Cheap, fun bike build to compliment sv650s

[Adam Ef]

Now that I've got the SV650s and am selling my 125 I've started daydreaming again about what's next. I'll miss the lightness of the 125 as well as it's agility in small city streets / traffic and also I'm still feeling very precious about the SV. I don't want it out in dirty weather or locked up in the city centre for any length of time, especially at night. There's too many kids in Bristol attracted to shiny things that at minimum will make a mess of them if they don't actually get a chance to nick them.

So, thinking and looking for input / suggestions for a light, cheap build or project that would compliment the SV, but not cost a lot to get running or maintain. Something rugged I'd be more incilned to take out in all weathers.

Thinking so far is something that is cheap to buy and runs fine but is easily customisable in future. Would prefer lightweightness and agility over power but needs more oomph than the 125 and guessing more than a 250. A bit more upright than the SV, possibly riser bars, but not as relaxed as my old YBR Custom, not too cruisery.

I've seen a few Honda 400 builds that look great. Scrambler type conversions that look like they'd inspire confidence of being stable and reliable in all weathers. Chunky tyres and wide bars. Some CX500 conversions look amazing but the basic bikes seem to go for a bit of a price if they're in anything like decent shape. Another V-twin would be nice though. Good MPG would be an advantage too to make me feel more justified commuting on it.

Maybe I should look at another SV in future.. a cheaper old one, naked maybe. Although I would like to get something with about 30kg less weight for the city riding if possible.

Advice so far from friends has been multiple suggestions of the quite uncustomiseable KTM Duke 390. Can't say I'm keen though. Not much fun in it as far as converting goes and not mad about the original bike.

Any ideas / input appreciated.

I was going to suggest the 390 as well....

how about an old Kawasaki er5 or Suzuki gs500? Cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than an sv, lighter too. You won't mind leaving it outside work all day either...

[Adam Ef]

I hadn't thought of the er5... first bit of research though leads to a very scathing MCN review!..
"brakes are particularly woeful.. motor feels ever so wheezy...‘Poor’ is the best way to describe the build quality..." !
All that means they are available very cheap though and supposedly very good on fuel.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-r...aki/er-5/1996/

I used a gs500 for a bit of my training and found it really cramped and uncomfortable. I couldn't wait to get off it and unwrap my knees from around my ears I guess with a bit of modification that could be changed though. I'll have to research possibilities of that a bit more.

Cheers for input.

no worries bud. Could possibly make a decent cafe racer or street fighter too?...

[Adam Ef]

Hmm. Seems there's different GS500s around to the one I trained on. Alternative bars seem to make a lot of difference to the riding geometry.

This one looks very nice (I don't share their opinion that they're "ugly" to start with either) ...
http://www.inazumacafe.com/2014/01/h...gly-gs500.html

that's pretty darn cool! You could also go for the gs500f (faired version). And no, I don't regard the gs as being ugly either lol

[yokohama]

What about a GPZ 500s, it was my first 'big' bike. Good engine, cheap to insure, highish bars and upright riding position for commuting and i guess it would be customisable if the fairings were removed.

oh yea, I forgot about the gpz! Must be light and nippy, and they're definitely cheap! Lol ideal commuter that one...

[Adam Ef]

GPZ looks interesting. A few inspiring builds about with that one too.
Cheers.