Which courier bike?
By Fraser Stronach
The courier comes back
Motorcycle couriers have been around since the end of the First World War when former military despatch riders used their skills and experience to create a new form of peacetime employment. However, motorcycle couriers really came into their own when the protracted Royal Mail strike in the UK in 1971 forced businesses to look for an alternate means of getting documents and small parcels from A to B.
This golden age of motorcycle couriers didn't last long, as the advent of the fax machine in the 1980s and then email in the 1990s took away much of the courier business. But things are changing. Increasing traffic congestion has seen the use of motorcycle couriers once again on the rise.
Choosing a courier bike
If you ask a group of motorcycle couriers "what makes a good courier bike" you're likely to ignite a debate as animated as if you'd asked, "who has the best bike?"
However, there are a few common themes that define what most couriers see as the perfect courier bike. First up it must be reliable, economical, cheap to run and easy to service. It also has to be comfortable to ride, adequately powerful without being too heavy, and nimble and easy to manoeuvre. The ease of fitting lockable panniers or a topbox is also important while weather protection is nice, although perhaps more important for a courier in Melbourne than in Brisbane. Motorcycle manufacturers don't necessarily design their bikes for courier work but a quick look at what's on offer reveals quite a few likely candidates.
As a rule, twin-cylinder bikes in the 250cc to 800cc range are probably the best options for a life of pick-ups and deliveries. They are smoother running than a big single yet cheaper and lighter than four-cylinder bikes. Of course, you can make an argument for a single, or a small to medium capacity four; it just depends on your situation and preferences.
Current model couriers from the Japanese majors
Suzuki's GS500 parallel twin is a long-time courier favourite as it is a simple, robust design with an enviable reputation for reliability and longevity. Over at Honda the CBF250 is a good budget offering for inner-city work while the new CB400 is a practical alternative if you need more power in a bigger, more comfortable bike. Still at Honda, but a big step up in comfort and with the added appeal of weather protection, lockable panniers and topbox and shaft drive, is the NT700V Deauville, a very popular courier bike in Europe and the UK.
Also offering the option of sturdy (aluminium) lockable panniers and topbox is BMW's new F800R. It's expensive, but it is also very good.
Kawasaki's newly released ER-6n (a 650cc parallel twin) also looks to have what it takes to cut it as a courier bike while Yamaha's offerings include the budget-buy XV250 and, for those who want more performance, the XJ6N. And finally, again for those on a budget, the Hyosung GT650 V-twin shouldn't be overlooked.
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