SV 650s vs Kawasaki er6f

Hey guys!

Got my test booked for the end of this months and i'm looking at getting a bigger bike. I wanted a SV 650 for a while but recently i have been interested in the new Kawasaki Er6f (inline twin) with 0% finance.

I was wondering what you guys think and can perhaps advise me.

Yes i know it's an SV forum and most of you will probably say SV but then that could be good as i need reasons to support getting one ( Fully faired pointy ).

Cheers!

sv yes, pointy one yes, arhh welcome clone to sv650.org

I personally wouldn't buy a new SV, a pointy one (2003-) as I think the bikes you can get for around the same price - Triumph Street Triple - are probably superior. However, the street might not be what some consider to be a good first bike.

+ a lot more money circa ?1000
+ not available in dealers - till november / december

for good reason tho, but imo a class above the SV

[northwind]

The ER6F is really, really good. In some ways better than the SV, in others less good- the engines are roughly comparable, personally I reckon the suspension is slightly better on the kwak. The Kwak is more uprighty and comfy, but accordingly less sporty and, well, involving. So it just depends what you're after, the ER is better transport as far as I'm concerned but I prefer the overall riding experience of an SV. Oh, and sadly the ER's all seem to be pretty shoddily built, like most recent kwaks, there's one at my work which has lost more shine and paint after 1 year and 8000 miles than my SV has after 8 years and 40000.

Try the Versys if the Eeyore appeals- on paper it takes the best bits of the ER and goes that bit further. I could go for one of those...

And yeah, buy used. New SVs are cheap it's true, but used ones are even cheaper, and they're pretty reliable. The very first of the first gen SVs isn't very different from the newest of the new.

My friend has an er6 I have an SV sport. The suspension on his bike has no adjustment but he is about the perfect weight (11 stone) for the bike and it's a little lower (he's a shortarse).

The er6 feels a little smoother but the SV looks better and has so many parts available for it (aftermarket).

I suggest you sit on both and select the one that feels right (you'll know) as they are both very similar.

I think that the ER6F seems MUCH more top-heavy, and seems to throw out more heat than a pile of burning BSE-infected cows. Other than that, they're pretty similar, though I'd take a V-twin over a parallel any day.

Have a pointy SV myself and Quedos has an ER6f. Ride similarly to each other with all but the same power and torque figures. Footpegs on the ER6 can be "vibey" due to there being no isolator rubber on them. Upright position is relaxed and "comfy", but the SV feels more involving due to riding position.

My SV seems to have more storage under the pillion seat than the Kwak. Also the tyre valves on the Kwak wheels are a REAL P.I.T.A to get at for regular pressure checks.

It's very much down to personal preference in the end - really!

Garry

Originally Posted by northwind

The ER6F is really, really good. In some ways better than the SV, in others less good- the engines are roughly comparable, personally I reckon the suspension is slightly better on the kwak.

they have pretty much same forks.brakes are direct bolt on from one to another.
sv is soft while kwak stiff.stock front springs on ER are 1.4,that is almost double of sv

[tigersaw]

I moved from the SV (which nigh crippled me with its riding position) to the ER6F, the kwak really bought as an inbetweeny bike until I could make my mind up what to get.
I've grown to really like it, its very easy to ride, comfortable riding position, and with a replacement Arrow underslung can sounds better than the SV ever could. However the performance is pretty mediocre compared to the SV, none of that grin inspiring grunt pulling out of corners. As Northwind says, build quality is dire, chinese welding and poor paint finish means it will rot even in sunlight.