7 beaut commuters

1. Ducati Scrambler
The king of the hipster bike, any one of the various versions of Ducati's 803cc Scrambler would make a mean commuter. Not least because there's enough oomph to ensure you're on the attack and not in defensive mode in the kill-or-be-killed homeward-bound traffic, but not too much so that it's overkill for the purpose you need it to serve. It carries its weight down low in the frame, it's intuitive at low speeds, it boasts a comfy, flat and soft seat and you'll have more than a few car drivers secretly wishing they're you as you burble past their open window. Oh, and there's a LAMS-approved version available, too.

Click here to see the Ducati Scrambler on Bikesales.com.au.

2. Suzuki DR-Z400SM
If your daily commute comes about as a result of a first job or a studying scenario, then Suzuki's dirt bike for the road is possibly the entry on this list that boasts the best price/performance ratio. The jewel is its dirt bike stature; narrow and lightweight, it's tall enough to let you see above the traffic to help you plot your next move. It carries a relatively inexpensive retail price if it's a new bike you're after, but it's also a relatively safe second-hand option due to its un-killable nature. The single-cylinder grunt will thread you through traffic beautifully and its raspy exhaust will ensure you're audible, too. And yes, it's LAMS approved.

Click here to see the Suzuki DR-Z400SM on Bikesales.com.au.

3. Honda Grom
What the LAMS-approved Grom lacks in stature it more than makes up for in other areas – price, for example. With its sub-$3500 price tag (plus ORC), it probably works out less expensive than a year's worth of public transport tickets and the coffee you purchase to pass the time. Its 125cc four-stroke engine has the goods to get you out of any trouble (but still enough to get you into trouble, too), its brake and suspension componentry are a long way away from its toy-ish looks and its 105kg weight and 12-inch wheels make it about as nimble as you can get in a modern-day bike.

Click here to see the Honda Grom on Bikesales.com.au.

4. Ducati Hyperstrada
Speaking of nimble, the lead-with-your-chin demeanor of Ducati's Hyperstrada makes for a highly credentialed commuter bike. Because not only is your ride home benefitting enormously from the Narrowness and agility of a motard, the standard-fitment luggage and small screen is removing some of the cons this style of bike sometimes presents to commuters. While its 939cc V-twin engine will love playing in the traffic, its brand-new price tag might deter the true commuters, but it is the sort of bike that has the ability coax you out of bed on a sunny Sunday morning for a quick blast in the hills.

Click here to see the Ducati Hypermotard on bikesales.com.au.

5. Yamaha MT-09
Or any of the Japanese firm's naked MT range, for that matter. Available in the learner-approved single-cylinder 300cc and parallel-twin 700cc versions as well as a 900cc triple or a 1000cc inline-four, all of the MT range's intuitive and upright riding positions will make navigating through tight spaces easy, but we reckon it's the triple-cylinder variant that'll have you arriving at your desk with the biggest grin after your wide-eyed commute. Its 820mm seat height is by no way intimidating, likewise its 193kg wet weight, and while its current model price tag of upwards of $12,000 might turn off a few would-be commuters, the thing was and is so popular, a tidy second-hand jobbie with low kays will be easy to find.

Click here to see the Yamaha MT-09 on Bikesales.com.au.

6. Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport
You simply can't look past a scooter for their ease and convenience on an everyday commute: a twist-and-go throttle, both brakes on both hands and all of that under-seat storage. For some, however, with a step-through style motorcycle comes a certain stigma. But what a lot of scoots can seemingly lack in credibility and coolness, the largest (and sportiest) in the segment's most recognisable brand can (for some) go a long way in righting those hipster wrongs. It's powered by a 278cc single-cylinder engine, it's learner approved and it even offers big-bike safety features like ABS and traction control as standard.

Click here to see the Vespa GTS 300 Super Sport

7. Royal Enfield Classic 500
For me, the Royal Enfield's 'personality' plays the same role in thick, raging traffic as the ABC's Classic FM does to some tin-top drivers. Because any time on a Royal Enfield, even five past five on a Friday arvo, reminds its rider of why we love motorcycling and makes us grateful we no longer have our noses to the nine-to-five grindstone. Its loping 500cc single-cylinder engine beating beneath you is just the tonic for tuning out to the week's stresses and where more than a few folk were wishing they were you on the aforementioned Scrambler, cars will be moving over to let you through when filtering on Classic 500. It, too, is learner approved.

Click here to see the Royal Enfield Classic 500 on Bikesales.com.au.