Rode an SV650S today for the first time!!

[MikeC]

As you all probably know by now, I have been looking at the SV650S (among others) for some time now and finally, today, I found a decent bike, on a day with decent weather, at a decent dealer willing to let me test ride it (thanks On yer Bike, Aylesbury!).

First impressions are good - a sporty riding position but the pegs aren't too high (compared to thr GSX-R600 I sat on!), and it feels very light and nimble. Out on the open road...first thing I noticed was MY GOD ITS FAST, particularly at low revs! Of course, any bike of 600cc+ is gonna feel fast as a first bike, but a V-twin feels particularly so! Soon after discovering this speed, I also discovered the immense engine braking such an engine provides - I barely touched the brakes in the hour was on it! Saying that, the brakes too appeared very good being firm and responsive with plenty of fell. Also, not only was it quick in-gear (how tempting is it to hold it in 2nd through every 30mph limit, just waiting for that national speed limit sign to appear??? :D ) but even in 6th at 50mph, the roll-on was amazing - it just picked up and went!

Down sides...well my right wrist was aching a little but then it will prob need to get used to riding a bike anyway, which it isn't, and also the missus seemed unfeasibly high up on the pillion perch when she sat on it! Don't think it makes a great pillion bike, thou she has probably been spoilt by her Dads' bikes; a Pan, the a Blackbird and now a VFR800 VTEC - all very comfy for rider and pillion alike! She's also been spoilt by his riding ability (an ex biker-cop) so all round, my attempts at riding will look pretty shoddy!

Also, my helmet whistles constantly on this bike (which it didnt on the CBF500 or as a pillion on a VFR800 VTEC - weird?) and then my fog city hyper optiks visor fell off my visor and decided to fly around my helmet - really helpful! Anyone have any pointers on either of these helmet related problems? I'm guessing "get a new helmet" but its pretty new! It's a Shark RSF-2 Race, by the way...

Anyway, overall impressions were good - a good, fun bike for sure! Here's a few pics of it; its a K3 04-reg, 1 owners, 5,800 miles, totally immaculate and priced at £3,199...but for an extra grand I can get a new 'Sport' with free insurance and fairings extra's, so the new bike seems to be the sensible choice. However, if this fits anyone's needs and budget, I couldn't recommend it highly enough - a superb machine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/mikecoulton/Bikes/Image011.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/mikecoulton/Bikes/Image059.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v706/mikecoulton/Bikes/Image060.jpg

I am test riding an FZ6 Fazer tmrw morning; if that suits my needs better then I'll have to go for it, but if the SV still appears to be shining then I'll have one before the years' out! :D Cant wait! :D

[kwak zzr]

yes but the new sport hasnt got that loverly silver frame :wink: i love the silver k3 as you prob know :roll:

[MikeC]

So do I...a fully faired silver K3 looks great, but finanicially the Sport is by far the better buy!

[kwak zzr]

i looked at a new sv1000s at £4999 but they didnt have any colours i liked so i got a sv1000sk3 used with 2100miles on for £3000.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/kwak-zzr/sv.jpg

[fizzwheel]

Re the wrist aches, when you get your bike, undo the clamp on the brake lever mount and rotate it round the bar a bit more so that you get a straight line through your elbow and wrist out to your finger tips. It'll make it much much more comfortable.

Re the wind noise. Get a double bubble screen and it'll re-direct the wind blast away from your head and it oughta make things a little quieter for you. Failing that get some ear plugs :wink:

The Fog city should stay attatched properly to your visor, sounds like it wasnt inserted properly. If all fails get some "pinlock" pegs inserted into your visor and then get a pinlock insert rather than the fogcity.

HTH

[muffles]

my helmet whistles constantly on this bike

the screen has already been mentioned, but i read on pistonheads that shark helmets are known for being noisy - perhaps its just that they are designed such that on certain bikes (because of their screens) the air flow round them makes them particularly noisy - e.g. the air flow on a standard screen may be going up and under the helmet which i don't think would happen on a naked bike or as a pillion...

[sinbad]

Nice looking bike, always liked the silver too. That one seems a little on the pricey side though, for this time of year, there are bargains out there on sk4 and sk3 pointies, partly because Suzuki have been doing this free insurance deal. Get loads of insurance quotes to see just how much of the price of the new bike will be off-set by the free ins.

They are fast aren't they? My SV650s is my first bike too, I've done about 250miles and I still ask myself "Why would anyone want a faster bike than that on the road?" every time I get off it :)
I'm told it will pass, but I'm enjoying myself too much to care.

[BILLY]

As for the shark lid I to have the same problem I cured it with some ear plugs :D

[fat_brstd]

i find i get a buzz on the vizor of my bike when its not all the way down and im going past 90. Its all down to wind deflection from the screen. if you get a double bubble screen it will lift the wall of wind up and wont give you that hum. other than that get rear sets and stick you belly to the tank.

sv's have lots of touque so they will pick up and hold it from 3000 revs all the way to about 1k before the red line when it starts to drop off. thats what makes it feel fast, the fact that no matter what gear your in you open it up and it goes unlike the more highly stung bikes which need to be held in some tiny power band the whole time.

the helmet issues will happen no matter what lid you have so dont worry about it and as for the sore right wrist you will get used to it just like you will with your lower back. i went from a 250 cruiser to a 650s and it took about 4 or 5 days (4 or 500 miles) to get used to it.

pillion riding is fine, no matter what your on you will always find it odd compaired to being alone on a bike and a lot your control is up to how you pillion rides but ive never had a problem carrying a pillion on mine as long as they dont move about randomly all the time.

have fun and an sv is great bike and its a vtwin which means it sounds great.

[Frogman]

They are fast aren't they? My SV650s is my first bike too, I've done about 250miles and I still ask myself "Why would anyone want a faster bike than that on the road?" every time I get off it :)
I'm told it will pass, but I'm enjoying myself too much to care.

Agreed, they are fast! I've got a 99 SVS & in the traffic or on any urban roads there is more then enough grunt but I've recently been on a 2500 mile tour with panniers, tail pack & tank bag & thats when I understood why people buy Hayabusas & ZZR1400s. The difference is that on one of those you could put the missus on the back, as much luggage as you could fit & still not feel it while heading up a swiss alp!
I'm also in the market for a new bike at the moment & having ridden a few I have to say the new SV Sport is topping the list - only problem is whether I can live with any of the colours! The GSR600 is a great bike, very torquey & very confidence inspiring. The Z750 didn't come close & I rode them on the same day so the difference was obvious (doesn't look as good as the GSR600 either!). The only bike I've ridden that comes close to the SV is the CBR600FS but the lack of torque in the low rev range would take some getting used to - & the insurance is much higher.

All in all the I think the SV650Sport is the way to go.

[kwak zzr]

i must admit i'm not a fond of suzukis new colours.