First Bike

Good Evening,

I've just found this forum in the last couple of days and I wondered if you could give me some advice?

I am currently riding an Imported Suzuki GN125 on a CBT Certificate.


I'm looking to pass my test, either restricted or direct access in the next couple of months.
Is the SV650 a good beginner bike?
Is it a comfortable bike for some one 6ft tall with a bit of a beer belly?
Is it worth riding restricted for 2 years and then getting the bike de-restricted?
Or should I just break the bank and take the direct access?
I have been on a Bike-safe course with our local constabulary (found it quite good, even on the ride out on a 125!) so can anyone suggest a insurance company who'll give you a discount if you've been on the course?
And how much I'm likely to pay (I'm 31, 1y no claims, 3 points on driving licence)?

I'm limited to what funds I'll be able to generate, but it should be approx £2200.
This has got to pay for my training (approx £400), some protective gear (boots and leather pants, Approx £150) and the Bike! What year/condition bike would I be looking at for £1700-£1800?
My local motorbike dealer has a SV650 naked in Yellow, on a T reg for £2400.
I thought it sounded a bit expensive!

Cheers
Sonicrebel

SV650 would be a great first bike, as would any of the budget 600s.

All I will say is "try before you buy"; i.e. don't set your heart on one until you've tried a number of different bikes. I went in to the dealers with the intention of buying an SV and came out with a Hornet...............suited me better.

The SV does have the distint advantage of being cheaper to insure than a Hornet, though.

As for the test, it's up you. Many folks on here, me included, did DAS but there's plent to be said for passing your test on a 125cc bike, buying a 600cc (or so) bike and having it restricted for two years; almost certainly cheaper than paying to change bikes.

All because im going from a aprilia 125 rs-to a sv650sTry telling the booxhill forum lot that the sv650s is an ideal first timer bike.. , according to that lot its too powerful and i'll kill myself on it
All because im going from a aprilia rs 125-sv650s

Try a number of bikes.

The SV is good but also consider a Bandit as they tend to be a bit cheaper than SV's as it is an older design and less fashionable. It is easier to ride than the SV but you might grow out of it quicker although the Bandit is enough bike for anyone.

Take them both for a test ride and see which you prefer.

I think I'd do the DAS and get it over and done with but I'm not saving the pennys.

TPFT should be under £200 I'd imagine although points and not having had your licence long will determine the difference between £150 and £250....perhaps it might be a bit more. Get some online quotes.

Nice seeing a picture of your bike by the way. I've said it on other forums before but you don't see many small capacity learner bikes around anymore outside of riding schools. Brings back memories of my CB100 with the front L plate on the lower half of the forks bending back in the wind blast. Funny how back in those days I used to love looking at sporty bikes yet now I like looking at little 100's and 125's.

My tidy T reg Bandit went privately for £1450 with a years MOT and recent service.

Originally Posted by Paws

All because im going from a aprilia 125 rs-to a sv650sTry telling the booxhill forum lot that the sv650s is an ideal first timer bike.. , according to that lot its too powerful and i'll kill myself on it
All because im going from a aprilia rs 125-sv650s

Who told you that?

According to the mags the SV is ideal for people jumping from a 125. 70bhp isn't that much in the world of motorcycles. That is the reason why I got one instead of an old hornet or CBR. I hadn't ridden a bike after my DAS for 2 years when I got the SV, I wobbled a lot for a while but I never felt the SV was going to kill me.

[/quote]
Who told you that?
According to the mags the SV is ideal for people jumping from a 125. 70bhp isn't that much in the world of motorcycles. That is the reason why I got one instead of an old hornet or CBR. I hadn't ridden a bike after my DAS for 2 years when I got the SV, I wobbled a lot for a while but I never felt the SV was going to kill me.[/quote]

If it didnt take up sooo many pages id post all the comments i had, saying that the sv would be too much for me, think it turned into a 4 page argument!

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

Is the SV650 a good beginner bike?
Is it a comfortable bike for some one 6ft tall with a bit of a beer belly?
Is it worth riding restricted for 2 years and then getting the bike de-restricted?
Or should I just break the bank and take the direct access?

Im 6 foor 2 and 18 stone and im finding the SV pretty comfortable, saddle isnt as nice as my bandit one, but having the fairing is brilliant for long distance stuff.

personally i would do your DAS, the only thing i have regretted is not doing it earlier.

there are always a few bikes for sale here, usually at reasonable prices, and they are pretty easy to work on, so for a first bike id rate the sv pretty highley

HTH

Marshall

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

Is the SV650 a good beginner bike?

I went from an Aprillia ETX 125 to a SV. I personally think its a great bike and not just for beginners either. You'll grow into the SV and gain plenty of experience on it.

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

Is it a comfortable bike for some one 6ft tall with a bit of a beer belly?

I'm just over 6ft I dont have any problems on it. Keithd is taller than me I think he's 6ft 4 and I've never heard him complain about it either.

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

Is it worth riding restricted for 2 years and then getting the bike de-restricted?
Or should I just break the bank and take the direct access?

Personally I think you'll find Direct Access isnt much cheaper than DAS is. If you are worried about performance you can always restrict your SV to 33bhp even if you have a full license. Then you can just remove the restriction once you feel ready to deal with the full 70bhp. You might find after a couple of months you are ready to take the restrictors out if you have a full license then you can just do it when you are ready. If you have a 33bhp restricted license you'll have to wait 2 years or do you full test before you can remove the restrictors.

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

I have been on a Bike-safe course with our local constabulary (found it quite good, even on the ride out on a 125!) so can anyone suggest a insurance company who'll give you a discount if you've been on the course?
And how much I'm likely to pay (I'm 31, 1y no claims, 3 points on driving licence)?

I used Devitt for my First year on the SV. £370 ish for comprehensive. Ebike seem to do quite good deals. The best advice is to get on the phone or internet and start shopping around.

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

I'm limited to what funds I'll be able to generate, but it should be approx £2200.
This has got to pay for my training (approx £400), some protective gear (boots and leather pants, Approx £150) and the Bike! What year/condition bike would I be looking at for £1700-£1800?

I would have thought that £1700 is going to get you a Curvey with some miles on it. Have a look on the biketrader website you'll get an idea for whats available. Probably won't be a mint bike for that kind of money, but it should be something reasonably tidy.

Originally Posted by sonicrebel

My local motorbike dealer has a SV650 naked in Yellow, on a T reg for £2400.
I thought it sounded a bit expensive!

Sounds a bit pricey to me to. You'll probably get a better deal if you buy it privately. For some strange reason curvey SV's are going for silly money in dealerships at the moment.

Have a read of the site and a look in the for sale section on here to. You'll get an idea for the sort of things to look for and how much money to pay.

HTH welcome to the site.

I think the SV is an ideal bike for a first big model. Although you're obviously used to a very small bike at the moment, just doing your Direct Access you'll be exposed to a 500cc bike with approx 50bhp. That'll be a nice stepping stone - it's an awful lot more power than the 125cc, and it's a lot heavier too. Then you'll be on a bike with more power again, but about the same weight. Plus on the 500 you'll also swiftly get out the habit of clumsily yanking open the throttle fully as it *will* matter on a wet roundabout, just like it will on an SV!

In short, if you can handle the Direct Access training bike well enough to pass the test, you'll be fine with an SV and in a month or two will wonder why you were worried about it!

Mike