Should i feel embarressed in the company of supersport 600s?

Originally Posted by Kate

Stuff about IL4's and stuff :P

Good Posting Kate

I love my SV and never feel embarrased about turning up at Box Hill on it... the only time i get embarrased is when i go to put my foot down and nearly drop it when i park on a slope as there is no ground

But then i have ridden many bikes in the 3 years of me riding, and when my girl is due for her MOT next year i will probably be looking at other bikes (wont be telling the sv this though as if its anything like my 125 she'll start playing me up when i come to sell her). But i would consider the sv one of the most fun bikes i have ridden.

At the end of the day the sv is a great starter bike and i have loads of learning to do before i move on to something else. Although i'm very tempted to chop her in as i rode Rigor's GSXR6 for a week and a bit a couple of weeks ago . With the change in my route to work i am loving my sv more and more as i am finding out what she can really do on the country roads through Chobham to the A30 weeeeee.

why does everyone see the sv as a starter bike?

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

why does everyone see the sv as a starter bike?

For me when it came to getting my first big bike, i was recommended the sv as it has little horsepower compared to an il4. It was also the only bike that we could lower sufficiantly that i could build my confidence on without compramising the handling too much. But that is just what i was recommended.

I'd love to keep mine and never sell her as she's fun and different to an il4, we'll see next year.

Originally Posted by neio79

No one should ever be embarased about turning up to a bike meet on an SV.

99% of the reviews in magazines acknowledge that it is a cracking bike to learn how to ride a big bike and for people who like to have fun, i have not very often read a bad word about the SV's usability on british roads.

Yes a IL4 will be quicker on a motorway or dual carrige way, but how much fun would that be to ride those roads all day?

On the twisties an SV can more than keep up with a IL4 600. That said it is all down to the rider. My mates old man has a BMW 1200 tourer thing, and can wipe the floor with 90% of the 1000cc riders that try it on with him, that is funny to watch!

The SV is very nimble in corners. I am surprised no one has mentioned the one big advantage that the V-twin has in corners and that is the massive engine braking! that will save you from having to use he brakes so early, ergo carying more speed into the corner and combine that with all that low down grunt to pull you out of them fast as well. that is one big thing going for the SV, and any V-twin.

Also the noise my bike makes (CCC race can) is so so so much nicer than an asthmatic IL4, i have turned far more heads with the sound of my bike than alot of SS 600's ( mainly because you cant hear them over my SV)

Oh yes the sound of the V-twin with a decent exhaust is the sound of a real bike!! LOL

I have to agree but with a few little added points. The SV is a fantastic bike in its' own right, a first 'big' bike or 18th bike (in my case anyway) and you never stop learning. Never pidgeon hole it as a learner bike.

The engine braking is a big plus to slow down for the twisty bits but equally throttle control requires extra care and control when feathering the power on the apex of a bend the same as a biger capacity bike.

SS bikes (for a gixer) are quite comfortable for 200 mile blats easily but some may experience high frequency vibes from the IL4 engine.

The sound of a CCC equipped SV IMHO sounds so much better than my yoshi on my bike. Thats something I miss from my SV.

[Rich]

I love the SV but i would also like to own an inline 4 someday! I think people get to wrapped up in trying to get SS600 performance out of the SV, stop quibling and get out on your bikes!

the little 650's can go as fast and handle, its prob better than 90% of its riders. lots of ppl see the il4 route as step up? i see it as a diff engine configuraiton? lots of ppl buy the cbr's and gsxr's because there great bikes not becasuse there any better than the little 650.

Originally Posted by Beenz

I have to agree but with a few little added points. The SV is a fantastic bike in its' own right, a first 'big' bike or 18th bike (in my case anyway) and you never stop learning. Never pidgeon hole it as a learner bike.

The engine braking is a big plus to slow down for the twisty bits but equally throttle control requires extra care and control when feathering the power on the apex of a bend the same as a biger capacity bike.

SS bikes (for a gixer) are quite comfortable for 200 mile blats easily but some may experience high frequency vibes from the IL4 engine.

The sound of a CCC equipped SV IMHO sounds so much better than my yoshi on my bike. Thats something I miss from my SV.

i found the engine braking took me ages to get used to before i started using it to help me ride, il4 bikes are i think easyer to ride.

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

i dont see it like that Kate? its what ever floats your boat, some ppl like sv's some like il4? personally i came from il4 to v twins but were all different.

Kwak, I appreciate your point but some peeps appreciate V2s AND IL4s, they are not exclusive.

Kate, I know what you mean, this place seems at times to be an us and them as in V2 v IL4 which is a shame. We all ride bikes and should respect that.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

the little 650's can go as fast and handle, its prob better than 90% of its riders. lots of ppl see the il4 route as step up? i see it as a diff engine configuraiton? lots of ppl buy the cbr's and gsxr's because there great bikes not becasuse there any better than the little 650.

F*cking halleujiah. Nice post Kwak I totally agree.

I'm not going to get into a p*ssing competition over this, But a standard SV is not going to keep up with a SS600 on a twisty road. If both bikes are ridden be equally competant riders and both know the road equally as well.

SS600 has another what at least 20bhp more. Its got a better chassis and better brakes, if you can ride it to take advantage of this you're going to be a lot faster over the same section of road.

I think and this goes back to toypop's excellent post, is that SS600's are bought by wannabe riding gods, who've just passed their tests etc etc, whereas SV's are bought by riders who have just passed their tests but are'nt afraid to admit that they are'nt ready for a bigger bike. Or that perhaps just perhaps the SV meets all their needs and they dont feel lacking in the trouser department when it comes to admiting that.

What I think is more relevant is that the SV is easy to ride, its easy to make the most of its power delivery and chassis. Its also extremely satisfying to rag the tits off it, which is something you can't do on a bigger bike. Its that old adage, sometimes less is more.

So to answer the question. No you shouldnt be embarresed about turning up to a bike meet on an SV. I'm not I never have been and I continue to not be. Every time I switch between the GSXR and the SV, the SV always leaves me with a grin. But so does the GSXR its as kwak says, a different type of grin.

Originally Posted by Beenz

Kwak, I appreciate your point but some peeps appreciate V2s AND IL4s, they are not exclusive.

Kate, I know what you mean, this place seems at times to be an us and them as in V2 v IL4 which is a shame. We all ride bikes and should respect that.

i did say "we are all different" didnt i