Too much power?

[caines]

Not many people in here can answer this I dont think but do you think going from an SV650 to an R1 is too much of a leap? Im after the opinion of people who have ridden an out an out monster of a motorbike.

People look at the R1 as a widowmaker of a machine, is the power THAT bad that it would be uncontrollable? I personally dont believe it would be that bad, although I have never ridden one.

My mates keep saying why dont you just get it over and done with and buy an R1? Im not that against the idea! But maybe I should be?

[snoopy]

Don't think it's too much of a leap. I had a go of my dads mates around the block and it's perfectly managable.

It doesn't really pull unless you've got it in the right gear. When you have it in the right gear you just don't dare give it full throttle unless you're experienced, mad, or both.

Anyway it's a different type of bike and isn't at all useful for anything other than speed and high insurance premiums.

[lynw]

The jump of 20 bhp from the SV to the CBR caught me by a bit by surprise the first time I hit the power band. :shock: It was the way it launched down the road making the SV seem a gradual gentle acceleration in comparison... :D

But as long as you take it easy and gradually get used to the extra power there shouldnt be a problem.

Have to admit I will get to a 900/1000 one day but not until Im ready. The SV and CBRs limits still exceed mine so I dont see the need to get a bigger bike with limits far greater still than mine. Ive got in enough trouble with my 600s as is... :? but thats just my personal way of doing things... :D

[Biker Biggles]

Ive got a zx9r and I dont think its any more difficult to ride than an sv just as long as you remember whats available at the blink of a throttle.Its a case of knowing that you can go very fast very easily so its more of a danger to your licence really.If you ride gently these big bikes are pussycats.If thats what you want ,go for it,but make sure you can insure it.

[BURNER]

It'll be a change in power and going to a "peaky" IL4 but the R1 is a torque monster compared to a 600 or 750 IL4.
The throttle works both ways.

[kern0079]

Too much power. Is that even possible??

[InvisableGeek]

an r1 is yes alot more power, if you've never ridden one you should, it will change the way you look at i forever

[Junior]

The R1 is managable when you short shift it (ie where you'd shift on the SV). If you wanna go to "the zone" you should have a firm grip on the bars. (Trust me on that one :shock: )

[Cronos]

The answer all depends on you!

It's not how powerful the bike is but about how much experience you have, how much self restraint you have, what's your attitude like, how competent a rider you are, etc, etc...

[Jelster]

When I went from the SV to the Falco it taught me to repect what I was riding. When you have a great deal more power you YOU have to be "broken in" into riding it. I regularly ride Topcats Fireblade and even after having in excess off 100BHP on my Gixer 600 I notice a huge change in power.

It is for you to decide and for you to police your actions.... The R1 is a fantastic bike, so have fun, just be careful.

.

[sharriso74]

I went from an SV to a 955i Daytona in November last year and the power jump is a lot but as long as you treat your new bike with respect and not fear you'll be fine

[Itching 2 go]

the question is where would you go from there?

[Shooter]

I recently went from the SV650 to a Ducati S4.

73Hp to 101 Hp.

The surprises were not the extra H/power although that is noticeable and significant. Even driven very moderately, it is amazing how quickly one is exceeding the speed limit, how short the usual and familiar straight to the corner has become, how the bike is less suited and more difficult to manage than a SV650 at city speeds, how often one is slipping the clutch or driving in 1st and 2nd gear, how powerful the brakes are ...etc....

The extra horse power is managed by your brain (and hopefully common sense) but the "real world" management of a machine designed to go really fast, whaen the law and common sense says "take it easy" - is what strikes you immediately.

But hell ...it is amazing what one puts up with to be "piloting" machinery that provides such an amazing buzz. ( I will accept gracefully and acknowledge any "poser" jibes directed at me - I am but I do not care)

My point - Realise what you are getiing into / onto and hope it suits your needs and requirements.

[Liam]

After my SV650 got written off (non-fault accident - rammed from behind when stationary) I was offered a SV1000 privately for the same price as the original dealer 650. Though it sounded a bargain. But have to say that sometimes, as a new-ish rider (15 months) I do have times when I find the extra grunt a bit scary - not normally a problem as I ride within my limits, being a mature and sensible person these days :lol:

The advantage of going to the R1 is that an IL4 is such a different riding style that you will be aware of the difference, unlike going to a bigger V-Twin where you can forget what's under you once in a while :!:

Liam

[mysteryjimbo]

I ridden loads of high powered bikes (not bad for 26!) and the best all round 100+bhp bike of ridden is the Fazer thou. With its extra torqued R1 engine its a fantastic bike. Not too much power by any means but the power bands take a bit of getting used to if you're used to the v-twins.

I used to be an IL4 only rider but the v-twin has taught me a better technique.

[Ceri JC]

I've not ridden an R1 (or any litre sportsbike for that matter), but I thought it had a reputation as being one of the more "road/user-friendly" big bikes? I.E. More like a 'blade than a gsxr or big kwak?

[SV650Racer]

I went from an SV650 to a 99 R1. TBH the R1 was just as easy to ride. Unless you wang the throttle open at every given opportunity its quite a gentle and easy going bike. Nice and light and well balanced and the power will only come in as much as you turn the throttle. Short shifting is easy through upto top gear.

Just give yourself some time to get used to it. It wont let you get away with much like the SV does but its good fun.

Give it a go...

[benHallowes]

do you think going from an SV650 to an R1 is too much of a leap?

If you ride like me... yes! grab a handful of throttle (like i used to on the SV!) on the R1 and you will be in a bush (or worse) in a very short time! :shock:

[carelesschucca]

i think the quote in BIKE this month says it all about the R1

'riding this R1 is like lighting a big box of fireworks: you know whats in the and what its going to do - but you still get a fright when it all goes off'

the RI is just faster at everything stearing going stopping...

Thing is it'll only go as fast as you twist your wrist...

[embee]

I can understand the appeal of bikes like the R1, but the reality of living with them is a bit different.

The nearest I went was about 15yrs ago with an FZR1000 which I had for about 3yrs. Remember that was before safety cameras. Even then I decided that the likelihood of losing my licence was just too great. The bike (sluggish by modern standards!) didn't start to "work" below about 90, and doing 60-70 was simply frustrating.

I find bikes like the SV are much more satisfying because the performance more or less matches the roads. There again, each to their own......... 8)

[Captain Nemo]

The throttle works both ways.


true, true, but the little demon on my shoulder only allows it to go one way.

one of the endearing things about the sv is that when you pull in somewhere youre likely to be the only person on one alongside 6 blades, 10 gixxers, a dozen cbrs and a bloke trying to bump start a new ducatti. :shock:

and you can still give them a surprise when its time to play. :twisted:

[Balky001]

Are you thinging of the current model R1 or older? If you are going for older they can be trickier to handle when riding quickly.

The difference between and 600 and a thou in terms of power and torque is large, but unless you are a decent racer, you wont necessarily be quicker apart from on a straight, which isn't the most exciting place to be most of the time. But if you don't ride a atleast 9/10ths and scream the bits off it in every gear, you'll find the R1 can be easier to ride, whack it in 4th and you don't need to change gear in between 15 - 150mph, cool

[philc2000]

I've gone the other way, got a K3 gsxr1000, just had the K5 SV650 delivered. When I got the 1000 I was surprised how easy it was to ride (had a gsxr600 before that). Handling was spot on, power delivery is amazing, but treat it with respect. You can ring the neck on the SV and get away with it in any gear, do that on the 1000 in 1st, 2nd or 3rd and you'll end up sat in the middle of the road watching it bugger off on it's own. It is very predictable though - you've got to treat it like a real **** for it to scare you.

The 1000 really is easy to ride, handling is very similar to the SV but suspension is harder on the 1000 although the SV drops into corners better and the brakes are way way better on the 1000 (must be the radial calipers).

I'd say the SV is probably a better road bike as I'm always worried about my licence on the 1000 - it's so easy to attain silly speeds (go to jail, go directly to jail, do not pass go,...). I bought the SV to commute to work on but I can see me riding it more than the 1000, and leaving that just for track days.

[DeeJay]

I love the gixxer 1000... and that is just as i thought about it too... ace bike... but treate it with respect...

I am getting the Gixxer 750... but only co i ain't paying the insurance for the 1000.... not yet anyway....

[K]

If we leave everyone else on the road out of the equation, motorbike's aren't widowmakers, riders are.

If you can trust yourself, then you can trust the R1, it's as simple as that really. The machine isn't fatally flawed, but people's self-control can be.

I know that a more technically proficient rider could 'get more' out of my Blade than I can, but I enjoy how I ride it at the moment. It is capable of more, and so may I be the longer I ride it - in the mean time I will enjoy the SV just as much, if not more, because its limits and mine are more closely matched.