Thinking of selling my sportbike and getting a SM

[Fourstring]

I'm not riding much these days.  

Used to be, the wife and I would hop on the Ninjas and bang out a few hundred miles over the weekend.  Head to 'Sconnie, Galena, Missouri, whatever.  Did the occasional track day and commute into work when feasible.  Now that we have a family, that's been put by the wayside for the time being.  I think I did maybe 3000 miles last year, no trips, and no track days.

Last year, I changed jobs to one in the city, and I've found that commuting on a sportbike for 1.5 hours each way on the freeway just isn't fun anymore.  No storage, bad ergos for stop 'n go traffic, lotsa heat, crap gas mileage, and suspension that's just not up to the big potholes.

At the same, a discussion at an STN pizza meet last night got me thinking DS.  Specifically, a DRZ400sm, maybe with an extra set of semi-knobby tires for fire roads.  I don't have an off-road background and don't really feel the call to go all ADV, but the idea of an urban combat commuter that could also do freeways, track days, and day-trips has a certain appeal.  We have a one car garage, plus I'd have to sell the Ninja to make it somewhat financially neutral.

So is this insane?  Has winter just been too long?  I'm trying to rectify the idea in my head with reality and make sure that it jives.  At the same time, I freaking love the Ninja; it makes me smile every time I kick it over.

Help?  

[Rattlehead]

Have you considered a "streetfighter" style bike? maybe a Z1000? The ergos are DEFINITELY better for stop and go type riding but there is still LOTS of capability there for faster "fun" rides. I have 2 young kids so I know full well that the "fun" rides are harder to come by. You just have to take what you can get and enjoy it, even if it's just a quick 20-30mi ride through the countryside. 10,000mi a year isn't necessary to really enjoy a bike. If all you can get is 3000 then make sure you savor every one of them miles. I've owned a few naked/streetfighter style bikes and they excel at the type of riding you describe as well as the short pleasure rides.

I will say though, a SM looks a a LOT of fun. Jumping curbs, flying off of loading docks, cutting through medians and wheeling at every conceivable opportunity, man would I get into a lot of trouble on one of those.

[SoCalFJR]

I think most are cringing at the thought of an hour and a half commute on a 400......  it doesn't solve your storage problems, you will be freezing so that will take care of the heat.........you need something bigger with some bags.......I'm sure many ideas will be promoted shortly...........

[Fourstring]

I love the big nakeds (although a Ninja 1000 would be an awesome replacement   ).  My thing is that I really don't need that much HP, and I think a SM/DS would make a better track steed.  If a SM can do freeway duty is my biggest concern.

There's also some talk of riding the TWAT, and a set of mild off-road tires would do that way cheaper than a second bike.

I'm actually not that worried about storage; I have an Axio hardpack that fits a laptop and everything for a day ride or commute into work.  Regarding comfort- my bicycle seats are a plank of plastic with some leather on them, and I can ride all day.  Hell, I even think the ZX9 is comfy.

[Uncle Leo]

[Orson]

I think in the ST.N Forum Rules, UFO has written that you're allowed to own a super motard as a second bike, but not as your sole bike.

[Fourstring]

Under no pornography?  

[MK96xj]

I think you are on to something. Small, Lightweight, Throw a bag on the seat and zig zag your way through the Chicago land traffic

And when you find yourself stuck in that part of town you can easily ride across someones lawn to avoid the toothless hookers

[Frankienuckles]

I agree that commuting on a single would get old quickly, I also agree that a big naked big would work pretty well.

[Rincewind]

I have ridden only a few SM style bikes, the Dorsoduro and Hypermotard.  Personally I would not appreciate those sorts of ergos at high speed for long periods.

[DogBoy]

I think in the ST.N Forum Rules, UFO has written that you're allowed to own a super motard as a second bike, but not as your sole bike.

 

I can only recommend a supermoto if you have access to the following: a) good supermoto roads* b) a kart track or c) the dark side of your soul. Preferably all three.

[HipGnosis]

I toyed with the idea of a SM when I got my Ninja - and part of me still wants one.
But...
The DRZ is a 400 single - that doesn't appeal to highway use (or any extended highway speeds...)
and..
Everything bigger is a boutique/exotic.

And I wouldn't consider a SM for my or your only bike.

[Fourstring]

I toyed with the idea of a SM when I got my Ninja - and part of me still wants one.
But...
The DRZ is a 400 single - that doesn't appeal to highway use (or any extended highway speeds...)
and..
Everything bigger is a boutique/exotic.

And I wouldn't consider a SM for my or your only bike.

I've heard that more than once; I hear ya.

But I spent a year on a Burgman 400 (a 400 single) and loved it, still miss the bike.  I also tried a DR 650 for a week and enjoyed it.  I'm just trying to hash it out in my head, and if going to a smaller machine is a good way of having fun on a bike again, since I'm really not riding the Ninja anymore.

It's gonna be a long winter.

[Mastros2]

Under no pornography?  

Haha.

I have heard that supermotos are a blast.  Too much fun if there is such a thing. If the wife allowed for a 3rd bike, I would be all over a moto.  

If you liked the dr, throw on a 17" wheel in the front and street rubber.    If you decide to keep it, update the suspension and it will be a very competent bike.

[mxvet57]

Speed triple. But you might have trouble getting Maggie off it.

[cbsnbiker]

Since nobody's made a "buy what I own" entry....

I used my F650GS as a commuter bike for a year and a half. The distance was far less than yours. However, it gets 65 MPG on the highway at legal speeds, panniers and a top box are readily available (both OEM and aftermarket), many farkles are also available, tire life is pretty good (at least when you don't pick up a nail  ), and it soaks up potholes fairly well.

It's no sportbike and no muscle bike, but it does its job fairly well. And it has ABS.  

The current version is the G650GS, which is essentially similar to mine. (The current F650GS is also a good bike, in some ways better, but is a different critter.)

[CLAY]

I'd second the naked bikes- I have a B12 (well, mine actually is the "S" model) and love it.  That said, I commuted many times last summer on my XR650L- I have two sets of rims- one with more street oriented tires, one with more dirt oriented tires, and with the street tires on the thing is a blast on pavement.  It's no SM bike, but it's a blast.  On the highway you're tall and in the open- *lots* of wind blast.  When I took it I'd usually ake the highway to work, and the backroads home- THAT is fun.    Does the 400 have the oomph for highway speeds?  Then again, in Chicago you rarely get highway speeds on the highway.  

[garry]

KTM Duke 690 FTW

[phoenix]

At Blackhawk Farms, you'll get to see what everyone is wearing as they pass you down the front straight.  

But I've had that sort of mindframe in the past. I just never found the DRZ400 that was priced where I wanted it.
Luggage wise, you can find a rack or some sort of tailbag to work with any bike. Backpacks are your other resort, but I don't like 'em.
What about that new 700cc Honda on the horizon?
I might suggest an SV, although you did say off roading was a partial requirement.

[desertxxrider]

The DRZ is fun, if you can find a pre 07 400E (Enduro) that's street legal, 262 lbs dry and about 8 more HP than the S/SM versions, 400E comes with a FCR pumper carb, higher comp. higher rev limiter and hotter cams. The lighter weight and more power make it easier to pull tall gearing for the freeway rides and less of a tank off road. My E is uncorked and pulls the tall gearing well, cruising long distances is no fun, but to get to places I want to ride it works and it's a blast in the twisties even with knobbies. Check the DRZ forum on ThumperTalk.

[Frankienuckles]

Fun, yes! Highways, not so much. Good second bike!

[JReazor]

It sounds like what you really need is a Burgman. I've heard that those are good.



 

[Kraz]

Commuting in Chicago?  I'd want something with quite a bit of wind protection and a decent alternator that takes hardbags.  A DRZ is not that.  

I wouldn't really want a sport bike either.  I would go for an ST bike, or an ADV bike for the potholes and more comfort.

SM would be fun for a romp around town or a short commute, and some dirt roads - but that's about it.

[superfuzz]

I always wanted an Aprilia SVX 5.5 supermoto as my second bike. Like a DRZ but with more balls.  *sigh*  Too many kids to pay for tho'

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

[1000lbs]

I'll agree with the nake/standard as a better fit for that commute.  With your commute and wanting a SM/DS a Versys might be a nice fit.  Longer softer suspension then the street fighters, and lighter and more narrow then a big bore machine.

For the SM/DS.  I've spent time on both the DR650 and DRZ400s.  On the freeway the DR has the upper hand and I had some fun on paved twisties even with the 21.  The DRZ wins in the dirt.  They'll both go the same places, but the DR is a pig and will require a lot more effort and skill.

[wibornz]

A Versys would be a great bike for what the OP is looking for.

[Fourstring]

Yeah, I guess I needed to sleep on it.


A big part of this was financially neutral.  We're buying a house next year so a commuter/ST mount really isn't in the works.  So I'm sticking with what I've got.  

[Orson]

I hate to be Captain Obvious   but a Guzzi will cure whut ails ya  

[Rincewind]

Yeah, I guess I needed to sleep on it.


A big part of this was financially neutral.  We're buying a house next year so a commuter/ST mount really isn't in the works.  So I'm sticking with what I've got.  

Sounds like a smart move, and you did say how much you love the Ninja.  It seems your dilemma is about getting the time to ride more than what you are riding.  It may mean you need to block off some "me" time on a few weekends a month.  

[Fourstring]

It seems your dilemma is about getting the time to ride more than what you are riding.  It may mean you need to block off some "me" time on a few weekends hours a month.  

FTFY  

FWIW, here's the bike that kinda inspired the thought process.  Looks like a pretty good deal, and it's at a dealer I'd absolutely trust.

[mxvet57]

Just looked at the pic's and talk about ridden hard and put away wet.

Looks like they didn't even try to clean it up for sale.

[Hunter]

4

What kind of mileage are you getting on your 9? I average around 40 hooning it up in the mountains. I-state droning, while I've never truly bothered to figure it out, I would think around 50. I'm using stock gearing fwiw also and still can't keep the front end down..

Unless your commute is mostly secondary streets I think you'd probably grow to hate the DRZ. The power for the highway is anemic at best and while it will do 75 on the freeway the engine is screaming and gulping fuel. Peg'd downhill I got 92 indicated on my DRZ. The tank is tiny @ 2.6 gallons and ringing the snot out of it (which while fun for a while became tiring) regularly returned about 80 miles to a tank. The stock seat should be a violation of the Geneva convention, it's that bad. Aftermarket to the rescue but it's $$$. The stock suspension also sucks donkey balls.

In town riding is about the only place were it was kinda fun. Jumping curbs and such and hooning it up a lower speeds (cause that's all it's got) is about the only saving grace the bike had for me but it wasn't enough love for me to keep it around so off it went.

The DRZ might make it as a third bike in the garage, that one you pull out occasionally to run to the store for milk and such but not as a work commuter me thinks. If it was me, I'd be looking for a Nighthawk 750 with a decent sized wind screen. It screams commuter. There cheap used, ugly yes but cheap and reliable. Hydraulic valves so no maintenance other than a carb clean and sync to go with the occasional spark plug change and oil change. It has chain final drive but a scott oiler and that becomes a no maintenance issue once you get the drip rate correct. I've seen some on C-list with ridiculously low mileage going in the 1500 to 2k range, garage bikes owned by older folks who just took them out on pretty sundays is my guess.

This isn't a "buy my bike" post either, the N-hawk 750 is too ugly for me. Sorry I'm cheap and shallow but if they had made it to look like the 84 - 86 N-hawk 700 S I'd have one in the garage. Awesome bike in it's day.

[Jeff]

Nate, I had a WR250X for a couple years. I never commuted in Chicago, but for around Ottawa, it was PERFECT. After I traded it for the Sprint, I realized that the Sprint is completely wrong for the riding I do, as I never have the chance to go on long rides. If I could magically turn the Sprint into a Street Triple or something like that, I'd do it in a second.  In hindsight I quite liked having the SM. I could ride like a complete tool and not get in trouble because I was only doing 40 mph. And the same time was getting 50+ mpg. I sat bolt upright, and pretty high, so I could see over the hoods of the cars and trucks next to me, it was totally agile which made abrupt lane changes easy, moving around in the garage easy, riding through friends' yards over curbs easy, it was just good clean hooligan fun.

I also rode it to the Peoria TT one year. I had about 9 miles of interstate to ride. That was the only 9 miles of interstate I had ever been on with that bike for a reason. Reason being that it was 9 miles of hell. Slab and SMs do not mix.

On the way home from the TT I rode back with bomber, and while he was on his Tiger riding in relaxing peace at about 70, I was behind him on the WR-X, also doing 70, but instead of relaxing peace the bike was WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!  

That all is the long way of saying, in my experience, short rides, slow speeds, SMs are great, but if there is ANY slab at all, think of something else.

Jeff

[bomber]

Buy a beater.

Ride the Twat.

Sell the beater.

Revenue neutral.

See? I'm here to help.

[02Tac]

What about a Strom?

[Jeff]

Ride the Twat.

What I want to know is, is that a typo, or did you just tell Nate to ride the twat?  

[bomber]

What I want to know is, is that a typo, or did you just tell Nate to ride the twat?  

Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail.

;-}

Mostly dirt, gravel, dual and single track from Galena to Lake Superior.

[black hills]

get a SM, learn the proper "backing it in" technique and enjoy

[Jeff]

Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail.

;-}

Mostly dirt, gravel, dual and single track from Galena to Lake Superior.

Ohhhh!

[Dan K]

Yeah, I guess I needed to sleep on it.


A big part of this was financially neutral.  We're buying a house next year so a commuter/ST mount really isn't in the works.  So I'm sticking with what I've got.  

You should buy Jeff's ST.  Perfect for a long highway commute, great wind/weather protection, and still can handle the twisties.  With Jeff's Ohlins set up, you could still enjoy it at the track I took the Sprint to Putnam for my first ever track day, was a blast.  Jeff's bike is likely to be at least as agile as the bike you're replacing.  Cost? He's practically giving it away - close to cost of a decent DRZ400SM.  Jeff's bike is a steal and it's what you need.  Storage? Check.  Great for highway? Check.  Cost as much as a Ninja 1000?  NOPE.

- Dan

[McHack]

I'm thinking Street Triple!

[atadaskew]

It sounds like what you really need is a Burgman. I've heard that those are good.



 

Mix it up.  Get  a Yam Tmax or the new BMW 650 scoot.
Those have storage, comfort, and better suspension than the Burgman.  Perfect for commuting.

I know you're not getting anything butt still...