Can you use a sports bike as a main source of transportation?
PandabearRR
New member
Get a car, period.
I've not driven a car for pleasure for over a year
I've been riding a bike as a main form of transportation for that time
and I'd class a ZZR 1100 as a sports bike ( well sports tourer)
and since july 2012 I've ridden it all weathers.
So yes you can ride a sports bike as a main source of transportation.
as to getting a 250 or 600 you can look at 40,000 + miles
My zzr 1100 has over 50,000 and my tdm has over 40,000 both are going strong.
I've been riding a bike as a main form of transportation for that time
and I'd class a ZZR 1100 as a sports bike ( well sports tourer)
and since july 2012 I've ridden it all weathers.
So yes you can ride a sports bike as a main source of transportation.
as to getting a 250 or 600 you can look at 40,000 + miles
My zzr 1100 has over 50,000 and my tdm has over 40,000 both are going strong.
First off get the 600 out of your mind, or you won't be living very long. You don't have the skills for a supersport race bike, which is what a newer 600 is. You have to learn to walk before you can run, so stick with the 250.
Now onto your main concern, the short answer is YES, however, that is for an experienced rider, you being inexperienced then your answer is NO! You will have more than enough problems trying to learn to ride in good weather, and believe me, you will have plenty of problems with that, there is MUCH to learn about riding, and most of it comes with experience. Then as you become an experienced rider, you can start to get into other bad situations, like riding when it is cold and riding in the rain, which is NOT fun at all.
So, for you being a beginner, take an MSF course first thing, then get the good gear, then pick up a used 250cc bike and practice. Forget about the 600 and riding in bad weather, you won't survive, or you'll scare yourself so badly you'll give up riding, not to mention would have to change your underwear after a serious scare, if you survive.
I used a Ninja 900ZX as my sole transportation for awhile, I lived in So. Cal. right by the beach, so the weather was not a huge problem. But even then when it was cold, it was BAD! I would lay on the tank tucked down behind the windscreen and tried to get as much of the engine heat as I could, wasn't much help. In the rain things really get dicey, any painted lines are SLICK, as are manhole covers, the absolute worst though are the car/truck drivers, in the rain some don't slow down, and a cyclist is at the mercy of the car drivers at that point. On dry pavement at least an experienced rider has a chance and can control the traffic pattern much better, in the rain you lose that advantage due to speed/acceration constraints.
Now onto your main concern, the short answer is YES, however, that is for an experienced rider, you being inexperienced then your answer is NO! You will have more than enough problems trying to learn to ride in good weather, and believe me, you will have plenty of problems with that, there is MUCH to learn about riding, and most of it comes with experience. Then as you become an experienced rider, you can start to get into other bad situations, like riding when it is cold and riding in the rain, which is NOT fun at all.
So, for you being a beginner, take an MSF course first thing, then get the good gear, then pick up a used 250cc bike and practice. Forget about the 600 and riding in bad weather, you won't survive, or you'll scare yourself so badly you'll give up riding, not to mention would have to change your underwear after a serious scare, if you survive.
I used a Ninja 900ZX as my sole transportation for awhile, I lived in So. Cal. right by the beach, so the weather was not a huge problem. But even then when it was cold, it was BAD! I would lay on the tank tucked down behind the windscreen and tried to get as much of the engine heat as I could, wasn't much help. In the rain things really get dicey, any painted lines are SLICK, as are manhole covers, the absolute worst though are the car/truck drivers, in the rain some don't slow down, and a cyclist is at the mercy of the car drivers at that point. On dry pavement at least an experienced rider has a chance and can control the traffic pattern much better, in the rain you lose that advantage due to speed/acceration constraints.
Definitely a car for your primary means of transportation. A motorcycle is more of a toy.
Here's why
Motorcycles suck in bad weather. They suck in the rain, especially if it is cold.
Motorcycles suck if you need to carry stuff. What if you need to carry a couple of bags of groceries? It is difficult to take much more than a few items with you, especially if you have something like a Sport Bike.
Motorcycles suck in the cold. When the ambient outside temperature is 40F (4C) and you are going 60 MPH (97 KM/h), the wind chill is 25F (-4C) . If the ambient outside temperature is 30F (-1C) and you are going 60 MPH (97 KM/h) the wind chill is 10F (-12C). And it just keeps getting worse the colder it gets. Hypothermia is a definite possibility if you are not prepared. So is frostbite if it gets much colder.
The handling characteristics of a motorcycle change in the cold. The rubber compound in the tires is formulated to work best in warm weather. You get less traction in the cold and the possibility of going down in the cold is increased.
Motorcycle engines are tuned to run in warm weather. You may find your motorcycle is difficult to start when the weather gets below 40F(4C).
Everything gets worse if you live in a place that gets snow. Motorcycles are dangerous if there is any amount of snow on the roads. If they are slushy the slush can pull you in unexpected directions and make you crash. Ice is dangerous, especially black ice. If you live in an area where salt is used on the roads this adds another problem. The salt spray from other vehicles will cloud your visor or windshield. You will need to pull over every couple of miles to clear this salt. The salt will also rot your bike.
My bike gets pickled and stored from about early November to late April for the winter.
The cost of insurance all will depend on what sort of bike you get. You are young. Young people like to get Sport Bikes. Sport Bikes are essentially street legal racing bikes and are fast. Insurance companies know which bikes are fast and which bikes would be a high risk for a young rider. Get a more tame motorcycle and your insurance would be less.
Don't get me wrong. There is no place that I would rather be on a warm sunny day than on my motorcycle. But where I live it it's not always warm, it's not always sunny, and it's not always dry. I've not been on my bike for over 3 months because the roads are covered with snow here. Bummer
The bottom line is get a car. They are warm, dry, and you can take stuff with you.
Here's why
Motorcycles suck in bad weather. They suck in the rain, especially if it is cold.
Motorcycles suck if you need to carry stuff. What if you need to carry a couple of bags of groceries? It is difficult to take much more than a few items with you, especially if you have something like a Sport Bike.
Motorcycles suck in the cold. When the ambient outside temperature is 40F (4C) and you are going 60 MPH (97 KM/h), the wind chill is 25F (-4C) . If the ambient outside temperature is 30F (-1C) and you are going 60 MPH (97 KM/h) the wind chill is 10F (-12C). And it just keeps getting worse the colder it gets. Hypothermia is a definite possibility if you are not prepared. So is frostbite if it gets much colder.
The handling characteristics of a motorcycle change in the cold. The rubber compound in the tires is formulated to work best in warm weather. You get less traction in the cold and the possibility of going down in the cold is increased.
Motorcycle engines are tuned to run in warm weather. You may find your motorcycle is difficult to start when the weather gets below 40F(4C).
Everything gets worse if you live in a place that gets snow. Motorcycles are dangerous if there is any amount of snow on the roads. If they are slushy the slush can pull you in unexpected directions and make you crash. Ice is dangerous, especially black ice. If you live in an area where salt is used on the roads this adds another problem. The salt spray from other vehicles will cloud your visor or windshield. You will need to pull over every couple of miles to clear this salt. The salt will also rot your bike.
My bike gets pickled and stored from about early November to late April for the winter.
The cost of insurance all will depend on what sort of bike you get. You are young. Young people like to get Sport Bikes. Sport Bikes are essentially street legal racing bikes and are fast. Insurance companies know which bikes are fast and which bikes would be a high risk for a young rider. Get a more tame motorcycle and your insurance would be less.
Don't get me wrong. There is no place that I would rather be on a warm sunny day than on my motorcycle. But where I live it it's not always warm, it's not always sunny, and it's not always dry. I've not been on my bike for over 3 months because the roads are covered with snow here. Bummer
The bottom line is get a car. They are warm, dry, and you can take stuff with you.
