650s or 1000s?

[p90ade]

hi everyone,
i had a r6 last year which i realy enjoyed but i sold it over the winter because i wasnt having another bike this year but after a week of sunshine i have changed my mind.

i dont realy want to spend more than 3k on a bike (buying a house:smt100 ) so iv decided on a sv650s but after looking at the prices of them and the insurance i could probably afford either.

i just wondered what peoples opinions on both sizes where? i had read that the 1000 isnt as much fun as the 650.

i take a pillion on the back if that makes much difference.
Thanks for any advice.

[socommk23]

tl1000s

[Rocket]

650 is a girls bike. Get a Thou. Mans engine in a girls bike.

[p90ade]

sounds fair.

[gettin2dizzy]

two up is easy on a 650, but i would go for the 1000 if i had the choice. 650 runs out of guts at 110

[p90ade]

also some that i have looked at have fairing at the bottom roung the engine and others dont. is the fairing an extra? and if so is it dear?

[Grinch]

Pah... get a 650 and use it proper, then get a 1000.

[mattSV]

also some that i have looked at have fairing at the bottom roung the engine and others dont. is the fairing an extra? and if so is it dear?

Lower fairings are extra, and cost around £400!

[Rich]

Lower fairings are extra, and cost around £400!

Not totally true, the new sports model comes with them on and a seat cowl. thats only if you want a new bike though.;)

[p90ade]

think ill look for a 1000.
does anyone have the power/speed specs on both?

[John 675]

650 is a girls bike. Get a Thou. Mans engine in a girls bike.

i resent that ! the 650 holds its own!

:smt092 :smt076 :smt075 :smt021 :smt062

[fizzwheel]

think ill look for a 1000.
does anyone have the power/speed specs on both?

650 is around 70bhp, I think the SV thou is around 115bhp, if you can get a later model one K5 onwards I think they tweaked it abit to unleash a bit more power, but its still lacking compared to a TL in the BHP deparment.

The SV thou has a better front end than the 650, its the suspension and brakes from a K3 GSXR-750.

[p90ade]

650 is around 70bhp, I think the SV thou is around 115bhp, if you can get a later model one K5 onwards I think they tweaked it abit to unleash a bit more power, but its still lacking compared to a TL in the BHP deparment.

The SV thou has a better front end than the 650, its the suspension and brakes from a K3 GSXR-750.

is that usd`s and bigger brakes then?

[fizzwheel]

Nope its got right way up forks. I'm not sure of the actual differences, but I expect its got bigger front disks. Somebody will be along in a minute with the right info... Wheres MattSV or Sid Squid when you need them :D

[Jelster]

GSXR 750/600 didn't get USD's until the K4/5 (like Mr Fizz has...)

Front end on the SV1000 ain't that bad, but the bike feels a lot heavier than the 650.

.

[Rog]

p90ade,

You havent said what you want from the bike. If you like it in the twisties the 650 is more than capable. If you want more straight line umph then the 1000 is probably more your style. The 1000 does have better fromt suspension as standard but there are many tweaks you can do to a 650 which will improve it no end (check the site for details of these)

My friend has the YZF R6 and while I really like the bike it doesnt put as big a smile on my face as my little old 650. I think its a twin thing.

On a final note, there are Thous out there for sale but you will find loads of 650's kicking about in both pointy and curvy flavour so you may get more choice over what you will get.You will get a very tidy 650 for £3000.

In short, its more fun with twins ;)

[kwak zzr]

i find my 650s more fun than the 1000s but if you like taking pillions or just going fast in a straight line then the 1000 will blow your mind! i found that my 650s was more than enuf fun for me and plenty fast enuf! i'm a corners and roundabout person me and just love the welsh twistys! this was my only disappointment with the 1000s its more planted on the road but that extra weight and and steering damper slows the turning down, the 1000s comes into its own on straights and fast sweeping bends, the first time i rode the 1000s i saw 80 something mph in second within a few seconds of opening the throttle;) ive owned lots of fast bikes before but never a fast "V" twin! i rarely get out of 3rd when i'm riding. you also find you dont need to rev the thing it just plod's up into 3 figures with ease.
the other night me and my cousin went out for a ride and i got him to have a go on the 1000s and i rode his 650s whats instantly noticeable is the weight difference of the 1000 and the revvy engine of the 650, in kg's the 1000 isnt that much heavier but if feels loads heavier.
The brakes on the 1000 are brilliant, the disks are bigger and the forks are more how the 650 should be, i'm going to give the 1000 one season to see if i gel with it but if not i'll be looking for another 650.

[rob13]

If you're looking to keep costs down, then look at it this way.

Thous are thirsty and cost more in insurance. 650s are very frugal and are much cheaper to cover.

Incidentally I wonder if you actually NEED anything more than what the 650 offers on the road. Theres plenty in the midrange, its easy to chuck about cos its so light and there is just enough to give you a scare if you throw it in with too much speed. How many people could honestly say that they could only improve by buying a faster bike?

[chris8886]

i resent that ! the 650 holds its own!

:smt092 :smt076 :smt075 :smt021 :smt062

here, here. don't put such a downer on my 650!!

[WicklowSV]

I still have my curvy 650 (1999) after buying the thou (K3) about 2 years ago. Gotta say, bang for your buck, the 650 is a better bike.

The thou is a more refined bike - smoother and steadier. But on a decent set of tight twisties the 650 is definitely more fun. Being lighter and more nimble gives it the upper hand. Plus using 80 or 90% of the 650's power feels more involving then using 60 to 70% of the thou's power (that about all you can legally use on the open road).

Two-up, the thou's poke is an advantage - but my better half much prefers the pillion position on the 650. Says its way more comfy than the thou. Mind you, they did change the ergo's of the thou from 2004 onwards.

Both bikes will make you smile - the low end torque of a twin can't be beat. And with a set of cans, a twin sounds the mutts nuts. Either way, you won't be disappointed, just depends on what you want from the bike...fun on the twisties or decent long distance tourer....?

[kwak zzr]

i can ride a 650 in everyday situations better and faster than i can the 1000.

[kwak zzr]

just cant get away from that feeling tho as the big twin is trying to rip your arms out in any gear at any speed?

[rob13]

Is that a good thing Kwak? Does it feel like the bike is in control and not you?

[kwak zzr]

yea its just dragging you towards the horizon! i do miss my 650 tho :( my buyer hasnt come for her yet, i'm kinda hoping he doesnt.

[d8mof]

my k3 650 is my first big bike so i cant comment that much but i did ride a mates k4 1000 sv loan bike for an hour or 2 and apart from the speed which was nice did find it heavy in to corners, i love being able to chuck my 650 in to corners then bk out again with no hassle so................... i leave it up to you...... but just get a pointy one lol :p

[mattSV]

As anyone who has been down to Poole with the SW guys, or anyone who was on the Norf/Sarf last year will have seen, the SV1000 can definitely be thrown around on roundabouts, and through the twisties - I find that the better suspension and weight makes it much more stable when in a corner - it is just that you need to 'muscle it' around a bit to get in the corner in the first place.

When the pace is upped a bit,especially when riding with ss600 bikes, I actually find the SV1000 easier to ride than the 650 as you do not have to rag it to keep up.

[kwak zzr]

yea i can see your point mattsv, i just need a season on the big "V" to get used to it a little.

[p90ade]

p90ade,

You havent said what you want from the bike. If you like it in the twisties the 650 is more than capable. If you want more straight line umph then the 1000 is probably more your style. The 1000 does have better fromt suspension as standard but there are many tweaks you can do to a 650 which will improve it no end (check the site for details of these)

My friend has the YZF R6 and while I really like the bike it doesnt put as big a smile on my face as my little old 650. I think its a twin thing.

On a final note, there are Thous out there for sale but you will find loads of 650's kicking about in both pointy and curvy flavour so you may get more choice over what you will get.You will get a very tidy 650 for £3000.

In short, its more fun with twins ;)

i dont think i will be going for long motorway runs its more likely welsj roads of a weekend (sometimes with the miss`s but not that often) and then i would use it for work in the nicer weather, so going on everyones comments i think a 650 will be more than enough.

[Baph]

i dont think i will be going for long motorway runs its more likely welsj roads of a weekend (sometimes with the miss`s but not that often) and then i would use it for work in the nicer weather, so going on everyones comments i think a 650 will be more than enough.
I haven't tried a thou, but my 650 is more than sufficient for the North Wales twisties.

I've also not had the redline in 6th on the straights, yet :D

Pillion for me is fine. Different to solo, but that's obvious.

I also commute every day, regardless of weather, and it's around 500 miles a week. The seat was a little hard at first, but you get used to it.

[p90ade]

just looking through mcn and george white is doing a 07 sv650 sport for 4195 otr. going to have a look the weekend.

[kwak zzr]

its alot of bike for the money.