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Input/Advice on Commuter Bike for I-880?

Congrats on the new bike!
 
Depends on the length and quality of your commute and of course your finances. I commuted on a 1998 Valkyrie 6 cyclinder, but my commute was only 40 miles a day and I racked up 60,000 miles in 5 years on that. Now I commute on my Boss Hoss on which I have 40,000 miles in 3 years (and yes, I do lane split!) Depends how much of the remaining hours of your life you want to ride something that makes your commuting time a lot of fun. Pushing age 50, I have tops 25 years of motorcycling left, if something inside or outside of me turns off my fuel pump...so 109,500 of potential riding time if I ride 365x12 hoursx25 years. With that thought...what would you want to ride every day, if your candle was blowing in the wind?
 
Hosszz4 said:
Now I commute on my Boss Hoss on which I have 40,000 miles in 3 years (and yes, I do lane split!)
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Do you work in Cupertino? I've seen a beast like the one in your avatar there.
 
Yep...that would be me...

Yep...that would be me...in Cupertino most days...only guy I know riding one of these regularly around the South Bay.There are other owners, but the other 2 I dont see riding theirs too much.

Cheers
Aldo
 
YellowDart said:
Pilotimb wrote:
> Do you want a sportier bike? The 2004 YZF600R
> at motojava would be a good choice.

Today that was my choice. After a day of visiting and talking to the MotoJava guys as well as friends who've had many Yamahas (plus doing some Web research), I got on the bus in full riding gear and rode the beast back home over the Bay Bridge. It handled quite nicely in rush-hour traffic. Very nimble.

That said, I have to get used to the four-cylinder vs. twin aspect as well as the 600cc vs. 1100cc thing. I'm not used to riding at such high rpm, and at one point I thought I was still in fifth gear when I was in sixth. I haven't had an in-line four since 1991. I'll also need to get used to the bike's power zones. There were a couple of times in fourth gear when it didn't have quite what I needed. But in sixth, way up past 10k rpm, the thing just flew. I'm sure I'll find what I need as I get to know it better.

With this one I met all my criteria -- a sport/touring bike bought from a reputable person/dealer that had less than 20k miles for less than $5k. And it took 2.5 days.

Thanks again, BARFers, for all the input, and for pointing me (back) to MotoJava.
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Moto Java ROCKS!!! Hope you had time for lunch with Maria.
Congratulations, good choice! :party
 
880? Hell, anything freeway heading down the East Bay and I'd have to be using one of these.

image049.png
 
HappyHornet wrote:
> Moto Java ROCKS!!!

One friend bought a bike there, another friend sold a bike there, and yet another was steered to another place to get what was the right bike for her. Those MotoJavans are top-notch.

> Hope you had time for lunch with Maria.

I didn't this time (we've talked BMers before -- she and I have a mechanic in common), but I did relay to her that the Ducati for sale out front still had the key in the ignition -- for which she thanked me profusely.

> Congratulations, good choice!

Thanks, and thanks!

In Alameda, look for the guy in the yellow Shoei and the blue Yamaha (or yellow R11S).
 
YellowDart said:
HappyHornet wrote:
> Moto Java ROCKS!!!

In Alameda, look for the guy in the yellow Shoei and the blue Yamaha (or yellow R11S).
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i'm going north on 880 from sunnyvale to san leandro at 7-8am riding a black suzuki tls red jacket . if i'm not trying to be killed by a cage i'll wave to ya:teeth
 
In Alameda look for the blonde ponytail on the nekid Honda I'll always wave!
We need our own Island bike night!

Again congratulations :party on the new bike.
 
As for chain care, it is easy. Back when I was putting on 12-20 a year on the 1000RR I would just spend about 10 minutes every weekend. After a ride (usually) I would spray down the chain with something like WD-40 (some argue against it, do what works for you), then wipe it down real well, then drop some gear oil on to each pivot point. It didn't take nearly that long to do. It was messy, but I had 26,000 miles on the stock chain in all kinds or riding conditions.

Using some sort of rear stand saved a ton of time. I used a long bar through the rear axle and a pair of jack stands.

A sprayer nozzle from something like a bottle of Simple Green goes right on to the top of the gear oil bottle. That made it a ton easier to apply!

Happy Hornet said:
We need our own Island bike night!
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There used to be!
 
Best of luck on your new commute.

I’d say the biggest aspect would be are your hours flexible?

I do the Alameda to Menlo Park every day.

Being on 880 at 6:30AM and 7AM are two different worlds.

Get going as early as you feel safe to do and the same for the return trip. I can tell you to keep your guard up every day all the time (goes with out saying I guess). The San Mateo Bridge exit area is very bad with cars darting in and out of the commute lane….same with 98th North bound.....check your 6 often as there are some very fast splitters on that route too.

880 is a mix of blue collar and white collar. Prius followed by duallie followed by yard worker truck followed by Mom in her Volvo and I've seen everything from pallets, ladders, lunch boxes to a dog running up the commute lane.

As for bike changes….I would change for better MPG. I have a ZX9 and filling up every two days gets old…..I also agree with the vote for great brakes.
 
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