Did i buy the wrong bike!? [Archive] - SV650.org

injury_ian

21-04-07, 11:49 AM

gettin2dizzy

21-04-07, 01:19 PM

if your mate got on your SV i'm sure he'd prefer that. Grass is greener on the other side....but remember it still needs cutting! ;)

oldjack

21-04-07, 01:29 PM

I've never ridden a Fazer so I might be talking bollox, but I did a lot of research before buying my SV, all the bike reviews for years have put the SV first in front of fazers and other competing bikes.

I personally prefer the lack of smoothness of the SV - more like a bike than a car.

I did find the seat uncomfortable but soon got used to it. Mines a naked, so no wrist or back probs.

I bet if you'd bought a fazer you'd have wished you had an SV!

Tiger 55

21-04-07, 01:36 PM

Anyone else know what i'm chatting about, lol?
I know exactly what you're on about mate. Riding the 60 miles home from the dealers I thought "Christ, what have I done?" because my old bike (Triumph Sprint) was all day comfy and the SV was killing me already.

Now I love it!

(Still get the pins and needles though...)

Balky001

21-04-07, 02:12 PM

I think most of us have been there at some point. I had a pointy and the seat was definately not all day comfy although I thought the clip ons' height was OK. The older Faser is a great bike but IMO its a bit boring next to the SV.

northwind

21-04-07, 04:46 PM

The old Fazer is a better "destination" bike but IMO the SV's a better "journey" bike- for bread-and-butter commuting, touring, shopping the Fazer's just plain better. But, depending on taste it's often consdered a much less enjoyable bike- I fall in this camp, I think it's a brilliant machine and if all I wanted to do was get to Point B then I'd definately consider one... But I don't think i'd ever decide to go to Point C and D and then arrive, 2 hours late, with a big grin at Point B :)

It's totally down to taste though, there's no perfect motorbike. Despite what Rictus says :)

DanAbnormal

21-04-07, 04:58 PM

Yes.:eek:

Oh sorry, I mean maybe.:rolleyes:

I could not get on with the SV due to comfort factor. I loved everything else about it, okay perhaps the suspension and brakes were not great but you get what you pay for in the end.

kwak zzr

21-04-07, 05:41 PM

the sv is not about comfort, if you want comfort buy a gold wing.

northwind

21-04-07, 05:44 PM

Yeah, but it shouldn't actually be uncomfortable for most people.

danf1234

21-04-07, 05:47 PM

Only real issue I had was sorted with a Gel Seat bought from America. Its really comft to ride now.

sinbad

21-04-07, 05:49 PM

I went through a "is this the right bike for me?" phase too. After I got over the new-bike+new-license excitement I started worrying whether it wasn't comfy enough, whether I'd prefer a 4pot, what else could I have got, would I have been happier with those, was it worth saving a few quid on the bike and insurance compared with other options? (Lots of questions).

I'm past all that now. I'm totally confident in the bike and I'm better at using it every day. My muscle pain, which is like a slight tearing feel next to my right shoulder blade does not come anywhere near as quickly anymore, and I never feel it in my wrists after an hour on the bike either, which I did initially.

None of which helps you answer your question, because only you can answer your question. (Unless you bought a stolen, crashed, bodged, clocked, max-powered bike which is about to blow up, in which case the answer is a definite : Yes :) )

danf1234

21-04-07, 05:51 PM

It must be a bike thing. You are always looking to your next purchase. I know I did it. I was looking at an RSV-R a month after buying the SV. (More like dreaming really).:p

ASM-Forever

21-04-07, 06:01 PM

If your mate let you ride it once he may let you borrow it for a day to get to grips with it and do some serious miles, if you genuinely prefer it then go for it! However you will have to accept the obligatory mocking!

injury_ian

21-04-07, 06:16 PM

LOL you guys,

I didnt see the SV as an uncofortable bike, because i knew no better! As a new rider dealers are less than helpful at helping you choose a machine, Privates are even worse (tho understandable). So by default I picked an SV due to write ups and you guys :drink:

TBH the seat on SV doesn't bother me, But when compared to the 'sofa seat' Ohhh! Maybe its because it was different, but it is definitely a pleasure to ride!
My mate hasn't passed his DAS yet, thats why i had to ride it, It'll be interesting what he has to say about the SV after he's had a couple of thousand miles under his belt?!

I don't think id ever sell the SV, I just wish it didn't hurt my wrists/ shoulder /back. [-o< I will grow into it, wont I?

fizzwheel

21-04-07, 06:35 PM

I just wish it didn't hurt my wrists/ shoulder /back. [-o< I will grow into it, wont I?

Yes you will. I remember my first few days off SV ownership, I'd been out all weekend, I ended up laid out flat on my back with muscle cramps in my lower back and thighs after doing about 300 miles. I had a hot bath and then got back on it again the next day, I've been fine ever since.

Its just time on the bike, the more you ride it the more your body will get used to it.

One thing I found made a huge difference to my comfort levels was adjusting the brake and clutch levers so that you could draw an imaginary straight line through my elbow, wrist to the tips of my fingers.

Have a go at adjusting yours in a similar manner, I'll bet you a shiny pound coin your wrists dont ache so much anymore.

steveg

21-04-07, 07:50 PM

I owned a 98 fazer 600 for 3 years & 50 k miles .
It was a great bike , very reliable , the sv650 is a more fun bike to ride than the fazer , however the fazer was more comfortable.

cheers Steve

Paws

21-04-07, 10:36 PM

I struggled with the sv at first aswell, love her to bits now though.
As for lack of seat comfort, get a corbin seat (ebay or busters iirc), ive got one on my sv and one on my zx9 and they are soooo comfy!

lynw

21-04-07, 11:05 PM

It must be a bike thing. You are always looking to your next purchase. I know I did it. I was looking at an RSV-R a month after buying the SV. (More like dreaming really).:p

Nope. Just bought the CBF and not looking at another bike for a few years tbh. And then it may be just picking up a curvy SV as a toy to compliment the CBF. That would be me sorted at least for the next 5 years.

Hmmmm maybe Im the odd one out :lol: :p :mrgreen:

weazelz

21-04-07, 11:23 PM

I have an '03 fzs600 as well as my curvy sv650s

I use the fazer for commuting, carrying pillions/luggage (it has a wingrack & box/panniers, touring screen, etc.), motorways & the like

I use the SV for fun sunday rides, trackdays & generally making myself grin like a loon

mister c

22-04-07, 06:55 AM

I have owned & ridden a lot of IL4 bikes from little 400s to a ZX12R & personally I find them very boring. My mate has just bought a new Gixxer 600, he asked me if I wanted a go & was shocked when I said no. I explained that it would be the same as any other IL4, fast, smooth, handle like it's on rails. To me, half the fun of biking is working with the machine & not letting the machine do the work for you. I love the SV for that, still can't stop ridin the thing after 7 weeks of riding it every day.

jamessunhill

22-04-07, 09:50 AM

This is something I've ben wondering about too (although I don't have any bike yet). My choices were SV (pointy or curvy, nut prefferably pointy) or Fazer (would have to be the latest one (pointy) though) and having read all the responses to this post, I think I'm going to stay looking for an SV. I'm not planning to do major miles on it (we'll see how long that idea lasts) and my commute is only about 10 miles (usually on quiet roads - the advantage of working shifts). All I've got to do now, is get the money together for one.:D

Baph

22-04-07, 03:45 PM

injury_ian, I know what you're talking about with concerns.

I've just had to hand my mates R1 back (but I kept the keys - he has his own). I nearly cried :(

That bike is so much more me than the SV. The power delivery, comfort, riding position, brakes, suspension, wait, everything! I even love it that when riding hard you have to remember that if you squeeze the throttle too hard coming out of a bend the front lifts!

If I had the money, I'd kill myself in under a year! But alas insurance companies aren't nice to me :( Perhaps life is better this way...

fizzwheel

22-04-07, 04:00 PM

I even love it that when riding hard you have to remember that if you squeeze the throttle too hard coming out of a bend the front lifts!

Thats what my Gixer is like, you have to be more smooth and progressive with the throttle, then it wont do it and you'll come out the corner just as fast if not faster :smt077

I know what you mean though, it is fun.

Beenz

22-04-07, 05:31 PM

Hmm, not sure I'd pidgeon hole all IL4s as boring, I've owned many of them over the years. The V twin is a fantastic experience and they sound better as will IMHO.

As for the R1, very nice bikes, just imagine one with loopy bottom end and midrange nearly as mad as the top end and you have a K5/6 gixer thou, now thats a bike that I'd never call boring. Just crackers :smt026

The Basket

22-04-07, 05:41 PM

Dunno

I had a Black pointy and I never truly got on with...and I sold it.

Just bad luck.

Baph

22-04-07, 05:51 PM

As for the R1, very nice bikes, just imagine one with loopy bottom end and midrange nearly as mad as the top end and you have a K5/6 gixer thou, now thats a bike that I'd never call boring. Just crackers :smt026

Hmm. Mr Beenz, I beleive you've just added one to my wish list. Now its:
R1 (2006>)
GSXR-thou (K5/K6)
Vyrus (I wish!)

kcowgergmm

23-04-07, 05:49 AM

if your mate got on your SV i'm sure he'd prefer that. Grass is greener on the other side....but remember it still needs cutting! ;)
i think he is right but i do hate the sv's seat

Quedos

23-04-07, 10:41 AM

Hi chaps,

Now i love the SV, the sound looks (pointy of course) and its fairly inexpensive as a first bikes goes.

Well, i did a mate a favor and rode his '99 FZS 600 Fazer home yesterday about a 30 mile ride thru country roads, little towns, and my god, thats a nice bike.

The seat is so comfy, the steering is so light and manoverable, the engine is soo smooth! I could have done hunderds of miles on that and without a care!

Got back on my SV to some home, and i had pins and needles in my hand after 2 mins again, and a sore back within 10 minutes (again) :mad:

Obviously starting to get doubts. I assume the SV i will eventually mould to.
Anyone else know what i'm chatting about, lol?

Yup know exactly what you're on about. To ride more than 50 miles I need to strap both wrists up heavily and have a good dose of painkillers to counteract any back prob's. Though I already have a very dodgy back so that porbably doesn't help. I think it might mould as it is getting easier for me recently (been out more on it the last few weeks than i have in the year) but I'm moving on with a different bike. Its not worth my health for me:(
Give it two months and se how you go.

Baph

23-04-07, 10:57 AM

To ride more than 50 miles I need to strap both wrists up heavily and have a good dose of painkillers to counteract any back prob's. Though I already have a very dodgy back so that porbably doesn't help. I think it might mould as it is getting easier for me recently (been out more on it the last few weeks than i have in the year) but I'm moving on with a different bike. Its not worth my health for me:(
Give it two months and se how you go.

I have Degenerative Lumbar Stenosis. I've been given pretty bad news about it (as in, finite time that I'm able to walk/sit up).

The SV doesn't make my back feel any worse than it does normally anyhow. In fact, the car (Ford Galaxy) on long drives makes my back worse, the SV doesn't.

I find that if I grip the tank too much with my knees, it puts more pressure on the Lumbar area (where I have the issues). My wrists can take it fine for a constant 400mile ish ride (just under 8hours with only stopping for fuel). I also found that a seperate back protector works wonders.

Each situation is different, but if you're in more pain whilst you're on the bike, then yes, get a different bike :)

Paul the 6th

24-04-07, 02:08 PM

Only real issue I had was sorted with a Gel Seat bought from America. Its really comft to ride now.

Where abouts did you buy it from dan? Just had a quick google for "OEL Gel Seat" but it's a bit ambiguous...