Newbie :) Hello and hopefully you can offer some advice

[Alex Leigh]

First post so be gentle with me ;) Nice site BTW. Learnt alot when I should have been working..
I'm keen to get back into riding. Same story I guess as lots of people, rode loads when I was younger, stopped and sold up when I had kids, now in sight of the big 40 and while I have Mountain Bikes to keep me sane at weekends, I really fancy a proper bike again.

Last two bikes I had were twins (last one was a Yam TRX). Suits my kind of lazy riding. Most of the stuff I'll be doing will be close to here (bucks), couple of hours, a and b rode stuff. No track days (too scared and too old now), no big trips away (family, kids, mountain bikes ;) ) and no commuting. Just riding for a whole load of fun with a few friends of a similar disposition.

I wandered into a local dealers today and see they have the £1,0% apr deal running. Sat on a 650s and really liked the riding position. Nearly bought one there and then but have to explain to my wife that when I said - 5 years ago - "no more motorbikes, not every, honest", I may not have been entirely truthful...

So any reason (other than death by rolling pin) I shouldn't go for the SV?

Thanks, Alex

[21QUEST]

Hello and welcome :P

Cheers
Ben

[Filipe M.]

Hi there!

So any reason (other than death by rolling pin) I shouldn't go for the SV?

Yes. You'll probably lose all interest in mountain bikes. :roll:

Well, it happened to me! :wink:

[mattSV]

Welcome to the wonderful world of SV650.org :lol:

Sounds like the SV will be ideal for you - great for scratching around on, quick enough to have some fun, good in the corners, brakes and suspension could be better.

Get yourself a decent test ride and take your plastic - you won't regret it :wink:

[thor]

Wellcome!

Down side about buying an SV is that you spend £ on all the bling bits, and your family will forget what you look like.

[Biker Biggles]

Pacify the missus by getting a cheap older one so it costs next to nothing and buy her a present.Welcome aboard BTW.

[Alex Leigh]

Yeah I meant to get a test ride today. Took out my helmet, found the leather a little "tight" and not sure that the alpinestars any longer make some kind of fashion statement. Forgot my license :oops:

Lose interest in mountain bikes? Maybe I *can* sell this to the missus after all :?

[Jelster]

For the money, there is no other bike that will give such a giid return in smiles per mile against cost, it's that simple.

The SV is a budget bike, it has it's flaws (front suspension being one of them) but then just about any bike you buy isn't perfect. There is no real competion the "midleweight semi faired but sporty" market, the Faser, Bandit and Z750 are all a lot more upright, so if that's what you like, and you enjoy twins, then the SV is your baby really.....

.

[Alex Leigh]

Have MCN (first time in ages, good lord things have changed a bit in five years). Quite a few SVs in there. Unfortuantly a combination of Magpie "Shiny new thing syndrome" and "0% finance, £1 down, 3 years interest free" is kind of pushing me toward a new one.

In terms of buying my wife an appropriate present? Probably a house. With a new car in the garage!

[amarko5]

Have MCN (first time in ages, good lord things have changed a bit in five years). Quite a few SVs in there. Unfortuantly a combination of Magpie "Shiny new thing syndrome" and "0% finance, £1 down, 3 years interest free" is kind of pushing me toward a new one.

In terms of buying my wife an appropriate present? Probably a house. With a new car in the garage!


if you had a TRX try the latest FI 900 TDM's :lol:

not that i am biased or anything :wink:

[Alex Leigh]

No! Don't give me choices. It's taken me a while to get down to the SV! I was concerned about the comment that you buy bling bits for it... I thought that was MTBs only. What are you guys changing?

[fizzwheel]

Go for it. Its a great bike and that £1 down 0% finance is a great deal.

As for what people change, its probably easier to tell you what we dont :D Mods are a personal choice its more a case of what you like than anything else.

Most peeps fit a race can to let loose that V twin rumble, maybe a seat cowl or lower fairing. A hamicad fender eliminator to remove the huge rear plastic mudguard. A hugger to keep the muck off the rear of the bike is probably a good idea to.

Dont forget crash bungs for piece of mind and maybe a scotoiler to automatically lube your chain for you.

Have a look round the site see what you like the look of and then go from there.

Be warned once you start modifiying your bike you wont stop :wink: :oops:

[johnnyrod]

If you go for a ride you'll probably buy it, it doesn't have the same grunt as a TRX but neither does it have a first gear taller than a TGV train or forks offa Velocette. No real difference to speak of between the old and new ones, except they seem to be getting uglier (IMO).

[lukemillar]

Have MCN (first time in ages, good lord things have changed a bit in five years). Quite a few SVs in there. Unfortuantly a combination of Magpie "Shiny new thing syndrome" and "0% finance, £1 down, 3 years interest free" is kind of pushing me toward a new one.

In terms of buying my wife an appropriate present? Probably a house. With a new car in the garage!

The only down side with the new new ones is the 2006 colours. You just can't beat Silver with silver frame + wheels or black with black frame + wheels! :D

[Alex Leigh]

Yeah I know what you mean. I saw the red one today and it's a bit *trashy*. The silver one if just - frankly - horrible. The blue one is the best of the three but still not as good as the older silver one. I love the wallpaper one on this site Wish I could have that ;) http://www.sv650.org/wallpaper/SV650SK3_1024.jpg

[Alex Leigh]

I've been offered a very low mileage blue one from about 2000. Details to follow later. But apparently stock. Is there a price guide anywhere so I can get an idea of what I should be paying if I go second hand?

[lukemillar]

I've been offered a very low mileage blue one from about 2000. Details to follow later. But apparently stock. Is there a price guide anywhere so I can get an idea of what I should be paying if I go second hand?

Problem is that a 2000 model won't be the bike you posted a couple of posts as the model changed shape in 2003.

[Alex Leigh]

Yeah I know. Was examining the options. I read one review that said "the new bike is almost the same as the old bike" and another which said "the new model is a huge improvement on the old one" :lol:

I think I'll buy a new one but just wanted to see what I could get 2nd hand. I don't think I've ever bought a totally new bike so maybe I should treat myself once. I must be old as the insurance quote was < £300 :)

[Warthog]

I think both curvy and pointy are pretty much both good, its down to taste. I have that there blue K3 you posted (unfaired) and I think it looks really good!

I love my SV, and thoroughly think you should get one. I grinned like mad all the way when I test rode it. The low down torque!! I love that kind of riding, just twist and it pulls you out of your gloves :D

I kind of want a new can now. I thought I wouldn't want to mod it, but I have seen and heard some SVs going past me that sound really good, and I think mine is a little quite with the stock can. But I don't have the money now, and people still stop and stare when you pull up!

P.S. Thrashed an Audi TT off the lights today; had no idea we were racing, but he just bloody wheel spun it and screamed off so I beat him to 40 and then let him get on his merry way :D I love my SV :D

[Jelster]

Alex,

Where abouts in Bucks are you ?

West London Suzuki (near Heathrow) will give you an excellent deal and the back up is good too.

.

[amarko5]

Yeah I know what you mean. I saw the red one today and it's a bit *trashy*. The silver one if just - frankly - horrible. The blue one is the best of the three but still not as good as the older silver one. I love the wallpaper one on this site Wish I could have that ;) http://www.sv650.org/wallpaper/SV650SK3_1024.jpg


you can just look for a very good used K3 in blue as that's the one you posted there (p.s. the one i used to have and in the fastest colour of blue) :wink:

[scooby2102]

Is there a price guide anywhere so I can get an idea of what I should be paying if I go second hand?

Alex, try here for price guide

http://www.parkers.co.uk/pricing/used_bike/

[Alex Leigh]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm not sure I'm any wiser but I'm definately better informed :D

Various answers: I live near Thame so could try another dealer. Maybe I'll just happen to be passing this weeked.

Thanks for the price guide, very useful.

I definately think I want a non naked one. Lots of reasons mainly because of the extremely rationale "I think they look better" ;)

Getting all twitchy now. Looking out of the window thinking "h'mm lovely day to go for a scratch!"

Oh one more Q. Is it worth getting an alarm as it'll be kept in a locked outbuilding that is alarmed and bolted to the floor. I don't intend to leave it anywhere but there and it wont be ridden every day so am a bit worried about the battery if I get an alarm.