You have decided. After weeks of following this blog and binging on youtube reviews it's time for you to get on two wheels. Some of you might be new riders and others returning to the sport so these bikes are under the $8,000 mark to get you the best value for your money and more importantly so your significant other doesn't kill you. I've tried to include a bike for every crowd so let's dive in.
Yamaha YZF-R3
Photo Courtesy of Yamaha Motor
| Yamaha YZF-R3 | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $4,990 |
| Weight | 368 lbs |
| Engine | 321cc Inline Twin |
| Economy | 56 mpg |
Track days? Track days. If your dream is to drive up to mountains on the weekends for some spirited driving look further than the 2016 Yamaha YZF-R3. This bike is Yamaha's attempt to get your foot in the door to their performance bikes and I'll be damned if it doesn't work. The R3 is extremely light and flickable with excellent stopping power from the two piston caliper up front. The bike is also very slim for a sport bike and provides lots of confidence in traffic. The seat is firm but supportive and at 56 m.p.g. you can't ask for a more sporty commuter bike. Thanks to a high redline and tall gearing the R3 can do relatively comfortable stints at 80mph as long as you opt for a fairing. If there is one thing to take away from this bike it's confidence. This bike will make you feel like a driving god.
Suzuki DR-Z400S
Courtesy of Suzuki USA
| Suzuki DR-Z400S | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $6,599 |
| Weight | 317 lbs |
| Engine | 398cc Single |
| Economy | 55 mpg |
We've all been stuck in traffic before and seen a trail off of the highway we are dying to explore. On the DR-Z400S you can do that! You can do anything! Well, except for go around corners quickly. The DR Is by far the most popular entry to the dual sport world featuring more than 11 inches of suspension travel front and rear. This provides for a very plush ride on the street and allows the DR to tackle any adventure terrain you throw at it. The DR also includes front and rear disk breaks and head shielding on the exhaust. If you want a bike that is at home on the dirt or the highway the DR-Z400S is the one for you.
Yamaha SR400
Courtesy of Yamaha Motor
| Yamaha SR400 | |
|---|---|
| MSRP | $5,990 |
| Weight | 384 lbs |
| Engine | 399cc Single |
| Economy | 66 mpg |
The 70's are back and here to stay! For motorcycles. Put the pleats down. The new Yamaha SR400 is the most affordable modern classic available today for heaps less than anything in the triumph or ducati lineup. This neo retro commuter oozes cool and harkens back to the original SR bikes of the 70's and 80's. Definitely the most chrome heavy of the bunch, the SR is also the most mechanically simple keeping maintenance costs very low. This bike has the lowest seat height of the group making it easy to put both feet down in stop and go traffic. The SR also the most fuel efficient at 66 miles per gallon but the bike has one huge drawback. There is no electric start. That's right. You wanted the retro vibe and you get it with the mandatory kick start. For many this is a deal breaker but I just look at it as less things to go wrong. As long as you don't expect much highway use, this bike is great around town.