sv650 versus sv1000
 

anybody rode both the sv650 and the sv1000 whats the difference in the handling capabilities ? whats the difference in fuel consumption etc....

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

look the same but completely diff to ride, the 1000 seems a bigger bike with slower steering and double the power! if u ride it hard the MPG is poor, if you ride economical then they seems to do the same MPG as the 650.

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

Double the power? Double 70bhp is 140bhp. The 1000 has around 110bhp, which is a very different figure.

In answer to the original post, they are similar in that both use v-twin engines and therefore develop their power at relatively low revs. After that they are chalk and cheese. About the only other thing they share is the name.

Best to test ride both and get on the sv1000 forums to see mpg etc.

In short, the 1000 is going to be more expensive to run - without question. It will use a little more fuel, tyres, chain and insurance. Neither are crazy bikes and if you factor in depreciation into the equation, both are so cheap to buy either new or second hand that they are both really cheap over time for what they are.

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

as Kwak says

The thou is very deceptive - it feels slower/more relaxed, but is actually going a lot faster than what the 650 would be doing under the same circumstances. At 5k revs when running in the 650 it was doing 65mph, but the same on the thou is 85mph, although it feels more like 65. It's got a lot more power, but it's almost easier to ride - by that I mean that it seems to require less effort . The suspension is a lot better, but then it has to be as the bike is heavier. Corners are best planned, rather than just throwing the bike round them a la 650 style :grin:

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

Certainly wasn't on the one I used for several months. Most owners seem to agree that suspension is one thing that lets down the 1000 and gets upgraded quickly.

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

Thanks for the replies, well the bike I was looking at was the sv1000 sz special edition which i believe is about 124 bhp. with standard cans on. Havent got a clue about the suspension. was more concerned about the handling than anything else.

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

Suspension = handling

(oh, and tyres and a few other things)

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

From a two hour ride of the thou its is a lot heavier, vibes a lot and get very hot. Its also very easy to wheelie and deceptively fast, personally I am not used to heavier bikes so it felt a bit odd. The one I was on hadrubbish brakes though and the sales man though the engine breaking would make up for this.

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

Mr Optimist

I have a 1000SZ which I have owned for over a year. Before that I had a 650SK3 for over three years. I prefer everything about the thou. The handling was poor at first but it needed new tyres because the one it had on were miss-matched and rear was worn out. With new tyres, the bike was still a handful so I returned all the suspension settings to book. Some fine tuning after that and I?m now very pleased with the ride and handling. She was ace on the track apart from ground clearance but I should have taken the hero blobs off. The brakes are miles better, the forks don?t bang and clunk and I can now ride for hours without needing an ar5e transplant.. The 650 did steer quicker but without going back and trying one again, I don?t think its that much. Insurance is cheap pound per pound /foot and if you worried about fuel consumption Id buy a GS125. Yes, they do get hot.

I use Pilot Power 2CT.

Ratty

Re: sv650 versus sv1000
 

Not exactly, technically the thou has miles better suspension and running gear, cartridge forks, 4 pot brakes etc.

However, you could say the 650 "handles" better because it's more flickable and easier to chuck around.

The thou is more relaxed to ride fast, but there is a definite fun factor of an ill-handling bike, if it feels fast then it can be fun without getting banned everywhere.