SV1000

The 650 is often criticised for its suspension and brakes.
How does the SV1000 compare in this respect ?

Tricky

I swapped up from a curvy 650S to a K3 1000S this year. The suspension certainly has more adjustment options available on the front forks, not that I knwo enough to go playing. By default the 1000 seems to dive a bit more at the front, byt that just coudl be how it was set up be the previous owner.

The front brake is definitely more grabby, even with the extra 20 kilo's weight, with 4 pistons rather than 2; the disk itself looks bigger, but I haven't measured. Doesn't feel much different under rear braking when coasting up to traffic lights.

The bike itself feels much higher than a curvy, or maybe it's the extra width, but at 5' 7" I definitely have a hard time peddling the bike backwards compared with the 650.

The build quality seems much better on the 1000, I don't wash my bikes as often as I should but the 1000 seems to be holding up far better that the 650's forks did.

Overall it's far more responsive on the throttle, as you would expect, but IMO it doesn't turn in as positively as the 650; I suspect that's partly the 180 section rear compared with a 160. If you're just using your bike without pillion for blasts round the lanes, the 650 is IMHO the better bike to get, but for motorway miles the 1000 is great.

Liam

I've only ridden Sid Squid's SV1000 for a few miles but it's one big difference to the 650. I'm surprised that Liam doesn't eulogise more as I found it utterly fantastic, with suspension that was considerably firmer and an order of magnitude better with brakes that were a dream and not grabby in the slightest. As for turn-in, well it's slightly heavier and yes the 180 rear section will make it slightly slower but it goes round corners as though it's on rails. Highly recommended.

The simple answer is try one.


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I'm seriously considering an SVthou for next spring - even though the mob I ride with are trying to get me to buy a Gixxer or R1/6.

I don't know anyone with a SVthou - so anyone got any suggestions where I could sort a test ride (I'm in Swansea most of the week and Warwick at weekends).

Martin

[Sid Squid]

You have to remember that the SV650 and SV1000 are not at all the same bike, they share styling and a few ancillary bits, but ultimately they are different bikes. Everything that really matters is different, engine, frame, suspension, front brake and lots more besides.

Originally Posted by Liam

By default the 1000 seems to dive a bit more at the front,

I'm stunned, really I am, coming from the divemaster hisself, AKA SV650, I find this surprising, as you say, it must be the way your particular bike has been adjusted.

Originally Posted by NitroNorry

I'm seriously considering an SVthou for next spring - even though the mob I ride with are trying to get me to buy a Gixxer or R1/6.

I don't know anyone with a SVthou - so anyone got any suggestions where I could sort a test ride (I'm in Swansea most of the week and Warwick at weekends).

Martin

Pidcoks in Derby have one on demo at the moment failing that just pester your local dealer no test ride no buy that kinda thing. I had a test ride on pidcocks demo and a hour later was signiig up for a used SV1000S that just so happened to be in the shop.

Originally Posted by jonboy

I'm surprised that Liam doesn't eulogise more as I found it utterly fantastic, with suspension that was considerably firmer and an order of magnitude better with brakes that were a dream and not grabby in the slightest.

It's probably my lack of experience that I'm not as rapturous over the SV as some others, I'm certainly not able to make the most of it . To be honest, it probably wasn't a sensible buy, I'd only been riding for a year and had my 650S written off in a rear-end after only 5k miles experience. But I got a very good insurance payout from the other company, the 1000 was offered at the same price as a comparable K3 650, it looked great (silver) and my heart ruled my head

I do think that given my experience level, the 650 would have been the sensible option, but you've got to try things in life. The biggest regret was that I was too embarassed to come on this year's ride-out, I so enjoyed last years. I didn't want prople thinking there's an ****, more money than sense, as I know many of you on 650's would have ****ed all over tha back of me

Still, I'm putting the miles in and trying to get better, so hope I'll be able to tell you how great the 1000 is by the start of next summer . Hope to see you all at 2006's

Liam

PS I probably used the wrong word with grabby, the brakes are a lot more positive (in a good way) but sometimes this ham-fisted bloke grabs a bit too much front and get's a wee suprise.

Originally Posted by Liam

The biggest regret was that I was too embarassed to come on this year's ride-out, I so enjoyed last years. I didn't want prople thinking there's an @rse, more money than sense, as I know many of you on 650's would have p*ssed all over tha back of me

It honestly wasn't a race and was without doubt the best organised and marshalled ride-out yet. The pace was occasionally moderately brisk but generally just a relaxed ride, you honestly wouldn't have been out of place, so next year... be there .


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Originally Posted by jonboy

It honestly wasn't a race and was without doubt the best organised and marshalled ride-out yet. The pace was occasionally moderately brisk but generally just a relaxed ride, you honestly wouldn't have been out of place, so next year... be there .

I know, last year's was my first big ride out and the pace was great even though I had less than 2k miles experience by then, I really enjoyed it and never felt forced at all. This year me not coming was absolutely nothing to do with organisation, it was my feeling of inadequacy as I know I wasn't riding as well as I was managing on the 650. Mostly that'd down to stability and cornering at low speed which I'm practicing by commuting through Birmingham most days - I'm putting in the miles and and will come next year.

Liam