Best bike for SF: 600rr or DRZ400SM?

[GirlScout500]

I took a job in SF and will be moving into the city this week. Thing is, I have a choice to what motorcycle I can own and bring with me. Help!

I own a 2003 600rr. I bought it this past December after some schmuck totalled my F4i in Oct. My BF has an 07 DRZ that he's selling..which gives me the choice of keeping the rr or trading him for his DRZ.

I've never lived in any city..and have little experience navigating a bike around SF (I've ridden into SF four times in my life). I'm also a bit paranoid because I was just hit by a car a few months back. I love sport riding though and know I'll be riding into the south bay on the weekends to enjoy pescadero, etc. I'm bugged by the thought of the DRZ not being as speedy or comfortable for longer, more highway prone rides- and having to fuel up every 100 miles. I'm comfortable on both bikes, although I just rode the 600rr to SF yesterday from Davis and avioded giant hills like the plague.

I'll also be making enough money soon that I can enjoy trackdays again.

I can't own both right now- I have to choose. Which one do I keep?

 

[mototireguy]

Riding and parking in SF comes with some risks. Pretty, full fairing, fragile, 100hp bikes are not the best choice for urban assault.

Choose a more durable bike like a dual-sport or supermoto that can take a few hard city knocks without resulting in $$$$ of plastic damage. Also remember to lock up your ride when parked on the street to deter theft.

 

[V4]

if you have long commutes into SF and have private parking, the 600RR...

the DRZ would be better if within the City and an occasional freeway trip...

 

[spdt509]

the answer is both.the rr for the twisties and 'tard for the city.find an apt. with a garage and your all set....:thumbup

 

[J-Boat]

DRZ400sm no question...:thumbup

 

[Z3n]

The DRZ. You don't want to deal with full fairings, etc. in the city. The DRZ will serve you much better.

 

[PunkRockMonkey]

I vote for the DRZ. I live in the Richmond district of SF and used to do a daily commute to downtown. My weapon of choice was a streeted CRF230, complete with street tires & 520 chain. It's the perfect city tool. You get the punch of speed when you need it (20-40mph), parking is a cinch, it swallows potholes all day and dropping it makes you laugh.

If you want to keep the 600, consider getting a used drz or plated, converted dirt bike on craigslist. You're right on the edge of nice weather, so prices ought to be decent.
good luck!

 

[sv2007]

I've never lived in a city, but I've ridden my r6 and sv650 (naked version) in SF. I don't find the hills much more of a problem on the r6, or lane sharing any more difficult. I'm equally comfortable on both. Based, on my own experience and that you have had more seat time on the rr (plus you want to go on weekend road trips and trackdays), the choice is clear: bring the rr.

If you don't have a safe place to store the bike, maybe take off its fairings? You can ride it "naked"; at SF city speeds, it's not like the ram air ducts will be much use anyway

 

[Archimedes]

I have an RR and a 610SM. I would choose the tard over the RR in the city, no question. Not even close.

 

[GirlScout500]

I found an apartment with a two car tandem garage that has room for two cars and three motorcycles, so parking at home won't be an issue. I'd love to have both- but don't have the $$ to do that right now. I guess the question is- which kind of bike should cost more: sportbike or DRZ? I'm sure I could find a dualsport/SM on CL for 3k.

I'm really torn- I love having a sportbike, and just bought this one. The DRZ is a BLAST, but I hate it on the highway (and the seat hurts my ass- aftermarket seat in the future if I go with this one). I'm sure I'll be using whatever bike I keep for riding back and forth to Sac on the weekends, as well as tooling around SF. I don't need to commute on it- I'm within waling distance of work.

I hope there are some great moto-friendly things to do in SF. It'll be nice to be out of the moto-dead-zone of Sacramento. I'm so sick of Lake Berryessa.

 

[Eldritch]

DRZ fo sho.

 

[LongGoneJohn]

A SuperMoto is by far the better city bike.

 

[thesnaf]

keep the RR, since you want it for weekend rides. The DRZ is fun in the city, but the RR should be too.

also plenty of Moto peeps in the City, you'll enjoy the crowd. Don't miss the BARF meet on Wednesday.

 

[Archimedes]

I found an apartment with a two car tandem garage that has room for two cars and three motorcycles, so parking at home won't be an issue. I'd love to have both- but don't have the $$ to do that right now. I guess the question is- which kind of bike should cost more: sportbike or DRZ? I'm sure I could find a dualsport/SM on CL for 3k.

I'm really torn- I love having a sportbike, and just bought this one. The DRZ is a BLAST, but I hate it on the highway (and the seat hurts my ass- aftermarket seat in the future if I go with this one). I'm sure I'll be using whatever bike I keep for riding back and forth to Sac on the weekends, as well as tooling around SF. I don't need to commute on it- I'm within waling distance of work.

I hope there are some great moto-friendly things to do in SF. It'll be nice to be out of the moto-dead-zone of Sacramento. I'm so sick of Lake Berryessa.

Okay, I'll change my answer. If you're going to be doing regular rides from SF to Sacramento, I'd probably choose the RR.

 

[elskipador]

the drz's powerband is much better suited for the hilly strees of sf than the rr. if most of your riding will be in the city or tight curvy roads like 1 north the drz is the way to go.

 

[Sidewalk]

What are you going to spend the most time on, freeway or street? If you go to Sacramento every other weekend compare that to your commute plus errands around town. Since the bikes are probably equally suited for weekend play time, you don't really need to factor that.

I would say the RR only if you could choose one. But in all reality I would rather have a cheap SM/DS for the city and a bike like the RR for everything else. So much easier to throw luggage on the RR and take off for a few days, not so easy with an SM.

 

[Eisernkreuz]

hi Ann! :wave Nice to hear you're all healed up and back in the saddle :cool There's a ton of social gatherings in SF, night rides, all sorts of stuff. I'd stick with the 600RR if it were me; you'll be happier with it once you have to ride back to Sac or hit the twisties on the weekends. Good luck to you in your new place :thumbup

 

[redline]

I took a job in SF and will be moving into the city this week. Thing is, I have a choice to what motorcycle I can own and bring with me. Help!

I own a 2003 600rr. I bought it this past December after some schmuck totalled my F4i in Oct. My BF has an 07 DRZ that he's selling..which gives me the choice of keeping the rr or trading him for his DRZ.

I've never lived in any city..and have little experience navigating a bike around SF (I've ridden into SF four times in my life). I'm also a bit paranoid because I was just hit by a car a few months back. I love sport riding though and know I'll be riding into the south bay on the weekends to enjoy pescadero, etc. I'm bugged by the thought of the DRZ not being as speedy or comfortable for longer, more highway prone rides- and having to fuel up every 100 miles. I'm comfortable on both bikes, although I just rode the 600rr to SF yesterday from Davis and avioded giant hills like the plague.

I'll also be making enough money soon that I can enjoy trackdays again.

I can't own both right now- I have to choose. Which one do I keep?

Just to be clear, your bringing the bike but not the boyfriend, right? :love SJ is much closer to SF than Sac...I'm just sayin'

Okay, leghumping out of the way. So, I agree with Stan23 that you won't enjoy riding to Sac on the DRZ more than a few times, but they sure are fun around town & easy to park in a downtown type of place.

One riding tip for downtowns: I've been riding for a bunch of years, but I'm always amazed at how slippery the light rail tracks are in any kind of rain or fog. They are like riding over oil! Plus they insist on putting them at weird angles to the road.

The DRZ is noticeably narrower for splitting & parking on the street. But, with trips to Sacramento on bike in your plans, I'd lean toward the sportbike. :thumbup

Sorry about your accident. Hope you healed up okay & hope you get to do a bunch of trackdays. :ride

 

[Z3n]

Hrm, in light of the additional information, I'd have to swing back to the RR camp. The DRZ would be great around town, but if most of your riding isn't going to be around town, it wouldn't be in it's element.

 

[Ozymandias]

I would have to say stick with the RR myself. I have my KLR for the SM type riding and my GS for more fun stuff. But if you're stuck to only 1 option, I'd definitely stick with the RR for the longer rides. Any dirt bike will give you a case of monkeybutt after sitting in the saddle for an hour or so. While they are more nimble at lower speeds than a sportbike if you're still going to be heading out and attacking the pavement on a regular basis I would say keep the tool that you're more comfortable with until you can afford to have a second one.