Gallery: Commuter Motorcycles
Honda01ft-electric-motorcycles3-f
Honda NC700X ------------ Using engine technology gleaned from the Fit hatchback, Honda has taken one of the most practical aspects of any motorcycle -- fuel economy -- to a whole new level. At 64 mpg, the [NC700X](http://powersports.honda.com/2012/nc700x.aspx) ($7,000) is nearly as fuel-efficient as a 250, but considerably faster and much more capable of hauling a passenger and luggage. With design aping that of big adventure bikes, you'd be forgiven for assuming the NC is targeted at off-road use. But fitted with 17-inch wheels, fairly low suspension and road tires, it's actually much more of a street-oriented all-rounder. That ADV look brings some practical advantages: The upright riding position is all-day comfortable and affords great vision through traffic; the screen looks small, but does a great job of keeping wind and rain off your torso; the wide bars make steering fast and sharp and there's tons of room to carry luggage, a passenger or both. Slanting the cylinders forward at 62 degrees combines with the underseat fuel tank to make the center of gravity so low that you'll never guess the whole thing weighs 474 pounds (with a full tank) and that also makes room for a lockable, waterproof storage container between your legs that's big enough to fit a full-face helmet. Read More:[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/ft-buying-advice-commuter-motorcycles) [Buying Advice: Commuter Motorcycles](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/ft-buying-advice-commuter-motorcycles)Everyone who rides an NC is taken by surprise at the low redline -- just 6,500 rpm -- but once you adapt to a power curve that's more diesel car than high-revving bike by short shifting and using the higher gears at low speed, the 46 pound-feet of torque is more than enough to achieve some serious hustle. Combined with the soft-but-capable suspension, it makes it possible to really wring some serious speed out of the bike on a canyon road. [](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/reviews/fall-test)The only fly in Honda's ointment is that ABS brakes are bundled into a $2,000 upgrade package that also adds a dual-clutch transmission. Motorcycle gearboxes, being sequential, are already extremely easy, intuitive and quick to use, so buyers are being forced to pay for an unnecessary transmission in order to add a safety features that's rapidly becoming standard equipment on other models. Regardless, the NC700X is equally capable of tearing up a twisty road, cruising across the country two-up, hauling gear for a big adventure or just being a reliable, practical, frugal commuter every day in every weather. By itself, that makes it an extraordinarily capable motorcycle. That it does that for just $7,000 while returning outstanding fuel economy makes it a great one. __WIRED__ Underseat fuel tank and canted-forward cylinders = low center of gravity. Economy and performance -- I took it to nearly 120 MPH. __TIRED__ Antilock brakes only available as part of $2,000 options package. __Rating: 9 out of 10__
02moto-guzzi-v7-stone
Moto Guzzi V7 Stone ------------------- At 91, [Moto Guzzi](http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/) is one of the world's oldest motorcycle manufacturers and the [V7](http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/motorcycles/v7-stone.html) ($8,990) is a throw-back to its eponymous '60s classic. Still made largely by hand on the shores of Lake Como in the Italian Alps, the newly matte-black V7 is nevertheless a thoroughly modern motorcycle. New for 2013 is a redesign of the firm's "small block" v-twin. Power increases slightly to 51 hp, and peak torque arrives lower down the rev range to make riding it easier, but the big news is cleaner looks free of plug leads and a simplified inlet tract that uses a single, centrally mounted throttle body. All that also reduces mechanical noise, leaving you free to listen to the air-cooled motor's inlet and exhaust note rather than mechanical valve clatter. Alloy wheels reduce unsprung weight, also sharpening acceleration and improving the already cushy ride. Stuff like looks and noise are important because the V7 is all about recreating a classic experience, just with modern convenience and safety. This Guzzi is one of the last new bikes left to still use a carburetor, so set the choke, thumb the starter and you're rewarded with a deep, regular burble from the 90-degree cylinders. Rev the motor in neutral and the bike twists to the left from the torque. Take off and it's just you, two wheels and a motor roaring down the road. But, unlike a classic bike, radial tires grip rain or shine, modern brakes bring you rapidly to a stop and it's extremely unlikely you'll ever find yourself by the side of a road, cursing Italian reliability. The V7 also has one big advantage of other retro bikes. At 394 pounds (fully fueled), it's 100 pounds lighter than the nearest rival from Triumph and 171 pounds less than the lightest Harley. That makes it easier to control a low speeds, sharper around corners and quicker to come to a stop. That shaft drive also reduces routine maintenance, making this both a stylish and practical commuter. __WIRED__ Incredibly slim and light; a good choice for short riders. Classic styling. __TIRED__ Classic performance: 51 HP is no longer competitive for a 750cc bike. Odd wheel sizes limit tire choice. __Rating: 7 out of 10__
Honda03honda-cbr250r
Honda CBR250R ------------- This little Honda is probably the most complete motorcycle on sale right now. It's fun, cheap, versatile and, as a result, incredibly practical. Even experienced fast guys get a bigger smile on their faces after riding this than they do from their exotic Italian superbikes. The [CBR250](http://powersports.honda.com/2013/cbr250r.aspx) ($4,100) comes under criticism for its relative abundance of weight and relative lack of power in comparison to some rivals. But what it lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality and practicality: parts like suspension and brakes are much nicer than typically seen in the class (ABS is a $400 option) and the CBR is extremely comfortable and incredibly frugal, returning 77 mpg during testing. That means a full tank, which should last you about a week of short-distance commutes, costs less than $12. During testing, the Honda carried two 170-pound men in comfort while keeping up with the other bikes seen here through city traffic. The only time its diminutive 24 hp rears its slow head is on the highway, where the 85 mph top speed isn't quite enough to keep up with the most aggressive traffic. The "CBR" moniker is typically reserved for Honda's sportiest bikes, but despite that name and the abundance of plastic body panels, this 250 is much more of a practical commuter than it is a racing replica. Still a willing companion for sport riding, it's more fun than it is fast, with ground clearance from the low pegs being the biggest limiting factor around corners. All that makes the CBR250 a great bike for short trips or city commuting. Experienced riders will find its lack of weight and frugality would make it a great second bike for city use while new riders won't find more confidence or practicality packed into such a manageable machine. Just learning? Start here. __WIRED__ More fun than bikes four times its size. A fill-up costs less than $12 -- and at 77 MPG, it'll last all week. __TIRED__ Dumpy looks were designed for Southeast Asia, not American markets. At just 24 horsepower, it's a tad slow for aggressive highway riding. __Rating: 8 out of 10__
04cleveland-cyclewerks-ace
Cleveland CycleWerks Ace ------------------------ Bikes are cheaper than cars and the [Cleveland CycleWerks Ace](http://www.clevelandcyclewerks.com/bikes/tha-ace-by-cleveland-cyclewerks/) is cheaper still. The company re-engineered an old Honda motor from the '70s, then combined low-cost Chinese manufacturing with Western quality control to achieve a product that's seriously nice at a seriously low price. The Ace takes that concept to an extreme; at $2,895 it's the company's cheapest model, but also its most broadly applicable. A good old-fashioned "standard" motorcycle, the Ace is about utter simplicity. This isn't a commuter or a cruiser or a sportsbike or whatever, it's just a bike, plain and simple. Well, a slow bike. The air-cooled 250 makes just 16 hp, so even in a bike that weighs just 285 pounds, it's only good for about 75 mph. Pinning it in order to just about keep up in the slow lane of a highway is fun the first time you prove you can do it, but seriously annoying when you just have some place to be and that 18-wheeler behind you really, really doesn't know the meaning of a two-car gap. Because of that, riding the Ace takes a certain level of commitment even bikes like the Honda CBR250R don't. In addition to all the usual riding-a-motorcycle stuff like watching out for cars turning in front of you, it adds another layer of complication because it's slower than the regular flow of traffic. You need to keep a keen eye on what's behind you, ensuring you avoid faster vehicles as well as the obstacles you're traveling towards. Navigating exclusively by surface streets brings its own challenges too. Some riders will relish the chance to ride absolutely everywhere at the absolute limits of a machine's performance, others will long for the relative high performance of something like a Vespa. Still, the Ace (and other products in the CCW lineup) is probably the cheapest form of reliable motorized transportation available today. Both to buy and run, maintenance has been made so easy (requiring little beyond a wrench and a screwdriver) that paying a dealer for a service seems an unnecessary luxury. __WIRED__ Cheap. Vintage looks, modern reliability. __TIRED__ Underpowered for highway commutes. New riders will outgrow it very quickly. __Rating: 5 out of 10__
