Anyone gone back to an SV?

Curious really, as I'm thinking about what to buy next, but not sure whether to drop the entire budget on the likes of a Street Triple, or to buy an SV and sort the suspension and brakes out and then also buy something like a DRZ. Ive got roughly a £5k budget so wondering whether anyone has bought another bike but then returned to the SV, or whether I should just concentrate on going forward rather than returning to the past?

Having not ridden an SV since I binned mine in '08, maybe I am looking through rose tinted specs, but I always thought that the bike had a good engine and decent handling although it dived too easily under braking (and the brakes were crap).

[yorkie_chris]

Ridden a bit and keep going back to SV.

Had a GSXR, only rode it for a short time on the road but it was bonkers. Very fast, poor visibility from riding position, no chance of using all motor which is what put me off it.

Keep going back to the SV as it's a nice useable motor which you can get close to limits of performance of and has character in spades.
But... that's with sorted suspension.

Depends what sort of riding you want to do, for little back roads I would take a sorted SV over pretty much anything else. If you are wanting something better on motorway then look at something else.

[Wideboy]

what he said ^^

jump from ss600/1000 a fair bit but always much prefer getting back on my SV, i do find it crap on teh motorways tho

Had 2 sv and cant see me going back.
If the brakes were better, the handling better, comfier position with more power then I could be tempted.
I may be looking at a different twin soon though to go with the IL4...

[yorkie_chris]

I do not see point about shortage of power... most of people who complain about it could not use 100% of what SV had to offer anyway

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I do not see point about shortage of power... most of people who complain about it could not use 100% of what SV had to offer anyway

It's not quite the point though is it? If you are ragging it then fine, and I guess that's why the old 400s are still popular; but for day to day bimbling/commuting then 'lazy' power is a boon.

[yorkie_chris]

600 IL4s do not have lazy power for that.

1100 then yeah, I can see point. But still... not a lack of power, but lack of torque.

I found the SV to be almost perfect on power, sometimes when chasing SS600's it was a bit legless but it had tons of character and I was only thinking of upgrading to something like a GSXR 750 prior to the accident as I wanted something different.

I love the Versys but dont have the same relationship with it. The SV still looks a good bike, and I've really taken to some of the black bikes with black frames on here. I still like blue but would end up just trying to replicate what I had previously.

I can see a black bike with a carbon hi-level pipe, GSXR front end with brakes, braided lines HH pads, bellypan, hugger, seat cowl, double bubble & heated grips

I reckon I could do all that for about £3k?

Not gone back as such, my previous bike was CBR600F. I have to admit I'm impressed with the SV, ok the suspension is a bit basic, but all that lovely torque. I don't think it's as easy to ride as the CBR, definately have to be more gentle with the throttle rolling off, and can't brake deep into a corner. But it's faults will make me a smoother rider.

[fizzwheel]

Yes well sort of

When I bought my GSXR, I kept my SV for a winter hack. I used to ride the GSXR and then get back on the SV and I hated the SV after that.

It felt slow
The brakes compared to the GSXR were sh*te
The suspension compared to the GSXR was sh*te

I'd ride the SV, open the throttle, it'd vibrate some more, make some more noise and then not really accelerate and then on a bumpy road it would be pitching me out of the seat where the GSXR dealt with the road bumps and poor surface much better.

I know its harsh comparing it to the GSXR, but for what I use a bike for and what I want from a bke, the GSXR suits me much better. I found myself reaching for the GSXR keys over the SV pretty much everytime so I sold my SV in the end.

I know I cant use all the power of my GSXR, but then I never used all the power of my SV either. But I still wouldnt go back to the SV now.