May be looking to buy next week, CBR600f or SV650?

As the title says really guys, all being well my car should be gone this weekend, but I cant decide between a CBR 600f around 1999-2001 may even strecth to an FI model if the bike and price are right....... or a pointy SV650s (preferably fully faired)?

I passed my DAS last month so this will be my first bike and used as a daily commuter. Tempted by an old CBR, seen a couple of black really low mileage ones on eBay and Pistonheads with full service history. One's a 1997 with 8k and the other a 1999 with 6,800.... but obviously I can get something much newer if I went down the SV650 route.

I am looking to spend between £1800 and £2800 max.

What are your thoughts on CBR f versus SV650? Please dont be biased towards the SVs just because we are on here, I would like constructive pros and cons please

Thanks guys

The Honda is the better bike.... The SV is fantastic value for money.

I prefer the looks, sound and price of SV, but wish it had the CBR quality, and sophistication.

fully faired the SV is much more modern and better looking tbh. the SV is 70hp whereas the CBR is 110hp and the revs are much higher. I think the SV is a far more sensible choice as a first bike especially around town where the honda is supposed to be a pig

Obviously the SV is going to be cheaper on insurance for me too. I have to be honest the looks of the CBRs are growing on me, they aint that bad! Ok front end isn't as modern as a pointy, but the rest looks pretty nice in the right colour I reckon... black

not going for sensibility there though are you? you'll be less well seen on a black bike, the CBR looks aged in the 1999 models, of course that is personal preference though. and the CBR has a higher power band meaning you have to push it more and is a lot less suitable as a first big bike than the SV

The CBR600F and the SV650 are very good bikes, both are easy to ride and both are good all rounders. The CBR600F has a lovely engine for the road, its smooth and has low down pull although not as much as the SV650 obviously. The CBR and SV will perform great on the roads in town, I have no idea where the claim of the CBR being a pig in town came from but it is not true.

The SV is more of a budget bike than the CBR, this is notable in the suspension and build quality on the SV. The SV was built to be a budget bike where as a CBR600F of that age was built to be a part-flag ship of the Honda brand.

The best thing to do is test ride them both, you will most likely find things you like about one that you don't of the other and vice versa.

I have a nice SV for sale...2004 pointy, in the best colour (silver)!!

Fancy posting a few pics and the spec up here Biker billy? Obviously I could well be interested! I quite like the silver ones too

I can give you a quick spec now, off to work, so piccies may have to wait till tonight...

2004 SV650S - K3, Silver
20k miles
Gsxr1000 rear shock
hagon front springs & oil (500 miles ago)
Silver rear hugger
R & G crash bungs
Evotech tail tidy
silver OEM seat cowl
dark ffabri double bubble screen
just serviced, inc oil, filter, spark plugs, coolant change, brake fluid change, valve clearances checked 2k ago - no adjustment needed
HEL silver braided hoses
new front & rear pads about 1000 miles ago - and a caliper clean
Michelin Pilot sports - pair put on about 500 miles ago...
Oh, and a Fuel SS exhaust - road legal, with removable baffle
Chewys mirror extenders
MOT'd a few months ago - think it was June, passed no probs, about 6 mths tax

its been a pampered bike!!

Originally Posted by sauluk

not going for sensibility there though are you? you'll be less well seen on a black bike, the CBR looks aged in the 1999 models, of course that is personal preference though. and the CBR has a higher power band meaning you have to push it more and is a lot less suitable as a first big bike than the SV

In regards to buying a black bike, if idiots on the road dont see me in a light colour MR2 with loud exhaust they sure as hell wont see me on a motorbike. At the end of the day having driven for 8 years I know there are idiots on the road, you just have to drive defensively and watch out for them. I do understand that the CBR has a high power band, but surely its perfectly rideable below this power band around town?