AndyW
07-08-07, 10:11 PM
(long, but then I ramble a bit when I get started)
Just picked up a new SV650S from Clarkes in Accrington yesterday, left the dealership with it around 4 in the afternoon, so I've now owned it for a day and a half, and put about 50 miles on it. These are my first thoughts on it.
I have been riding a Honda CG125 for a year (minus a few months hospital), put 2500 miles on it commuting 32 round trip every day, passed my full license in July on a CBF600 and decided it was time for a bigger bike.
Originally looking at a Bandit 650 but can't get those with 0% finance now, so opted for the SV instead.
Optional extras I had stuck on the new bike, Givi topbox (95 rack + 45 box), crash mushrooms (39), seat cowl (41) (I took the no pillion opton on insurance).
First thing that struck me is as its fuel injected, no choke, and as I have now figured out, don't touch the throttle when starting it. For a low seat bike I still have to ****(male hen! damn censor proggies) my leg considerably higher than I did for my CG, and as I have just got out of hospital for a major stomach op, this wasn't as easy as it could have been. Riding posistion is considerably more compact, but blame that on the S model, which I only got as I wanted the fairing for weather protection, as I will be using the bike to commute to work every day on a 50 limit road.
Pootling back from accrington, I had no major problems with the bike, although despite everyone saying its very torquey low down, it sure doesn't feel that way to me (maybe because I drive a diesel car that does have lots of torque?). After 15 mins getting used to it the A road opened out into dual carrigeway, truck on inside stopped at traffic lights in 50 limit. Decided to go in outside lane and see if I could pull away happily (and safely!) with no problems. Pulled away at what I thought was a nice speed leaving truck behind me, and discovered I was doing 70 within 200 yards. Certainly didn't feel like it. The fairing works well, rode home with visor cracked about an inch, had to have it closed riding there on CG, wind streaming in and making my eyes water.
Stopped off at work in Preston to say hello and show off new bike, and instantly got caught in horrible traffic jam/roadworks. Not yet happy about trying to sneak past on outside when cars trying to ride over the cones, so sat in it for 15 mins until I could sneak to front at traffic lights and make a nice, clean getaway.
Got as far as Blackpool, and noticed petrol light started flashing at me when I was stopped at (yet more) lights, started off and it went off, then reappeared 10 mins later. WOndering what the hek going on as I couldn't have used a full tank of fuel driving 40 miles (ish). Light goes off again, decide to look at it later as I'm now knackered (no energy still after op). Get on the next day, check tank and low and behold, it is nearly empty. Phoned garage up, and yes, they hadn't bothered filling the tank up before giving it to me. Spent 3200 + 1300 part ex + 200 bits and pieces, and they don't fill it up with 10 worth of petrol.
Getting bike into garage at night proved fun. I lock the bike in the garage at night, and the car sits in the drive, sufficiently out of the way to get the bike in and out. Plenty of space to get the bike down the side. Stop it, get off put it on SIDE stand, discover it now leans over so much I can't get between it and the car to open the garage door. The CG had a CENTRE stand which left plenty of room. Oh well, eventually get mysef out open door and start to wheel bike. The CG had a handy grab rail on side of bike easy reach from handlebar to wheel bike with. The SV grab rail is at the back and is a long stretch for me ((5'10" btw) again, stomach op means I'm not happy stretching, and nowhere near full strength to hold it if it falls over). This proves to be awkward wheeling it in, and even more awkward wheeling it out backwards past the car next morning.
Got more used to riding position today with a bit of pootling to the shops, having the top box is so much handier for dumping helmet and gloves into, although maybe I should have gotten a bigger box as they only just fit in. Still I have the car for serious shopping. Discovered starting slowly, the wheel doesn't quite point where I think it is (can't see it due to fairing) which makes 90 degree turns out of narrow roads more fun than they should be, not helped by having to play with clutch in 1st to get a smooth start (on turns, not straight), not able to just let it go as I could on the 125.
Read the manual, the running in instructions are plain enough if a little weird seeming to me. Don't go above 5500 revs for first 500 miles. Hmm, ok, but engine isn't smooth pulling away at that and feels slightly jerky and unhappy, engine noise is saying don't change up yet, and generally seems way too low, but the engineers must know what they are doing I suppose. Found the guide in the manual which gives the speed you are supposed to change gears at. 1->2nd at 12mph 2nd->3rd at 19, 3rd to 4th at 25?????
One of the reasons I move to a bigger bike was the CBF600 is happy doing 30 in first from a standing start so no messing around changing gears while pulling away unlike the 125. I have to admit, this bit is being completely ignored, bike seems perfectly happy to go to 2nd at 25, and swap up as the engine pitch changes (or I get close to 5500 revs). Don't think I've actually made it into 6th gear (37 mph) yet, despite coming home at 50 from Accrington.
Dials on bike are clear and easy to read and see, seat is comfy enough, and once I get used to riding position and heal some more, and get past this ridiculous rev limit on run in, I think there will be no problems with it whatsoever.
Just picked up a new SV650S from Clarkes in Accrington yesterday, left the dealership with it around 4 in the afternoon, so I've now owned it for a day and a half, and put about 50 miles on it. These are my first thoughts on it.
I have been riding a Honda CG125 for a year (minus a few months hospital), put 2500 miles on it commuting 32 round trip every day, passed my full license in July on a CBF600 and decided it was time for a bigger bike.
Originally looking at a Bandit 650 but can't get those with 0% finance now, so opted for the SV instead.
Optional extras I had stuck on the new bike, Givi topbox (95 rack + 45 box), crash mushrooms (39), seat cowl (41) (I took the no pillion opton on insurance).
First thing that struck me is as its fuel injected, no choke, and as I have now figured out, don't touch the throttle when starting it. For a low seat bike I still have to ****(male hen! damn censor proggies) my leg considerably higher than I did for my CG, and as I have just got out of hospital for a major stomach op, this wasn't as easy as it could have been. Riding posistion is considerably more compact, but blame that on the S model, which I only got as I wanted the fairing for weather protection, as I will be using the bike to commute to work every day on a 50 limit road.
Pootling back from accrington, I had no major problems with the bike, although despite everyone saying its very torquey low down, it sure doesn't feel that way to me (maybe because I drive a diesel car that does have lots of torque?). After 15 mins getting used to it the A road opened out into dual carrigeway, truck on inside stopped at traffic lights in 50 limit. Decided to go in outside lane and see if I could pull away happily (and safely!) with no problems. Pulled away at what I thought was a nice speed leaving truck behind me, and discovered I was doing 70 within 200 yards. Certainly didn't feel like it. The fairing works well, rode home with visor cracked about an inch, had to have it closed riding there on CG, wind streaming in and making my eyes water.
Stopped off at work in Preston to say hello and show off new bike, and instantly got caught in horrible traffic jam/roadworks. Not yet happy about trying to sneak past on outside when cars trying to ride over the cones, so sat in it for 15 mins until I could sneak to front at traffic lights and make a nice, clean getaway.
Got as far as Blackpool, and noticed petrol light started flashing at me when I was stopped at (yet more) lights, started off and it went off, then reappeared 10 mins later. WOndering what the hek going on as I couldn't have used a full tank of fuel driving 40 miles (ish). Light goes off again, decide to look at it later as I'm now knackered (no energy still after op). Get on the next day, check tank and low and behold, it is nearly empty. Phoned garage up, and yes, they hadn't bothered filling the tank up before giving it to me. Spent 3200 + 1300 part ex + 200 bits and pieces, and they don't fill it up with 10 worth of petrol.
Getting bike into garage at night proved fun. I lock the bike in the garage at night, and the car sits in the drive, sufficiently out of the way to get the bike in and out. Plenty of space to get the bike down the side. Stop it, get off put it on SIDE stand, discover it now leans over so much I can't get between it and the car to open the garage door. The CG had a CENTRE stand which left plenty of room. Oh well, eventually get mysef out open door and start to wheel bike. The CG had a handy grab rail on side of bike easy reach from handlebar to wheel bike with. The SV grab rail is at the back and is a long stretch for me ((5'10" btw) again, stomach op means I'm not happy stretching, and nowhere near full strength to hold it if it falls over). This proves to be awkward wheeling it in, and even more awkward wheeling it out backwards past the car next morning.
Got more used to riding position today with a bit of pootling to the shops, having the top box is so much handier for dumping helmet and gloves into, although maybe I should have gotten a bigger box as they only just fit in. Still I have the car for serious shopping. Discovered starting slowly, the wheel doesn't quite point where I think it is (can't see it due to fairing) which makes 90 degree turns out of narrow roads more fun than they should be, not helped by having to play with clutch in 1st to get a smooth start (on turns, not straight), not able to just let it go as I could on the 125.
Read the manual, the running in instructions are plain enough if a little weird seeming to me. Don't go above 5500 revs for first 500 miles. Hmm, ok, but engine isn't smooth pulling away at that and feels slightly jerky and unhappy, engine noise is saying don't change up yet, and generally seems way too low, but the engineers must know what they are doing I suppose. Found the guide in the manual which gives the speed you are supposed to change gears at. 1->2nd at 12mph 2nd->3rd at 19, 3rd to 4th at 25?????
One of the reasons I move to a bigger bike was the CBF600 is happy doing 30 in first from a standing start so no messing around changing gears while pulling away unlike the 125. I have to admit, this bit is being completely ignored, bike seems perfectly happy to go to 2nd at 25, and swap up as the engine pitch changes (or I get close to 5500 revs). Don't think I've actually made it into 6th gear (37 mph) yet, despite coming home at 50 from Accrington.
Dials on bike are clear and easy to read and see, seat is comfy enough, and once I get used to riding position and heal some more, and get past this ridiculous rev limit on run in, I think there will be no problems with it whatsoever.