SV Dimensions

[danf1234]

Is the SV considered a little bike? I know it is quite low because I have jacked mine up and got a raised seat. (I am 5ft 11")

In terms of length and width is it considered a baby against bigger bikes?

[TazDaz]

Nah...longer wheelbase than some sports orientated bikes.

[Bibio]

some would class it as a 'starter bike' but i personally think its much more. they are a big bike to me but i'm only 5' feck all. its narrow due to being a v twin so its inherently thin. but if you look at the figures it weighs about the same as a GSXR 750/1000. the seat hight is 800mm so a bit shorter than most these days. so i supose it is a 'baby' compared to 'bigger bikes'.

[danf1234]

Yeah the line between starter and little is a little blurred. My last bike was an RSV R so I know power, but I still love the SV. It is far from a starter bike for me, but I just love the bike.

I like everything about the SV, I am just worried it is a bit "small" for touring?

[DarrenSV650S]

I like everything about the SV, I am just worried it is a bit "small" for touring?

Have you done much touring on it?

[danf1234]

Not really. Did a few 150 mile day trips on my old K6 with the wife on the back. Just after some opinions of people that have toured on an SV.

[andrewsmith]

the SV is lumped into the starter bike class, like the ER-6's and CB600's.

Like bib said they are inheritantly narrow like all V-Twins, and weigh the same as a supersports.
The only bikes that is slimmer is a Triumph Triple

[andrewsmith]

the SV is lumped into the starter bike class, like the ER-6's and CB600's.

Like bib said they are inheritantly narrow like all V-Twins, and weigh the same as a supersports.
The only bikes that is slimmer is a Triumph Triple

[barwel1992]

^ heard you the first time you old git :D

i the sv felt massive compared to my old bike that was a MT-03 660 single was about 20cm shorter 3cm higher and wider and you felt like you were sitting on the tank

[DarrenSV650S]

Not really. Did a few 150 mile day trips on my old K6 with the wife on the back. Just after some opinions of people that have toured on an SV.

Did it feel too small?

[andrewsmith]

^ heard you the first time you old git :D

i the sv felt massive compared to my old bike that was a MT-03 660 single was about 20cm shorter 3cm higher and wider and you felt like you were sitting on the tank

oi Dave Jr! Shut it!!

So it isn't just me with the MT's odd position and need a ktm duke engine

[yorkie_chris]

An SV is pretty much "bike" sized... where anything GS500 sized or below is "little bike" sized and anything "big" like a CB1000F, GSX1100, GS1000, ADV bike, 'busa, whatever... is "big bike" sized.

[danf1234]

Did it feel too small?

I know where you are coming from, but it was a long time ago, and I didn't mind pain when riding back then.

I have had 4 bikes, 3 kids and a wife since then, so I am asking the question, before someone says if it was ok then, it is ok now!:D

[danf1234]

An SV is pretty much "bike" sized... where anything GS500 sized or below is "little bike" sized and anything "big" like a CB1000F, GSX1100, GS1000, ADV bike, 'busa, whatever... is "big bike" sized.

Cheers, Just the answer I was looking for!

[yorkie_chris]

The term "middleweight" seems to fit pretty well in the grand scheme of things.

Or you can race one in ultra lightweight superbike class... not sure how that fits in with anything...

[barwel1992]

oi Dave Jr! Shut it!!

So it isn't just me with the MT's odd position and need a ktm duke engine

you ridden the MT? it does have an odd position but god it cant half go round a corner even with its budget(ish) suspension im sure it could out handle a sv with gsxr front end a proper rear shock, the engine was cr&p stick the sv engine in it and it would be a winner, mine looked quite nice to unlike most of the stock ones

[danf1234]

Must be me getting paranoid. I haven't been able to move since my knee op a month ago Got on the bike today and it feels tiny. I have put a stone on like!

[andrewsmith]

I nearly put money down on one. Was put off by the power and got the SV for less money

[Rob969]

Rode my mates MT the other day and it did feel really odd i'm guessing its something you need to get used to before you can get the best out of it, it did feel really nimble just seemed to be lacking a bit of grunt and i still aren't a fan of the sound even my mates with leo vince exhausts on just doesn't quite do it for me like a v twin

[barwel1992]

Must be me getting paranoid. I haven't been able to move since my knee op a month ago Got on the bike today and it feels tiny. I have put a stone on like!

im 17stone 6ft and have race rear sets i dont feel its small at all ;) must be you lol

I nearly put money down on one. Was put off by the power and got the SV for less money

power is why i got rid off it, and i got my sv for half the price of the mt's sale price

Rode my mates MT the other day and it did feel really odd i'm guessing its something you need to get used to before you can get the best out of it, it did feel really nimble just seemed to be lacking a bit of grunt and i still aren't a fan of the sound even my mates with leo vince exhausts on just doesn't quite do it for me like a v twin

it does take some getting used to, and i bet you rode the power curve, you cant you have to ride the torque curve, 48bhp with 60n torque i found it fine when on my own cr&p 2 up and yeh they sound naff, but the xt660 with dual quill cans that my dad had (then i for a month) sounded brutal and thats the same engine ;)

[Rob969]

just felt that you didn't have enough gears wasn't to fond of the vibration either would probably get annoying on longer rides my mate was doing 160 trips at the weekend and lost his numberplate on his 3rd trip since then he's put loctite on every bolt he can

[TazDaz]

Not really. Did a few 150 mile day trips on my old K6 with the wife on the back. Just after some opinions of people that have toured on an SV.

I didn't 'tour' as such, but blasted down through France to pyranees (600ish miles in about 7-9 hours) loaded with luggage and then hooned around the mountains, at least 6 hours per day in the saddle for six consecutive days without luggage, and then hooned back up through France in another 7-9 hours with luggage. Don't know if that's a tour or not, but it was a few thousand miles in a week(ish).

I was fine, I'm considered tall (6' 4") and have no comfort mods to the bike. Everyone is different though - bike was painful at first as I wasn't used to it, but your body can, but not always, adapt to it if you put the time in. If you're not comfortable on the bike, move around to get comfortable. I was resting my elbows on my knees on the way down through France.

Also, I don't really consider 150miles to be a long day trip. Get out and do a few days where you use a few tanks of fuel in the day and I reckon you'll become more comfortable.

This was on the SV...doing the same trip on the GSX-R next year.

[davepreston]

ive done epic long runs and tours on my old sv650 and had no issues (6"8) but my sv thou is i must say is far more comfy and better for such trips

[Specialone]

Must admit im 6'1" and i found the sv uncomfortable and without the bar conversion wouldnt have been able to ride it very far.
With the bar conversion i done a fair few 250 mile days, but it was uncomfortable towards the end.
I done something to my shoulder at the NW6 weekend and its been giving me grief since, it got so bad i couldnt ride the sv far, albeit i lost confidence in it handling wise so was tense.
My sprint is a lot more comfortable, only really painful now when im tense on the bike, which is likely now the weather has turned and the roads are crap.
I felt the sv small for me tbh, but taller peeps than me find it fine so its individual.

[christopher]

I'm about the same height as Phil (specialone) and don't think twice about 300 twisty mile days. Have also done 450 mile motorway journeys with the only stops being for fuel and the EuroTunnel, and again not found it that uncomfortable.

Does depend on the individual. Think a few days with higher mileage are needed, 150 isn't much in my opinion.

[yorkie_chris]

Plus you get used to it.

If you just ride once a month then try do a 300 mile day then it will hurt, but if you ride every day it is far easier. I notice it when we do the GM runs, first day of 200 miles is tiring, by fourth day the 450 mile trip home is dead easy.