Is the Sv650 a suitable first bike?

Yes, if you find it a bit jerky on a test ride, because you've been riding a 125 or a 500cc, with zero throttle response, stick with it. The SV650 is a torquey V-Twin with a lot of throttle response and a lot of engine braking. It's your throttle hand that's the problem, not the bike, you will get accustomed to it within an couple of hours riding and it won't be a problem anymore.

SV650 is the way forward young padwan its a brilliant bike and keeps getting better with experience. its a good bike to have restricted too as you get alot of torque to play with and it will keep you grinning from ear to ear.

Def get the 650, itl inspire confidence and get you riding corners rather than blasting straights with the 1000 when your 2 years is up (or the restrictors fall out.....) you'll muda clukin luv it

[MJC-DEV]

650 Bandit is a good first bike as the 4 cyl engine is smoother and more forgiving for the less experienced but way heavier than the SV. I would try both before parting with cash.

Originally Posted by MJC-DEV

650 Bandit is a good first bike as the 4 cyl engine is smoother and more forgiving for the less experienced but way heavier than the SV. I would try both before parting with cash.

Smoother and more forgiving it may be, but as I said in my last post, it takes a couple of hours to get used to the SV, after which it's not a problem any more. The difference between the two is noticeable and relevant on a 10 minute test ride, but if you could buy both, then after 1 day you'd be able to jump from one to the other without having any issue. This issue is because it's smoothness in the riders throttle use that is the problem, not the engine configuration. It's the wrong thing to have based your decision upon IMO. Buying a bike is a long term decision, and the difference between the two engines is a very short term problem.

The Bandit is a good first bike, but they are not called Blandits for nothing, a few folk I know have had bandits first, then after a few months got bored stiff and flogged them for something else. The SV is a bike which can entertain you as you gain experience and grow with you as a rider.

[MJC-DEV]

Sorry Ralph, I didn't realise you were on commission,

sv650 alot easier to ride then inline fours (i find any way) and alot more fun and low speed (due to torque and power at low end).

cheap insurance class, lots of spare parts, fairly light, cheap to buy.

and has a great forum dedicated to it.

Originally Posted by MJC-DEV

Sorry Ralph, I didn't realise you were on commission,

No financial reward, I'm banking on the karma from giving good advice!

[Fallout]

The only negative I have to say about the SV from a noob perspective is, I find you need to ride the clutch a bit more at junctions than on 4 cyls, which I found disconcerting as a new rider. If you let the clutch out all the way and just throttle it on slow bends, it's more jerky than a bandit for example, as the twin feels twitchy. It's no biggy as you just slip the clutch, and in fact I think the manual says you can expect to be slipping the clutch even up to 5k rpm (so I was told - I don't have a manual), but having learnt on a low powered 125DT and then a bandit during my lessons, that took me a while to get used to.

That's more of a heads up than a complaint. If it feels jumpy at junctions, just get used to slipping the clutch. It's worth a bit more junction based clutch slippage for v-twin giggles.

I've also started on the sv650 and haven't had a problem. After 3 years its still great and although I'm looking to add something bigger to the garage for the 2up long trips, the sv will probably still get 80% of rides.. Its just a great twin, nice medium weight, very forgiving and if you get some good tires and decent suspension you'll have mega fun for ages.

Oh yeah, and curvy's rule!