in a bit of a pickle!

Went to a showroom and tried the SV 650s and a GSF Bandit 650 (faired)

I really do not know which bike to go with.

I think the Bandit will be more comfortable, however i do not really know.

Can any one give me any advice or pros and cons of the SV over the Bandit?

The SV's a twin and the bandit a 4 so will the bandit be the smoother to ride?

Any help will be appreciated!

Pete

[fizzwheel]

What do you want to do with the bike.

The SV will be more spirited to ride on twisty roads on a sunday afternoon. But the bandit makes a far better motorway mile muncher if you do a long commute on it. The bandits a bit heavier and needs a bit more effort to hustle it through the twisties.

The Bandit will feel smoother to ride, but being an IL4 you'll need to rev it more to get the best out of the engine, where as the SV doesnt need so much revs and prodding of the gearbox to get it to go, but its not afraid of being rev'd either.

Apart from that theres not much to choose between them, best thing to do if you can is to test ride them both and make your own mind up.

[yorkie_chris]

What are you going to do with it?

Mile munching ... bandit. Fun ... SV.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Mile munching ... bandit. Fun ... SV.

+ 1

[timwilky]

A friend has just traded in his 2 year old 700 mile SV for a blandit 650. He hated the SV from the moment he got it. He found it lumpy, uncomfortable and a battle to ride. Whilst he hasn't got a clue what he is talking about.

He had never before rode a V twin, and found that it had totally different characteristics to the IL4s he had previously ridden. surprise surprise

[yorkie_chris]

700 miles in 2 years? No wonder he found it a battle to ride doing that mileage.

Having owned both a Bandit and SV I'll pretty much go along with whats been said here (SV=fun / Bandit=comfort) As a rider I probablly prefer the SV, but my wife prefered the Bandit's more comfy pillion seat.

I might just add that although the advice given is good, by no means is the SV650 an uncomfortable bike on long journeys.

I used to regularly ride 60 miles on mine (motorway).

Saying this, i appreciate the bandit may be 'better' on long journeys (never ridden one).

Don't take it the wrong way, I find the SV comfortable, and have done stints of 200 miles ish on a single run and still felt comfortable. My wife just finds the pillion uncomfortable. (mind you, she'll whinge about anything!)

^that was just for the TS in case he bought a Bandit thinking the SV can't be used for long haul!