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:lol: :lol:

Thats ok, you don't.

As Billy mentioned it must surely depend a great deal on the roads to be travelled? If largely motorway then perhaps not the SV...but in most other situations then why the hell not? :?

If a lot of motorway then maybe a bigger bike which is less focussed and that has a lot of wind on power as opposed to you tap dancing on the gear lever all of the time?

But you know you really want a Ducati...dont you? :wink: :lol:

You knows it Pedro. :wink:

I actually DO want another 749, but having had mine stolen, which is when I got the SV, I don't think I'll be able to sleep knowing it could happen again.

The commute is gonna be A road and Motorway with a couple of mile son B road. The SV was always a "temp" bike after the Duke was stolen and was waiting to build up some NCB and also see what's new for 2006.

If I was you, I'd look Deuville-wards... the ultimate distance commuter. Small enough to filter well, not too expensive, good weather protection, tough, fairly economic, run like clockwork. Unfortunately, they're also powered by clockwork ;) They are Not Fun, but they are fantastic. I had one for a week or so while I fixed some stuff on it (my boss's dad binned it, not me!) and used it a lot, (to "test" it, ahem) and going back to winter commuting on the SV was no fun at all. Not that the SV's a bad commuter by any stretch, but the Deuville's just so good at it.

Then again, on those great days when I leave the office and the roads are miraculously dry, I'd not be on anything but my SV.

For winter gear, I'd look at heated stuff... Not essential, but good to have. I just use grips at the mo but i think next year I'll get a heated vest. Or a car ;) Cordura/goretex is miles better than leather for waterproofness and warmth- though if you get it really wet, it can take ages to dry. The new Spada 2-finger gloves (the HG Pathan ripoffs) have been getting great results in tests for warmth and waterproofness.

A lad at my bike course has just bought a Dullville (get to see it next Tueday,) after being knocked off his blandit 600 :-k <note to self> Steer well clear of bike which are 'dull' </note>

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Y'see even the car drivers don't like them! :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'll put a vote in for rukka trousers. Never ever leaked, and good protection too when I fell off.

My personal vote would be to keep the SV, and get a second bike for the miles. Take a look at something cheap to run, eg a Diversion 900 (shaft drive) or a dullsville or a faired blandit. My instructor had a divvy and he was about your height so that might work.

The thing I would worry about is that if you use the same bike for commuting as having fun on the weekend, you could end up spending a lot on it, and reducing the desire to get out and ride it for pleasure. It's also handy when there is something wrong with one of them.

I have looked at teh various websites and teh Deauville will most definitely not get pass Mrs Noufy. The SP2 looks nice :twisted:

Not sure hondas are gonna be the way for me they all seem to have high/higher seats compared to others. Plues weight of bike is also an issue, must be able to lift it up in case I do drop it.

The Gixxer is still my prefered choice at the mo. GSR600 looks cool, but if am gonna go that route I'd rather wait for the B King, next year is it? Or a BMW