line rather rapidly (the Nighthawk survives as the bike of choice for a lot of motorcycle training courses).

The Nighthawk is the motorcycle equivalent of the hybrid bicycle. Just as practical, useful . . . . and completely unloved in the marketplace. But it sells enough to survive.

Thanks for the info sykerocker. I'll check out the Honda Nighthawk also.

I like the simplicity of the Nighthawk

Does it have the capability to put some storage options on it? Not sure how that works

You're going to be dealing totally with aftermarket stuff, but it should be easily boltable. The big plus of the 250 Nighthawk is that it's a plain old classic motorcycle, a direct descendent of what was ridden back in the 60's and 70's before motorcycling splintered into sport bikes, cruisers, dual sports, etc. Which means that a lot of the no-name aftermarket accessories (stuff like you'd find in a JC Whitney catalog) will probably fit pretty well, and can be made to work.

As has been slightly mentioned in a couple of earlier posts, there's a plethora of Honda's called Nighthawk. They're all essentially the same philosophy of motorcycle - a plain bike with a slight lean towards the sporting side - with various engine configurations. Except for the 250, they're all out of production. Victims of motorcycles having become style statements, and a Nighthawk hasn't been that for twenty years.

The lineup:

250 Nighthawk (CB250): 250cc twin, chain drive, been in production forever. Yes, it's more expensive than the Rebel (I think, although the price difference has come down) and doesn't have all the flashy stuff, but I've found it more useful as a daily commuter.
450 Nighthawk (CB450SC): 450cc twin, chain drive. Bigger, a bit flashier, and I consider it a bit more useful than the 250. Downside is that it's been out of production for about 20 years, so parts are getting a bit scarce. If it's nice condition and running, seriously consider it.
550 Nighthawk (CB550SC): Nice bike but stay away from this one. 550cc four cylinder, shaft drive. Slightly sport bike-ish. Big negative is that it was made in 1983, period. Parts are scarce as hen's teeth.
650 Nighthawk (CB650SC): 650cc shaft drive. Made from 82-86. The reason the 550 only lasted one year. Identical bike, some parts issues due to it's age.
700 Nighthawk S (CB700SC): A real collector's piece, very well loved. Made from 82-86, outsold the other two models heavily. I've tried to buy two from customers at the shop where I work - no way.
750 Nighthawk (CB750): Now, if you can only own one motorcycle and need something that'll get you across town on a daily basis, across the state every few months, and an occasional trip across the country, this is your bike. Four cylinder, chain drive, it's the final incarnation of the 1969 CB750 that was the absolute groundbreaker in the motorcycle industry. Made from 1991 thru 2003 - and they're all the same. Parts easily available. You can commute, tour, Saturday night scratch, do about anything except look cool in the eyes of either the cruiser or sportbike crowd. It's biggest negative is that it's so damned sensible.

I never have had a car. I am young and been unemployed for six months, and I just can't afford something like that (I can't actually afford anything, but that isn't the point). I have a motorcycle I got when I was 17 that is great though. A 1995 Suzuki GS500. It's survived all the dozens of times I tipped it over, left it for months half-full of gas till the engine corroded, left out in the weather, and all. It's a very economical bike that usually gets me 50 miles a gallon (less in dead winter though; when it's 20-30 outside the bike is harder to start up, and can take several minutes to get warm, so that eats up gas).

The worst part about motorcycling is people asking me all winter long if I'm cold, and all summer long if I'm too hot. The lack of a gas gauge is an inconvenience, too. But insurance is cheap, and it's a good bike.

I like the little motorcycles, like the Rebel and 250cc Nighthawk, but they aren't comfortable enough for me. I learned to ride on one at the RiderCourse, but if you have long limbs they get cramped, and if you're commuting long distance it's a lot like riding a bicycle that's too small for you. My arms and legs felt like crap after only a few hours.

I like mopeds, but I'd feel pretty bad for riding anything with a 2-stroke engine that put out that much pollution.

You're going to be dealing totally with aftermarket stuff, but it should be easily boltable. The big plus of the 250 Nighthawk is that it's a plain old classic motorcycle, a direct descendent of what was ridden back in the 60's and 70's before motorcycling splintered into sport bikes, cruisers, dual sports, etc. Which means that a lot of the no-name aftermarket accessories (stuff like you'd find in a JC Whitney catalog) will probably fit pretty well, and can be made to work.

As has been slightly mentioned in a couple of earlier posts, there's a plethora of Honda's called Nighthawk. They're all essentially the same philosophy of motorcycle - a plain bike with a slight lean towards the sporting side - with various engine configurations. Except for the 250, they're all out of production. Victims of motorcycles having become style statements, and a Nighthawk hasn't been that for twenty years.

The lineup:

250 Nighthawk (CB250): 250cc twin, chain drive, been in production forever. Yes, it's more expensive than the Rebel (I think, although the price difference has come down) and doesn't have all the flashy stuff, but I've found it more useful as a daily commuter.
450 Nighthawk (CB450SC): 450cc twin, chain drive. Bigger, a bit flashier, and I consider it a bit more useful than the 250. Downside is that it's been out of production for about 20 years, so parts are getting a bit scarce. If it's nice condition and running, seriously consider it.
550 Nighthawk (CB550SC): Nice bike but stay away from this one. 550cc four cylinder, shaft drive. Slightly sport bike-ish. Big negative is that it was made in 1983, period. Parts are scarce as hen's teeth.
650 Nighthawk (CB650SC): 650cc shaft drive. Made from 82-86. The reason the 550 only lasted one year. Identical bike, some parts issues due to it's age.
700 Nighthawk S (CB700SC): A real collector's piece, very well loved. Made from 82-86, outsold the other two models heavily. I've tried to buy two from customers at the shop where I work - no way.
750 Nighthawk (CB750): Now, if you can only own one motorcycle and need something that'll get you across town on a daily basis, across the state every few months, and an occasional trip across the country, this is your bike. Four cylinder, chain drive, it's the final incarnation of the 1969 CB750 that was the absolute groundbreaker in the motorcycle industry. Made from 1991 thru 2003 - and they're all the same. Parts easily available. You can commute, tour, Saturday night scratch, do about anything except look cool in the eyes of either the cruiser or sportbike crowd. It's biggest negative is that it's so damned sensible.

Quite the pitch for the 750, damn :D
I originally told myself I'd get a 250 for the fuel economy, then I said, what the hell get a 500, everyone seems to think 250s don't have enough power and I'll still get 50mpg.
But now 750, I don't know. Does it suck down gas more than a 500? Unruly for a newbie?

Have 2 motorcycles (sportbikes): Cbr1100xx and SV1000N. I commute on one or the other all year round (in San Diego) unless it's raining...then I'll take the car. I'm 17 miles from work and it's hilly and part of you can't escape the freeway. A road bicycle would take quite awhile (1.5 hrs) due a diff route needed.

Motorcycle commute takes about 20 minutes and I never get stuck behind any car....just need a crease and I'm gone and traffic is very light when I go in. I love motorcycles....incredible power and 35-40mpg (mine are big bore sportbikes so they don't get the killer mileage of smaller engines). The road bicycle is for weekend riding mostly.

A motorcycle makes you a better bicyclist, and a bicycle makes you a better motorcyclist and doing both makes you awesome. :)

I have a Surly Steamroller and Suzuki S50. The S50 is my car; rides that just don't work on the cycle (25 mile commute at 5am) or require a passenger (picking my carless wife up from work) are no problem on the cycle, and I ride in everything but snow -- you just need to invest in good gear like you would on a bicycle. I ride in temps lower than 30 degrees, and it can SUCK, but you still get 50mpg which is becoming REALLY important.

Also, your awareness is honed both at the 10-20mph bicycle speed and then at much faster motorcycle speed. That can only be a good thing. It will give you a new respect for safety. And while motorcyclists get in really bad accidents, so do cyclists. The MSF guys will tell you about 'risk acceptance,' but I think riding anything anywhere involves an ample amount of that. Read the Hurt report, also, because a lot of motorcycle accidents involve unlicensed, untrained people. The MSF course MUST be taken. It makes getting your license easier, too.

And love whatever you ride!

I have a motorcycle.


For most people a realy economic car would suit their trans needs better.

I just bought a 97 BMW F650. Fantastic bike, does everything I want it to do, from commuting, to grocery getting, to touring. 48 mpg doing a steady 70 on the highway, 50+ mpg around town and commuting, <40 mpg when doing a steady 80 through WV hills and wind. Bought it three weeks ago and broke myself into it over a 2800 mi tour from ME over Memorial Day weekend, down to WV, through KY, OH, IN and IL, and then 1080 mi in 19 hrs back to ME from IL. These milage figures are generally better than most cars on the road, except for the Honda Insight.

I sold my car a few months back, but we still have a 95 Saturn Wagon in the family. The F650 is our second motorized vehicle and I'll ride it if time or distance is such that I need to use it while my wife has the car and a bicycle is not going to cut it. Just like with a pedal bike, saddlebags/panniers are essential for use as a utility vehicle and the bike came with some decent ones. For that matter, the older Honda PC800 was about as close to a pure utility vehicle without being overkill like a dedicated tourer. A previous poster's Deauville is now the utility bike of choice, but like small displacement bikes, not sold in North America, where style wins out over substance most of the time.

The motorcycle is not really needed, but wanted, has been handy, and is a lot of fun. And with the right gear... well, there was at least one time last week where I took the motorcycle instead of riding a bike into work because it was raining pretty hard--I just started commuting by bike again, and 17 mi one way looked a lot easier on a motorcycle than a bicycle... I'm sure that will change as I get more into it, but it's nice to have an economical motorized backup for just such days.

Couple things. Motorcycling can be relatively cheap compared to a car. Look for early 80s bikes in running order, like Honda CB400T2 Hawk or cruiser style CM400, Suzuki GS400/450 and their fours like GS550 or 650--cheap to buy and insure, and you'll learn all about maintaining these things on your own. On my F650, insurance is $75/yr for full coverage--I was shocked how low it is.

One thing to keep in mind, however is gear--I'm a full believer in dressing for the crash not the ride, ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time). There have been times in my life when the gear I was wearing was worth more than the beater I was riding. And a couple times where that gear was the difference between soft tissue damage and PT vs. broken bones, skull damage, skin grafts, and various other injuries.

At one point in my life, I was way into motorcycling. Now that I'm bicycling more, the motorcycle doesn't get ridden nearly as much. Motorcycles are a good compromise between cars and bicycles--they definitely leave a much smaller footprint than a car in a number of areas, but also can go faster and travel further in a given day than a bicycle. Compared to cars, they use much less resources to produce, typically get about twice the milage, do not contribute as much to congestion (although this could be improved in The States with acceptance of lane-splitting/filtering like in most of the rest of the world), take up about 1/3 the space to park, etc. And they are a lot more fun.

I finally got myself a motorcycle; a 1993 Suzuki GS500. Its a bit rough around the edges but it'll be a fun project and a good bike to learn on.

I have a Pagsta Scooter.

Just bought a Qlink Pegasus 150 scooter to backup the Fuji. Owned it for 5 weeks and still don't have 250 miles on it.
I just like to bicycle.
30 miles r/t.

I grew up around motorcycles - even had my own dirt bike as a kid! My dad has ridden since he was a teen* and taught us to love riding & be safe on them. I don't own one now, but would enjoy it. In a perfect world I would only own (probably 2 or 3) bike & a scooter, I think.

The 1 thing that keeps me from being entirely car-free is that I'm a tuba player & sometimes a bass guitar player - and that gear just does not haul well by bike or motorcycle. So I'm content with minimizing my car usage (the car IS paid for!) for now.

But I say go for the motorcycle - and if you are new to them take any safety training available!

*My dad is in his 60s now. He puts A LOT of miles on his motorcylces - he rode by himself from Ohio to Colorado & back, does tours alone & with friends, etc. He's never been in any kind of traffic accident involving his motorcyle(s) in the 40-50 years he's been riding. Riding a motorcycle is like riding a bike in that you have to be 10x more aware of your surroundings, guess what motorists are going to do, know how to handle your machine, have the right protection, etc. Smart & aware motorcyclists are not organ donors. I'm not saying they are immune to accidents, but they DO know how to prevent them. /soapbox

I have a Surly Steamroller and Suzuki S50. The S50 is my car; rides that just don't work on the cycle (25 mile commute at 5am) or require a passenger (picking my carless wife up from work) are no problem on the cycle, and I ride in everything but snow -- you just need to invest in good gear like you would on a bicycle. I ride in temps lower than 30 degrees, and it can SUCK, but you still get 50mpg which is becoming REALLY important.

Two words: Electric vest. I ride year round, usually 49 weeks out of the year. In VA, late January and early February are freezing rain season, and that's the one time I'm guaranteed to live with the pickup, for obvious reasons. Both my Triumph and Harley are set up with BMW-style electric connections that I can plug in a vest. With a combination of balaclava under a full face helmet, electric vest and First Gear Kiliminjaro jacket, cold weather overpants, insulated mittens and Sidi touring boots, I normally ride to work on 25 degree mornings. Oh yeah, add an anti-fog insert to the inside of the helmet's face shield.

For anyone considering the idea of supplementing your bicycle with a motorcycle for long distances, I'm firmly convinced that the ultimate commuter/long distance bike is a late 80's/early 90's BMW K75. 750cc, three cylinder in line, it'll do high 40's/low 50's mpg, happily do 100mph all day in complete boredom, and has a complete absence of brightwork. A very industrial finish which means that if you're riding in sloppy mid-winter and can't regularly wash the bike, the finish isn't going to deteriorate. Motorcycle finishes are never as strong as a car's.

Also, it's a BMW which means there's a complete parts support despite the bike going over the 20 year old mark - something impossible to find in anything Japanese. Nowadays, you can find one for around two grand, and the mileage is most likely still in five figures. Mileage on BMW bikes indicate the same wear as on BMW cars.

Yeah, I had one. Got it for free through my wife's divorce. Loved it for years, in retrospect shouldn't have sold it.

The only thing I ever really have a hard time keeping warm are my hands, so I usually end up wearing those sniper mittens from the Army surplus store with the articulate index finger with about 3 or 4 wool liners inside it.

Also, it's a BMW which means there's a complete parts support despite the bike going over the 20 year old mark - something impossible to find in anything Japanese.

Don't agree with that. Its been incredibly easy to get parts for my Suzuki GS500 and for CHEAP too. http://www.cyclepartsnation.com or http://www.bikebandit.com

Hey. First time poster here at this forum, thought that this thread would be a good place to start. I usually ride my fixie to work since I live 4 miles away. On weekends, or longer trips out of town I have a '75 CB360 cafe/project bike. I agree with the above posters that each mode of transportation reinforces the other; basically learning the psychology of cagers in different environments with different stimuli. Compared to the last motorcycle I had (Ducati Monster) the CB is significantly more of a confidence booster. On the Ducati I always felt like the bike was better than me, while on the CB I know its limits, and that is more comfortable to me. Oh, and I'm definitely a fan of the MSF course!

Yep, it's all about figuring out those cagers, all the time.

Don't agree with the BMW thing. Read Hershons comments in Motorcycle Sport & Leisure. Consider the press description of my VFR800 as "the best all round motorcycle in the world" as pretty accurate. Though I could be wrong.

Jim:)

I have a motorcycle, and so does my wife. I use mine for recreation (rarely) and to transport my road bike to sunday ride spots.

=)

All the bikes are paid off, so maintenance costs are minimal.

Don't agree with the BMW thing. Read Hershons comments in Motorcycle Sport & Leisure. Consider the press description of my VFR800 as "the best all round motorcycle in the world" as pretty accurate. Though I could be wrong. Jim:)
Consider your source - Sport and Leisure. VFR are awesome SPORT bikes but when you start discussing hard-core commuting in all weather, a different set of requirements arise. Less about fun and more about reliablity and survival. I'd have to agree with Syke - a BMW K75 with shaft drive and virtually no maintenance requirements, heated grips as well as ABS brakes (optional) for stopping in crap weather - wins hands down. In some ways it is almost a car (for better and worse). You see them being ridden as well as parked out all winter long with no worries at all.

Not sure if you are aware but Hershon is a well respected American journalist who uses his BMW for everything including supprting pro cycle racing events transporting cameramen. The VFR comment was not his. The VFR has facility for ABS, Dual braking, and heated grips making it a very sure footed machine. It is not considered an out & out sportsbike, but a quality piece of kit with good weather protection. Couriers over here use them and I know of at least one that has reliably covered over 200,000 miles. A better bike than the olderBeemer is IMHO the Suzuki GS850 with shaft drive, smooth motor and sweet gearchange. Japanese or BMW gearbox? No contest.

Jim

Don't agree with that. Its been incredibly easy to get parts for my Suzuki GS500 and for CHEAP too. http://www.cyclepartsnation.com or http://www.bikebandit.com

Glad your able to find the stuff. I work the parts department at a Honda motorcycle shop, and what's left on the shelves for twenty year old Honda anything ain't much. Part of the problem is that Honda has made too many different models over the years. I seem to remember that your GS500 (twin, I believe, was previously a GS450?) has been in production for ages, so that helps the parts situation greatly.

I get a lot at work where somebody comes in just having picked up a non-running 20 year old Honda cheaply, and then discovers why he got it so cheap. The previous owner probably stood in front of me a few months earlier looking for the same parts.

Bike Bandit is a wonderful resource. Little secret: If you're trying to deal with the local dealer's parts department, and insist on dealing over the phone (something I usually dread), have the Bike Bandit fiche on in front of you while you're talking to the parts guy. You're looking at the exact same picture that the parts guy is, only Bike Bandit changes the parts numbers. However, if you can point to, say, part #2 on the transmission picture, you and the parts guy are now talking the exact same part. And it's the only way dealing over the phone - other than actually knowing the make's exact part number - that will get you the proper parts ordered.

Glad your able to find the stuff. I work the parts department at a Honda motorcycle shop, and what's left on the shelves for twenty year old Honda anything ain't much. Part of the problem is that Honda has made too many different models over the years. I seem to remember that your GS500 (twin, I believe, was previously a GS450?) has been in production for ages, so that helps the parts situation greatly.

I get a lot at work where somebody comes in just having picked up a non-running 20 year old Honda cheaply, and then discovers why he got it so cheap. The previous owner probably stood in front of me a few months earlier looking for the same parts.

Bike Bandit is a wonderful resource. Little secret: If you're trying to deal with the local dealer's parts department, and insist on dealing over the phone (something I usually dread), have the Bike Bandit fiche on in front of you while you're talking to the parts guy. You're looking at the exact same picture that the parts guy is, only Bike Bandit changes the parts numbers. However, if you can point to, say, part #2 on the transmission picture, you and the parts guy are now talking the exact same part. And it's the only way dealing over the phone - other than actually knowing the make's exact part number - that will get you the proper parts ordered.

I realize I may have it easy with my GS. The bike has been in longstanding production and very little has changed. Seems like theres a good community behind this bike and parts are plentiful. In the midst of a mini overhaul on it right now and so far its been super easy to work with. Im anxious to get back on it but have to wait until next month as I'm waiting on some critical parts to arrive.

Even though I had a car, I used a motorcycle for years as my primary means of transportation. Then one day at 60mph, I had a crash which totalled the bike, reduced the county deer population by one and shattered my collarbone. Even before I healed, I went right out and bought another motorcycle almost twice as powerful as the one I crashed. Somehow, it was never the same and I ended up junking the motorcycle after a few years and began spending more time on my bicycle.

Fast forward to today. I do most of my errands and commuting on a bicycle. However, I purchased a Vespa which has been one of the best buys I've ever made. It's a stretch to call it a motorcycle, but it sure is a handy little devil for some errands and can carry a surprisingly large load of groceries, etc. Last October I bought my wife a little pink scooter (25 mph max speed) for her birthday which she has begun using for her two mile commute. (She's not much of a bicyclist, and we have a loooooong uphill right outside our front door. At least the scooter keeps her from driving her car.)

Got my MC endorcement today. Was riding on MC learners permit.
Bought a chinese scoot. Only 150cc. Great gas milage.
Fractured 3 ribs last week. Feeling no pain, thanks doc.
Looks like I'll be using the scoot now.
Put bike in shop for tune-up.
Soon as I heal, I'll be back on the bike.
If you don't understand, I can't explain. Riding the bike is fun.

In all fairness Honda tried this with the Pacific Coast (manufactured 89-98) but with people comparing the styling to that of a porta-john, it didn't sell quite like they had hoped.



I kinda liked that bike :(

Two words: Electric vest.
Jackets are better, warm arms, also makes hooking up electric gloves easier.