Bikes. What to do next?
 

A lazy Wednesday afternoon for myself and was wondering where to go in the future when it comes to owning and riding bikes.

Have a standard curvy ATM with just a slip on.

Options i was considering were:
- Keep the curvy standard and buy a track bike probably some sort of 600 maybe a CBR or GSXR.
- Upgrade the curvy handling wise (GSXR forks and better rear shock) and use it for both road and track riding
- Just get a nice 600 or 750 and use it for both track and road riding. (This would mean getting rid of the curvy)

Not thought long and hard about it. I haven't ridden an IL4 properly so may not get on with them. Maybe doing one of those Haslam days on a CBR would be a good idea??? Money at the moment would mean planning ahead for any of these options really... Any thoughts or other options to get the ball rolling are more than welcome, no matter how out there. :smt102

:thumright:

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I have gone from an SV to a full on 600 (ninja). I've had the ninja 5 months and i'm now going back to a suzuki V. This time a one litre V-strom.

Sports bikes are amazing mind. But only for about 5% of your riding (unless you're rossi). I literally can't wait to get something bigger and more (boring maybe) comfortable.

If I had to do all of my bikes again I would have got a naked pointy first then probably never traded it. The focus, energy and lack of comfort make sports bikes very tiring very quickly. Mind you if i could afford a track bike (rs250 etc) i'd have one straight away, because thats where thsoe things belong really.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Well my biking history goes Aprilia RS125--> SV650S

So next i want a sports inline four 600, perhaps 750 to get a bit faster, and a taste of everything.

I can buy sensible things when im older.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I'm not really going that sensible. Thing still has a hundred horse power :D. Just fed up of the riding position. Sportsbikes are a very british thing and you have to try one at some point. Decided I want more than just pure performance from a bike now though.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Buy a Daytona 675.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

And become an official .org member :p

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I'd leave it standard and do a track day on it and really learn to get the most out of what you've got and then save up your pennies for another bike.

Unless you like tinkering, if you want to go faster get another bike.

IL4 is still a bike and you will get on with it, you dont need to worry about no midrange or no engine braking blah blah blah. its rubbish theres plenty of midrange and you wont miss the engine braking because the brakes on something like a GSXR are far superior to the SV's anyway.

I went from a Curvey SV to a GSXR-750 put it this way I wouldnt ever go back now.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Everyone needs to own a sportsbike at some point

Some will love it, some won't, but everyone needs to experience the result of the cutting edge of motorcycle design

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Might be worth getting a few insurance quotes for the change of bike - that might change your mind on going for the upgrade option ;)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

We have had the pleasure to ride with Binky and he really does get the most out of his Curvy Fizz. Wore his front as quickly as the rear. He's been in intermediates on it as well and apart from the straights was not embarrassed at all.

I think you should go for a GS500 Binky, then I might just have a chance of keeping up:)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

New bike time then IMHO

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Binky you can maybe try my cbr (carefully ;)) next time we are out to get a feel of IL4 power delivery.

I didnt like it at first took me a month or two to get used to it after the SV.

Its a hard decision I reckon. I was in the same situation.

Ended up buying a cheaper 600SS that I didnt mind binning on the track. Ultimately I did not see the point in spending a small fortune on the SV suspension.

I vote 2/3 year old 600/750.........except I wont be able to keep up :( lol

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Keep the sv and buy a sportsbike-thats what ive done :)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

GSX-R 750. End of discussion. Can a moderator please now lock this thread? ;)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Whichever IL4 you choose as soon as it gets going properly you will grin like a lunatic, then rapidly change gear. Flat out in 2nd is often ban territory though, and bimbling about seems pointless on them, as said they are cutting edge and designed for race tracks so they just want to go fast!!

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I'm well known on this forum for disliking IL4 600's, had many long discussions on it and I make no bones about it.

Which is how I feel, but then thats 5% of my riding. As Lissa said, Binky is pretty much head down and pinned throttle on the SV constantly (well on rideouts anyway). I followed Binky for a lot of the peak district rideout and his riding style is similar to Carelesschucca who went from an SV to a GSXR600 and he absolutely loves it, but I think it's because he gives it 100% commitment all the time. If you want to pootle around country lanes, overtake without changing gear, and generally be lazy it's not the bike for you.

Is that because you have a 750 Fizz? I haven't ridden one but everyone says they are significantly better midrange than the 600. IMO there is a relative lack of midrange on a GSXR600, it's not rubbish, and it's not just my experience of it saying that, loads of people say the same, magazines say the same, other forums say the same, it's just repeated far too often to have no basis in truth.

+1 to engine braking and superiority. Engine braking is just a change of habits. Unless you go backwards like a GS500, or stay with something budget like a ER6, I think you will never go back to the SV after trying something better. It's a great wee bike, but it's 4 grand for a reason. Riding something quality just feels so much better. If my financial situation was better my SV would have been changed or supplemented by a second bike on it's third birthday when the finance payments were up.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

There's plenty of engine braking on the 750, plus a slipper clutch, it's all irrelevant when the rear wheel is hanging in the air though Binky ;)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Binky is pretty much head down and pinned throttle on the SV constantly (well on rideouts anyway).

Then you will love it but be completely knackered, and i hope you're not too tall! I can almost rest my wrists on my knees on mine!

If (when)i get another it'll be at least a 750 for when i want to do lazy overtakes etc. Or ideally an R1 XL for people over 6ft :o

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I do, but I have also ridden a 600 Bandit a 650 Bandit a K6 GSXR 600...

Theres an awful lot of guff written on forums by riders who have no experience of the bike they are talking about. Theres also an awful lot of guff written in magazines by journalists who like to over hype the bike they are talking about.

The K6 600 I rode pulled from 4000rpm, in every gear, it pulled very well from 6000rpm in every gear. My 750 will go right down to 30mph in 6th gear and the pull all the way to the rev limiter without me having to change gear at all. I could never do that on my SV, well not without a lot of chugging complaing and chain slap.

I tihnk on the older bikes then yes they are lacking a little maybe mid range wise, but on the more modern stuff like the K6 600 I rode, its not true in my experience to say that an IL4 has no mid range power.

You have to remember that 6000rpm on a bike that revs to 13,000rpm its pretty much half way through its RPM range and could possibly be described as its "mid point" ;)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

1.Bin the sv.

2.Try an IL4.

3.Never look back :cool:

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Yep I was eyeing up a lovely 2005 gsxr 600 (yellow ofcourse) a few weeks ago then quickly went off the idea at the sight of my quote....
£2400!:smt091:laughat::confused:

It's really up to you binky. Cost/practicality would be my deciding factors. Weigh up the cost of buying a track bike (+insurance,tax, mot OR cost of getting it transported there) against getting a sportsbike(more expensive parts for servicing i.e 4 expensive sparkplugs,expensive insurance, cost of fairings. I don't think I'd bother chucking money at the curvy to make it a trackbike unless you specifically want to ride the v.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Well I've only ridden one modern 600 sportsbike, and it seems to have less low down poke than an early 90's CBR600F, but that was a long time ago so memory may be twisted.

The 600 Bandit I know well and IMO it's a f***in slug in the midrange compared to the SV. Ridden the 650 once it seemed to be a bit better.

Maybe they've got worse, then got better again in the last 3 or 4 years, certainly they rev a lot higher and make a lot more power at the top end than they used to, which you would wonder how they achieve that from the same capacity without sacrificing midrange, oversize pistons and shorter stroke = higher revs but less torque, etc. I dunno, they do electronic stuff with sportsbikes now that you can't apply the normal principals of engineering to. Engine configuration (ie: the principals that applied to long crank throw, low revving diesel engines producing monster torque but no power) seems to be less important than electronics now.

GSXR600 I rode was a K6 or K7 model but it was a Mexican one. I need to get a test ride on one here and see if it manages to change by opinion.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I would love to try a GSXR 750. I think if I was going to buy a sportsbike, it would be a gixxer. I dont think I'd go up to a thou as the power isnt necessary, and where you could use the power of a thou I dont know unless you live on the IOM (and your names Martin, McGuinness, Plater etc). I also prefer the look of the Gixxer over the CBR & Ninja.

I think I'm quite content with the Versys at the moment though, its cheap to run, all paid for and is very comfortable. If anything I would like to keep hold of it and maybe buy a 2nd bike. I cant justify having 2bikes in the garage to do 6k a year between them though.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I love the CBR600rr in white, found a nice one but was quickly put in check by them insurance swines. £380 I paid for the SV, £1400 for the CBR, stick where I am thanks!

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Aye I remember you saying about that before. I guess it depends on just what you expect the bike to do when you open the throttle. I never felt like the SV set the world alight and it certainly ran out of puff quickly where as the 600 GSXR I rode and my 750 just feel like they are going to make power all the way to the redline for ever. But neither of the compared Torque / mid range power wise to the bandit 1250 I rode.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

It does depend on expectations, and on preferences, even if you expect the throttle to do what it does, doesn't mean you'll like it. I guess if you can learn (and be bothered!) to keep the engine in the right rev range and ride in a lower ratio at higher revs (I ride the SV between 4000 and 8000 revs on a normal A to B ride), then the GSXR600's "midrange", ie: 7000 to 11000 will be anything but lacking, but you have to get used to and enjoy riding like that.

I always felt at a constant speed that I was revving the tits off the 600 Bandit (9000 revs at 90mph in sixth from memory?) and I found the engine tone fatiguing on the ears too.

No the SV doesn't set the world alight, but it's quick for a 70bhp bike, mine doesn't run out of puff until your above 100mph, or you have a long steep hill or a pillion.

You can't put an SV in 6th gear at 30mph because of the more limited rev range, chain lash below 3000 revs and red line at 10,500, only 7500 revs to play with. Each gear ratio has to be much further apart. When a bike has a wider rev range and a smoother power delivery it greatly widens the range of speed that you can use in each gear.

The Bandit 1250 has a lovely engine, smooth and torquey at the same time. Still less than 100bhp though, which proves it's not all about power, torque is important too. With my wife on the back the riding experience didn't change, didn't know she was there, it's an impressive bike to ride in terms of it's capabilities.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Keep the SV on the road, get a crashed 10 year old 600 for the track.

If you like to use the SV to the full on the road, then you will do the same with something quicker, then you will get bored of that and get something newer or faster... Or maybe more power will make you calmer, try it and find out what you like.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Interesting thoughts. If i were to get a track bike and keep the SV it'd need to be MOT'd and insured as i have no van, no trailer let alone a car license. :cool:

Also what is the likeliness of a garage letting a 21 yr old out on an un-restricted license on one of thier bikes??? Do i have to be 25 or similar??? If so is it a legal thing or are they succeptable to persausion. :-k

I may just do a few mock quotes online now.

Keep the thoughts coming in the mean time. Always interested in everyones thoughts and experiences. :D

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Local triumph dealer didn't bat an eyelid when I asked to take one of their stock 675s out for a ride...

Go and ask, if they say no, tell them they've lost a possible sale and go elsewhere...

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

It's true. Around town - I used to get passed by Vespas on my R6 because there was no midrange. It was actually quite embarassing.

Oh, wait.....

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

You must have a bloody nice dealer!

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

600's and midrange, the old ones ARE pretty naff low down. But, the new ones have all manner of electronic trickery and witchcraft to give them a boost, so it isn't such a factor.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Anyone who has ridden with Binky in anger would agree he gets nigh on 100% performance from the curvy SV :cool:

I would have thought that the idea of having two bikes all taxed up, MOT'd, insured, etc would have been a bit prohibitive Binky? I think it's ok to have a separate track bike if you don't have to spend the extra £500 odd a year just to be able to ride it to and from trackdays which essentially you would be doing?

If you want to upgrade your current steed I would think you are best off selling it and using it as a deposit on a new/newer bike. For example if you get £1k for yours, put it down as a deposit against a new GSX-R600 on the 0% over three years scheme, then you would be paying approx £140 a month for three years for the new bike? Your insurance might be a bit expensive but I guess you'd have two years no claims and it would be garaged so shouldn't be too extortionate.

However, if you get a SS600, I'll never see you on rideouts again after leaving the meet point. :smt053 I need to get some practice in.....:smt064

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

CMC on mansfield road heading out of nottingham on the A60 will let 'anyone' on to there bikes. There is also a CMC in chesterfield. Both have good new and used stock.

Most other dealers locally from experience wont let you test ride a bike unless they have a deposit in their hand :rolleyes:

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

ok i'm going to put mr sensible head on..

keeping the sv will give you more money in your pocket. forget track days and another bike and use the money you would have, to get your car licence. once you have your car licence then you will have transport for the track bike.

yes you are probably getting board with the sv because you are riding 'on edge' and want something with more power, better brakes chassis etc.etc. but think of the fun you can have just with insurance saving alone...

stick with what you have m8 coz it sounds like you are getting 100% out of the bike you have.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Binky you're welcome to try out my bike if you want to - you've never asked to and I've never thought to offer, but I'll trust you with it for a little test ride if you fancy it....

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

I had a Daytona 650, fantastic bike for in IL4 tons of midrange and great handling, but for some reason I never learned to love her like I did my curvey or my ZZR6, dunno why, just never gelled really, I have this theory though that a v twin has a kind of a heartbeat, a pulse if you will, that IL4,s dont have, not knocing IL4,s btw, they just seem a bit soulless or maybe its just me ;)

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Only ever ridden il4s briefly the main weird thing for me is them trying to run away from you (lack of engine braking) and having to rev them so high to get the performance - but I reckon it's definitely something that you have to give a chance, spend a week on one and you might never go back you dunno till you try it.

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

you can have a ride on my IL4 on the next rideout, but you might die laughing at my throttle restriction

Re: Bikes. What to do next?
 

Think his main issue would be the set of knees wedged against his chin.