Why do you not ride a twin?

[Mark_h]

Doubtless this will get shouted down but........

A few years ago when I'd "out grown" my SV650 I test rode loads of stuff. Really wanted a Firestorm but could not find one at the right price so ended up with a SV1000. At the time I test rode VFR, CBR600RRR, Hornet, CB1300 (Honda great at test rides), Speed Triple and a few others but each time I got back onto my underpowered, cheaply suspended, poorly braked little SV and felt it was just about right for me.

Now I'm two years into my SV1000 and have recently swapped bikes with mates while out and about more recently a k8 blade and an old (96) Ninja. The blade was bonkers. It pretty much just changed location. HUGE power, amazing handling, brakes, looks etc but only seemed to make sense when riding it like you were being chased by machine gun wielding baddies. The rest of the time you were completely under using it and it was so effortless it felt more like you were operating it than riding it.

The Ninja was beautifully smooth but until you got to about 8k it was like you were in 5th with the handbrake on. Once again when you gave it the beans it woke up but that's only a place you're going to be occasionally.

Then I get back onto my thou. Sounds great, pulls from about 4k-11k which means you can access loads of power from pretty much any gear. It's not got the massive punch at high revs you get with a meaty IL4 but seems to have more power in the zone you're riding in 90%+ of the time. Also with it's agricultural engineering you definitely feel like you are riding a motorbike rather than playing a computer game.

So given many of the forum members no longer have a SV I was wondering why you've gone down the IL4 route.
- Do you feel you are in it's sweet-spot often enough to make it worthwhile?
- Do you crave the silky smooth power delivery?
- Do you go to a few track days?
- Are you often chased by machine gun wielding baddies?
- Did you just fancy a change?
- Will your next one be another IL4 ?
- Did you try a bigger twin before going down the IL4 route?

Obviously there are many more IL4 options out there than V-twins so easier and cheaper to go down that route. I may be looking to upgrade next year and may be forced down the blade/r1/gsxr route so wanted to know what I was missing out on in day-to-day riding.

Do not read this as me slating IL4s as I know they are loved by many but I just don't get it myself so want the view of the converted as to what I'm missing.

Cheers,
Mark

Because they are crap.

i love twins but after many years on one Ive now had a change, i ain't regretting it either

Right, I have time for a more sensible answer now.

I didn't like the lumpiness that the SV gave when doing slow traffic work and also it felt like it ran out of puff after about 90. Plus the suspension/braker were terrible.

I love my IL4 as it's smooth and a little peaky and I love the screaming noise from the engine. After 7k it goes a bit bonkers which is my lkind of riding style.

At the end of the day it's personal choice though, there could be 100 reasons that a IL4 or twin maybe better but to each their own and all that. I doubt I would go back to a twin unless I could get a Tuono or something a bit hooligan like but I will most like stay with IL4 as I just prefer the power delivery and noise.

Nope, I don't miss the low speed lumpiness either. As for smoothness, the Kwak is like a screaming turbine from 8-16.5k, but you can filter through town or wring its neck like a hooligan depending on mood - quite tractable at low revs really.

I guess I miss the twin noise a little, and I would go back to a twin on the right bike; but I enjoy EVERYTHING more on the kwak; I don;t think the SV did anything better.

I went from twin to IL4 - hated it - and back to twin - as you say in your OP it feels like a real bike and fortunately for me I'm not a speed freak

[Mark_h]

Originally Posted by DanAbnormal

...... I doubt I would go back to a twin unless I could get a Tuono or something a bit hooligan like .........

Surely we're not seeing a hooligan Dan revival!

When I was last looking I took Grant's Tuono out for a blat. It was totally bonkers. He had a Power commander on it but I'm not sure it was set up correctly as the throttle had been pretty much replaced by a switch!

It felt a bit like you were sitting on it rather than in it but if you like the idea of a super quick bike that rides like a trail bike then it's a right laugh.

If you don't like low-speed vibes, suggest you look elsewhere!

Took out a 1098r and an ST3 they were fun but far too pricy for a cheapskate like me.

Good thread, Dito what OP said.

That's the thing Mark, it would have to be the right bike. I sat on a Tuono but it felt so high I'd need stepladder to get on! It has to tick a lot of boxes for me to enjoy it and it's why I love my current bike so much, it ticks all of those boxes. It does lack top end but makes up for it with great handling, brakes and general hooliganism.

Never say never but I'm still waiting for a bike to beat what I already have.

[Scoobs]

Lack of options.

There aren't many supersport bikes (my current preferred style of bike) other than Aprilia and Ducati. Aprilia doesn't appeal and Ducati is not affordable for me.

However, saying that Superduke is quite high on the list as a next bike.