First spin on an SV

Hi to all,

I had my first spin recently on an SV650.My last bike was a CB400-4 , 25 years ago.Obviously its been a long time..but jeez , what an experience, very exciting.
But..although the straight line performance and brakes were incredible , as soon as I came to the curvy bits it all felt..well , dangerous.The front of the bike seemed to push up and the back end became very twitchy.I know some of this can be attributed to me..rusty skills and fear , but I just wondered is this a common characteristic of this particular bike?.

Regards.

[yorkie_chris]

Could be worth checking the preloads set to standard, and that there's oil in the forks and stuff.
Also tyre pressures are worth checking

Hi ,
Thanks for that , I will do the checks.

[yorkie_chris]

If that doesn't help then have a trek up here and we'll check the swingarm isnt flapping around

Originally Posted by salford-star

The front of the bike seemed to push up and the back end became very twitchy.I know some of this can be attributed to me..rusty skills and fear , but I just wondered is this a common characteristic of this particular bike?.

Regards.

"They all do that sir"!! ... you will soon get used to it mind!!

400/4s are cool ... I had one of those ... loved it

400/4s are cool ... I had one of those ... loved it

Yeah...but not as much fun as my first love... a Garelli ..one on fleabay last week for over 2 grand!.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

"They all do that sir"!! ... you will soon get used to it mind!!

400/4s are cool ... I had one of those ... loved it

My old man had one of those, he loved it to bits. He tuned it up to 440cc and put high lift cans so he could try to keep up with bigger bikes, on the streights they were leaving him... had to catch em in corners .

It was all well till one of the pistons decided to show their faces at fast MPH.

TBH i have no problems like that you have, like said id guess its the bouncers need setting up, once thats done its very nice and relaxed! Might also want to be careful with the weather and your right hand!

How does it feel to the 400 4?

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

I have never been convinced by triples, ok, so you get a bit of the best of both worlds, but you also get a bit of the worst ... and ... well you end up with something in the middle ... why would you want something in the middle?!!?

You have to live with one for longer than an hour's test ride to really appreciate them - the noise and torque become addictive, instant power on tap and that feeling of being slightly different from the herd. I don't see that there's a "worst" side to them at all.

Hi ,
Hey , it was 25 years ago but the engine braking on the SV is better than the puny brakes on the 400-4.I think the problem is more to do with having no fear as a teenager , then having too much fear as a forty something.Have you seen the silly money being asked for the 400-4 these days...?
Take it easy.

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

"They all do that sir"!! ... you will soon get used to it mind!!

400/4s are cool ... I had one of those ... loved it

Point of order, young man.

The Honda 400-Four was so designated because in Japanese culture the number '4' is the same as a Japanese character which when used on its own is considered evil. Writing '14', '40' or '400' is acceptable, but not '4' with nothing prefixing or suffixing it.

This is why Honda wrote '400 Four' on the sidepanels.

I also had a 1978 400 Four F2, and despite it being a knackered old nail it was a shockingly competent bike.