Crikey, I got another bike (hello)

[dirtsk8]

Hi, my name's Paul and I'm a bikeaholic.:cyclops:

I passed my test in 1997, bought an ancient GS450, then an equally old XJ6, upgraded to a new 2000CBR6 (the sporty one) and finally, in 2004, The mighty SP-1.

Sold the SP-1 in 2007 due to financial difficulties and the fact that my mountainbiking obsession was taking over my life.

Now, months later, I can go no further. I wasn't cut out to be a pedestrian. Or worse, a car driver. Now, I find myself exitedly awaiting the arrival of a 2002 SV650 SK2. On friday, to be exact. I bought it on Sunday past at Two Wheels in Edinburgh. Christ, I'm like a kid at xmas again in the middle of this anxious wait that seems to be taking forever. I got an even better surprise tonight, because, after recently hitting the ripe old age of 40, I found that fully comp insurance for the SV is only £119! Bonus.:smt045

The SP-1 insurance was £600.

How will the twin powerhouse of the SV feel after the, frankly disturbingly scary SP-1 twin? That was the last bike I rode and that was last year..

Sorry for the life story, btw :cool:

cheers

Paul

PS, the SV is coming supplied with a brand new condition rear Givi top box and rack if anyone wants to swap it for some goodies like a screen or hugger (or a can?)

[MiniMatt]

Howdy, welcome etc :D Good choice :D

There has to be some benefit to getting old eh? Admittedly, cheap insurance is the only one I've found so far as well :D

I've found that every bike I've owned, I've always wished it had just a teensy bit more power. Now admittedly I've not owned anything with more than 100 horsies but I've owned fruitier bikes than the SV and to be honest, the SV is pretty much exactly as good a bike as I am a rider - the bike runs out of talent just about the same time as I do. Now, sure I could go faster on a better bike but I'm always left with the feeling that a bike designed for the likes of Rossi is secretly tutting at the indignity of having to put up with the likes of me :D

As for the difference between the SP1 and the SV - well I've only ever sat on a stationary SP1 but I can tell that the SV is a damn sight more comfy. The engine is definitely the SV's strong point, obviously nothing like the SP1 but in the real world the only time I miss extra horses is when I'm in lazy commuting mode in 5th or 6th gear and open the throttle for an overtake without dropping down a cog - in every other situation in the real world I think you'll find the SV is more than fine and is content to put a grin on your face rather than a brief grin followed by a slightly scared grimmace.

What you will miss from the CBR & the SP1 will be the suspension. The SV bouncy bits aren't bad as such but are definitely where the money was saved. Dependent upon your pie intake you'll likely find the front very soft and regardless of pies it's pretty poorly damped. By no means dangerous but it starts showing it's limits, wheras I suspect the CBR and SP1 will never really show their suspension limits to mere mortals. All that's on a brand new fresh out of the crate SV, so given yours has had 6 years you might find it'd appreciate some fresh fork oil.

Oh, and it took me a while to get used to the brakes too. Again they're not at all weak, they're just slightly different. I was used to a one or two finger brush on the lever instantly planting my face in the clocks, with the SV it's more like a good two fingered squeeze will do the same - braking force is still very good, it's just achieved in a little less vicious way, and if you're used to the vicious way they'll feel weak for a little while.

[dirtsk8]

Hi there and thanks for the comprehensive reply. I'm really looking forward to Friday, now
;). Just getting out again will be good enough for me, no matter what kind of bike it's on. I'm particularly looking forward to the grunty poke that make for quick corner exit speeds.

cheers

Pauly

[Baph]

I got an even better surprise tonight, because, after recently hitting the ripe old age of 40, I found that fully comp insurance for the SV is only £119! Bonus.:smt045
I'm only 25, and insurance isn't that much more for where you are. It's down to where you live. :)

Welcome to the mad-house! Word of warning: Bear.

[anna]

welcome to the .org mmmmmmmmm i'm certainly jealous of that insurance premium!! :(

[stewie]

Hi mate, welcome aboard, nice choice of bike, you,ll love it :D

[Jayneflakes]

:smt077
Welcome to the Org,

Nice bike you got there, but what MTB do you have too?

My SV is sat in my Garage, because I can only ride on private ground at the mo, but when I ride it, she is gorgeous. Comfy for the first 120 miles, then she gets a bit buzzy through the pegs.

The Pillion seat is great for the lucky girl/guy who gets the back seat (on mine, usually me!) and there is even room for a set of soft panniers.

By the way, it is not just Bear you need to worry about...:smt045 There are others too...












:smt100 I am locked in the basement with the Gimp again!

[Speedy Claire]

Hiya and welcome :D

[phil24_7]

Hi ya and welcome.

That's odd, I'm considering buying an SP-2 for a sunny sunday toy!

I'd love to swap your givi and rack (as long as it's the one that replaces the pillion seat)

What sort of things will you bee needing and I'll see what I cn source!

[phil24_7]

Oh, and insurance for a 29 year old with 1 years nc and only had license for 1 year, who lives in Plymouth is only................£108! :-D

[dirtsk8]

Thanks for the friendly welcomes, folks! :)

@ Jayneflakes: My mtb is a Specialized FSR XC Pro with 130mm Rock Shox
Revelations on the front. I'm currently training for the Merida MTB Marathon '08, but my fitness has plummeted since I was sidelined with a chest infection last month. That's my excuse anyway;)

@phil24_7: I'm looking for a can or a screen or a tail-tidy in exchange for the rack and box. You can see it in the for sale thread.

[Sosha]

Woohooo new bike.

Recntly got a new bike myself - now have 2 but am now sitting in the hypocrites corner due to telling everyone who's ever asked not to get a 400 as they are old and carp.


(checked both boxes there then)

[Filipe M.]

Bem vindo ao manicomio!

[joshmac]

Oh, and insurance for a 29 year old with 1 years nc and only had license for 1 year, who lives in Plymouth is only................£108! :-D

That's disgusting mate!! :smt019 :lol:

[phil24_7]

Thanks Josh.

[ThEGr33k]

Oh, and insurance for a 29 year old with 1 years nc and only had license for 1 year, who lives in Plymouth is only................£108! :-D

And you are wanting to get a bigger bike already. Mad ed. :p

[phil24_7]

Had a license for a year and a half now, done over 7 thousand miles and want another bike to keep my sv company!!

Luckily I have (some) common sense and a strong sense of morality so I can (just about) keep myself in check! (That's if you ignore my 158 comment in my test ride thread!!! :-D)

[ThEGr33k]

Id done about 35000 miles by the time I got my Falco... 25K of those on the sv. I still scared myself when I first rode the Falco.

If you feel upto a bigger bike then fair enough. Whats the insurance going to be like for you?

Oh sorry... Welcome to the forums Dirtsk8. The difference when you go to the SV will be noticable in the max power but im sure you will enjoy throwing the bike around like a mad Ed. :D

[phil24_7]

Bout 800 for the RSV-R Factory with cans and stage 2 chip (though I should be able to get that down) and probably 2-300 for the CBR.

[Jayneflakes]

@ Jayneflakes: My mtb is a Specialized FSR XC Pro with 130mm Rock Shox Revelations on the front. I'm currently training for the Merida MTB Marathon '08, but my fitness has plummeted since I was sidelined with a chest infection last month. That's my excuse anyway;)

I have a similar excuse, I went into Hospital in 06 for a big op and am still recovering (laying in bed and eating biscuits has nothing to do with it!), which is why I can hardly ride up hill any more.

My Giant is gorgeous, Bombers on the front and Hope Disks. I built the wheels myself, hope on Mavics and DB spokes. First ride out I raced a friend down hill on Dartmoor and dented my rear rim... :( Mind you I beat him by five minutes! :D

[dirtsk8]

Well, the Big Day (TM) is here. And it's peeeeeing down.

As you do, I've been up for an hour already (and it's only 7.45am ;-) ) and the rain hasnt stopped. I stick on Sky Weather and the very attractive presenter only has unnatractive words for my ears. It should clear up by the start of next week. No promises, mind. That's no good to me - I need it to be dry and warm right now so I can bring my new baby home from the bike shop..

Oh well, a ride in winter jacket and waterproofs is still a ride. Especially when I would normally be working.

40 miles home in the rain. On an unfamiliar bike. Trying to remember how to look for deisel spills.

**Deep breath** Let's do it!!

:pig::pig:

[Gary C]

Good luck

[Alpinestarhero]

Hi ya and welcome.

That's odd, I'm considering buying an SP-2 for a sunny sunday toy!



Oh golly, me too!!!!

Hello newbie, welcome to the forum. Why get rid of the topbox rack? I find mine very usefull...for carrying my topbox :D

[phil24_7]

Just don't put a top box on it!

[Tim in Belgium]

Hello and welcome, hope you've got back with the bike ok.

When I picked up my SV it was the first time I had ridden at night, it's all an adventure. So what do you think of the little SV then?

[dirtsk8]

Well, here goes. I know my opinion is of no consequence, but it'll be good for me at least to record my thoughts here and look back on them in the future to see how, if at all, they've changed.

First, when we arrived at the bike shop today, the bike was in the bike park next to the rest of the customer machines and bikes going out. The immediate thing I noticed was how much smaller, physically, it was parked next to the Blackbird and ZX-10 in the yard. Then, because it was the first time I'd seen it outside in natural daylight, the tail, tank and fairing all appear to be ever so slightly different shades of blue. Hackles suitably raised, we sought the advice of the sales guy who was dealing with other customers and he said it was a trick of the light. I'm not so sure.:^o

ANYway - we did the deal and I got to fire her up. Sweet sounding, crisp, clean and tight. Responsive throttle and that unmistakable agricultural rattle that only twins seem to throw out. I sat at the carpark junction blipping the throttle, feeling kind of glad that there was tons of passing traffic blocking my exit. It meant that the sales guy would have gone back inside out of the rain and was not watching me to see if I could still ride a bike after months of inactivity :? (hey! - I'm not paranoid, everyone else just thinks I am....)

When I sat on the bike at first it was like an old sofa that you sink into, rather than sit ontop of. Instead of marking that up as another negative, I found that strangely appealing. Comforting, even. Finally, we were off and any worries I may have had evaporated within seconds as it all came flooding back. I think, because of my inactivity in the last few months, this made the SV seem pretty nippy and quick off the mark. The joys of filtering are a joy exclusive to bikers. How I've missed it! Approaching my first proper junction, I put one finger on the brake lever, pulled a tad, put two fingers on the lever and pulled some more, then three, then all four, Jeez this thing has no brakes! Then we came to a grudging halt at the line. I made a mental note to adjust my reaction time acordingly.

We decided to take the extra long way home, because the torrential rain in Edinburgh and black skies seemed to be getting left behind the further SouthEast we rode. So, the A1 South it is, me and my new pal decided in unison. I realised about 20 minutes into the journey that I was changing gear like I was driving a car, that is, by sound and/or roughly 5k revs :? Once I corrected that (with some embarrasment) the whole day suddenly became far more interesting. Coincidently, the sun appeared at exactly the same time as my slightly embarrassed grin and we hit 3 figures for the first time.

I got home after a 100 mile round trip, totally exhausted and with tired wrists, but feeling pretty pleased with myself. And, for me at least, that's the whole point. My first impressions of the SV are this: It's soft and soggy, has brakes that wouldn't pull a squaddie off a prosser and flat out couldn't match my SP-1 in third, BUT, for the life of me, I already love it like it's one of my offspring. I sure as heck didn't bond with any of my previous bikes so soon and so intensely. Am I weird for saying that? We went out again tonight for a little blast to sort out the in-laws' IT problem and what sould have been a 10 mile round trip turned into 40. Well, I had to check the lights out. My final thought as I put her away tonight was that I'm so glad I didn't buy the '99 Fazer I so very nearly did that was next to the SV in the showroom.



**edit** I just read that back - sorry for the rambling and well done if you got to the end :D:cat:

Paul

[richie95]

Hi welcome, love the SV, i am over 40, i pay by DD so have to pay a bit on top, last year i paid 14 a month, they have sent me a new premium (i aint claimed) and its now 22 per month... cant understand that, i am over 40, garage crime free (ish) area.... dont understand myself... spose i will have to ring them, i hate talking to them though...

[Tim in Belgium]

Just hoping it's second hand otherwise your running in procedure leaves a little to be desired ;)

I'll have to stop by your way for a blast next time I'm up north, my mum lives just outside of Hawick.

[dirtsk8]

I'll have to stop by your way for a blast next time I'm up north, my mum lives just outside of Hawick.

Yeah, T - that would be awesome. Hawicks only 18 miles from here.

[ThEGr33k]

Glad you liked it :D