With gas being so expensive and commute times taking a lot of time, people are looking for better ways to get around, and for some that means they need to find the best motorcycle for commuting.
This is a question with a tough answer. The best motorcycle for commuting is different depending on the rider and the commute. Some will need a higher-powered machine capable of highway runs while others might just need something small and agile.
With that said, there are some traits that make for a truly good commuter motorcycle, so I thought it worth it to write up an article on this subject.
What are the Best Motorcycles for Commuting?
While everyone’s needs will vary, I’ll say a few things about commuter motorcycles. The best ones are the ones that are designed to make you comfortable, be agile on the road, and have enough power to get the job done. They also shouldn’t be wildly expensive, or the bikes kind of defeat the purpose of saving a few dollars on your commute.
Now, as you might have ascertained, that’s a pretty broad criterion, which means you have a lot of options when it comes to finding the best motorcycles for commuting.
I’d start by breaking things down by motorcycle type. There are all sorts of motorcycle types out there, but I’ll say this, touring and sport touring motorcycles are likely out. They’re too large in my opinion. The same thing goes for large adventure touring machines. I’d rather have a smaller machine for commuting, and that’s what I’ll suggest to you.
Some riders will disagree with me on this point, and that’s fine. But in my experience, these machines require too much work and you’ll end up back in your car eventually.
Cruisers are fine, but you need to make sure it’s a cruiser that’s not a behemoth, and you want one that’s not going to be a gas hog by motorcycle standards. In general, I’d stick to the following types of motorcycles:
- Standard Motorcycles
- Small to Middleweight Cruisers
- Small to Middleweight Sportbikes
- Small to Middleweight Adventure Bikes
- Dual Sport Motorcycles
You’re probably catching a theme here. Small to middleweight bikes are the way to go. This doesn’t mean you can’t have good power. As anyone who rides knows, motorcycles with a displacement of 500cc to 800cc are considered middleweight bikes and offer tons of power.
Furthermore, the 100cc, 125cc, 150cc, 250cc, 300cc, 400cc, and other small motorcycles also make fantastic commuting motorcycles, usually by their very design. Also, don’t overlook scooters. If you don’t have a long commute and mostly plan to ride in the city, there are some seriously good 50cc scooters out there that are super affordable.
What Do You Need for Daily Commuting?
In short, you need enough but not too much. I’d urge you to not overshoot things for your daily commuting. You need a motorcycle daily driver that’s going to make riding to work easy and enjoyable. That doesn’t mean you need something high-powered.
The mistake I see most people make is they buy too much motorcycle. I mean that in that they buy a motorcycle either too big or a bike with far too much power. Remember it’s more fun to ride a slow bike fast than it is a fast bike slow.
I’d say a motorcycle somewhere from 300cc to 650cc with a little room for luggage or with the ability to add some saddlebags or other motorcycle luggage would do you well. That kind of bike will be able to handle your daily commuting needs and it’s enough power to make the fun weekend trip easy to do.
The Best Bikes to Ride to Work
So, what motorcycles do I recommend for riders looking for the best motorcycle for commuting to work? Here’s a list of my top five picks.
1. Honda Rebel 500
I’m a huge fan of cruiser motorcycles, and I think Honda has one of the best out there in its newest Rebel. The company sells a Rebel 300 and a Rebel 500. I go back and forth on which is truly the better bike, but I’ll say either one will do the job of commuting to work easily.
For the purposes of this article, I’ll focus on the Rebel 500 because I think it’s the best well-rounded machine. It offers a 471cc twin-cylinder engine and user-friendly powerband. This makes it easily usable on the highway or interstate and the bike is small and agile enough to be handy in the city. It’s all around a good motorcycle for commuting. It has a price of $6,299.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
2. Kawasaki Versys 650
If you’re looking for a truly versatile machine, look no further than the Kawasaki Versys 650. This bike is such a perfect blend of types of motorcycles and styles that it’s quite literally one of the most versatile bikes on earth.
This versatility (it’s in the name Versys = Versatile System) make it a fantastic motorcycle for commuting. You get a seat that puts up up high enough to see well, a comfortable seating position and ergonomics, and a strong 649cc parallel-twin engine with fuel injection. It’s a modern bike with modern features and it’s perfect for your daily commute. It has a price of $8.899.
Check it out at Kawasaki’s website.
3. Royal Enfield INT650
I reviewed the Royal Enfield INT650 a while back and I have to say I came away from that review thoroughly impressed with the bike. The machine performed well, and it’s priced right. If I were to go out and buy a bike tomorrow, this one would be at the top of my list.
The bike features a standard style and riding position. You’re able to easily see and the bench seat lets you get comfortable. The bike features a 648cc air and oil-cooled engine that makes plenty of power for a daily commute and is happy at highway speeds or around town. It’s a simple and fun motorcycle with classic styling. The price is $5,999.
Check it out at Royal Enfield’s website.
4. Honda Super Cub C125
This really is the ultimate commuting machine if you don’t have to go on the interstate. The Honda Super Cub C125 is the best-selling motorcycle of all time for a good reason and millions of people have commuted on this machine (or a predecessor featuring essentially the same design) for decades.
Honda has a proven design that’s charming, fun, agile and comfortable. It’s well worth the modest asking price, and the powertrain is practically bulletproof. The bike features a 124cc air-cooled, fuel-injected engine that will simply run forever, the clutchless shifting transmission makes snapping through gears in traffic easy. This bike has a price tag of $3,799.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
5. BMW G 310 GS
It might surprise you to see this bike on here rather than something like the KTM 390 Adventure, which has a lot of buzz around it, but I have to say BMW makes the best adventure bikes, like it or not. This GS isn’t as good as some of the larger version, but dang-it if this isn’t a truly good machine for commuting.
The bike features upright ergonomics that are truly comfortable on the road or elsewhere. The G 310 GS has plenty of power coming from its 313cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. BMW has only continued to refine this bike the longer it’s been out. It’s smoother and more easy to ride than ever, and it looks pretty good too if you’re into ADV styling. It’s more than capable for a daily commute. It has a price tag of $5,695.
Check it out at BMW’s website.
The Most Fuel-Efficient Motorcycles
If you’re really looking to be frugal on gas and therefore your wallet, then you should consider a motorcycle known for its fuel efficiency, and that likely means a Honda. The company has invested in building small, fuel-efficient motorcycles that are a lot of fun to ride. Here are the most fuel-efficient motorcycles out there today.
1. Honda Super Cub C125
Yes, not only does the Honda Super Cub C125 have the features and accolades to be listed in my top five best motorcycles for commuting, it’s also one of the most fuel efficient. This bike gets 188mpg according to Motorcyclist.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
2. Honda Monkey
The Honda Monkey brings retro styling to the superb-fuel-economy game. This little machine shares the same number of 188 mpg as the Honda Super Cub C125, according to Motorcyclist.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
3. Honda Grom
Honda’s Grom is the badass of the MiniMoto line from Honda. The bike is easily customizable and looks pretty mean from the factory—like a fiesty little terrier. It, too, has fantastic fuel economy numbers. According to Motorcyclist, you’re looking at 134 mpg.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
4. Honda Trail 125
The Honda Trail 125 is very similar to the Super Cub, so you might imagine it gets the same mileage, but it doesn’t. Still it’s very close at 112 mpg. This is likely due to the gearing for the dual-sport motorcycle and its less aerodynamic design overall.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
5. Honda Navi
The Honda Navi is the latest addition to the Honda MiniMoto lineup and it’s a fantastic little bike. Built a lot like a scooter but with the overall shape of a motorcycle, the Navi is a fantastic, simple machine. It gets 110.3 mpg, according to Motorcyclist.
Check it out at Honda’s website.
Final Thoughts on Motorcycles for Commuting
The bottom line is that you need to find the right bike for you. Ask yourself the following questions before you buy a motorcycle.
- How fast do I need to go?
- How far do I need to go?
- How efficient do I want the bike to be?
- How much do I want to spend?
- What do I need to be able to bring with me?
If you use honest answers to these questions, you should be able to easily figure out what is the best motorcycle for commuting for you.
