Hey!

[synXero]

Hey all. New guy! :D

Have had my CBT for 2-3 months; got my theory a month ago, about to sit my DAS in the next week or two. I'm 25, from Edinburgh but living in London. Always been into fast cars and fast bicycles, but living down here, it's way more fun on a motorbike!!

I'll mostly be using the bike to commute, but I'd like to be able to tear it up a bit, going to the IOMTT this year, and like getting out of town whenever I can.

I'm mostly looking at a black pointy SV650 or SV650S as the dream first big bike, but they're a bit pricy for me really, the absolute most I can spend is probably £1500... The lower the better. Insurance is going to be £500 odds on any group 9 bike.

I'm also considering a few other bikes, sports or tourers basically. CB500 is in with a real shout—cheap and reliable and I like twins more than I4s! So are Hornets, Fazer 600s, ZZR600s, that kind of thing really. Anything I can get cheaply enough and can insure.

Anyway, I haven't ridden anything yet, apart from having a shot on a Ducati 848 of all things, and a CB600F2, but both were only brief.

Convince me an SV is the right thing?!

Cheers! :D

[maviczap]

You're on an Sv forum and asking us to convince you its the right bike :-)

All those IL4's are fine, but have no character, and you'll have to rev the nuts off them. Sewing machines

CB500 I don't like parallel twins, but good workhorse, but a bit plain.

If £1500 is your limit get a Curvy, you won't be disappointed with any Sv

[synXero]

Agree the SV is just way more interesting than anything else I can get my hands on. Always liked having something a bit more quirky.

Curvy SV looks do absolutely nothing for me, maybe the totally naked version but I just don't like em. Seems there are a few pointies for 1500 or close to it. One for sale on here too. I'll have to go ride one.

[carelesschucca]

SV.

They're cheap

They're fun

They can be improved cheaply* as you gain experience

They can be ragged and you won't be going that quickly*

They're light meaning they are easy to pick up when you have that slow speed moment when you're inexperienced and drop it.

They're fairly cheap to insure and run*

They're fun

They're easy to work on

Basically,

They are the perfect first big bike, and most of all they are fun.

*in motorbike terms

[garynortheast]

Curvy SV looks do absolutely nothing for me, maybe the totally naked version but I just don't like em.

Are you mad? I'd recommend some serious therapy! :smt046

Welcome along by the way.....

[synXero]

I'm starting to see the appeal in naked curvies ;) :D and they're also very cheap it seems. Still very much a full-faired pointy man though... Time/bank balance will tell. I'm planning to be on one by the end of January.

@carelesschucca - comments appreciated, thanks. Like you say I'd like something I could wind out. I don't mind breaking the law when it's otherwise safe enough, but do it too often and I'll be without license before long!!

Would it be possible/humane to ride a naked bike, say, 500 miles in a day? Would it be unbearable? Roughly how much easier/less tiring does it make it having a full faired bike?

[Adam Ef]

500 miles in a day an you'll be knackered on any bike!

I do find even the half fairing on my SV makes more miles much more pleasant. Difficult to say though as my experience of naked bikes was my old 125 and the 250 I'm doing up, both of which are a lot lighter and feeling knocked about and less planted can add to tiredness too. I'm well aware when I'm doing 70 on a naked bike. The wind reminds me! I sometimes don't realise when I'm doing 70 on my SV. Although some of that is down to it being generally a smoother ride cruising that speed as well as the wind protection.

[garynortheast]

I did just about 500 miles on my fully faired curvy s last summer, home to Fort William in one go. I was fairly tired at the end of the day but not feeling particularly battered or blasted. I would not like to attempt it on a naked version though.

[Kenzie]

The naked version has higher bars so might be better on the wrists. That's my only gripe with the bike.

Sent from the darkroom

[Heorot]

I have a naked k3 fitted with a Puig double bubble screen and at 70 in 6th it's a relaxed ride without much buffeting.

[SV650rules]

The SV650 V twin is almost an ideal blend of useable torque, smoothness ( 90 degree V twins are naturally well balanced throughout their rev range and don't need complicated contra-rotating balance shafts to iron out the vibrations - these are used on most other bikes with varying degrees of success) and lets face it 70 to 75 ponies is as much as most people can use on the road - except the well known 'straight line hero' who rocket down the straights and creep round the corners. I ride a naked because I don't use it for commuting, and don't frequent motorways, even in my car I don't particularly like motorways.

If you add the unique exhaust note, which is very easy on the ear it is no wonder the SV attracts such a loyal following. The fuel consumption is also very good, bonus !

[DomP]

Passed my mod just over a year ago and got my 2010 fully faired pointy soon after. Absolutely love it and as others have said that exhaust sound and the buzz it gives me is enough to make up for 72bhp which as someone else said is more than enough for me and on the twisty roads of Herefordshire.

I wasn't sold on the curvy looks but if I was buying again I don't think I'd be so bothered, lovely frame on a curvy too!

Final thing, I too enjoy a blast in a fast car but bikes need so much more self control and respect. (Sorry im 37)

[carelesschucca]

@carelesschucca - comments appreciated, thanks. Like you say I'd like something I could wind out. I don't mind breaking the law when it's otherwise safe enough, but do it too often and I'll be without license before long!

It's not your licence I worry aboutIn my opinion the best thing you can do when you first pass your test is get extra training, I was forced to do the IAM by my better half, I was reluctant but did it and it was the best thing I ever did. It taught me so much more than being safe... I can honestly say it has saved me from BIG crashes (I've still had the odd slide though)

[SV650rules]

It's not your licence I worry aboutIn my opinion the best thing you can do when you first pass your test is get extra training, I was forced to do the IAM by my better half, I was reluctant but did it and it was the best thing I ever did. It taught me so much more than being safe... I can honestly say it has saved me from BIG crashes (I've still had the odd slide though)


http://oppositelock.kinja.com/why-a-sportbike-is-not-a-beginners-bike-1643690030

Came across this article, makes a lot of sense why a newby should not get a bike that is too powerful for them, riding a motorbike is different from driving a car, you don't have the safety cage and raft of devices like airbags and seatbelts that can save the sorry ass of inexperienced / overconfident / careless / stupid / plain idiotic peeps.

[synXero]

Thanks for all the comments gents. Seems like a great forum. Confident I'll do advanced training as soon as I can do - always respected that kind of thing, trackdays and so on too.

Off to see my first SV650 (N, pointy) on Wednesday. Will definitely report back...

[synXero]

Interesting first day foray into SV land.

Saw one bike, 40+ thousand miles. Naked pointy black frame. I really liked the naked feel and ride way way more than I expected to. Really liked it. Renthal bars maybe helped!

Visited three or four garages and saw a few other big bikes. Nothing particularly stood out.

Visited another and saw another Sv, same year, colour, everything - but 5000 miles, and an S with the low bars. Really a very different prospect indeed. I do wonder if the naked would be the better choice for central London... although I still prefer the aesthetics of the S I think. Absolutely showroom condition the second one. Really highlighted that the former was a bit worse for wear really. I definitely got some real perspective about how good an SV can be, if it's basically new. It was also £2950 mind you...

Great to have the goal posts set out. Now just to find the right bike somewhere in the middle. I am pretty certain it's an SV for me now!!

[chris8886]

Visited another and saw another Sv, same year, colour, everything - but 5000 miles, and an S with the low bars. Really a very different prospect indeed. I do wonder if the naked would be the better choice for central London... although I still prefer the aesthetics of the S I think.



I would commute on my s and I never once found the clip ons to be a problem I don't remember..... I now commute on a cbr600rr and I don't really find that particularly uncomfortable (maybe i'm just weird though....#-o ).

[Bibio]

as a first bike bike dont bother with looks. buy the bike that feels right sitting on it, make sure you can get both feet on the ground as it will help with confidence. naked sit up type are better in my opinion as they let you get a better all round vision.

riding a motorcycle is not about how fast you can go its about getting home in one piece.

advanced training.. hhmm subjective one that, advanced training is only as good as the person training you. if they are no good then you will learn their habits. get a complete 'polite wanabee' as your instructor and you will learn nowt apart from how to go slow safely. get the right instructor and your in with a fighting chance of actually learning something. advanced training is just that.. learning more than you were taught for passing your test.

observation, observation, observation.... is 90% of riding a motorbike.

welcome to the fold.

ex Edin southsider

[Heorot]

Bibio, ex Edin southsider. Would that be Craigmillar? I lived for two years in Wester Hailes.

[Bibio]

Bibio, ex Edin southsider. Would that be Craigmillar? I lived for two years in Wester Hailes.

ermmm no. if you know where Clerk Street is then thats the area EH7-EH8. I was dragged up in Montague Street.

[carelesschucca]

advanced training.. hhmm subjective one that, advanced training is only as good as the person training you. if they are no good then you will learn their habits. get a complete 'polite wanabee' as your instructor and you will learn nowt apart from how to go slow safely. get the right instructor and your in with a fighting chance of actually learning something. advanced training is just that.. learning more than you were taught for passing your test.

Maybe that's why I ride like I do. Most of the IAM instructors I got sent out with were all crazybonkers lunatics that knew the rules and could stick to them without thinking, but could hoon with the best of them. I suppose not many IAM instructors ride GSX-R1100s on the back wheel past the Carbeth Inn. I must have been lucky I only ever had one Richard Head take me out and I had a complete blow out argument with him.

[Heorot]

ermmm no. if you know where Clerk Street is then thats the area EH7-EH8. I was dragged up in Montague Street.

Ah. A little nicer area than Sighthill in Wester Hailes where I was living. Lovely people around there - NOT.

[Bibio]

Ah. A little nicer area than Sighthill in Wester Hailes where I was living. Lovely people around there - NOT.

sort of, the people from less privileged areas went into the shouthside to drink on fri/sat nights :smt062 apart from that it was a great place to stay and as a kid it was fantastic.

[Blapper]

Agree the SV is just way more interesting than anything else I can get my hands on. Always liked having something a bit more quirky.

Curvy SV looks do absolutely nothing for me, maybe the totally naked version but I just don't like em. Seems there are a few pointies for 1500 or close to it. One for sale on here too. I'll have to go ride one.

Yeah, they are horrid aren't they? Here's mine:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8608/27966801834_94576742bb.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/JBkaQw)SV650S (https://flic.kr/p/JBkaQw) by Andrew Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/spraynpray/), on Flickr


The naked version has higher bars so might be better on the wrists. That's my only gripe with the bike.

Sent from the darkroom
You can do something about that and get the best of both worlds:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8040/29651745822_c536f099ae.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MbdWYW)2016-09-18 13.14.58 (https://flic.kr/p/MbdWYW) by Andrew Hayes (https://www.flickr.com/photos/spraynpray/), on Flickr

[Heorot]

Do you have a restricted turning circle with those bars? Before I bought my SV I saw one with wide bars instead of clip ons and they halve the turning circle as they fouled the fairing.

[synXero]

Lovely bike fella. Those bars!!!

Day 2 of 3 training today; passed my second mock test. Can't wait for the real thing on Monday. Been riding a 2015 Gladius; I think the same engine as the SVs? It rides nicely and I love that thumping exhaust pulse. Reminds me of the Corvette, but a lot quieter ! Definitely stock exhaust can will be needing replaced.

Frustrating not being able to wind the Gladius out at all under the watchful gaze of an instructor. I'd love to see what they can do. Haven't been much beyond mid RPMs I don't think. It's so usable down low and in the midrange. I suppose that's the V Twin strong point. Are they linear through to the redline, or do they start to noticeably tail off up top?

Absolutely loving big bike life. Amazing feeling.

[SV650rules]

The Gladius is same engine with twin spark plugs and a couple more ponies, many people didn't like styling of Gladys but still a nice bike. Yes the V twin is useable low down but has nice power from 4 to 9k before it tails off, the 2016 SV has another 5 ponies (75) and peak torque comes at higher revs but still very useable below 3k and very good mpg (70+).

[synXero]

Good news. I like the power delivery on the Gladius I've got to say, but as you mention, not 100% sold on the styling. Then again it does have bloody great crash bars on it, probably enough to ruin the looks of any bike.

They've got four new or nearly-new GSX-R600 and 750s in the shop. Absolutely stunning bikes. Much comfier to sit on that I'd have expected too. Unfortunately there's just no way in hell I can afford to buy and insure one of them! But wow, Suzuki really make a nice product.

[Bibio]

bikes looks are superficial, you cant see it when your riding it.