Evening all... nab advice

[great_kahn]

Evening guys and girls. Typical newbie here. Just starting to get into biking, and decided that an SV650 would be a good first big bike. Always wanted a motorbike ever since i was a kid, and finally at the grand old age of 26 my dad can no longer stop me or lecture me on how bad im gonna kill myself, lol.

Currently drive a Ibiza cupra tdi, mildly fettled. Pretty quick for a tractor.. well its faster than a tractor anyway... well most tractors.

Motorbiking experience is limited to just a 2 hour taster session at Mallory park circuit based training. And to be fair, i started the day having never sat on a bike.. to at the end being able to stand up and low speed turn the bike and do a full fast-ish lap of the track. Was going to do my CBT/DAS course there, but it is very expensive and I have read a few bad reviews.

So questions are..

1. Am i crazy for wanting a bike... an sv650 at that? ;)

2. And any places to recommend is Leicestershire area to take DAS course.. although im willing to travel for a good place.

Cheers all

Tom

[JamesMio]

Am i crazy for wanting a bike... an sv650 at that?

Nothing like knowing your audience I suppose...


;)

Welcome, good luck with it all.

[great_kahn]

Nothing like knowing your audience I suppose...


;)

Welcome, good luck with it all.

Aye, cheers.

Bike i was on a mallory was a GS500.. to the untrained nubtard it felt pretty damn rapid, but from what i have read the SV650 is vastly superior?

[DJFridge]

The ex-SV peeps who have moved on to GXRs and Daytonas and the like will probably say the SV isn't that fast. Compared with the GS500 though? Quick enough!

Oh, welcome to the friendliest loonybin you will ever find. And good luck with the CBT / tests etc. And, no, you're not crazy. Well, no crazier than anyone else around here anyway!

[Fallout]

SV650 is a perfect first big bike. It's the right choice mate and a lot of instructors would agree. Good luck with the DAS. I remember it being awesome fun the first time I sat on that 500 on my DAS, but way more fun when I got my SV. Feels way quicker, but you're ready for it by the time you've finished your DAS. ;)

[great_kahn]

Canny wait to get out there. Just alot of things to get and tests to take. Where to take DAS is biggest problem atm.

Street triple R in orange is dream bike currently.

Although a guy at work recently bought an MV agusta F4, cost a bomb (In motorcycle terms) but is utterly stunning with its single swingarm and quad underseat exhausts.

[yorkie_chris]

SV's are a great first bike, very forgiving and quickly teach a smooth riding style. Enough power to be fun but not too much to kill you immediately. Cheap, economical...

[missyburd]

SVs my first big bike and I can't get enough of it :)

Bite the bullet and get it done lad, what you waiting for!?

[Tim in Belgium]

SV's are great, I've bought my first one back after a GSXR750 or two and an R1 (which I still have), as they make a great fun road bike :) And are actually good fun on track ;)

[andrewsmith]

how doo

Bought mine in 2009 wouldnt swap it.
They are cheap reliable and quick enough to bother superbikes

[jonny.boyd]

Hello and welcome,

I too am from Leicester and I did all my training with these folks:

Shires (http://www.shires-motorcycle-training.co.uk/)

They are fantastic and a really friendly bunch, helped me through my CBT (passed first time) and through my Full license (passed first time). They also do deals now and again on all the training and tests for Full license.

They are the ones to go with if you're in Leicester. Outside of Leicester I'm afraid I can't help you.

HTH

[HoL]

helped me through my CBT (passed first time)

Has anyone ever failed a CBT? You'd have to be reallllly bad wouldn't you?

[jonny.boyd]

Has anyone ever failed a CBT? You'd have to be reallllly bad wouldn't you?

Ha, no-one i've ever heard of!!

[missyburd]

Has anyone ever failed a CBT? You'd have to be reallllly bad wouldn't you?
Depends how well you gel with your instructor. Not so much a matter of "failing" as not getting the hang of something in your training and then being made to feel utterly useless...speaking from experience when I first attempted a CBT. I walked out halfway through, had an obnoxious instructor.

Tried again a couple of years later when I could sum up the courage and got it fine, had a great bloke at a different school. So yes it is possible to not complete the training in one day.

[great_kahn]

Hello and welcome,

I too am from Leicester and I did all my training with these folks:

Shires (http://www.shires-motorcycle-training.co.uk/)

They are fantastic and a really friendly bunch, helped me through my CBT (passed first time) and through my Full license (passed first time). They also do deals now and again on all the training and tests for Full license.

They are the ones to go with if you're in Leicester. Outside of Leicester I'm afraid I can't help you.

HTH

Cheers mate, had looked at the site. What were there bikes like? Mallory circuit based training seemed good.. but there bikes really were rubbish, bits falling off etc.


Depends how well you gel with your instructor. Not so much a matter of "failing" as not getting the hang of something in your training and then being made to feel utterly useless...speaking from experience when I first attempted a CBT. I walked out halfway through, had an obnoxious instructor.

Tried again a couple of years later when I could sum up the courage and got it fine, had a great bloke at a different school. So yes it is possible to not complete the training in one day.

Imagine having a good instructor is essential given how much time you have to spend listening to them.




So then.. Naked vs faired SV? :-P

[Geodude]

Depends how well you gel with your instructor. Not so much a matter of "failing" as not getting the hang of something in your training and then being made to feel utterly useless...speaking from experience when I first attempted a CBT. I walked out halfway through, had an obnoxious instructor.

Tried again a couple of years later when I could sum up the courage and got it fine, had a great bloke at a different school. So yes it is possible to not complete the training in one day.

+1
When i did mine only two of us passed the cbt out of 10 (which were varied in ages not just kids) and one young lass had failed cbt eight times in a row and never even made it to the road part at all!

[HoL]

when I first attempted a CBT. I walked out halfway through, had an obnoxious instructor.



Do you think you would have passed if you'd stayed the whole day though?

I wonder if an instructor doesn't think you're good enough if they'd continue the training the next day for free or just fail you. There must be some pressure to pass people, if you get a reputation for failing peeps then it could lose you a massive amount of money.

EDIT: Shouldn't have got distracted for so long in the middle of typing a post, looks like people do fail after all!

[HoL]

So then.. Naked vs faired SV? :-P

Depends what you like the look of, I love my naked, a friend of mine has said he wouldn't dream of anything without fairing. To be sensible you should really look at how much protection from the elements you need / how fast you'll be going as to what you should get.

Then after weighing it all up get the prettiest one. (ahem naked curvy)

[Geodude]

Then after weighing it all up get the prettiest one. (ahem naked curvy)
+1 well said Hol :D

[carelesschucca]

Has anyone ever failed a CBT? You'd have to be reallllly bad wouldn't you?

Yes - one of the guys I know at the IAM failed one of the young kids he had. The guy was an amazing rider (he'd been racing MX bikes since he was 5 or 6) but had no road sense what so ever and was a danger to himself and everyone else... It didn't go down well as it was his friends son. He passed 2nd time after a verbal kicking from his old man.

As for the SV the comments above say it all, its a perfect first big bike. Fast enough but friendly with it. You can also improve it as you go along...

The Street R would make a perfect move up afterwards, I certainly don't regret getting mine.

[Viney]

I still have my SV 11 years on. Dont ride it everyday nowadays though but it still makes me grin.

It was my first bike and still is, well if you dont count the Hornet i had for a couple of months whilst the girlfirend at the time fialed her test a couple of times) and its great. EVERYONE moans about the brakes and suspension being crap but to the untrained eye/ass, its just fine if well maintained and serviced. The point is, do it. Do DAS, buy bike, ride, laugh fall off, get back on, laugh more meet us rabble at the Annual rideout, laugh more but just beware of Bear...NEVER turn your back on him, you will be sorry :)

Welcome by the way.

[great_kahn]

Depends what you like the look of, I love my naked, a friend of mine has said he wouldn't dream of anything without fairing. To be sensible you should really look at how much protection from the elements you need / how fast you'll be going as to what you should get.

Then after weighing it all up get the prettiest one. (ahem naked curvy)

GS500 was naked... and there was an amazing amount of wind blast, takes you by suprise first time you open it up. Does having a fairing make much difference?

Yes - one of the guys I know at the IAM failed one of the young kids he had. The guy was an amazing rider (he'd been racing MX bikes since he was 5 or 6) but had no road sense what so ever and was a danger to himself and everyone else... It didn't go down well as it was his friends son. He passed 2nd time after a verbal kicking from his old man.

As for the SV the comments above say it all, its a perfect first big bike. Fast enough but friendly with it. You can also improve it as you go along...

The Street R would make a perfect move up afterwards, I certainly don't regret getting mine.

Love everything Triumph make, would a Speed R, Daytona, America and scrambler in the garage :-P

I still have my SV 11 years on. Dont ride it everyday nowadays though but it still makes me grin.

It was my first bike and still is, well if you dont count the Hornet i had for a couple of months whilst the girlfirend at the time fialed her test a couple of times) and its great. EVERYONE moans about the brakes and suspension being crap but to the untrained eye/ass, its just fine if well maintained and serviced. The point is, do it. Do DAS, buy bike, ride, laugh fall off, get back on, laugh more meet us rabble at the Annual rideout, laugh more but just beware of Bear...NEVER turn your back on him, you will be sorry :)

Welcome by the way.

Cheers mate, not planning on falling off though. Although i heard the quote, there are two types of rider, those who have been down and those who will go down. Could have been a sexual metaphor though :smt120

[missyburd]

Do you think you would have passed if you'd stayed the whole day though?

I wonder if an instructor doesn't think you're good enough if they'd continue the training the next day for free or just fail you. There must be some pressure to pass people, if you get a reputation for failing peeps then it could lose you a massive amount of money.


Well it's not about failing as I say. Truth be told the second time I did my CBT I ended up completing it in one and a half days, just needed a bit more time in the car park then spent the morning riding about on the roads which was loads easier than riding in a car park, how strange :rolleyes:

GS500 was naked... and there was an amazing amount of wind blast, takes you by suprise first time you open it up. Does having a fairing make much difference?

Not ridden both so can't really comment but apparently yes. All I do know is it makes a bloody expensive difference if you fall off...which let's be honest, is more likely than not. I made most of my learner mistakes on my 125 which I had for a year, ironed out any stupid learner habits and prepared me for my more expensive transport, but so much better naked SV :


So then.. Naked vs faired SV? :razz:

Then after weighing it all up get the prettiest one. (ahem naked curvy)

Precisely ;)

[Fallout]

GS500 was naked... and there was an amazing amount of wind blast, takes you by suprise first time you open it up. Does having a fairing make much difference?


Yes. Motorway and higher speed riding is less fun on an unfaired bike. When you go really fast, it tests your grip. :D Even though the screens angle channels the wind into your shoulders and head, it keeps it off your chest and makes the ride more comfortable. Then of course you can hug the tank, tuck your elbows in and be streamlined like a bullet. :smt068

But as far as I know, naked in standard trim have lower foot pegs and an extra tooth on the rear sprocket (someone please correct me if not). So they have a slightly less sporty position and a little more acceleration, but less top end. So very broadly speaking, naked for town riding and twisty fun, and the S model for higher speed riding and more comfort at higher speeds .... oh, and for looks obviously. :smt003

[collis]

Then after weighing it all up get the prettiest one. (any curvy)
Fixed for ya.

I Originally had a GS500 after passing my test and I agree the wind blast at 100mph is a bit of a challenge to hold but you can get used to it, hell the GS if ridden properly will give the superbike something to look at in their mirrors but youll have a job getting past one on it.
When I got the SV it was a massive improvement (especially now i have my grip correct for my local roads) it can be quite scary now and again when you suddenly realise that you've gottten to 60mph in a 30 after a second from pulling off at a set of lights and the back of a bus is approaching quickly. but you get used to it and i'll defiantely say its the perfect bike and being so forgiving it will always get you out of trouble no matter what anyone throws at you (discarded coke cans on the M4 included).

I'd say get your test done then get a feel for the bikes out there, the sv is the best big bike but if your not fully confident stick with a gs500 for a year then upgrade to an sv.
There is less to break on a naked GS500 meaning that gauranteed drop will be forgiven very easily unlike the SV where dropping can mean new foot pegs etc.

[-Ralph-]

Real life? On the road with real traffic? There isn't a bike on the road that an SV650 won't keep up with under 100mph. 0-60 in 4 seconds or 0-60 in 3 seconds? There's feck all difference, and even if the suspension leaves a bit to be desired, it doesn't make a difference to how fast it can get round a corner unless the road surface is really bad.

[Fallout]

There is less to break on a naked GS500 meaning that gauranteed drop will be forgiven very easily unlike the SV where dropping can mean new foot pegs etc.

Pah! All you numpties talking about your guaranteed drop. Never dropped mine in 3 years of ownership, but then again, never broken a bone or been to hospital (except for one alcohol related incident :smt003).

You can call me Mr Unbreakable.

Nope. Never dropped it. *Runs off to touch wood*

[-Ralph-]

Never dropped it. *Runs off to touch wood*

Now you've written that, I'll give it two weeks before the 'Fallout goes down' thread

(somebody'll turn that into something dirty)

[missyburd]

You can call me Mr Unbreakable.

Nope. Never dropped it. *Runs off to touch wood*
With a name like Fallout you are surely challenging yourself ;)

[Fallout]

Sometimes I do feel like it's just a matter of time, especially pulling out in front of a car on a roundabout the other day :rolleyes: I am living on borrowed time .....

..... but why can't I use that borrowed time to gloat?! :smt003

[andrewsmith]

Sometimes I do feel like it's just a matter of time, especially pulling out in front of a car on a roundabout the other day :rolleyes: I am living on borrowed time .....

..... but why can't I use that borrowed time to gloat?! :smt003

Just don't

[metalangel]

Seconded. It's not that funny, even before it happens to you. :(

[Fallout]

Ahh, but I'm only laughing in the face of fate (nervously). I would be the first to help someone pick up their dropped steed if it happened in front of me.

[metalangel]

All I'll say is, I honestly hope you never have to find out. I was very lucky and my injuries were minor, but I could never have expected the terror and hatred I got every time I looked at my stairs and realized I had to ascend them to go use the toilet with a knackered leg.

Ride safe.

[Fallout]

Sorry to hear about that metalangel. I would NEVER laugh at crashing. Could rib someone about dropping their bike (which is what I was taking the mick about) after they'd got over it, but I don't take crashing lightly. I hope you're doing ok now. ;)

[yorkie_chris]

it doesn't make a difference to how fast it can get round a corner unless the road surface is really bad.

I disagree :smt003



(...bet you saw that coming...)

[-Ralph-]

(...bet you saw that coming...)

Indeed I did, but most coppers can get their Pan Europeans round a corner, quicker than most riders can get their SV's round a corner, and my post started with the words...

Real life? On the road with real traffic? There isn't a bike on the road that an SV650 won't keep up with under 100mph

and in real life, and real roads, the bike is not the limitation, the rider is, and I've never yet found a rider on a rideout that can take advantage of more power and better suspension to the extent that they can leave an SV behind.

If the road surface is really crap, the SV can scare you such that you don't dare go any faster, but you really have to be pushing it.

Other than one occasion on a terrible, very bumpy road surface over the top of a hill in Wales following Luckypants VFR, I've never found the SV suspension to be a limitation for me keeping up with another bike on a rideout.

I have also struggled to keep up with Pete's & Lissa's Ducati in a straight line, but I did say "below 100 mph" ;-)

So I stand by what I said. As a first bike, it's all you need and much more.

[yorkie_chris]

The difference is coppers tend to spend a lot of time riding, have had a lot of training and generally be annoyingly good at it.

Suspension transmits the feel of the bike back to the squishy bit in the middle. Make it work properly and send good signals and the mere mortal in the saddle will have the confidence to go faster.


Ride back to back with decent suspension vs stock shock. Same corner with broken tarmac. Shock is difference between being able to use full throttle on exit and 1/3-1/2.
Supercorsa, hot day, loads of grip. All test here is which shock keeps tyre on road.
Or maybe that was b*llocks and the bike would have been able to go WFO no problem on stock shock, maybe it was just me felt it twitching and sliding a bit and didn't dare risk the highside? Theoretically interesting, but in real terms that would be what a 50-100yard gap between the 2 bikes by time it straightens out.

[-Ralph-]

My last post, getting scared by the suspension, don't dare go any faster, that's all about confidence.

Theoretically interesting, but in real terms that would be what a 50-100yard gap between the 2 bikes by time it straightens out.

Doesn't really matter, even if the better bike gains another 100yds. At an average speed of 60mph? 27 metres per second. 1-2 seconds.

Or in real life nothing, as soon as the rider in front has a delay of 1-2 seconds for any reason, you've caught them again.

One rider on a Fireblade, one rider on an SV, it only matters on a track. On the road you'd both need to riding like complete idiots to find out.

[yorkie_chris]

My last post, getting scared by the suspension, don't dare go any faster, that's all about confidence.



Doesn't really matter, even if the better bike gains another 100yds. At an average speed of 60mph? 27 metres per second. 1-2 seconds.

Or in real life nothing, as soon as the rider in front has a delay of 1-2 seconds for any reason, you've caught them again.


If your suspension worked properly you'd have the confidence in the rough bits.

Of course it matters! :smt003 The important thing is you've gained 100 yards on your mate, or passed someone easily out of a corner they daren't gas it on because the bike's not planted.


Oh and decent suspension stops you falling off when you hit a lumpy bit in a corner you didn't expect.

[-Ralph-]

Bike i was on a mallory was a GS500.. to the untrained nubtard it felt pretty damn rapid, but from what i have read the SV650 is vastly superior?

The ex-SV peeps who have moved on to GXRs and Daytonas and the like will probably say the SV isn't that fast. Compared with the GS500 though? Quick enough!

OK, Chris, back to the OP and the reason for my first post. It was in response to DJFridge, and I'd go one step further and say it isn't just quick enough compared to a GS500, but in real life riding, it's quick enough compared to anything. I'm trying to combat this perception some newbies have that an SV is 71bhp and a GSXR600 is 110 bhp, therefore they must have a GSXR.

In your opinion is a standard SV fast enough? Or is the OP going to get to a point where he is forced to either mod his suspension, or buy a Daytona or a GSXR, or the like?