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.