An SV but not an SV? Next bike advice?

[Winder]

Last June I got knocked off my SV by a driver pulling out of a filling station. 9 months later my wounds are almost healed (with a lot of hard work ) and hopefully the legal case will be sorted in the next 12 weeks and i will have a little cash. All I have been doing is looking at bikes online.

I loved the SV twin, the engine braking made town riding easy and it was great on the twisty roads for a rider of my ability. Also I found it easy to work on (apart from corroded bolts) and the parts are cheap and easy to come by.

I would like my next bike to have similar good points as above but also better suspension. I don't want a TL or anything mental as I'm still a novice really.

I know you guys have owned a lot of bikes and I would like your opinion on what I should consider for my next bike.

•Easy to ride
•Not over 600/650cc
•Easy to work on and maintain
•Parts and upgrades readily available
•Good suspension
•£2500 - £3000

I have been looking at
•Speed four
•GSRX
•Carby R6
•Yamaha FZ 6
•ER6n ( Is the suspension any better than the SV? )

If you have any opinions on the above bikes or have a bike to add to the list please reply with some info.

Cheers

Mark

[DJFridge]

Haven't you answered your own question? You want...

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an SV, but with better suspension (lots of pointers on this very site as to what you need to do)

[Winder]

Maybe. The SV front end could help fund the GSXR front end. I would need to mess around with a hall effect sensor and maybe steering stops though. It is an option

[Noddy]

Mmmmm..............An SV that's not an SV, Could only really be the Cagiva Raptor 650. :riding:

[yorkie_chris]

I have been looking at
•Speed four
•GSRX
•Carby R6
•Yamaha FZ 6
•ER6n ( Is the suspension any better than the SV? )

Speed four, great, makes lots of noise but doesn't feel to be doing much, handles well, bit of a tw*t to work on.
GSXR, yes.
R6, bit more focussed, smaller, not great at bottom end.
FZ6, don't bother. Yuck. Bland. Sloppy. Basically an overcooked porridge.
ER6, quite fun, quirky, no better handling than SV, worse finish. Stick with SV if you go down the budget twin route.

Mmmmm..............An SV that's not an SV, Could only really be the Cagiva Raptor 650. :riding:

Same engine, worse frame, added shiny tat and italian spares. F*** that.

[dizzyblonde]

[QUOTE=yorkie_chris;2678502
Same engine, worse frame, added shiny tat and italian spares. F*** that.[/QUOTE]
.......and handles better on its standard suspension than your rotten falling to pieces turd sv with overpriced penske shock :laughat:

How can you say its a worse frame?

The raptor 650 is just as fine as its big brother. As all bikes they have their quirks and downsides. The Cagiva is no worse than an Sv as far as build quality is concerned, you get a Suzuki engine. Suzuki electrics and various parts that are Suzuki. Afaik you get brembo brakes like the 1000 on the 650, and its carbed not fuel injected. It does not have the geometry of an agricultaral vehicle contrary to the belief of those who have never ridden one further than up a residential street. ;)

[yorkie_chris]

There is no reason you would have one instead of SV, none.
Keep curvy and make it handle right if you want to go 650 twin route.

[Noddy]

Whoa, Dizzy and Chris. Sorry I didn't want to start and argument. My suggestion was based on the point that the OP made about the bike being like an SV but not an SV and the requirement for it to be easy to ride.

A friend of mine has one, he bought it after he recovered from an off on a previous bike in which he was severely injured. He lost his right hand (was re attached but it is now at something of a jaunty angle but fully functional), his right leg and some internal organs found their way outside. With his prosthetic leg on he regularly enjoys his Raptor and doesn't exactly hold back either. He has no complaints about it at all.

[dizzyblonde]

Why? Because you say so?
The OP has asked for an sv that's not an sv......there is no other bike than the cagiva raptor 650 that fits that description....literally

I don't recall any of the other bikes in his list fitting the bill ;)

[NTECUK]

Do what this geaser did'http://www.sv650.org/mvsv/mv-sv.htmhttp://www.sv650.org/mvsv/2942928-p1260003.jpg

[RACEFIT_GLADDY]

You can get Gladius for that amount now, (just) suspension isn't that great but its alot smoother and easier to ride than the SV, but i am comparing that to a 2002 curvy... Never ridden a pointy and don't know if they differ in any way...

[AZZ3R]

Do what this geaser did'http://www.sv650.org/mvsv/mv-sv.htmhttp://www.sv650.org/mvsv/2942928-p1260003.jpg

That is a very tidy looking bike. Unsure on the swingarm would having it like that effect the handling in anyway?

[dizzyblonde]

You can get Gladius for that amount now, (just) suspension isn't that great but its alot smoother and easier to ride than the SV, but i am comparing that to a 2002 curvy... Never ridden a pointy and don't know if they differ in any way...
I was very impressed by them when they first came out. I'd forgotten about them. Admittedly a lot of people would rather do so, but I wouldn't be shy of taking a look as an alternative. I accompanied an MCN test ride when they first came about and they're damn nippy and look a barrel of laughs. As they're more available than the raptor I would assume parts and spares should be more available these days........would you be able to comment on this?
I seem to recall the OH being given one when the zzr was in for a service and he had rather a lot of fun on it!

[NTECUK]

Unless your ridding skill is up there with Kenny Robert's your not likely to notice over a good arm, and it stiffer than a Sv one .

[yorkie_chris]

Unless your ridding skill is up there with Kenny Robert's your not likely to notice over a good arm, and it stiffer than a Sv one .

Easy to notice angle of swingarm, but that is just setup.

Not sure about stiffness, you struggle to notice that unless it is blatantly floppy like an old GS or soemthing.

[Roberrrrt]

Forget swingarm, fairing on that thing is fuuuugly! haha

Back to OP - SV sounds like it fits the bill. If you had a curvy before, why not try a pointy? Easy get one within budget.

[AndyBrad]

Speed four, great, makes lots of noise but doesn't feel to be doing much, handles well, bit of a tw*t to work on.


easier to work on after a bit. valves are a bugger tho.

I like the idea of the cagiva 650. like a blingy sv really with usd forks and stuff. Doubt its any better and your just paying for something a little different.

what about the old 636? or a aprilia?

[NTECUK]

Shiver is expensive.
Old RSV are heavy m f.
Gen 2 is allot lighter in feel.
But both are allot harder to ride.
Both have a rubbish back brake that is no help getting the front down.
Falco is nice stick an oilin's on the back and your in same handling as the gen 1
More midrange pull than the RSV.

[RACEFIT_GLADDY]

I was very impressed by them when they first came out. I'd forgotten about them. Admittedly a lot of people would rather do so, but I wouldn't be shy of taking a look as an alternative. I accompanied an MCN test ride when they first came about and they're damn nippy and look a barrel of laughs. As they're more available than the raptor I would assume parts and spares should be more available these days........would you be able to comment on this?
I seem to recall the OH being given one when the zzr was in for a service and he had rather a lot of fun on it!


For aftermarket parts I havent had too much trouble, and i have done quite a lot to the bike, however i have not yet needed any genuine spares so i dont know what the availability is like with them. But one things for sure I love my Gladius and as much much bad press as everone seems to give them i am really happy with mine

[yorkie_chris]

What bad press? Sure they look a bit gay but I haven't heard any serious issues.

[RACEFIT_GLADDY]

What bad press? Sure they look a bit gay but I haven't heard any serious issues.

In the bikers world they don't seem to have gone down a storm thats all i was saying, sure all the magazines say they're a great budget buy and have been a great SV replacement but most members on here dont seem too keen.... but IMO they don't look as gay as the Curvy SV's

[Dave20046]

Don't forget Kawasaki


http://www.giovannilivera.com/wp-content/uploads/ninja.jpeg

[Winder]

I am swaying towards GSXR (although it is an IL4) because there are lots of them available at good prices, millions of upgrades available, I think 04 onwards has USD forks and doesnt have that big seat hump going on but may be out of my £3k budget.

Still love the looks of the speed four but haven't heard anything good or bad about them really.

Gladius does look a bit gash but I bet it's great to ride.

I heard the 636 kwaker was a bit of a handful, my old neighbour said his had a twitchy rear and was hard to down shift without rear giving him trouble? He got rid and bought a ZX-9.

Could still get a pointy and sort the suspension well within the budget.

Anyway I have 12 weeks + until I get any dollar so plenty of time to think.

If petrol gets anymore expensive it'll have to be a 125 anyway.

[yorkie_chris]

750 had USD right from start of modern GSXR in 1996. Before that there was not really a realistic 600.
600 got USDs after the Y-K3 model. That model is a good buy and does not have the fat *rse that the SRAD does if you're bothered about that.

Speed four, try one. For my money I'd rather get a GSXR 750 and put bars on it but they are a nice bike.

636 depends what era you're on about, the >02 ish carbys are great bikes. After that they started getting very focussed and having retarded suspension intent on breaking your *rse.

[fizzwheel]

GSXR out of that list, but then I would say that wouldnt I...

Dont write it off because its an "IL4" not until you've tried one anyway. As per above, if you stretch your budget to a 750 you wont be disappointed.

[-Ralph-]

I've seen Shivers about for 3k, and I've ridden one and it exactly matches the OP's description. It's and option to look out for.

But I read the OP's description and the first middleweight that came to mind that is better than the SV? Early noughties CBR600F.

[yorkie_chris]

But I read the OP's description and the first middleweight that came to mind that is better than the SV? Early noughties CBR600F.

Better, yes if you want a cheap UJM no hassle easy power delivery. Blander than boiled rice, not that easy to work on either and none of the useful engine braking.

[-Ralph-]

An early noughties CBR600F is not bland as boiled rice! A Bandit 600, or an FZ6, or a CBF600 are bland as boiled rice. Nor are they particularly cheap.

The CBR600F4i is a capable, and for it's era talented, 110bhp, 155mph, sports bike, that just happens to be very practical, comfortable, economical and easy to ride round town. Add in Honda build quality and pretty decent suspension, it's a good (better) SVS alternative.

It's no Daytona 675, but it's certainly no more bland than an SV.

The engine doesn't have the power delivery of the SV (no IL4 arguments please, I've owned both and won't change my mind), but you'd soon get used to using the gearbox for acceleration (at which point it'll fly!) and the brakes for braking (which will feel better than an SV).

Great bike Winder, have a look at one, but it'll probably need to be a private sale to get a good one in your budget...

http://www.sportbikez.net/bikepics/120/medium/1209766926.jpg

EDIT: Nowt wrong with the F2 or F3 models either (look for the one piece seat), just I would go for the latest model I could afford.

[yorkie_chris]

An early noughties CBR600F is not bland as boiled rice! A Bandit 600, or an FZ6, or a CBF600 are bland as boiled rice. Nor are they particularly cheap.

Well that's just opinion. I've ridden one for a few hundred miles, they do everything competently and are a great bike but meh, they don't inspire you.
If I wanted a 600 for fun* I'd buy one with a bit more of a spring in it's step and a bit less practicality TBH.

*Actually if I wanted a 600 I'd give myself a slap and buy a 750!

[Winder]

Cheers for the advice guys. I know a bloke who uses a CBR600f for his daily commute so will bend his ear about it.
I hear what your saying about the 750 YC but 600cc's is plenty for little old me. Never tried a 750 but did have the father in laws R1 for a few weeks and that had WAY more power than I needed, don't think I got more than half way through the rev range the whole 2 weeks!

Seen some nice 2005 20th anniversary colours GSXR 6's for sale but around £500-750 ish over budget :(