Distance riding with pillion - SV suitable?

[Djgary]

Being relatively new to biking I'm wondering whether my sv 650 k3 naked has the legs to take me and a pillion to my house in France from Stockport ?.
It's well maintained 2004 model with just 14 k on the clock, I normally go in the transit van around once every six weeks but fancy going on the bike for a change, we normally cover around 1400 miles overr the five days I'm there on the round trip, the longest stint is 280 miles from Stockport to the port in Plymouth then French roads for around 200 miles to the house, run around friends in France then the return trip via the same roads.
I may be being silly but being newish I really don't know if a 650 twin is up to it.:confused:

[MisterTommyH]

Yes it's up to it. But your pillion might not be up to much after that - come to think of it you may not either.

Does seem a lot of miles for 5 days.

[Djgary]

We have just been chatting about the mileage and was saying if we left out visiting friends in the Loire we would cut out around 600 miles which would give me more time at our house and more beer time :p.
I only came home yesterday after being over there for 3 weeks but I was in the transit so the mileage is a doddle, I've told my son that the sv pillion seat is not known to be the most comfortable place to be but he is keen to come along. I think one stop for half an hours rest and fuel on the way to Plymouth should be ok, we are going overnight to catch the 08:00 ferry so roads will be quiet hopefully.
Glad you feel the bikes got the legs though. With being used to big diesels I'm a bit cautious with the engine being so small lol.

[Sir Trev]

Build up to it. Go out for some day trips so you see what it's like after two, four, six hours... Stopping for a rest every 90 minutes or so will help keep the blood flowing properly in your legs and will help a lot. Consider gel pad inserts under your seat fabric too - a lot of us swear by them. Oh, and don't try to carry nearly as much with you as you can in the Transit!

[Djgary]

I've done. A few days out both solo and with the wife on the back, we did both the roughlys and the Wirral egg runs this year which meant quite a few hours on the bike plus been to Wales a couple of times, nothing like e mileage I'm looking at however I'm thinking the bike should do around 150 miles between fill ups so a stop at 130 and then a stop at the port which about the same distance, then 6 hours rest on the ferry, I get a free cabin with my frequent traveller membership so can get a good kip, the trip on the other side is really good, belting smooth roads, 50% motorway 50% country lanes but really low traffic levels, I get around 4 vehicles per day past my house, all tractors lol. I've just been looking at top boxes with a back rest for the pillion, any suggestions on these ?. I've just paid 400 quid for the transit on the ferry, just got a quote for the bike and it's 96 quid so a huge difference when I don't need to take materials. Quite looking forward to it now :-)

[MadGaz]

Buy an airhawk! I just got one yesterday, did 250 miles today and my bum feels like new!

[garynortheast]

I've done 450 miles in a day on several occasions over the last couple of years on my curvy, and although tired at the end of the day, I've found it do-able. I have no problem with the standard rider's seat, it's not caused me any particular discomfort.

Can't speak personally about the pillion seat although I took my father in law from Mid Wales to Grantham and back on the pillion. He's 5'10" and about 13 - 14st and was still able to walk normally at the end of it.

[davepreston]

put the spare £304 into a givi rack and side pannier set (hard luggage) with a passenger pad for the top box, your pillion will be asleep by the end of the second stint

[davepreston]

http://www.givi.co.uk/My-motorcycle/?ma=SUZUKI&mo=SV-650---SV-650-S-03--08

[keith_d]

You'll have to look for a second hand set. From the Givi website:


Tubular Side Case Holders
SV650 / SV650 S (03-08)
Ref: PL529

This product has been discontinued by Givi and all stocks have been exhausted, so the item is no longer available. (January 2011)

[Djgary]

I think the top box is a good idea both for the back rest and a bit of luggage space, fortunately we have clothes and everything over there permanently so need for that luggage but a warm flask of coffee and some sandwich space would be nice, well it looks like its definitely going to be done as my son has asked me to book the ferry, I've just taken him back to where he is staying on the bike and he was quite happy although it was only twenty miles. I will have to take some pics of the bike in rural Brittany and post them.
I've seen a givi rack for 94 pounds on the web I will find the link again and post it to see what you all think.

[Djgary]

http://www.motorbikesandparts.co.uk/givi-e450-black-monolock-top-box-45-litre-no-universal-plate-p-16362.html

http://www.motorbikesandparts.co.uk/givi-topbox-rack-for-suzuki-sv650-03-p-16709.html

[Kilted Ginger]

Yes, however, to make it as pleasant as possible, 70 miles break, 70 miles fuel, 70 miles break.
If you wait till your tired to have a break the next stint is a killer. Road trips are great but if you are doing decent mileage then it takes decent planning. Staying warm and dry is also very important.

[Bibio]

or if your like me.. 40 miles then fag break another 40 miles another fag so on and so on.

if i can average 300-400 on a sunday run then it's well doable. it's my knees that hurt most.

[Jayneflakes]

I have just looked into having my seat adjusted for touring because I find after about a hundred miles, my bum starts to get uncomfortable on my K3. My engine has done eighteen thousand miles now, so is nicely run in. She is serviced regularly and runs well enough to be well matched with my other half's ZRX1100.

As for the pillion, I used to travel this way with the wife on the front, up until I passed my test. None of us are what you would call petite and we loved it. However, after two hundred and fifty miles on the pillion pad, I was ready to see a physiotherapist!

Having to do a long ride with a dead line may not be the best way to enjoy your ride, maybe plan it so that you do half, then stop over night in a comfortable bed.

Good luck.

[littleoldman2]

An awful lot depends on the road, on my curvy 250 mile on motorway / main A roads with just a petrol stop is easy. However 350-400 miles round bumpy, poorly surfaced, brilliant biking roads in the Yorkshire dales, Lakes, North Pennines or Scotland is a different story and needs a longer day. Build in some time to take in the view once you leave the motorway.

[andreis]

It's been said before, but I'll say it again :

BUY AN AIRHAWK!!!

It increases contact surface and, at the same time, it distributes pressure along the entirety of the contact surface, leaving you with no extreme pressure points (which are the first ones to start hurting).
It also allows air to travel under your bum, so you will not feel like it's about to catch fire AND it makes the ride more comfortable over bumps.
The secret to the airhawk is putting just a tiny amount of air.

Also, take regular brakes, as the others have said, and you should be fine for 400miles days

[andreis]

Oh, don't forget, riding dehydrates you far faster than driving, so every time you take a break, also drink some water. If the sun is up, every time you refuel also get clean water, preferably cool.

If it's too hot (>27 Celsius), you can also wet your tshirt at points where there's ventilation. This will cool you through evaporation. Don't let yourself get dizzy/nauseated from the heat (heat exhaustion)

[Djgary]

Thank you for all the great advice, I'm definitely getting the top box and rack, will order it later on tonight, I'm pretty lucky really that I get a free cabin on the ferry so a good six hours rest and sleep before the final 200 miles to our house. I did over 800 miles on Saturday in the transit but that's easy with cruise control and a nice warm comfy seat lol but we came back the long way then via Caen and Portsmouth on the bike I will do the Plymouth to roscoff going and st malo to Portsmouth return saving a huge chunk of mileage.
Really looking forward to it now, even though I've only been home a few days I'm really looking forward to going back.