Recommend a commute motorcycle brand/model.

[maroonandwhite]

Within the next month or two I am likely going to start looking for a used motorcycle for commute/leisure. Budget will likely be around $2500-$3000 tops. Would prefer around $2000.

From previous experience with my Suzuki Boulevard, I know I want a 6 speed for highway comfort. My commute is about 30 -35 minutes mostly highway. Apart from that, I am looking for some advice. I think I would prefer a windshield. Smaller 600 or 750 is fine.

What would you other riders lean towards?

[Darrell]

Do you need to carry stuff with you?  Will you need to secure your helmet and jacket on the bike?  

I have a few bikes, each with a little different target, but if I wanted to have just one for commuting I'd probably stick with my BMW F-700GS.  At 800 cc it's got plenty of oomph for freeway riding, and as a two-cylinder FI bike it gets great fuel economy, better than 50mpg the way I ride. (I wring its neck most of the time.) Mine has saddlebags that will handle a helmet and riding gear.  One benefit to my mind is that the bike will handle dirt and gravel roads really well.

I think you'll be hard-pressed to find one under $3K unless it has a lot of miles on it, though. 

 A Kawasaki KLR-650 might be easier to find in that price range, but it's a single-cylinder bike. I've owned three and was happy with them, even at highway speeds, though I wouldn't take a cross-country freeway trip on one unless I had to.

I just went on Facebook Marketplace, looked at motorcycles for sale, and set a max price of $3K.  There are quite a few bikes listed there, some of which look like a pretty good deal. Bear in mind that for that money you'll find older bikes, or bikes with a lot of miles on them.

Good luck!

Edited Saturday at 12:02 AM by Darrell

[peejman]

That price range will limit your choices. Like everything else, the cost of bikes has jumped tremendously. 

Personally, I would avoid anything that looks cruiser-ish, which includes your Boulevard. They're too low to see or be seen in traffic and they have so little ground clearance you can't lean them much. 

I'd suggest something that looks like the old fashioned standard bike.  Darrell's F700 or F650, Kawasaki Versys, Honda NC700 or ST Triumph Tiger or Scrambler, V-strom, Yamaha S10.... there's lots to choose from. 

Make sure you've got space in the budget for some good gear. Good stuff isn't cheap, but neither are skin grafts. 

Edited Saturday at 01:03 AM by peejman

[maroonandwhite]

40 minutes ago, peejman said:

That price range will limit your choices. Like everything else, the cost of bikes has jumped tremendously. 

Personally, I would avoid anything that looks cruiser-ish, which includes your Boulevard. They're too low to see or be seen in traffic and they have so little ground clearance you can't lean them much. 

I'd suggest something that looks like the old fashioned standard bike.  Darrell's F700 or F650, Kawasaki Versys, Honda NC700 or ST Triumph Tiger or Scrambler, V-strom, Yamaha S10.... there's lots to choose from. 

Make sure you've got space in the budget for some good gear. Good stuff isn't cheap, but neither are skin grafts. 

Luckily I still have all of my good jackets and helmets. I honestly hadn’t thought of the more upright bikes. I know I don’t want a sport bike. I will want some sort of bags or compartment at minimum and I’d like something the wife could ride along on for short trips around the house. I could push the budget up a bit for the perfect bike but would still be choosy. 

[gregintenn]

If it's boring reliability you're after, I'd recommend something with Honda written on it.

If you want cool, Harley Davidson is the ticket.

Edited Saturday at 02:13 AM by gregintenn

[BigK]

2 hours ago, peejman said:

That price range will limit your choices. Like everything else, the cost of bikes has jumped tremendously. 

Personally, I would avoid anything that looks cruiser-ish, which includes your Boulevard. They're too low to see or be seen in traffic and they have so little ground clearance you can't lean them much. 

I'd suggest something that looks like the old fashioned standard bike.  Darrell's F700 or F650, Kawasaki Versys, Honda NC700 or ST Triumph Tiger or Scrambler, V-strom, Yamaha S10.... there's lots to choose from. 

Make sure you've got space in the budget for some good gear. Good stuff isn't cheap, but neither are skin grafts. 

I used to have an NC700x and for my taste, it's one of the best commuter bikes out there and I almost never got under 65 mpg no matter how aggressively I rode it. If there's a Yamaha Super Tenere in that price range, it would be my first choice though. I've never ridden a more comfy bike. Mine is a 2012 and runs better than the day it rolled off the line.

[Faxmachine]

I loved my SV650 so much. Tank bag and paniers. Comfortable and upright position allows you to dodge all the minivans that will be pulling out infront of you. A modern 650 is plenty fast, much faster than the older 1000's i've had. The used bikes (and new) are priced well, they are reliable, common, parts everywhere, and last forever.

[Tom B]

I love my Suzuki DR650. With stock gearing I dont even shift into 5th until 55-60mph. With a tall windshield it would do just what you want it to. And it goes anywhere. I have mine set up with full knobbies for exploring the forest roads. Probably could find an older one in your budget.

[1gewehr]

I have a Suzuki VStrom 650.  It's a 2011 with ABS and 78,000 miles.  The Suzuki 650 v-twin engine is incredibly reliable, pulls strong, and is suitable for the interstate.  It's never given me any problems, and I haven't had to do anything except routine maintenance. 

I used mine for commuting until I retired.  It's quick and agile for in-town riding, and can carry plenty of gear for off-roading or a trip if you're interested in that.  I had a lot of fun with trips into the mountains, riding fire roads and jeep trails.  

You should be able to pick up a used 650 VStrom in your price range.

FYI, A good resource to test-ride used bikes is:

https://www.riders-share.com/listings/memphis-tn/dr03-16-2025,03-16-2025/z9/p1/

Rent a bike for a day or two and see if it suits you.  If you get over east of Nashville any time soon, you can test ride my VStrom.

 

[Frog4aday]

I'll second the Suzuki DL-650 recommendation (i.e., the V-Strom, often referred to as the Wee-Strom to differentiate it from its 1000cc 'sibling').

These have plenty of get up & go, get 50mpg or more, have a great passenger seat, along w/a flat spot on the back for mounting a Givi top-box. Best of all, you might actually find one in your price range.

This is considered a dual-sport but it is really a "standard" style motorcycle. V-twin engine, chain drive, EFI, tubeless tires...all the good stuff you want on a modern bike. Some models even have ABS, which is a major plus as a safety feature.