I'd rock a motard to work in a heartbeat....

If only i could touch the damn ground on one!!

 

what are you going to "motard" I'm finding that converted dirt bikes to street bikes don't like the constant RPM of street riding.

 

I'm thinking of a 2010 Husqvarna SM510R or Aprilia SXV550.

 

Bad choice on the Aprillia, its definetly not a commuter kinda bike. Fun to ride in the twisties but commuting in traffic your gonna suffer.

Get a DRZ or something. Those highly strund motards are trouble for long commuting. Constant revs, too frequent service intervals.

 

I'm kinda curious as well, thinking about the yammy wr250x. I've ridden a drz400sm on short stints on street/trackdays and it was a real hoot. Although I don't know how it would be like to live with every day.

 

I also am looking forward to making this switch- I just can't decide what Motard to go with... Aprilia's look the best but I don't think they're meant to be daily commuters... You got to check service intervals etc...

 

Had an 08 Hypermotard S. Great in town! Horrible at maintained freeway speeds. No aftermarket windscreen can provide enough wind protection. And the gas tank size is rediculus. Thats why I sold it. Other than that it is a hell of a fun bike to ride.

 

I kind of made the switch. Monoman - a forum member left his R1 with me 7years back when he was on national service and another guy left his Motard with me about 2 years ago and I have to say. Motard is awesome, but as a rider that likes to do long day rides a motard doesn't cut it.

Motard should be illegal because it's far too much fun. Hit up SpidermanSS as I believe he is a motard nut.

 

Pick a cross between low TBO (to be overhauled) and the strongest dealer network you have near you. Id say ktm, yamaha, or suzuki are the all around best choices if readily available. Ive always prefered a Honda 650r but most folks dont like to kickstart them. If jetted properly they kick right off. Yep motards are the most fun you can have on 2 wheels as far as urban worriors go. Yamaha needs to get off their azz and make a Motard with a Raptor 700 in it. :fact :jump :bow

 

Ideally, I want something that handles and goes like my YZ450, but for the street. I know I will have to compromise on weight to an extent, but I still want the snappy, wheelie in any gear power and super light handling.

 

I went from an 06 R1 to an 08 hypermotard and i have to say i am very happy.

watch out for the aprilia's very high maintenance and not good for more than 50-60 miles per tank

although the hypers good for 90-100 with conservative riding....



thats a ducati hypermotard

test ride one and you'll see

 

There really isn't a good in between Street Sumo--Tame & Heavier (DRZ 400, SM610, SMC690) or hyper/racelike/sucks for highway or long rides (SXV 450/550, SMR450/510).

I wish Honda would build a Sumo based off of the newer CRF450, but that'll never happen. I read where Sumo sales were going down even before the crap of the last 2 years. Basically never took off in the US like it did in Europe and elsewhere.

I love my wannabe Sumo 950 SMR--Looks like a dirtbike, but accelerates/handles like a sportbike with softer suspension. Too heavy for offroad, but great for hooligan street stuff.

 

the bigger duc motards would be my choice if it was going to be a daily rider type bike

 

Best of both worlds IMO.

 

I have been looking at teh 250x however I don't think the top speed is there I whish to hell Yamaha would bring a 450x with a 6 speed I'd be all over that one.

 

This was my troublemaker KTM 625smc . It was a lot of fun around town and on back roads , but , kind of boring on the highway ..

 

When I ride to work, I take my DRZ more than my R1 to be honest. More fun is why.The R1 feels like a caged tiger, and isn't any fun, where the DRZ can be wound to the stop everywhere just for the hell of it.

 

I'll take the hypermotard for a test ride to see how it is. But I have to tell you, riding my YZ450 on the tarmac is the most fun I've ever had on a "road" ride. I want something nice and light.

I also agree with the "caged tiger" comment regarding the R1. There is nowhere I can open this bike up for more than 2-3 seconds at a time. But at the same time, I have ridden the DRZ400 and it has NOWHERE near the balls of a YZ, RMZ, CRF, KX.

 

I test rode a Hyper, didn't much like it. Couldn't get comfy on the bike at all.

 

Motards are too much fun, they make me ride like a jerk

 

It's classic popping high wheelies at under 20km/h just from snapping the throttle and then clicking up through the gears......and of course the odd off-road excursion.

:epimp

 

I switched to a Aprilia SXV550 at the end of last year for my daily commute.

I haven't had so much fun in my life! And it's only 7 miles one way! :hammer:

As long as you are willing to keep up with the tight maint schedule you can't go wrong. Just buy your fluids in bulk.

:thumbup

 

I just read the spec sheet on the 1100s. Laugh Out Loud @ ~ 180kg dry weight! Literally.

 

I just read the spec sheet on the 1100s. Laugh Out Loud @ ~ 180kg dry weight! Literally.

:no

 

My R1 is my daily commuter (about 8 miles each way) whenever the temperature is above 40 degrees, but yeah, definitely never come close to opening it up, especially since the highway is only about 1 mile out of those 8. I've had my mind set on a KTM 690 Duke to become my daily bike for quite a while now... just can't afford one yet.

 

Get a DRZ, they are cheap, bullet proof engines and have low maintenance. I am thinking about one for a 2nd bike as well.

 

my daily commuter - XTZ250X

I could use a few more cc's but yamaha next option for me here is a 660cc... anyways that's THE best bike for heavy traffic cities like mine.
Not sure if they build this model outside Brazil but the closest I've seen there is the WR250X.

Lots of fun I can promise you that! :thumbup