SV400 Opinions?

[Rowan207]

Hi all,

Does anyone have any opinions on the SV400?

The reason I ask is that a friend of mine is about to do his full bike test and is looking for his first big bike. I’ve had a 04 Naked Pointy for a year or so now, and he fancies joining the club. He’s a short **** and finds my bike on the large size. Is the 400 shorter as well as less powerful?

I just saw that one of the members has a 99 SV400 for sale and was thinking of recommending it to my friend, however I have never come across one, and I’m struggling to find a decent review on the web.

The only review I have found says it’s a dog, but perhaps he was unlucky….?

Thanks

Rowan

[ophic]

afaik the SV400 is a SV650 with sleeved down bores. Or bored down sleeves :confused:

Anyway it's the same frame as a curvy SV so the seat height is the same.

[Joe Marcon]

Just get an sv650 . I wunt pay that price for a sv400 that I seen on forum . Wats so rare? It's slower

[jambo]

The SV400 comes from when almost all Japanese were limited to 400cc. It is an SV650 99-02 with a smaller capacity engine (I believe it's a different crank and ignition unit, as it revs higher). It also only has one front brake disk. You will probably find insurance to be the same or higher than the SV650 as I think most of them will be grey imports.

I'd look at the 650.

Jambo

[Rowan207]

Thanks for the advice, it doesn't sound like there are any pros to getting the 400 over the 650 so I won't be recommending it to my friend in a hurry.

[flymo]

Just get an sv650 . I wunt pay that price for a sv400 that I seen on forum . Wats so rare? It's slower

huh? :smt017

[Joe Marcon]

huh? :smt017

Word up

[flymo]

Word up Ah... that's better. I can read that.

[Joe Marcon]

Ah... that's better. I can read that.

Sorry, I just talk poo sometimes .
What would you do buy an sv400 for £1400 or buy an sv650 £1400,
I know what I would do . Buy the sv400 and throw it off a cliff lol

[flymo]

Sorry, I just talk poo sometimes .
What would you do buy an sv400 for £1400 or buy an sv650 £1400,
I know what I would do . Buy the sv400 and throw it off a cliff lol

But then you would be £1400 down and have no bike :-). Valid question from the OP on comparative size though, if they are the same size and suitable then of course personally I would go for the SV650. If for no other reason than they are far more commonly used, therefor spare parts and model knowledge more widely available.

[fizzwheel]

Can we give the bickering and childish remarks a miss please.

I've deleted the last few posts on this thread, anymore off topic stuff will also get deleted.

thanks

[Joe Marcon]

Sorry . And sorry to other guy

[speedplay]

I think it's all about personal choice.
If someone wants a smaller v-twin then why not look at the 400.
If we all wanted the same from a bike, we would all be riding yellow curvys...

[SVnick]

Seing as the SV400 that seems to be offending people is mine, i'll give my point of view.

For starters the reason i advertised it as "very rare" is because .... well it is very rare, im not saying saying that makes it more valueable or better just thats there's not many about, and its certainly worth more than chucking off a cliff!
As for size i cant comment as iv not ridden a SV650 but i am only 5'8 so am on the shorter side but i can sit flat footed all the time and its nice and light.
Insurance was not any less for me than the 650, and parts are available from weemoto.
The main reason i bought the 400 was because it was local at the time i was looking to buy a bike and it was in such good condition that it was ideal for my first bike, and i have been very impressed with it.
Iam going to agree with others though that maybe the 650 is probably a better option for most if they are the same size etc as they are more widely available, but for me the 400 was perfect.

Hope this helps

[NTECUK]

5ft7 and i had no worries with the 650.
Whats the front brake like with one disc.I thought the standars twin set up on my K2 was pants?

[pookie]

also road tax would be cheaper on the 400 compared to 650

[yorkie_chris]

5ft7 and i had no worries with the 650.
Whats the front brake like with one disc.I thought the standars twin set up on my K2 was pants?

Nowt wrong with stock brakes if they're fettled.

[speedplay]

Seing as the SV400 that seems to be offending people is mine, i'll give my point of view.


It's not offending, it's just joe marcon being a tool as usual.
Not just my opinion, many others think the same too.

Hope that helps.

[Winder]

It's not offending, it's just joe marcon being a tool as usual.
Not just my opinion, many others think the same too.

Hope that helps.

+1
We're gonna get in trouble now :-|

[NTECUK]

Nowt wrong with stock brakes if they're fettled.

New lines and gold pads made them much better ;)

[Joe Marcon]

Isn't it the same ride height as the 650?

[Sid Squid]

SV400 same chassis/seat height dimensions as 650.

Nothing wrong with an SV400, just don't pay 650 money for one. A 400 may be harder to sell on then an equivalent condition/mileage 650 as well, and almost certainly for less money too.

Also possibly dearer to insure as not an officially imported UK bike.

[Rowan207]

Seing as the SV400 that seems to be offending people is mine, i'll give my point of view.

For starters the reason i advertised it as "very rare" is because .... well it is very rare, im not saying saying that makes it more valueable or better just thats there's not many about, and its certainly worth more than chucking off a cliff!
As for size i cant comment as iv not ridden a SV650 but i am only 5'8 so am on the shorter side but i can sit flat footed all the time and its nice and light.
Insurance was not any less for me than the 650, and parts are available from weemoto.
The main reason i bought the 400 was because it was local at the time i was looking to buy a bike and it was in such good condition that it was ideal for my first bike, and i have been very impressed with it.
Iam going to agree with others though that maybe the 650 is probably a better option for most if they are the same size etc as they are more widely available, but for me the 400 was perfect.
Hope this helps

@ SV Nick, apologies it appears my thread has been hijacked by people slagging off your Bike. Personally I wounld have been very interested in the 400 as a first bike, as it turned out I got the 650 and found that to be fine despite reading a lot from people warning against getting anything more powerfull than a CB125.

My reason for the post was to find out some more info /opinions about the 400, other than perhaps parts beeing harder to get hold of it sounds like, at the right price, it could be a good choice for my frind who is looking to upgrade from his Aprilia 125 2 stroke on passing his test. I'll have a wrod with him and see what he thinks.

[leebex]

Cant see any problem with owning a 400cc bike, owned a 400 import bandit for a while, and seeing as Id been on ...........cough cough..... vespa`s for a few years, it was more than fast enough, theres more to life than riding about flat out everywhere.

[Sy-superfly]

If he does want either one lowered a little then, my minitwin used to be the other halfs bike and was 4'11". Now I've still got a lowered seat that he could buy off me, also if that's still not enough I've got lowering dogbones to lower the back end (ill throw Then just lower the front to match

[Sy-superfly]

Effing phone please add to the "(I'll throw" this bit "the shorter side stand in as well)". Personally I'd just go for the seat as then the geometry is still the same.

[Sid Squid]

@ SV Nick, apologies it appears my thread has been hijacked by people slagging off your Bike.
That's rather unfair, mostly - mine included - the views given have been quite balanced about the SV400. It is dimensionally the same as the Curvy 650, so does not have an advantage if a physically smaller bike/lower seat is desired, but in all other respects is a lesser bike, those are not a matter of opinion good, bad or indifferent, they're simple fact.
None of the above counts one jot against an SV400 - if the price is commensurate with understanding the limitations of the machine.

If such a machine were required, I'd happily ride an SV400 but, as I stated quite fairly above, I wouldn't buy one for the cost of an SV650, as it has no advantage and some clear disadvantages.

That's not slagging it off by any means.

[yorkie_chris]

What are they like on economy?

[Rowan207]

That's rather unfair, mostly - mine included - the views given have been quite balanced about the SV400. It is dimensionally the same as the Curvy 650, so does not have an advantage if a physically smaller bike/lower seat is desired, but in all other respects is a lesser bike, those are not a matter of opinion good, bad or indifferent, they're simple fact.
None of the above counts one jot against an SV400 - if the price is commensurate with understanding the limitations of the machine.

If such a machine were required, I'd happily ride an SV400 but, as I stated quite fairly above, I wouldn't buy one for the cost of an SV650, as it has no advantage and some clear disadvantages.

That's not slagging it off by any means.

@ Sid, I was refering to some earlier posts, "throw it off a cliff" for example, thanks for the info.