new rider

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice, I've decided to take the plunge and get my bike license, then buy a bike. I've done a bit of looking around on the internet and in bike magazines for a bike that fits my needs, which are to be suitable for commuting (35 miles) a couple of times a week and for social riding at the weekends. I've got a few questions which I hope you can answer. 1. Does the SV650s fit my needs? 2. Is it unrealistic to do a direct access course then jump on is than SV650s or is it a suitable bike of a newbie? 3. What are the bikes actual running costs (servicing, tyres)? 4. What other items will I need when owning a bike and what are the costs (ie. helmet, leathers)?

Thanks in advance for any info.

nos

Hi nos! welcome to the forum

here's my opinion on your questions:

1) the sv650s sounds perfect for your needs! i use mine for a similar commuting length plus lots of fun at weekends. if its motorway miles then i would definitely get the half faired version.

2) i don't think it is unrealistic, lots of people have done it. i got a gs500 straight after my test but i was bored after two months - the sv is sooo much easier to ride and more stable imho.

3) running costs are quite reasonable compared to similar bikes and a lot of people do their own servicing. there are deals on at the mo' for continental road attack tyres from as little as £135 per pair fitted which is excellent!

4) i got a lot of my gear nearly new from ebay so leathers that should have cost me £500+ cost me approx £220! boots were also v cheap off ebay. make sure you buy your helmet brand new, you can get a good one for as little as £45. with the sv there are soooo many add ons you can buy but none of them are desperately essential and can be bought bit by bit eg. scottoiler, new can etc.

but the sv650s is highly recommended!

Hi - i jumped straight on the SV 2 weeks after passing my DAS course and can honestly say i havent stopped grinning since ( now been 4 weeks and 1300 miles ) .

It'll certainly do the job.
Depending on how you develop your riding, you'll probably find that you can get more and more out of it as time goes on. One of the big advantages of the SV is that because it doesn't have absurd amounts of power, you can be pretty crude with the throttle (on/off)

id agree with what has been said already. I got one straight after my test, just remember to take it mega easy when u pass or u could learn the hard way (as i did).

costs wise for biking it can vary as much as anything else these days. but assuming u have a budget of say 5k, id wanna spend anything up to 1k on clothes, maybe more. And if u only have say 3k, id still spend the same on clothes and less on a bike. just remember ur likely to come off at some point so u dont wanna be someone with anice shiny new bike but wearing jeans and a t-shirt!

Hope u pass and get an SV, u wont look back!

Hi NOS, is your name indicative of what you intend to do to the SV?!

I did my DAS and went straight onto the SV, almost 3 years later and I still love it. Go for it, you won't regret it!

Hi NOS, go for it you won't be dissapointed in the SV, it's a great bike i got mine a week after passing my DAS and hve loved every minute of owning one.

Good luck whatever bike you choose.

Thanks for all the posts... I thought I might be being a bit ambitious but by the sounds of it, seems like the perfect bike.

One other quick question, how many miles would a new SV last?

I will report back when I'm the proud owner of a bike and license!!!

nos

Originally Posted by nos

One other quick question, how many miles would a new SV last?



nos

Dunno had mine 4 weeks and done 2500 so hopefully a lot more
Carsick has done alot of miles since new on his sv so he's the man to answer that.
Goodluck with the test

[fizzwheel]

Go for it, you wont be disappointed

My Curvy has nearly 30k on it and still going strong.

There are people on here that have done lots more miles than that though, looked after properly, serviced and cleaned regularly you should get plenty of miles from it

I am sure Rictus or somebody are in the 100k region

HTH