A year of ownershiip an i'm changing bikes

[Scott S]

After having my SV for almost a year, I am straying away :oops:

I have enjoyed every mile I have covered on the SV, but it's 12year old and I fancied something newer, so I am picking up a new Kawasaki ER6-F on Saturday (all being well).

I haven't been as active as some on here, but I have been able to find the answer to most of my questions by searching and there hasn't been a lot to ask.

The 'plan' is for the bike to be sold to a friend of mine who is taking lessons, it's a perfect first bike and I found it to be ideal for commuting, so it won't be going far.

Had I not bought a SV as my first big bike, I certainly would have bought one as my second, but a new SV would just be 'too similar' to what I have already had.

Anyway, thanks to anyone that has helped me so far (including those that have started threads that I have found via searching) and if my friend gets the bike, then I will help him 'look after' it, so I may pop back for some more help.

[mikerj]

Unless you are doing it purely to get a newer bike rather than one with better performance and handling then changing from one entry level middleweight to another one seems a bit of a sideways step? The parallel twin in the ER6 sounds rather uninspiring next to the SV :(

Obviously I hope you enjoy your new steed, just a little surprised you've not taken the opportunity to get something a little more exciting.

[speedplay]

Il4 ;)


You know you want to really...:)

[Scott S]

This is a side step and mainly done for age and mileage.

I wasn't looking for anything faster, or more exciting. My bike is my main form of transport and I wanted something newer with less miles, and something that I liked the look of. Kawasaki have a 0% finance offer on (seems to be quite a regular thing) the ER6, so it seemed to fit the bill nicely.

I think the SV has been plenty of fun and has been good to me, so although getting something more exciting would be a possibility, for now, the ER6 is a good choice. I also think the SV is a lot of fun, managable and the temptation to be silly is less prominent with a bike that is 'slower'.

I did recently have a play on my friends ZX7-R and it was great, the noise was almost addictive. Perhaps in a few years time i'll go for a GSXR-600, or a R6, but I can't see myself on a R1 etc, well, at least for now. I did consider a Triumph Daytona 600, but the insurance was more than double and the bike was 5years older for not a lot less money.

[speedplay]

My daytona 600 was only about 30 quid more than the sv.
Cheaper tax and more fun too :)

[xXBADGERXx]

Enjoy the Kwak feller , everyone needs to own one at some point I reckon and a parallel twin will give you a different perspective on bike riding ;)

[Scott S]

I am looking forward to it. The insurance was £151 fully comp, so cheaper than I could have paid for the SV (when I insured the SV, I went for TPFT as it was £90 and fully comp was £180). The Triumph was over £400, which is still not a lot considering the comparitave car insurance (my Clio is £400 a year to insure), but still more than double.

I think trying something different will be useful, I can then have a more informed choice when it it comes to moving on again. When I come to change (expect 3years at least of this bike), then I will be able to insure most bikes for reasonable money.

[xXBADGERXx]

Exactly , sidewys move to a newer bike but different approach , hang onto a bike too long and the value hits a certain level anyway . Some people move along every 3 or 4 years , retain a decent value on their bikes and get a newer model on a regular basis . Having said that I know of 2 guys that bought VFR750`s on release day and still have them :)

[yorkie_chris]

ER6 isn't a bad bike.

Do yourself a favour and add some grease to various points and especially a bit of silicon grease around the coil sticks.

Despite sounding like a n*bless ER5 when stock they do actually sound OK with a good can and on full chat!

[Scott S]

This is the ER6, like it so far and my friend has made his first payment towards the SV, so once fully paid, i'll M.O.T. ot and take it to his for him.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/scottysos/592696bb.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/scottysos/41181bf2.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b89/scottysos/20e78deb.jpg

[leebex]

looks very nice, i like it. Must be lovely going from a 12yr old bike to new and first person to ride it. id be scared to scratch it though ;)

[Littlepeahead]

I rode an ER6n in Thailand and hated it. Couldn't wait to get back to my SV as the Kwak felt so clunky and slow. Of course I threw it down a mountain road on my first trip out there and our guide said that he knew I didn't like it much but I didn't need to go quite that far to get ride of it.

[Scott S]

I'm weary of scratching it, but I'll get over that soon. The riding position of the SV is a little more to my liking, but the Kwak seems more suited to 'lazy riding' as it'll do 30 in 6th an pick up from there so that suits me as well.

Can't comment on power as I can't rev it too far yet but 'on paper' they shouldn't be too far apart.

[Lozzo]

ER6 isn't a bad bike.

Do yourself a favour and add some grease to various points and especially a bit of silicon grease around the coil sticks.


Wise words, and this comes from someone who works at a Kawasaki dealers. In winter buy shares in ACF50... you'll need it.

[Lozzo]

I'm weary of scratching it, but I'll get over that soon. The riding position of the SV is a little more to my liking, but the Kwak seems more suited to 'lazy riding' as it'll do 30 in 6th an pick up from there so that suits me as well.

Can't comment on power as I can't rev it too far yet but 'on paper' they shouldn't be too far apart.

Both SV and ER6 make a claimed 72 bhp. The SV is reputed to be gruntier in the lower to mid range, but you wouldn't think so the way they chunter and snatch when you accelerate from 30 in top. The ER6 is definitely the smoother engine of the two but does sound a little bland. I've owned 2 SVs and now ride a Versys (pretty much a high-rise ER6 with a few less bhp) and tbh I'd buy another new Versys, but good as they are, I wouldn't go back to an SV again.

[yorkie_chris]

Someone who isn't me had a race with one when they'd only been out a couple of years and I'd never seen one before, the SV was #just# faster.

[svdev]

very nice looking bike,enjoy it and ride safe.

[SV Mad]

Nice bike. I hope you like it.

I've got an ER6n (10 plate) as a hire bike while my SV is in for repair. One thing I miss is the sound and the engine braking of the SV. The ER6 is good fun though, now I'm used to it, and great to chuck about town. And it's better on fuel than the SV.

[Scott S]

Thanks for the comments. So far, I am enjoying it, although it is frustrating that I have to keep it to a max of 4k rpm as this limits me to 55mph (not the end of the world, but still frustrating) and I have to accellerate slowly (a little closer to the end of the world and a little more frustrating).

The seat is more awquard to get off than the one on the SV, but I knew that was going to be the case from the MCN review.

Going to get some corrosion protection before the winter and maybe a longer rear hugger as the current one doesn't seem to catch as much as I would like.

[ravingdavis]

Lovely bike mate, I hope you enjoy many happy miles on it.