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good cheap commuter bike

Var

Var

One Track Pony
Joined
Aug 9, 2006
Location
San Mateo
Moto(s)
are better than cars
Name
Var
I'm looking to get a motorcycle courier job in SF and i'm browsing craigslist for a bike to do it on. I don't need to have a nice bike, or even one with lots of power. I basically need a piece of shit that will run and not give me problems and make it up hills in the city. Something with cheap maintenance and tires, even a well powered scooter will do. Also should be compact for uber lane sharing status.

My question is what do you guys recommend as a city street whore of a bike? I've found a couple nice examples that i may or may not be able to talk down to 1000 bucks, which is my max budget. To clarify..i'm looking for certain make/model suggestions that are consistantly cheap so i can keep on the lookout for them. I don't know much about non-sportbike models. Maybe even a cheap street registered 4-stroke dirtbike will do. Thanks for your help

here are a few that i found

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/353275633.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/355701838.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/355871099.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/354412154.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/354339050.html
 
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get a honda cbr f3
reliable
modern sized tires good brakes
parts availiable
streetfighter well
since it heavier by 40lbs or more the the newer all aluminum bikes there are usually a few for sale from peeps moving up to newer stuff
you should be able to find one with dinged fairings for around 1500-2000 if your patient
i've seen quite a few of these in "the biz" over the years they are solid bikes

who you gonna ride for??
 
Var said:
I'm looking to get a motorcycle courier job in SF and i'm browsing craigslist for a bike to do it on. I don't need to have a nice bike, or even one with lots of power. I basically need a piece of shit that will run and not give me problems and make it up hills in the city. Something with cheap maintenance and tires, even a well powered scooter will do. Also should be compact for uber lane sharing status.

My question is what do you guys recommend as a city street whore of a bike? I've found a couple nice examples that i may or may not be able to talk down to 1000 bucks, which is my max budget. To clarify..i'm looking for certain make/model suggestions that are consistantly cheap so i can keep on the lookout for them. I don't know much about non-sportbike models. Maybe even a cheap street registered 4-stroke dirtbike will do. Thanks for your help

here are a few that i found

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/353275633.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/355701838.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/355871099.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/354412154.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mcy/354339050.html
Click to expand...
Well let me tell you about being a MC courier in the Bay Area...

It is one of the HARDEST WAYS TO MAKE A LIVING.

You will be riding an average of 250-300 miles a day. This riding will mainly be done on roads that are...

1. No fun
2. Very busy...
3. In shitty condition...

There are no breaks, lunches,respect... If theres work you do it, if not you starve... If you turn down work because you are "taking a break" or "lunch" you will rapidly become the guy that only gets shitty tags and has no money...

Now at 1000-1500 miles a week you will be needing to work on your bike daily, there is always some thing to be done... Changing oil about once a month, tires every other month, chains and sprockets(adjustments and lube daily or twice a day when it's raining) every 6 weeks...

Most of this maint. you must do yourself either before or after work... Why? because when shops are working you are working, if you're not pulling tags you make no money...

There is no...

1. It's raining too hard...
2. There's a 65mph crosswind on a bridge(take your pick)...
3. It's too hot(I highly recomend Concord with it's 4 way lights)...
4. Ever ridden SF-Sac
(Napa court drop on the way) and back then turned around and do it again? The third time in one day really sucks(pays well though)...

Then we get to the crux of the biscuit... The actual job... You are FRONTLINE customer service... If you like being responsible for others mistakes this is the job for you... Generally you have a job because someone fucked up, should have mailed this a week ago and are now freaking out... If the $60,000,000 bid is 5 min. late it is NOW YOUR FAULT(this almost happened to me, SF-Santa Cruz, bidder held the bid till the last sec, 17 was closed due to an accident, drop in San Jose double back to 84,35 then find location I'd never been to before with 4 min to spare). The company I worked for would have lost the acct. and I'd have lost my job.... Not because I screwed up but because we lost a client... That and alot of people that work in offices are assholes and have NO IDEA what you actually do...


What you need to do the job correctly is a bike in EXCELLENT condition. I started on a DR650, it lasted about 3 weeks(4000mi). I then bought an SV 650 and proceeded to put 80k on it in 18 months(only failures were due to my lack of maint)...

Now I've loved and ridden motorcycles my entire life, I was a bicycle messenger for 5 years before I was a moto courier so I already knew how the game worked.

I retired due to anger issues related to traffic(I didn't even adress that one)...

If you really want to do it I'll be happy to give you any advice that you need, ie. Which companys will screw you out of your pay(didn't adress that either) and who will treat you right...


GET HOT ROOKIE!!!




Crap... This post is almost Feanorific... without the literiary merit and hot french chicks...:cool
 
Seems like making sure you have something that has an aftermarket rack source would be important.

Of course that might complicate super tight lane sharing, but even with a wide load, I bet you could pick your way to the front at a stop light without too much trouble.

Still, I'd look for low displacement, older Japanese dual sports. You get a nice upriding position with a pretty commanding view of the road, and probably for cheap.

Of the bikes you listed, my impulse says "less plastic, mo' better"

Be careful out there!
 
grumpyman said:
get a honda cbr f3
reliable
modern sized tires good brakes
parts availiable
streetfighter well
since it heavier by 40lbs or more the the newer all aluminum bikes there are usually a few for sale from peeps moving up to newer stuff
you should be able to find one with dinged fairings for around 1500-2000 if your patient
i've seen quite a few of these in "the biz" over the years they are solid bikes

who you gonna ride for??
Click to expand...

gonan ride for careful hopefully

but i don't think i wanna spend 2 grand on a beater bike. plus the ones i've seen are always over 2 grand. I wanna keep it to a bare minimum 1 thousand dollars cause i simply don't have the money to put into it.

greener - find me a supermoto for 1 thousand dollars and i'll consider it.



notch1 - no rack systems required. just a messenger bag
 
Re: Re: good cheap commuter bike

07chuck said:
Well let me tell you about being a MC courier in the Bay Area...

[...]

Crap... This post is almost Feanorific... without the literiary merit and hot french chicks...:cool
Click to expand...

But quite honestly, I think one of the BEST posts of the WEEK, sir! Thanks for sharing that experience, It obviously came from the heart and out of sincere concern. MOJO!
 
chuck - the job description says scooter are ok, so obviously they won't send me on the freeway ... RIGHT?!!? lol
 
Var said:
chuck - the job description says scooter are ok, so obviously they won't send me on the freeway ... RIGHT?!!? lol
Click to expand...
See my 2nd PM about working for Andrew Brady...
 
i messengered on both coasts and i will +100 everything chuck said
when i got out here from d.c. in 87 there were around 50 cycles working i think it's about 5-10 now if that
then there's independents and bigger companies....indys don't have the finances to take a hit and you might not get paid...bigger companies tend too pay you but will fuck you on little shit

oh yeah and some years it will rain 4-5 months straight and you'll still have to get hot and knock those tags out
 
Var....

Feel free to post my PM's(edit them as you will please)....
 
motonewbie said:
honda rebel
Click to expand...
Did you even come close to actually reading my post on the subject?

Let me think...

How many people have I seen attempt to be a courier riding a Honda Rebel...

About one, lasted less than a week, not sure which broke first, the rider or the bike...


I'm still connected with the courier industry, both riders and management... The North American Courier Championships were here a couple of weeks ago and I had a fine time being support staff/marshal...

I will say that you will never find better friends anywhere else... Once you've done the time you belong to a special club... You will do shit and get away with shit you never imagined... I used to have a pass to the MINT and the FEDERAL RESERVE...

Anyone that has questions...I'm glad to lend what I learned and my contacts to worthy victims err... I mean new riders err.. ROOKIES...
 
I think an excellent bike for this, if in good shape, would be an old shaftie Nighthawk 650 with hydraulic lifters. Those just eat up the miles with truly minimal maintenance. The later Nighthawk 750 (albeit with chain drive) would be a fine choice as well.

The SV is a fine choice, but as a KLR650 owner for 10+ years, I would recommend against doing hundreds of miles a day on a thumper. I did my 100 mile roundtrip commute on the KLR for a little bit, and it sucked. The DL650 is my commuter and it's a great mile burner, but for better city manners and easier splitting I'd prefer an SV.
 
zanshin said:
I think an excellent bike for this, if in good shape, would be an old shaftie Nighthawk 650 with hydraulic lifters. Those just eat up the miles with truly minimal maintenance. The later Nighthawk 750 (albeit with chain drive) would be a fine choice as well.

The SV is a fine choice, but as a KLR650 owner for 10+ years, I would recommend against doing hundreds of miles a day on a thumper. I did my 100 mile roundtrip commute on the KLR for a little bit, and it sucked. The DL650 is my commuter and it's a great mile burner, but for better city manners and easier splitting I'd prefer an SV.
Click to expand...
So between the KLR and a DR which is going to last 1000/1500 miles a week?...



You will burn them both up...

Really fast...

Go and talk to some other messengers...

I'll be happy to introduce whoever to the real players...

Not that you'll ever be one....


It's a buggy whip kind of job...
 
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