What do you think of this for a winter commute?

[Rusty the Scoob]

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/mcy/2021072877.html

The seller admits it won't do highway, which is fine... I'd be doing backroads through Waltham, Belmont and Cambridge, plus Storrow drive. I like the fact that it's cheap and light so it could handle a little snow. I'd still take the train on the worst days.

[TheIglu]

Junk.

Suzuki/Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha. Parts are plentiful and available. Dealer support is there. Plus the prices this time of the year are great used.

[gregp]

I have read that the Chinese bikes are *slowly* improving their quality, but, at this price, you should be able to find something Japanese, and not have to worry.

[KawiSmurf]

I have read that the Chinese bikes are *slowly* improving their quality, but, at this price, you should be able to find something Japanese, and not have to worry.

Hyosung is Korean, not "Chinese," and they're really just like rebadged Suzukis. Engineering is the same, key components are built the same.

[gregp]

You are correct. Sorry. I would still be skeptical of Korean (Hyosung) quality, materials, and manufacturing practices back in 2001. Not so much today.
And a mildly tuned 125 four stroke would barely have enough power for even back road commuting, anyway. JMO.

[KawiSmurf]

And a mildly tuned 125 four stroke would barely have enough power for even back road commuting, anyway. JMO.

That part I'd agree with, I'm not sure that thing has more than 10-12 hp.

[schleppy]

Spend extra, buy a DR650, be happy.

[Rusty the Scoob]

I'm not sure I want a lot of power... this would be almost strictly a snow bike.

[breakdirt916]

screw 1wd bikes, get a 2wd ural with a sidecar!



personally I'm a pretty novice rider, and I enjoy riding in snow, but I feel it's only for recreation with a dirt bike, in an open area.

Commuting in snow that can collect on the ground is too sketchy for my abilities. The spontaneous shift from side to side keeps you from really holding any sort of safe speed, and losing full traction in the front tire on a knobby in cold weather (with the tire as hard as a rock) wasn't something I could usually recover. On dry pavement or dirt, maybe, because it'll hook again and you'll keep going. On snow, even at low speeds, front wheel loss of traction usually meant it was going to keep sliding until you crashed.

[Rusty the Scoob]

No question that I'd avoid fresh powder or packed-down snow. These would be city streets only, and only on days where I'm reasonably confident that they sanded and plowed.

I commuted one winter on a Honda Ruckus with success, although the engine didn't run well in extreme cold. I liked being able to easily flatfoot it and pick up and move either end if needed. But I hated the seating position and it was way underpowered even on back roads.

[TheIglu]

I'm not sure I want a lot of power... this would be almost strictly a snow bike.

Yeah, but still. Try riding a 125 4 stroke on the street before you consider something like that.

DRZ-400 would be ideal.

[Kurlon]

Hyosung is Korean, not "Chinese," and they're really just like rebadged Suzukis. Engineering is the same, key components are built the same.

Hyosung assembles Suzuki bikes for the Korean market, but nothing with the Hyo badge uses Suzuki engineering/mfg for it's production.

[Rusty the Scoob]

DRZ-400 costs actual money, though, and this bike is going to be in a salt bath for months each year, and neglected during the summer.

You may be right about the power... 50cc ruckus was painfully slow.

good info, thanks, Kurlon!

[Kurlon]

Based on reports from owners of the 250 and 650 Hyo twins, the bikes are prone to corroding up fast when well kept, dunno how long one would hold up to salt baths in winter. Lowball the guy. Get it cheap enough so if you get a winter out of it, cool. Strip it in the summer, de-rust and paint and beat'er again for another winter.

[mikeb]

Spend extra, buy a DR650, be happy.

still have yours?

[RandyO]

get some knobby tires fer yer streetbike, drill the knobs with 10mm deep holes and shoot them with automotive studs, then go riding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDrRieJK3aQ

[schleppy]

still have yours?

One more week! And the only reason I'm getting rid of it is because I can't keep two bikes

[breakdirt916]

get some knobby tires fer yer streetbike, drill the knobs with 10mm deep holes and shoot them with automotive studs, then go riding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDrRieJK3aQ

that's rock and roll as always RandyO, but how do those studs handle on pavement?

I doubt that a commuter in the boston area will be on gravel roads and lightly packed snow for the majority of the riding

[RandyO]

that's rock and roll as always RandyO, but how do those studs handle on pavement?

same as studded car tires, they make a ticking noise on pavement

the bike tracks straighter, turn in takes a little more effort, I only studded the center knobs and about 2/3 ot the way to the edges, the outer knobs have no studs, I read somewhere that riders tend to put too many studs in, I used about 180 in the 150/70-17 Karoo T rear and about 225 in the 110/80-19 Karoo T front

my theory with no studs in the outer knobs was that I would never be leaning that much on ice but I might be on bare pavement when I wouldn't want studs to contact, It has worked out well, when cornering hard, the transition from the studded knobs to unstudded knobs takes a little to get used to

while you might not want to go on a 8/10 sport ride on studs, no problem with 6/10 riding,

[Stoneman]

Randy on our ice track this past winter:

YouTube - lap around locke lake.avi