Evenin' all

[sv-luke]

Don't shoot the newbie, just sticking my head round the door :)

I'm 17, and am working towards my full license. Been on the road since 16 on one of the death traps they call moped's :o After I was 17 I got the spanners (OK, and the wallet) out and managed to squeeze an almighty 13.5hp out of it, made it somewhat unreliable but at least I didn't get flattened on a regular basis.

Looking at an SV650 as a first bike, good or bad idea? I'm no stranger to gears, but a KX85's a world away from a 650.

[Red Herring]

Hi Mate, great first bike, does everything you need and lots of things you don't....

[sv-luke]

Thanks Red :)

Looking at early 00's bike's, the going rate seem's to be around £1500 for one in reasonable nick. Something that hadn't occurred to me, what sort of mileage would be considered high for a well maintained one?

[minimorecambe]

Welcome :)

[Red Herring]

On a bike that age I wouldn't be looking at the clocks to judge it's condition, not unless the owner has every MOT back to year dot, second hand clocks are just to cheap.
It's not always the number of miles a bike has done that matters, it's the way they have done them that counts. I know YC with disagree with me but well looked after bikes tend to look well looked after.....

If it's your first bike take someone with you who is seriously into them and knows what they are looking at, there's a fair few of them lurking on here so bound to be one near you.

[andrewsmith]

How doooo

[DJFridge]

Welcome from the south coast.Don't worry, they don't seem to shoot noobs very often round here. I mean, I've been winged a couple of times, but nothing serious!

SV was my first big bike too (ran a Honda NSR125 for a year to start with) and the transition was pretty smooth (unlike my early gear-changes). Just take it easy and properly learn your way round how it goes and handles before you really open the throttle and enjoy the V-twin torque to the full.

Oh and, if (when?) you drop it embarrassingly in the carpark through nobody's fault but your own, you are honour bound to tell us and give us all a laugh. At which point you'll discover how many others have done exactly the same!!

[sv-luke]

Welcome from the south coast.Don't worry, they don't seem to shoot noobs very often round here. I mean, I've been winged a couple of times, but nothing serious!

SV was my first big bike too (ran a Honda NSR125 for a year to start with) and the transition was pretty smooth (unlike my early gear-changes). Just take it easy and properly learn your way round how it goes and handles before you really open the throttle and enjoy the V-twin torque to the full.

Oh and, if (when?) you drop it embarrassingly in the carpark through nobody's fault but your own, you are honour bound to tell us and give us all a laugh. At which point you'll discover how many others have done exactly the same!!

It will be restricted to the 33 brake for a while, but I'm sure I'll still manage find that hedge with that. I'm rather a small lad, so dropping it in the car park is a certainty at some point I'm sure :rolleyes:

How doooo

Hi there :)

On a bike that age I wouldn't be looking at the clocks to judge it's condition, not unless the owner has every MOT back to year dot, second hand clocks are just to cheap.
It's not always the number of miles a bike has done that matters, it's the way they have done them that counts. I know YC with disagree with me but well looked after bikes tend to look well looked after.....

If it's your first bike take someone with you who is seriously into them and knows what they are looking at, there's a fair few of them lurking on here so bound to be one near you.

Although not my first bike, it will be my first big bike. I've rebuilt from the cases up a fair few two stroke engine's, so know how to wield a spanner. Still, there's nothing like someone with experience of the bike's to give advice when personally I don't know what to look for in particular.

[andrewsmith]

the metals screws are made of a composition of Lithium and cheesium.

The brakes need a clean normally once a year
The suspension is budget all varying mods have been done.

I'd look out for one on the for sale section, I did for a mate and he's got a spot on orgers bike.

[andrewsmith]

the metals screws are made of a composition of Lithium and cheesium.

The brakes need a clean normally once a year
The suspension is budget all varying mods have been done.

I'd look out for one on the for sale section, I did for a mate and he's got a spot on orgers bike.

[sv-luke]

I did not anticipate insurance being so high, could only get one company to quote, and that was £1k :(

[DJFridge]

I did not anticipate insurance being so high, could only get one company to quote, and that was £1k :(

Ouch! You are but young unfortunately. It will come down very quickly but maybe you need to stay on something smaller (and sh1tter) for a year to get some no-claims.

[andrewsmith]

I did not anticipate insurance being so high, could only get one company to quote, and that was £1k :(

Shame of being young.
Stay with the 125 for a year and get a NCB and it should be cheaper

[Speedy Claire]

Hiya and a big welcome, good luck with the new bike and as has already been said it`s an excellent choice for a first "big" bike

[sv-luke]

Been looking in the for sale section, some nice bike's there. Certainly make's me think that I'm on the right track.

A mate has warned me that the screws are made of cheese (something Andrew pointed out on the previous page) and the forks are terrible. Are the screws really that bad? i.e, will it fall apart as I go down the road?

The forks I can cope with, plus I'm sure I can swap in something better if they turn out to be that too dreadful.

Ouch! You are but young unfortunately. It will come down very quickly but maybe you need to stay on something smaller (and sh1tter) for a year to get some no-claims.

Shame of being young.
Stay with the 125 for a year and get a NCB and it should be cheaper

Already got a year from my 50 days, not sure if that count's though. It does make the 3k for a 1.1 look cheap though :smt042

Will probably just shell out for the insurance, it'll soon go down to something reasonable, and if I pay monthly it look's a bit cheaper!

Hiya and a big welcome, good luck with the new bike and as has already been said it`s an excellent choice for a first "big" bike

Hi Claire, thanks for the welcome.

[andrewsmith]

they are just t*ats to get out if the f'up happens

[TamSV]

Attack a poorly maintained bike with gusto using cheapo 12-point sockets and a set of pozidrive screwdrivers and you'll have problems. Take your time with decent tools and the fasteners are not exceptionally bad IMO. The exception seems to be the cross-head screws on the bar ends and chain guard - I've replaced those with stainless allen bolts. Oh, and the exhaust studs. :D

Copperslip everything when it goes back in and it's fine.

As far as suspension goes, I wouldn't worry about it too much just now. It's budget stuff, so it can be made better but the SV is a pretty good handling bike as stock. Older/higher mileage bikes often benefit from a refresh of the fork oil and there's loads of advice on here if you're looking to do more.

[sv-luke]

That's what I like to hear :)

Well, I've got a good 6 point socket set and a couple of sets of decent screwdrivers so I think I'm covered in the tool department.

[missyburd]

Shame of being young.
Stay with the 125 for a year and get a NCB and it should be cheaper

:cool: Tis the best way in my opinion. I rode my 125 all year as well and I've had my SV a week and I know it's made a huge difference when stepping up to a bigger bike. The SV is a fantastic machine and I much prefer being able to appreciate everything that makes it such a good bike than being daunted by the weight and power of it. Someone once told me it is better to start small, master it as best you can before taking on something bigger and I felt I had achieved that. And it was cheaper on the insurance but then I am of the female variant :p

Been looking in the for sale section, some nice bike's there. Certainly make's me think that I'm on the right track.

Then if I could just draw this (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=167943) to your attention once more ;)


so I think I'm covered in the tool department.
that's a relief lol

[sv-luke]

Having put up with having enough power to get you to 75, but only if you wring it's neck, and replacing piston rings more 4x often than you the replace spark plugs in an SV I'm calling it a day. I ride 80 miles some days of the week, so I'm not short of practice. The only crash's I've had were when someone pulled out in front of me and one involving 3 pot holes in a row. Painful that was.

I tell you what, being a teenage boy is sure a disadvantage when it comes to insurance.

Yes, I had spotted the yellow curvy - already bookmarked :)

[85jas]

Luke, get the yellow curvy and bugger the insurance... It'll come down. I've had my SV a month now, first bike (only bike!!) and, with my limited skill / experience / gonads if I can love it then you will bloody fudging love it. Get it. In fact, get it now.

Oh, and of course, yellow and curvy is such a good combination! Whaddayawaitinfor man!

OK, sorry, reign it in. Excitement over.

(do it.)

[sv-luke]

Actually, I'm a very happy man now as e-bike have quoted £460 TPFT :D

[fenjer]

welcome!

SV as a first bike wise choice! Buy a curvy they are much better!

[james160987]

had the sv since i had 1 years no claims at 18, insurance was 400 quid i think,

Now 22,

not had any problems with screws, easy thing if your worried, buy a bag of replacments from somewhere like probolt if your worried,

Forks, Spend £70 quid on some hagon springs, drop them and some better oil,- job done,

Rear shock, - should be fine but many options availible to change if you really feel you need to,

Restriction - curveys are a bit harder than pointies, pointies are a plug and go box under the seat ( takaes aprox 5 mins to undo the seat and swap it, if you end up with a 03-06 pointy give me a shout as i have a 33bhp restrictor here and will do a deal on it,

Ring up your nearest dealer after passing your test, ask for a test ride, they should restrict it for you ( mine did for me) and take one for a blast,

Good luck

[DJFridge]

Actually, I'm a very happy man now as e-bike have quoted £460 TPFT :D

That's a bit more sensible, so ignore my previous advice about sticking with the 125. As 85jas says, "get the yellow curvy and bugger the insurance".

[sv-luke]

That's a bit more sensible, so ignore my previous advice about sticking with the 125. As 85jas says, "get the yellow curvy and bugger the insurance".

Yup, it's in progress :D

had the sv since i had 1 years no claims at 18, insurance was 400 quid i think,

Now 22,

not had any problems with screws, easy thing if your worried, buy a bag of replacments from somewhere like probolt if your worried,

Forks, Spend £70 quid on some hagon springs, drop them and some better oil,- job done,

Rear shock, - should be fine but many options availible to change if you really feel you need to,

Restriction - curveys are a bit harder than pointies, pointies are a plug and go box under the seat ( takaes aprox 5 mins to undo the seat and swap it, if you end up with a 03-06 pointy give me a shout as i have a 33bhp restrictor here and will do a deal on it,

Ring up your nearest dealer after passing your test, ask for a test ride, they should restrict it for you ( mine did for me) and take one for a blast,

Good luck

Nah, not too worried at the moment, I'm not overly hamfisted with a socket set and don't intend to be taking it apart that often anyway.

Not sure what I'm going to end up with yet, I prefer the pointies for their FI and pointyness but probably won't get a decent example for less than 2k. I've gone digging and found out how the curvy's can be restricted too, easy peasy really compared to most work you'll do bar an oil change.

What are they like restricted? Slower, obviously, but does it make the power unusable or lumpy? I know some bike's can become complete dogs when restricted. A dealer 30 mi away's got a point for £3k, I'll try and get a test ride off them :)

[james160987]

i would expect you t o find a decnty point for £1800, I paid 3200 quid for my pointy when it was a year old, and ive had it four years, 10000 miles on it now, ( short trips) Id be surprised if i got over 2000 for it back,

Restricted, runs fine, Not as much power but plenty enough, I had the restrictor on for 2 years like a good boy, its obiously more fun with it off now but i didnt feel like the bike was slow or sluggish etc,
as mentioned your best to go for a test ride and see how you feel

I would reccomend the spring change for some hagons in the front, that is the best £70 i spent on the bike, before the front end would dive heavily when you left off the throttle or braked, now, nothing,

[BigBaddad]

http://us.cdn1.123rf.com/168nwm/fleyeing/fleyeing1002/fleyeing100200016/6398087-six-fingers-pointing-up-counting-number-6-by-adding-extra-finger-in-a-surreal-surprising-way-with-ar.jpg High 6 from Norfolk.

[andrewsmith]

BBD your on form this morning

[sv-luke]

i would expect you t o find a decnty point for £1800, I paid 3200 quid for my pointy when it was a year old, and ive had it four years, 10000 miles on it now, ( short trips) Id be surprised if i got over 2000 for it back,

Restricted, runs fine, Not as much power but plenty enough, I had the restrictor on for 2 years like a good boy, its obiously more fun with it off now but i didnt feel like the bike was slow or sluggish etc,
as mentioned your best to go for a test ride and see how you feel

I would reccomend the spring change for some hagons in the front, that is the best £70 i spent on the bike, before the front end would dive heavily when you left off the throttle or braked, now, nothing,

Some people want ridiculous amounts of money for them, e.g a '99 with 40k, £2000.

I'll look into the spring change if I can find a pointy for sub 2k, if not that yellow curvy look's tempting. Rather far away though.

http://us.cdn1.123rf.com/168nwm/fleyeing/fleyeing1002/fleyeing100200016/6398087-six-fingers-pointing-up-counting-number-6-by-adding-extra-finger-in-a-surreal-surprising-way-with-ar.jpg High 6 from Norfolk.

:smt006

[Kate Moss]

Hello

SV650 was & is my first bike. Was scared of it at first but love it now :)

[yorkie_chris]

Thanks Red :)

Looking at early 00's bike's, the going rate seem's to be around £1500 for one in reasonable nick. Something that hadn't occurred to me, what sort of mileage would be considered high for a well maintained one?

100k or more. Probably still fine at that, luck of the draw at that mileage whether the motor is good for another 100k or not. Most would be.

You can get knackered ones with 10k on the clock and spot on ones with 40k ;)