I commute on my RR10 ABS every day, country roads, fast dual carriage way and central London, approx 350 miles per week. My personal opinions, others may find different... Pros: - IMHO it's the best bike available for filtering through tight gaps: nothing gets through traffic like a fireblade with folded mirrors - Fast and amusing to ride: more fun than peasant-carrier pubic transport - with the top-box on the back no-one messes: most other bikes give me a wide berth and I don't have too many knobs racing me and getting in my way (I am an impatient knob) - if you reverse it in to a wall when parking it, or a car when paddling around traffic, the first thing to hit is the rear tyre, so doesn't do any damage. I like that - Brakes are confidence inspiring, and the ABS is handy this time of year. I never thought I needed it, but I like it now I have it - Honda reliability and build quality means I have total faith in it (essential for a commuter - I'm too old for bump starting, carrying jump leads and doing bodge repairs in the cold and wet, plus I have a sprog to collect each day, so breakdowns are extra grief - it's very small so fits easily in small spaces and against walls in the underground car park at work - it's one of the easiest sports bikes to fit a top box too, albeit with a home built rack (means a lot to me, I like to carry stuff) Cons: - commuting on sports bikes is expensive: consumables, fuel etc..., not mention the depreciation if you do the miles I do - occasionally depressing watching a previously lovely shiny black bike get scratched and knackered from the odd minor scrape, salt and grit from the roads, cyclists scraping it etc... - theft: carrying a lock is a pain, and probably pointless as the magpies will get it if they want it. I have garage parking at work, but I wont ride if I have to visit people and there isn't secure parking. This make it a little pointless for journey other than my daily commute, or riding for fun. It's a hindrance, and the main reason I'm thinking of buying an old VFR - ABS is a bit annoying when I'm filtering because the lever comes back to the bar from time to time, but I'm used to it now and it can be improved when I can be bothered to sod about with MCs and braided lines. - It's not comfortable, I've ridden worse and you get used to it riding every day, but as I get older it bothers me more - no storage at all - the rear tyre flings loads of water and road shit up my back in the rain: not had a bike do that before, seems to be the small rear end and removal of the standard number plate holder. - headlights could be better. The full beam is separately adjustable, which is handy, but it could be brighter through the lanes (my R1 was better) - I get carried away from time to time and have points as a result. Me not the bike, but from time to time I give up sports bikes for that reason and try other bikes. I still have an XR650R in the garage I don't use - no traction control: it's way too powerful for slimy autumn lanes and having binned it in the wet at Cadwell and lost a little confidence in my right hand (first time I've binned a bike when I wasn't in a rush), I'm actually wondering if traction control wouldn't be handy with this sort of BHP - jerky fuelling with can fitted, but that can be fixed with a PCIII or V I suppose - mirrors are cack: better than some sports bikes, but still cack In short: I love sports bikes and I love the blade, but it's far from perfect out of the box (IMHO) and it's a massive compromise, but one I'm happy to make. The fact I might buy a VFR says more about my age than anything else.
Add to my massive post: mine burns oil. Not at the rate that some do, but I have to keep an eye on it. It's a bit like owning an old shitter in that respect: constantly wondering if the oil needs topping up. Plus I prefer oil windows to fiddly dipsticks and the oil light never comes on, even when the oil is no longer on the dipstick, so you have to check it.
Nice post mate, similar commuting routine to yours, got to be honest, you have traction control already, its attached at the end of your lower right arm bone, its got 5 long things attached called fingers, its all you need my friend, and if that front tyre starts to slide or back tyre starts to spin up, they are directly connected to the part that you sit on, if your in full working order, you should have no problems Safe commuting this winter
