10 Bikes That Turn A Boring Commute Into The Best Part Of The Day
If you want to commute on a motorcycle, the usual prerequisites comprise high efficiency, smooth engines, and upright ergonomics. Fun, though, is often overlooked. That’s a bummer, considering a fun motorcycle can make your daily journey feel less like a chore and more like a joyous outing. Heck, with the right bike, this just might be the best part of the day as well. If you agree and want something that promises the same, any of the 10 bikes below will hit home.
Honda CRF300L
Price: $5,749
What you’re looking at is America’s highest-selling dual-sport. So if your commute includes rough patches, the CRF300L just might be your best bet for affordable fun. This is down to its peppy engine, low heft, and bash-friendly underpinnings. The engine is also highly efficient at city speeds.
Honda also sells a Rally version of the CRF300L. That brings a more adventure-esque approach, complete with a windscreen, fairings, and well-rounded engine protection. So if your commute has freeway and dirt patches, the Rally is our recommendation.
KTM 390 SMC R
Price: $6,049
The new 390 SMC R is easily our recommendation if you want a fun, beginner-friendly commuter bike. The punchy 399cc engine, sporty suspension, and snappy riding dynamics ensure you can have fun in nearly all kinds of situations your commute includes. We also dig the inclusion of modern-day tech, which can tone down the edge when you want to take it easy.
Another plus is the MSRP. The under $6,100 MSRP makes the baby SMC an exceptional value purchase in the niche 300-400cc supermoto space. Its rivals neither have comparable performance nor the modern tech to keep up.
Kawasaki KLX300SM
Price: $6,049
The KLX300SM is Kawasaki’s version of a baby supermoto. Unlike the naked bike-based 390 SMC, the KLX is actually based on a proper dual-sport platform (KLX300). So it will be more suitable for hardcore riding if your commute includes that.
Dependability is its strongest suit, though. Right from the single-cylinder engine to the double-cradle chassis, everything is proven to last decades with basic maintenance. You don’t get any rider aids here (not even ABS), so do keep that in mind.
Aprilia Tuono 457
Price: $6,599
As fun as dual-sports and supermotos are, the OG commuters are small-capacity naked bikes. And the Tuono 457 is one of the most fun examples in the segment. A huge part of the credit goes to its engine and chassis combination. The former has class-leading low-end grunt, made better by shorter gearing on the Tuono (compared to its sports bike sibling).
Whereas, the latter includes the segment’s only aluminum perimeter chassis. Having experienced this package, the riding dynamics are simply in a league of their own. They even punch above the segment and can smoke a few budget-friendly 600-800cc nakeds.
Suzuki DR-Z4SM
Price: $7,999
The DR-Z4SM was almost dead on arrival due to its exorbitant MSRP compared to rivals like the 390 SMC R. Now, Suzuki has made amends and slashed it down to under $8,000. Yes, this is still pricey, but this just might be the most capable entry-level supermoto.
Why, you ask? Because you get the excitement and kick of the KTM, topped with the dependability of the Kawasaki. At the same time, this is built around the DR-Z4S dual-sport–one of the most capable entry-level bikes of its kind. Overall, there’s a lot of fun to be had on this during your commute.
Suzuki SV650
Price: $8,149
What you’re looking at is the OG fun commuter bike. So much so that Suzuki didn’t really bother changing the package much, as riders simply kept buying the SV worldwide. The crown jewel here is the V-twin engine. Compared to parallel-twins with 270-degree cranks, the 649cc V-twin has unmatched refinement and punch for regular riding.
The trellis chassis adds to the experience. Rock-solid stability with ample agility means you can take on the freeway or canyons without a second thought. Heck, the package is so capable, club racers have built race bikes out of the SV.
Honda CB650R
Price: $8,699
An inline-four motorcycle for commuting fun seems hard to believe. But the CB650R is an anomaly. Its four-pot engine is tuned for torque rather than peaky power, while still enabling you to rev beyond 12,000 RPM. At that point, you’ll also appreciate the glorious exhaust note.
An underrated party trick is the E-Clutch. While many of its rivals skip on quickshifters, the CB’s E-Clutch lets you shift up and down, or roll on from a standstill without ever using the physical clutch lever. Should you want to take control, you can simply turn the system off and enjoy life the regular way.
KTM 790 Duke
Price: $8,999
The midweight naked bike segment is properly crowded today, yet the 790 Duke keeps making sense if fun is what you want. The LC8C engine has gobs of punch at low revs, enough to power wheelie around town by just twisting the wrist. This, along with snappy riding dynamics via the trellis chassis, results in a giggle fest as you commute to your office.
What makes the bike more relevant than ever is a recent update for MY27. The design is now in line with the bigger 990 and 1390 Dukes, the suspension now has adjustability from the factory, and there’s a new TFT with improved features. All that for under $9,000 is excellent value, too.
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory
Price: $11,599
The Tuono 660 Factory is an out-of-the-box suggestion for making your commutes fun. There’s a lot to like here, be it the premium suspension or fancy electronics. For reference, this being the ‘Factory’ version has Ohlins forks and shock, alongside RSV4-derived electronics like launch control.
All this while, the aluminum chassis and punchy engine up the fun. The engine, in particular, is one of the most powerful parallel-twins in its class, breaching the 100 horsepower mark. So the over-$11k MSRP is rather well justified.
KTM 690 SMC R
Price: $13,399
The 690 SMC R might just be the most fun way of commuting overall. This is the most powerful single-cylinder supermoto in the world right now, and unlike the 390, it’s built around a proper dual-sport. So you get impeccable capability, bedazzled with flagship power (around 80 horsepower) from a single-cylinder engine.
In its latest avatar, there are improvements in nearly every aspect as well. The cockpit has a modern TFT, the electronics help put a leash on this beast during regular riding, and the underpinnings are more capable than ever. All that for $13,399 is a good deal, considering it undercuts the Ducati 698 by a decent chunk.
Source: Various Manufacturers
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