Beginning Rider

I am 19 years old and I just got my M1 motorcycle license here in California. I am thinking of purchasing a 2001 SV650. I have never ridden a motorcycle on public roads before, but I did complete a beginner's motorcycle safety course. I take my life and the risks that I undertake very seriously. I just dont want to get into trouble with a bike that is not suited to my skill level. Please give me your opinon. Thanks.

-Elliot

No.....as long as you are sensible and take things slowly. But most people wont!
You may be asking the wrong people here as we all have to do a lot of training before we can ride over here. But there's some guys here who have done the same route as you and seem fine. Theres also guys here who have done our rigorous training and then crashed. Therefore there's also guys here who say our training isnt rigorous enough.

Probably the real answer is start with a very small bike and work your way up, but I know that thats probably realistically not the thing you guys over there will do. So yes, you will be able to handle it if you are careful, but I would probably try and get some experience on a smaller bike.

You live in a different world to us so be prepared for polarised opinions

I would go with the Doctor's advice.

I got a 2001 svs as my first bike. I've had it two months and have to say I am so glad I got it as my first bike. I said to myself 'be sensible', but that lasted the ride home from the bike shop.
To be honest what ever bike you get you have to be sensible on. Learn how the bike is before blatting round bends and coming off.
In two months I have only dropped my bike once, and I wasn't to blame. I was stationary and a van came from a side road without looking. Hit my left side.
Nothing major, but no offs other than that.

I'd say listen to the others on here, they have experience far beyond us newer people. Can learn a lot from them

Originally Posted by skydivvver

I am 19 years old and I just got my M1 motorcycle license here in California. I am thinking of purchasing a 2001 SV650. I have never ridden a motorcycle on public roads before, but I did complete a beginner's motorcycle safety course. I take my life and the risks that I undertake very seriously. I just dont want to get into trouble with a bike that is not suited to my skill level. Please give me your opinon. Thanks.

-Elliot

i got my first bike last monday (19th), its a 2000 sv650s, and i'm absolutely delighted with it. i feel its got the right balance of sheep in wolf's (or is it wolves?) clothing about it, it can potter about at 3,000 rpm around town, but has got plenty to offer should you get in trouble. ok my exprerience is barely over a week but from all the mags i read other bikes i've ridden i'd say its an ideal bike.

i dont wish this to sound patronising in any way, but i'm 35 and if i was 19 i'm not sure whether i'd go for something that powerful. apart from not being able to by law (if memory serves me correctly), personally speaking i think i could get myself into trouble by not being mature enough on it. but as you say, you seem a sensible chap by recognizing the risks and taking them seriously, so we sound like different people at 19!!

whatever you chose to do, go careful out there. its a jungle.

mr d

Nah its fine, just take it easy and be comfortable on the bike before trying anything a bit risky or you'll end up paniking and doing something silly like grabing the front brake...

good luck

Let's put it this way... if I had an SV at nineteen I would definitely have killed myself, no question. Okay I was a loony but aren't most people (no disrespect) at nineteen?

Personally I think you'd be better off with a smaller capacity bike for a year or two while you gain road skills and experience. Remember what they say about fools rushing in...

Take care either way.


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I think as a first bike with little experience on other bikes you are likely to scare yourself silly at some point

But as long as you realise that you don't have the skill to push the bike as hard as other people around you and you ride withing you limits you'll be OK.

Have fun, take it easy. Get out and ride with some experienced easy going riders.

I'm with jonboy on this one. At 19 I would probably have done myself some serious damage if I'd been let loose with a SV as a first bike.

Focus on building up your skills and experience on something smaller before moving onto a SV. You're also probably better getting something a bit older and scruffy as the chances are you'll be dropping the thing a few times until you get used to it.

There's no substitute for experience although age and a sense of your own mortality do compensate somewhat!!!

On a similar note, I managed to convince a freind on Saturday night that getting a R6 as his first bike wasn't the wisest move in the world! You would have thought the £1900 insurance quote would have put him off!

Never ridden any bike before, and got an SV a couple weeks ago. Didn'ttake any courses or anything.
Other than the minor, bs, incident in the dealer parking lot , I have had no issues. That incident did about $30 worth of minor damage.
I am 21, so not much older, but then again, you do live in CA


Oh, btw, I rode an 02' R6 today, and it's fukin crazy. Feels sooooo fast, yet I know stock for stock that aren't "that" far off.
I prefer my SV over that R6 100%. Too damn small, where as the SV feels perfect (I am 6'1" 168lbs). That's like 12 stones for you easterners.
I say go for it, just be careful, as with any bike.