SV 650 vs Ducati 695

[losttoy]

I am a complete newbie to motorbikes over 125cc. I rode 100-125cc bikes for years in India. Now when the bug bit me again here in the US, I decided I didn't want anything like 900-1000cc and did not want a crotch-rocket. So I looked around, researched and almost settled on the SV650 after looking at the Honda 599, Yamaha FZ6 and the SV650. Great performance, damn good value for money and reliable from all that I read on the web.

When I thought I had decided, I came across the Ducati 695 and I have been reading all sorts of wonderful things about it. But I also read that Ducati's haven't traditionally been very reliable unlike the Japanese bikes. So please help me and let me know what you think of the Ducati 695. I know asking such a question in the SV650 forum isn't going to bring many ravings about the Ducati but I can get that from a Ducati forum. Also, it seems that Suzuki owners are more level-headed so I just might get an unbiased opinion.

[Jelster]

Also, it seems that Suzuki owners are more level-headed so I just might get an unbiased opinion.

Have you met any GSXR1000 owners ? Guess not :D

The SV will be more reliable and probably more fun, the Ducati (which I take is one of the "Monster" range) will be more expensive, less reliable and sound like a bucket of nails on tick over. However, it will hold a better residual value and you have the right to be "cool" when riding one ...

Both sound great with a decent exhaust system. The Monster has twin pipes as standard if I remember correctly...

.

[Ceri JC]

Depends on what you want. PErsonally, I nearly bought a 2nd hand ducati monster, instead of my brand new SV. At the time, the bike was just a weekend toy though, so I could have lived with the discomfort on motorways (no way would I defile a monster with a headlight fairing!) and lack of reliability. Likewise, I'd be doing low mileage, so high servicing costs wouldn't be too bad. As it turns out, a few years later I actually use by bike about ten times as much as my car and need it to work without a hitch and be comfortable for hours at a stretch.

[gettin2dizzy]

Ducati have promised that these 2007 model will be reliable, and claim the servicing costs are half what the 620 was. Then again the 1098 is on its 6th recall ;)

[wyrdness]

Like Ceri says, it depends on what you want a bike for. If you need everyday transport in all weather conditions, then the Ducati probably wouldn't be a great choice. Unless you enjoy standing by the side of the road waiting for breakdown recovery*. The SV will be a better choice as an everyday bike. However, if you're after a 'toy' for sunny weekends, then the Ducati starts to look like a much better proposition, as it has more presence and 'character' than the SV.

So for high mileage, all conditions: SV
Low mileage, dry conditions - Ducati.

*I'm an ex-Ducati owner, so have a lot of experience of waiting for breakdown recovery, but I'm an every-day, all-weather rider.

[losttoy]

I apologise. I should've posted my requirements more clearly. That would definitely let people put in more useful comments.

My first car in India was a Fiat Uno - a small 1000cc/45bhp engine but as any Uno owner will tell you, it handled beautifully and was fun to ride. My second ride was a Jeep diesel clone. Not fast but lots of torque and again fun to drive. Both vehicles were commonly shunned because they were odd but I loved my rides and being behind the wheels on them was always pleasure to me.

Then I come to the US and buy a Corolla. Its nice, reliable and cheap to run. I like it a lot. Do I love it? Umm .... No. Do I enjoy driving it around? Sure, I try to ... I have always had fun riding 35cc bikes to my wife's 3L convertible. But ofcourse I can't fall in love with the Corolla. So I look around for cars that I can enjoy and love. But with 50 mph limit on the expressways and 65 mph on the freeway, how much fun can you have in a car here? Not much unless you plan on being chased by cops. And then I have developed an aversion to gas guzzling vehicles so I won't buy my dream Land Cruiser here in the Silicon Valley where I can't take it off-road.

That brought me to bikes. They accelerate fast, are fun to ride and I have never liked automatic transmission despite all its benefits. So in short since I am looking to replace my car -
1. It should be reliable for daily commute of about 25 miles
2. Cheap to maintain
3. Fun to ride (Don't know how to quite define that)
4. Good on gas mileage

And thanks for reading my rant.

[fizzwheel]

Theres plenty of people who use Ducati's as daily transport.

Half the reliability problems with them are because they dont get ridden regularly, theres nothing worse for a bike than for it to sit without being ridden for months on end.

Liz uses her Ducati to commute on at least once or twice a week and it runs better now than it did when we bought it because its being used. I think Viney knew somebody who's Monster had done 80K and it never missed a beat.

Ducati's arent as expensive to run and maintain as you might think, The labour charges in the dealer where Liz's 749 goes are less per hour than the Suzuki dealer my GSXR goes to and the service interval is longer to.

Yes the 1098 has problems, but Ducati do their R & D in public on customers bikes, rather than behind closed doors like the Japanese firms do.

I thought Ducati's were problematic, expensive and not worth it, Liz lives with hers on a daily basis and TBH now we've sorted out the mess that the previous owner left it in, its runs beautifully and we havent had any trouble with it.

Its an Urban myth.

Personally I'd get a test ride on both bikes and then buy the one that you like best after having made your own mind up.

[SimJ]

Looking at your criteria the SV definitely fits the bill on points 1 to 4, however that's not to say the Ducati won't. As fizzwheel suggests the best bet would be to get a test ride on both bikes if possible.
As someone who was also looking at the 695 before I decided on the SV I'd be interested to hear a comparative view as I never did manage to test ride one

[losttoy]

Honestly, yes, a little voice in my head has starting favouring Ducati :)

The impression I got from reading all around was that Ducati's reputation of being a tinker toy might no longer be valid especially for the 695 although Ducati's history might very well justify that reputation.

Unfortunately, at least here in Northern California, the dealers won't let you test ride anything. The best you can do is sit on the bikes in the showroom. I am not quite sure how people here are supposed to decide on what they want to buy without test riding the bikes. But I guess I will just have to live with that.

Thanks for the feedback. Although, I don't think I am any closer to making the decision but I do appreciate your insights.

[Endellion]

Honestly, yes, a little voice in my head has starting favouring Ducati :)

The impression I got from reading all around was that Ducati's reputation of being a tinker toy might no longer be valid especially for the 695 although Ducati's history might very well justify that reputation.

Unfortunately, at least here in Northern California, the dealers won't let you test ride anything. The best you can do is sit on the bikes in the showroom. I am not quite sure how people here are supposed to decide on what they want to buy without test riding the bikes. But I guess I will just have to live with that.



I too had the same thoughts as you when I bought my bike 2 months ago, I heard all the usual stuff about reliability, cost etc but also heard, like fizzwheel says that this is a load of crap, so based on the following points I made up my mind.

Although they were both about the same price to buy the Ducati parts are more expensive (aftermarket like exhaust etc)

No wind protection on the Ducati

Ducati a bit too low for me (6'4" even the SV is a bit cramped)

As a first bike I wanted something that wasn't going to need a lot of attention mechanically, I know I said that this could be a load of crap but I wouldn't buy something like an alfa romeo as a first car....its an Italian, made with passion and sexy as f*** but going to give you regular problems

Ducati not as fast ;)

I want my next bike to be a Ducati if I can afford one in the next 2 years or so, the noise is the BEST and lets face it.....its a DUCATI!

[suicidesam]

Sv.. Fantastic all round bike for use anytime you want, and in any weather as long as it's got a fender extender :D

Duke..Same as above apart from rain! The wiring on them is not very well protected, no waterproofing on the connections in the loom.. water gets in and causes lots of problems. If you spend a few hours with a roll of self amalgamating tape it will be a lot better.
First thing a done when i bought mine was cover everything in ACF50 to stop it turning to a pile of corrosion and sealed up as much wiring as i could. Had it out in many downpours (not through choice) and the only thing that's died so far was the indicator relay ;)
As long as they are used regular.. they are fine.

Try to get a decent test ride on everything you like, the one that makes you smile the most is the one for you :cool:

[Keith1983]

What about a 400? I don't know about over in the states but you cannot get a new sports 400 in the uk. Something maybe like a cbr400 or a zxr400 would probably fit the bill. Are you specifically after a v-twin?

[jft1969]

If you're not sure, go for a test ride. I tested a Monster 695 in May 2007 then bought a K4 SV650. The 695 is a hoot to ride, very free-revving, and feels damn quick. But the Monster's riding position is odd, you get stretched over the tank with arms quite wide, and the foot peg puts your foot in an uncomfortable position when selecting gear. It also has a lousy steering lock, which is a nuisance at first in town. On the plus side, it looks and sounds great, and its a lovely shiny Ducati :-) But my SV is a whole lot easier to live with, and very good fun to ride.