Top five COVID-19 commuters for $5K

Why get coughed on in a train carriage or sit stuck in traffic in a car when you can commute to work by bike? In the COVID-19 era, a motorcycle or scooter represents the epitome of motorised self-isolation – the only thing that beats it is working from home.

If, however, working from home isn't an option, and you're in need of a cheap and reliable 'coronavirus commuter', here we've assembled some new motorcycle and scooter options that will get the job done without fuss and for under five large ride away*.

No motorcycle licence? No problem. All the models below can be ridden on a learner permit, under the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme. Head to your local state or territory's licencing authority for more information on how to get your motorcycle learner permit, and here for some pointers on selecting the right first bike for you.

Related reading:
Buying second-hand amid COVID-19
COVID-19 commuting: why bikes are best
What your motorcycle says about you
Will motorcycling kill me?

Okay, so a 113cc air-cooled single-cylinder isn't bound to get pulses racing, but the Suzuki Address 110 will get you across town and, in heavy traffic, probably no slower than a GSX-R1000. The only scooter currently in Suzuki's Australian line-up, the Address 110 is a basic but entirely capable little commuter, with an attractive price tag and minimal on-going running costs. Of course, as a scooter it comes with the ease of an automatic 'twist-and-go' transmission, plus some underseat storage space and even a couple of glove compartments. It's super easy to manage, weighing just 97kg fully fuelled, and it comes covered by Suzuki's two-year factory warranty. Click here to visit the Suzuki Address 110 in New Bike Showroom.

Honda's humble commuter, the Honda CB125E, has featured prominently on Australian sales charts for years, and for good reason. It's a 'proper' motorcycle, with 18-inch alloy wheels and a five-speed transmission, but it's arguably got a scooter price, at $3295 ride away. This is a back-to-basics bike with a drum rear brake and a carburettor instead of electronic fuel injection, but it's a miserly fuel sipper and a snap for home mechanics to service. There's a reason this model is often seen doing duty for Uber Eats et al – it's simple, it's affordable, it's robust and it gets the job done. Click here to read our review on the Honda CB125E and here to view the Honda CB125E in New Bike Showroom.

So now we're getting a bit fancy – the Suzuki GSX-S125 is basically the same brand's GSX-R125 pint-sized sportsbike, but stripped of some bodywork and with a flat handlebar that's a bit higher than its sibling's clip-ons. That means it's perfect for city commuting, being light, agile and nimble and able to thread its way through tight traffic snarls with ease. It's also quite a smart looker, but still modestly priced at $4190 ride away. It's a fun machine and, like all these models presented here, it won't cost much to run. Click here to read our review of the Suzuki GSX-S125.

The first of a new breed of 'compact bikes' that broke cover a few years back, the Honda GROM is big on the fun factor, light on the back pocket. With a 124cc single-cylinder engine but a low 104kg wet weight, it's actually a hoot to blast about town on a GROM, and the 760mm seat height has proven popular with shorter riders. The downside is that with its small 12-inch wheels, the overall ride height is fairly low and so the GROM doesn't perhaps have quite the same degree of road presence as a full-size bike. Then again, it's not really any different to your average small-capacity scooter in this respect. Honda Australia also lists a 2020 Honda GROM on its website for an extra $550, but the model doesn't appear to have changed from its predecessor bar colour options. The earlier model is still listed too, so grab a cheaper buy while you can! Click here to read our review of the Honda GROM and here to view the model in New Bike Showroom.

Chinese brand CFMoto has made some significant in-roads into the Australian motorcycle, ATV and SSV markets in recent years, and with models like the CFMoto 300NK it's easy to see why. Powered by a 300cc single-cylinder engine, this naked roadster features cutting edge styling by Kiska Design, the Austrian design house behind the look of KTM motorcycle models going back decades. With a six-speed transmission, disc brakes with Continental ABS, electronic fuel injection by Bosch and TFT instrumentation, this is a modern design that goes as well as it looks. And it's all backed by a three-year factory warranty. Click here to view the CFMoto 300NK in New Bike Showroom.

*Prices quoted are ride away, ex-Victoria.