To SV or Not to SV that is the question!

[Old Git]

Self & Son just passed test yesterday (Friday 13th!!!):cheers:have been looking on this site & picking tips etc. but now is the big question..........
I have the legal paperwork, is the SV a good bike for 2 newbies?
One is a 6'2" old git:batman:, one is a 6' 17 year old :twisted:who is restricted to 33BHP.
I could go out & buy say a Ninja 250 to comply with the BHP regs, but reasoned that a restricted 'big bike' would have larger rubber, better brakes etc.etc.
Is my dad logic sound??
Is the SV a good bike for beginners?
Have seen a '99 restricted curvey that could be of interest.
Your expertise gentlemen if poss. would be appreciated.:confused:

[wilky007]

congrats on passing
I passed sept last year and i got my sv in oct i have found very easy to ride and easy to manage and they are plentry of nice ones out there happy hunting

[the_lone_wolf]

I could go out & buy say a Ninja 250 to comply with the BHP regs, but reasoned that a restricted 'big bike' would have larger rubber, better brakes etc.etc.

Considering the Ninja weighs almost as much as an SV the brakes and handling are probably going to be similar, the ninja is also insurance group 9 so it's not going to be that much cheaper than the SVS to insure (Group 11)

The massive benefit to an SV is that in 2 years when your restriction is over you can just pop the ECU/carb restriction out and you've got a "new" bike with more than double the power but that you're familiar with the controls and handling

Oh, and I'm not just saying all this because mine's for sale!!!:mrgreen:

[Old Git]

Thanks for the note, thought never crossed my mind about the 4sale!!!
Yours is great looking bike, but after I have paid for 2 lots of tests, training etc.etc. the bank is a little low on funds, yours is just a bit out of my price range, but looks a bargain.

[the_lone_wolf]

Yours is great looking bike, but after I have paid for 2 lots of tests, training etc.etc. the bank is a little low on funds, yours is just a bit out of my price range, but looks a bargain.

no worries, there's lots of bikes out there and it's a buyers marker at the moment:cool:

[Frank]

SVs are a good bike to start out on.I personally think though that a 4 cylinder bike is much smoother and easier to ride ,and is less "snatchy" on the throttle.
BUT.........If you can get used to the more snatchy(because its a Vtwin)throttle then the SV is a nicer bike to ride restricted.The torque is felt much lower in the revs which helps if you have only 33 bhp.

[petevtwin650]

I would say the Sv would be an excellent choice for you both. It works very well restricted and is a physically bigger bike than the Ninja. I suppose you want to go riding out together otherwise one Sv would be the better bet for you both to share.

Oh, and well done for kicking superstition in the nuts.

[thefallenangel]

go with the SV. When things break on the SV, there's cheap spares unlike the ninja. When you buy an SV if you buy private come on here and you'll find the restrictor for £50 ish or free if you pick you bike up from a suzuki dealership.

Right now if you wanted brand spanking new you can get an SVSport for about £4200 if you haggle well if not cheaper. I know it's £1k more than the ninja but that's if you want new.

2nd hand you can find an 04 SV with 2k on the clock for £2200 which is 1k cheaper than the Ninja. SV is more of a beginners bike than the 250r because of how easy restricting is, spares are and to me more fun ride and saves having to buy another bike in 2 years time.

Go find a decent 2nd hand FI SV and you'll have minimal problems with it for 20k(if not more) if serviced.

[dizzyblonde]

SVs are a good bike to start out on.I personally think though that a 4 cylinder bike is much smoother and easier to ride ,and is less "snatchy" on the throttle.



what is this snatchiness on the throttle that people keep going on about on the SV??.....personally I think it must be all about your hands, never experienced 'snatchy throttle' on either of mine:confused:

Old Git, congratulations to both, an SV is perfect for the both of you, restricted or not:cheers:

[shonadoll]

what is this snatchiness on the throttle that people keep going on about on the SV??.....personally I think it must be all about your hands, never experienced 'snatchy throttle' on either of mine:confused:

Old Git, congratulations to both, an SV is perfect for the both of you, restricted or not:cheers:

My OH rode mine and complained bitterly about the throttle-I'm used to it. It's very on/off, not much progression, but maybe it's more apparent on the pointies.

Apart from that, great bike, I had mine restricted and it went well.

[Old Git]

Fallenangel, thanks for the support, been out locally to see a few bikes of all types, sit-on, dream etc. if you know of any '04 SV's @ £2,200 with only 2K on the clock, post me a phone number, nearest I found was a '05 @ £3K with 15K on, OK in a dealership but the diff. will pay the insurance.

[Frank]

http://forums.sv650.org/showpost.php?p=1780719&postcount=10
bit of a distance but for that price...

[Alpinestarhero]

My sv was restricted to 33 bhp for the full 2 years i had to be restricted. It was quite happy being thrashed about (although no point in going over 7500 rpm, no power there) as well as being loaded up with a full topbox and tankbag and riding 130 miles to somerset (AR08 :cheers:) with my girlfriend on the back at 80 mph most of the way. Quite easily hit 100 mph, and I spent 50 odd motorway miles once at over 100 mph following my dad (GSXR750) and my mate (ZX-6R) to a race meeting. With a full topbox.

RE: milage; low milage might seem attractive, but think about what things could get seized up on a bike that is just left sitting in the corner of a garage most of the gear. A bike with higher milage will have been thouroughly run in, had a few services and any niggles sorted (you would hope), and will be running really well. A bike left sitting most of the time might, for example, have a duff battery..

[AmigaNut]

My OH rode mine and complained bitterly about the throttle-I'm used to it. It's very on/off, not much progression, but maybe it's more apparent on the pointies.

Apart from that, great bike, I had mine restricted and it went well.

I found it so like your OH after being on the GS but the more you use it the more control you get. It's just a learnig thing.

Bet it will be the same when i hop on th SV in the spring after 4-5 months of the GS again.

[AndyW]

I went from a CG125 to an unrestricted SV650S. It takes a little bit of time ( 2 hours riding...) to get used to opening the throttle and the bike moving instantly, and whatever you do, don't twist the wrist violently.

The only catch is the road tax, max motorbike road tax starts at...600CC, so you're paying the same as the litre bikes. Insurance is a lot cheaper than them though.

[Old Git]

I went from a CG125 to an unrestricted SV650S. It takes a little bit of time ( 2 hours riding...) to get used to opening the throttle and the bike moving instantly, and whatever you do, don't twist the wrist violently.

The only catch is the road tax, max motorbike road tax starts at...600CC, so you're paying the same as the litre bikes. Insurance is a lot cheaper than them though.

Good point, thanks, that is sort of thing would nvr think of not bein rider before.
SV's seem very popular, not just on here either, phoned couple of adverts from MCN & web, all gone. Can't pay to much for 1st bike since it is bound to go on the floor at some stage, statistically.....

[Lou M]

Oooh your Worcester, who did you learn with?? I did my training with Skellerns a few (cough) years ago, but they don't do that now.
I wished I'd had an SV as my first bike, but I went for a W650 and lost a lot of confidence. I then had the SV and got all my confidence back, so I would definately go for one!

[TazDaz]

I'd say that the SV seems perfect for a begginer. I'm recently passed (Last July) and on a 33bhp restriction and the SV so far has been reasonably forgiving and easy to ride.

As I'm a big fella (Over 6'3" and 15stone) I have found riding the SV a lot easier than the 125s which I learnt on simply because the 125s felt like little monkey bikes and didn't really feel stable to me. The engine in the SV seems fine restricted and will easily make 100mph+ but like alipinestar said not really much power at higher revs so need to work the gearbox more so!

Compared to most cars, the road tax is nothing! :) (My next "ideal" car has a road tax of £400p.a!)

[Old Git]

Oooh your Worcester, who did you learn with?? I did my training with Skellerns a few (cough) years ago, but they don't do that now.
I wished I'd had an SV as my first bike, but I went for a W650 and lost a lot of confidence. I then had the SV and got all my confidence back, so I would definately go for one!


Did condensed course (V) in Blackburn last week, price was brill, so were instructors, would recommend them to anyone who wanted to give it a go before the test changes.
Only problem now is funds for bike are quite limited ( had to pay for self & son on the course) so while I would like SV & it seems to tick all the boxes might have to set sights a little lower:(

[speedplay]

There are bargains to be had out thee just keep looking!
My last bike (rip) was a 51 plate 650s with 4k on the clock for 1800 quid.
I Liked it so much I bought an 05 this year to replace it :)
Great bikes to learn on and once you get used to them theres loads of fun to be had from them too.

....plus the v twin sounds so much better too....:cool:

[yorkie_chris]

One recently sold here for £900