Is it good?

[ljharmitt]

Would the SV650s be a good beginner bike?

Take into account i am 17 (have to have it restricted)
Been riding for one year
6'2 tall
15 stone (95 kg)

What do you think?
Any comments appreciated :rolleyes:

[Sideshow#36]

Yup!!!!! You wont do much better at 17. I had an RS125 from 17-18 then got the SV.

[kwak zzr]

perfect bike really:)

[hovis]

yes


HTH

[ljharmitt]

my dad thinks a 400 super sports would be better what do you think?

For my age and experience

But will my height and weight make it uncomfortable?

[kwak zzr]

400ss they are a tad small and the insurance would prob be more than an sv.

[ljharmitt]

400ss they are a tad small and the insurance would prob be more than an sv.

Are they quicker or something?

What makes them higher insurance?

[kwak zzr]

the 400ss (cbr,gsxr,vfr ect) do 135 - 140mph i think (someone correct me if i'm wrong)
i'll do a quick check on the insurance for you.

[kwak zzr]

insurance group 12 for the vfr 400
http://www.parkers.co.uk/motorbikes/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?plate=46&deriv=2595

[kwak zzr]

group 10 for the sv650s-
http://www.parkers.co.uk/motorbikes/used-prices/Valuation.aspx?plate=72&deriv=6164

[ljharmitt]

so are the 400's a fair bit quicker then to lets say 100mph?

[kwak zzr]

i dont think there would be much in it.

[kwak zzr]

Insurance groups are prob high on the jap imports because of the availability of spare parts if you trashed it < i'm guessing tho.

[hovis]

& they are more nickable

[ljharmitt]

Just the rider then, hows the handling on the SV compared to the 400?

[kwak zzr]

& they are more nickable

:smt045:smt045 that aswell :smt045:smt045

[kwak zzr]

Just the rider then, hows the handling on the SV compared to the 400?

the lil 400 would smoke the sv in the twistys they are like little race rep's after all, you might find them a little revy tho on long journeys like motorways.

[ljharmitt]

i think the sv would be better for me thanks for the advice :D

[mister c]

Before I owned the SV I had an XJR400 and said that I didnt need anything bigger, but after about 5 months of 12000 revs trying to get the thing to go, I decided to try something else.
The SV is just so much better, the sound is fantastic & in most cases, if you are in the wrong gear, the SV will just pull, with the 400 you are like a jack rabbit jumping up & down on the lever to get it in the right gear. I certainly wouldnt go for a 400 again as fun as they are when you are giving it some.

[fizzwheel]

400's are old and something like an NC35 is going to be more expensive to buy than an SV.

My brother had an NC35, bikes were pretty much equal in terms of perforamnce etc etc IMHO. We went on a few rides together and I couldnt leave him behind and vice versa.

personally I reckon you'll get a better bike for the money if you get an SV.

[Alpinestarhero]

Yea, perfect bike. Its bike, and soft - you'll learn alot about cornering and how to handle a big bike. It'll be easier to go fast on a little RS125, but it'll be a no-brainer. You'll have to think for a while and really understand what it takes to corner on the SV, and this will prepare you much better for big motorcycles.

And even at 33bhp, you're looking at 100+ mph (if you can be bothered to wait that long!)

The punch of the engine in gears 2, 3 and 4 is very impressive - enough to remove you from the bike, if you don't exercise caution with the right hand on a set of twisty's. The low down tourque still remains, although the engine runs out of puff at 8,000 rpm (my bike is quoted as having maximum power, 33 bhp, at 7800 rpm according to the restriction certificate).

Oh, and the noise. The noise. The NOISE :cool: You'll be hunting long tunnels just to get a good listen of the noise on the overrun...

A 400 would also be good, but bear in mind most are grey imports - might be lack of spares, and also most are getting on a bit now, so condition could be suspect.

Matt

[ljharmitt]

thanks for the comments, i'm now trying to convince my dad that the SV would be a better option for me than the 400, as only 17 he has a big decision on what bike i have as he is putting to some of the funds.

All that my dad see's is 'cc' and because he has a 600 il4 he believes just because the SV is a 650 its going to be equally as fast and will not listen to me when i say its not.

[kwak zzr]

:smt018 why wont dads listen:smt018 i never listen to my son either:rolleyes:

[-Ralph-]

The SV makes a great first big bike, couldn't really get better, but I've never ridden a restricted one.

Yea, perfect bike. Its bike, and soft - you'll learn alot about cornering and how to handle a big bike. It'll be easier to go fast on a little RS125, but it'll be a no-brainer. You'll have to think for a while and really understand what it takes to corner on the SV, and this will prepare you much better for big motorcycles.

And even at 33bhp, you're looking at 100+ mph (if you can be bothered to wait that long!)

The punch of the engine in gears 2, 3 and 4 is very impressive - enough to remove you from the bike, if you don't exercise caution with the right hand on a set of twisty's. The low down tourque still remains, although the engine runs out of puff at 8,000 rpm (my bike is quoted as having maximum power, 33 bhp, at 7800 rpm according to the restriction certificate).

Oh, and the noise. The noise. The NOISE :cool: You'll be hunting long tunnels just to get a good listen of the noise on the overrun...

A 400 would also be good, but bear in mind most are grey imports - might be lack of spares, and also most are getting on a bit now, so condition could be suspect.

Matt

I never realised the restriction made that much of a difference unless you were really asking for power, quick overtakes, etc. I was told that in day to day riding you wouldn't notice the difference as you only use less than 33bhp's worth of your engines capability day to day. I regularly ride above 7000 rpm though.

So is it about the same to ride as the 500-1000 mile running period on a normal SV then?

Shows you just shouldn't listen to blokes in the pub eh!

[fizzwheel]

thanks for the comments, i'm now trying to convince my dad that the SV would be a better option for me than the 400, as only 17 he has a big decision on what bike i have as he is putting to some of the funds.

All that my dad see's is 'cc' and because he has a 600 il4 he believes just because the SV is a 650 its going to be equally as fast and will not listen to me when i say its not.

erh.. hang on, if your 17 whatever bike you get will be restricted to 33bhp for two years anyway, so why does the CC of the engine make any sodding difference..

In fact, the SV has around 70bhp and I think my brothers RVF 400 was about 63bhp so theres naff all in it anyway.

[ljharmitt]

erh.. hang on, if your 17 whatever bike you get will be restricted to 33bhp for two years anyway, so why does the CC of the engine make any sodding difference..

In fact, the SV has around 70bhp and I think my brothers RVF 400 was about 63bhp so theres naff all in it anyway.

I know thats what i've tried to tell him but no goal.... the Sv would be torquier anyway

[fizzwheel]

Just show him the prices of 400CC bikes on biketrader he'll soon let have the SV...

[Pedro68]

Well when I was looking round for "the ideal starter bike" I don't recall seeing any "expert reviews" recommending a 400 ... there were however TONS of reviews telling how good the SV is for a starter ... it's a bike that grows with you. It allows the beginner to get used to a "big bike", it forgives the errors that beginners will do doubt make, but it will also appear to improve as a bike, as you improve as a rider ... helping you to get the most out of both your riding and the bike ... to the point where you WILL embarrass much bigger, sportier bikes around the twisties (of course they'll still leave you for dead down the straights tho ;-) LMAO)

If that doesn't sell it to the old fella ... try the insurance costs and potential maintenance/repair costs (which I'm sure would be less on the SV?) ;-)

Good luck,
Pete

[kwak zzr]

the vfr400 engine is a jewel but a mechanic once said to me "when they are running there fine it's when they wont start the problems begin and it aint going to be cheap"
this was from a guy who did all the servicing and repairs for willenhall bike who deal'd in the 400's.

[Stu]

thanks for the comments, i'm now trying to convince my dad that the SV would be a better option for me than the 400, as only 17 he has a big decision on what bike i have as he is putting to some of the funds.

All that my dad see's is 'cc' and because he has a 600 il4 he believes just because the SV is a 650 its going to be equally as fast and will not listen to me when i say its not.
He's probably got 100 bhp+ you'll have 33. Tell him that!

[ljharmitt]

Will give it a go

[Sosha]

Tell him it's been called a girls bike?

[plowsie]

right okay im 6'2" too but prob more like 16 stone or so. I have no problems abd really enjoy myself on the badboy

[yorkie_chris]

33bhp isn't half bad on the SV, you get the grunt just no top end, not near as painfully horrible as a 33bhp inline 4.

The other major advantage of the SV is, if anything goes wrong with it, theres lots of people know all the little nuances of the SV engine, the weak points etc. (on here especially). Where are you going to ask about a 400? When you do find somewhere, it won't be free either!

Chris

[ljharmitt]

If you power wheelie an sv what revs does it life?

[plowsie]

on 33bhp i used to be able to get a good one off 1st gear and open all way up quickly. Found no restrictor i could get it up nice power wheelie in second.