Just because

A photo for no reason other than its 13 years today I picked this up with 1500 miles on the clock. I've had a few other bikes but this has been the constant in my garage. Still love it!

Still looks good for a 14 year old bike

I had an SW, so, would have been about 3 months older, bought her in 2009 and she was no where near as in as good a shape as this model and that was 6 year ago!

My current bikes are an R6 13s and a SV1000S K4. I find the R6 hard work to ride, but, more rewarding. The Thou' I ride for the leisure and when I just like to bumble along, not that she can't get a lick on either.

I find the SV series of bike are ideal for being able to ride at a comfortable pace without making you ache.

That's the thing about them, they are so practical but can get a wiggle on when you fancy it.

My bike’s not quite as good as it looks in the photos, it’s had a hard life. I bought it as a write off and fixed it up. About 3 months later I managed to get knocked off in a comedy fashion by a suicidal sheep which broke all the fairing panels again. The sheep was fine though after I put it back on its feet! I fixed the bike again then the next year I went pirouetting over the bonnet of a u-turning car. Q 18 months of faffing on with insurance companies. I eventually got the bike back as salvage and fixed it up again. I went from faired to naked the next again year and it’s been like that since then. It’s got a ZX6-R rear shock and Ohlin’s fork springs so handles OK’ish.

Can’t see me ever selling it, maybe just as well not many people would buy a bike that’s been crashed so often!

You're lucky there then, my dad hit a sheep doing 60-ish on his old FZR600 about 20 years ago, almost split the sheep in half!

I'd never sell my Thou', mainly because she looks cosmetically ruined, but, she is sound mechanically, got GSXR-750 K6/7 forks, GSXR 600 K5 rear shock, hard luggage kit, custom adjustable clip-ons, full hard luggage kit, etc.

She is my 2-up/touring bike, got the R6 if I wanna do a track day or hoon.

Sounds like your 650 has been through the wars, but, she still looks a lot better than others I have seen that are younger, so, you should be proud there.

I like the mirrors on that, where are they from?

Originally Posted by atassiedevil

I like the mirrors on that, where are they from?

They're just eBay cheapies, I think they were only about £12 for the pair. The casings are plastic but they look OK and work well.