Triumphrat

Hiltz · 11-16-2007

I nominate my Scrambler as the best all all around commuter bike.
I have an 8 mile commute to and from work on surface streets in the San Fernando Valley in the midst of Los Angeles traffic hell.

Tonight at 5:30 PM I rolled left on to Ventura Blvd heading east and was greeted by an unbroken sea of taill lights as far as the eye could see.

No problem for the Scram. Sitting up high with great visibility and with a 34" spread on the bars I was able to thread my way through bumper to bumper traffic saving at least 30 minutes on the ride home.

The broad torque band was also available to take advantage of any gaps in traffic.

I realize that those in the other 49 states cannot relate to lane splitting
but those of us in the Golden State need some edge to make up for the hordes of unlicensed, uninsured idiots that clog up our roads

NewOldSkool · 11-16-2007

Although not to take away from our Tris, but if I were thinking best commuting bike... wouldn't think an air-cooled motor or one with around 50mpg. But if you were to add "best all around FUN commuting bike", yeah now your cooking.
Mondo

Kramocker · 11-16-2007

So let's see...that's you in Encino...MikeinLA in Encino...me in Simi Valley...sounds like a mandatory meeting of the Rebels Without a Clue...ever done the 33 to Lockwood Valley/Deer Lodge? I hear it's wicked f'ing run...let me know if yer up for it sometime...

Cheers,

SK

semirgdj · 11-16-2007

I too live in Encino. I commute on my Thruxton 14 miles one-way everyday. I too am very happy to lane split and save lots of time. The MPG is better than my truck too.

Old Scratcher · 11-16-2007

if I were thinking best commuting bike... wouldn't think an air-cooled motor or one with around 50mpg.
Mondo[/quote]

I'd rather an air cooled motor than a hot radiator blasting my legs. & what's wrong with 50mpg, in a big road bike? Supersport 600's get much worse than that.
Sure a Honda Postie bike is probably the best urban comuter. That's why the Post Office uses them. They're cheap & impossible to kill. So why aren't we all riding them? NB This is rhetorical question, If you don't know the answer. What are you doing here?
BTW I don't really comute on my Scrambler. But I have a lot of fun carving up the traffic, stretching the legal definition of lane-splitting as far as I can. & I don't know how it compares to other bikes at that task, but it gives me a lot of joy. & that's all I really care about.

NewOldSkool · 11-16-2007

OS, man you just proved my point about the commute thing. A air cooled has more of a chance of overheating in times when you cannot lane split. But thats why I added,

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewOldSkool

But if you were to add "best all around FUN commuting bike", yeah now your cooking.
Mondo

So we are on the same page. Yeah, I am a nerd who was thinking of getting a Swhinn 100cc scooter that gets 117mpg for my 6 mile commute... then I thought about having to face 6000 dudes with a complex already. Decided against that one

Mondo

pabonne · 11-16-2007

I don't know... my rev loving 17t 790 is goddawful fun on my commute: 20+ miles of twisty, hilly, zero-traffic back road heaven. SUCKERS!!

Hedge · 11-16-2007

I would like to think that my Bonne Black is the best commuting bike - especially when I fold the Naps in for L/S in rush hour traffic!

BeastInBlack · 11-16-2007

Rev loving....relatively speaking...

MuddyTriumph · 11-16-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by pabonne

I don't know... my rev loving 17t 790 is goddawful fun on my commute: 20+ miles of twisty, hilly, zero-traffic back road heaven. SUCKERS!!

I know exactly what you mean PABONNE! Up here in NEPA, I have to ride 23 miles to find a traffic light. They re-paved most of the roads up here this past summer, and now I have smooth twisty roads with NO traffic!!!