Choosing the Best Motorcycle for Van Life

What happens when you decide to travel full-time in a van, camper, or converted bus? Which motorcycle should you take when space is limited?

It is estimated that a million Americans live a nomadic lifestyle in RVs and other mobile homes, and this way of living has only grown in popularity over the past year. Emerging technologies like SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet can expand the range of remote workers, while Instagram and other social media platforms showcase enticing images of nomadic life. Additionally, the initial costs for converting affordable vans or buses are much lower than those for houses, especially with some cash incentives and thrifty building guides on YouTube. Trading walls for wheels is no longer a fringe idea.

Most of my friends who have tried this lifestyle have used modified vans and cars like Sprinters, Astros, and even a Honda Element to escape the rat race. The outlier is my friend, who recently bought a retired short bus. Being a lifelong motorcyclist, his bus setup raised the central question of this article: what is the best motorcycle for today’s van-life and camper-bus nomads? He couldn’t find a definitive answer, so let’s explore his options. But first, a bit of background and criteria.

Life on the Road

He plans to live in his 2002 Chevy short bus for a few years instead of buying or renting a place. He says that wild economic swings, as well as the housing market, encouraged him to pursue life on the road. Traveling is one of his greatest passions.

“Spending that kind of money right now [on a house], only to be stuck in one place with all my money going to a mortgage instead of savings and travel… it’s tough,” he said. “I see so many advantages to living this way for a while. I’m spending less money, I can go where I want, and I can travel seasonally.”

Life on the road will also be an education in mechanical and practical learning. He’s never owned a diesel before, let alone a bus, but motorcycles have prepared him for basic operations and maintenance. He grew up with dirt bikes and then moved to street riding with a supermoto.

So, What’s the Right Bike?

His needs are similar to most people living in conversions and campers. He wants something compact for his primary transportation once the bus is parked. Because of his job, he might spend weeks or months in one place. Price also matters, as he needs most of his budget for the bus and its new interior. He has a budget of $5,000 for the bike, new or used. The motorcycle will go on a tow hitch, but it would be great if it could fit through the narrow rear emergency door of the bus for safety.

He expects short local trips that avoid highways, though the faster the bike, the better. Anything on two wheels will get better gas mileage than the bus, he jokes. And he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for dirt, so a bit of dual-sport capability would be great. Low maintenance is preferable.

Top Picks: Honda Grom, Kawasaki Z125, or Honda Monkey

The Honda Grom and Monkey top his list. These are among the most compact street motorcycles, along with the Kawasaki Z125, at about 70 inches by 30 inches. (A fender eliminator kit could make them even shorter.) Parking the bike inside the bus is the closest thing to a secure garage while on the road, making these options even more appealing. They aren’t dirt bikes, but Shinko makes Mobber tires for light off-roading. The aftermarket for these bikes, especially the Grom, offers many cargo rack options.

Utility Choice: Honda CT125

The compactness of the 125 mini is hard to ignore, but so is the utility of the Honda CT125. It’s the short bus of motorcycles, all sharp edges and straightforward utility. You get two class-leading racks, a snorkel, factory crash guards, and full-sized wheels in a light, slim package, all within budget. You can add racks to it. You can add grids to the racks you’ve added, then add milk crates. A major downside is it likely won’t fit inside the bus, and this applies to nearly all other choices besides the minis.

If it were my bus project and my budget, this is probably the bike I’d buy.

Underdog Choice: Suzuki VanVan 200

The Suzuki VanVan 200 probably flopped in the US because not enough potential buyers sat on one. The VanVan has the plushest seat south of 1,200 cc, and it would look great ratchet-strapped to the back of a converted short bus. Since Suzuki discontinued them, prices have dropped well below the Monkey’s MSRP, though the VanVan has similar styling, more legroom, and more power. Plus, it’s called VanVan. That has to count for something.

If you love dirt, hate maintenance, and don’t mind shopping around, you can score one of these classics in good shape for less than your budget.

Blasts from the Past: Suzuki DR200 and Yamaha TW200

While there are some wonderful vintage two-strokes out there that could work, a stressed four-stroke seems the safer choice. Why not consider 200 cc playbikes? Suzuki’s DR and Yamaha’s TW were hits when they debuted, and their solid designs have remained in production for decades. Five thousand dollars will easily cover one of these bikes, plus a rear rack and some simple luggage. The TW gives you a fat rear tire, but the DR is more like a three-quarter scale dual-sport.

Scooter Option: Honda ADV150

The ADV150 can do 70 mph flat-out, carry cargo, and venture off-road. It fits the budget. If you can look past its 77-inch length and 300-pound weight, perhaps the ADV150 is the best answer here, as it’s easily the most sophisticated mini-ADV on the market. To this day, I still can’t believe Honda gave us this gem. Just read Zack’s review of the Honda ADV150 and see what you think. It also offers the best storage capacity of any bike here, with 27 liters under the seat. Throw a top box on it, and you’ll be making serious grocery runs.

Electric?

He’s open to electric vehicles but has never seen an electric bike worth the trouble of upgrading his electrical system to handle the charging demands. His limited solar power will go to other systems, and he’s not interested in using a generator to charge an electric bike because it’s simply not right.

So, What Will It Be?

Among the options listed here, he initially favored the Grom, then reconsidered the CT125. There are many good options, but which is the best? Is there another option you would prefer?

When he first brought the bus home, I had to see what he had gotten into, and as I climbed the steps and imagined the shell without the seats, I think I saw what he sees in his old, quirky bus. It’s the same thing John Steinbeck saw from the seat of his camper, Rocinante, 60 years ago: “I saw in their eyes something I would see over and over in every part of the nation: a burning desire to go, to move, to get underway, anyplace, away from any here. I saw this look and heard this yearning everywhere in every state I visited.”

As motorcyclists, it’s easy to understand.

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