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Originally Posted by Robin
Right now we have one unreliable car. We are looking to replace it. Considering the cost of gas, the cost of a new car, the fact that motorcycles can split lanes and ride in the HOV lane, the fact that we live in SoCal, the bike makes a lot of sense as a replacement for an unreliable car. We have a pickup that we seldom use, which I can use on days that a motorcycle isn't an option.
But the bike is going to be for commuting. There is a good chance, come next winter, that I will be commuting one day a week up to San Luis Obispo to teach a class. It will be a hell of a commute, three hours each way. What do people think about the feasibility of six hours on a bike once a week? What impact should that possibility have on my choice?
Right now I am interested in the V Stars. The Silverado 650 has the windshield and gear bags, which I am going to need for these longer trips.
So yeah, trips up the coast are in the picture.
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You can get saddle bags and a windshield for almost any bike out there so don't base your decision on accessories.
If you're going to be riding everyday then you want to remember a couple of things. Despite what the bike looks like, the feel is a lot more important (remember, you'll be sitting for up to 3 hours at a time). Some bikes look really good, and are fine when you're in the mood to go for a long ride, but you're going to have to ride this thing when you're tired, when the weather isn't great, and you will have to ride on some days that you'd much rather not be out on a bike. So... Look for comfort/utility. Posture is a big thing for me, I can't do the thing where you're always hanging on the bars, I need more of a fatty seat.
Another big thing... Upkeep. Somebody mentioned air cooled vs water cooled bikes. Fortunately, this isn't a brand new model so you should be able to do a lot of reliability research on the web.
The best way to sum this up for me is to consider the bad choices some friends have made. One buddy HAD to have a Harley. It was loud, it looked good and it made him feel a little less inadequate as a man. After a couple of months he was sick and tired of getting bounced around by the v twin, going deaf from the noise and paying a TON in upkeep.
He switched to a BMW and has never looked back.
I had another friend who wanted a "sporty" bike because he thought cruisers looked like an old man's bike with their windshields etc... Cleanig dead bugs out of his pant cuffs got a little old and the "sporty" feel became a daily ab workout for him. I think his bike is still in the garage.