650- 1000 Much difference?

Hi guys,

Sorry if this has been asked before... attempted a few searches but didnt really come up with anything...

I was looking at buying an SV come winter time, but after being knocked off my bandit by some dozy lass pulling out a car park in an Audi it looks like I'll be getting one a little sooner than i thought (silver linings and clouds and all that jazz)

now i've had my heart set on a 650 for a long time now.. have seen a fully faired pointy model that is just beautiful, but a good mate of mine has been trying to convince me to get a 1000.. (earlier his year he got a ducati 999) and say's im going to be disappointed going to a sv650 as it'll be slower than my bandit 600 was, and i should be 'upgrading' not going backwards.... but ive always said that my bandit was more than fast enough for me, and i'd never really need 1000cc's under me... i certainly wouldnt be using it to it's full capabilities..

so... whilst i'll be test riding and what not, i was just wondering what the voice of experience says...

looking through ebay they're both around the same costs to buy but is the 1000 worth double the insurance quote ive had for the 650?

any advice would be most appreciated

Cheers,
Andy

[Jayneflakes]

My other half tried my SV650 and stated that it was a lovely bike, despite her being the owner of an IL4 1000 sports tourer. Depends what you want to do with it, the thou obviously has more power, but the 650 is a lovely little bike that is nimble and reliable. It has around seventy BHP and also comes with a huge grin factor.

I very much doubt that you would be disappointed if you go for the 650, However, I am just a little girly and have not ridden a thou and my 650 is currently 33BHP! Still a lovely fun bike to ride though and makes me grin on a daily basis.

Hope my little input helped.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Andy B

Hi guys,

Sorry if this has been asked before... attempted a few searches but didnt really come up with anything...

I was looking at buying an SV come winter time, but after being knocked off my bandit by some dozy lass pulling out a car park in an Audi it looks like I'll be getting one a little sooner than i thought (silver linings and clouds and all that jazz)

now i've had my heart set on a 650 for a long time now.. have seen a fully faired pointy model that is just beautiful, but a good mate of mine has been trying to convince me to get a 1000.. (earlier his year he got a ducati 999) and say's im going to be disappointed going to a sv650 as it'll be slower than my bandit 600 was, and i should be 'upgrading' not going backwards.... but ive always said that my bandit was more than fast enough for me, and i'd never really need 1000cc's under me... i certainly wouldnt be using it to it's full capabilities..

so... whilst i'll be test riding and what not, i was just wondering what the voice of experience says...

looking through ebay they're both around the same costs to buy but is the 1000 worth double the insurance quote ive had for the 650?

any advice would be most appreciated

Cheers,
Andy

Buy what YOU want, not your mate.

Bear in mind that the Thou will use more petrol and tyres than the 650 too, so its not just more expensive to insure.

[dizzyblonde]

Where did he get the idea the SV650 would be a step backwards? At leaast its not a BLANdit! You'll have a lot of fun on the 650, its a much more fun. As you say the Bandit for you was more than enough. SK has already said it, its what you want not what yer mate wants you to have. 1000 cc takes a lot to get used to, I can say that from experience, as I have a 1000 cc Vtwin and a 650 SV. Theres more than enough poke in a wee SV for even the most experienced amongst us.

As far as the insurance goes, there could be a nasty surprise, big litre bikes cost much more dosh than a wee 650, plus the 650 is as cheap as chips. petrol will most certainly be going glug glug, rather than sip sip...

Originally Posted by Andy B

but ive always said that my bandit was more than fast enough for me, and i'd never really need 1000cc's under me... i certainly wouldnt be using it to it's full capabilities..

While on paper the bandit has a tiny bit more power, it also weighs more which makes general acceleration about the same.
The only performance different is that the bandit has a higher top end.

So if you're not bothered about missing the smallest of power at the top end, then the SV will be more than fine!

Given it's lighter, it'll also handle better the bandit, is easier to flick it around corners, and generally a lot more fun with more power at the low/mid-range of the revs

Originally Posted by Andy B

say's im going to be disappointed going to a sv650 as it'll be slower than my bandit 600 was, and i should be 'upgrading' not going backwards....

Sorry, but your mate is talking complete BOLOX! He's obviously never ridden an SV650. I owned an SV650 for 4 years, and at the same time babysat a Bandit 600 for a family member who was out of the country serving in the forces. The SV650 is not a downgrade from a Bandit, and the only reason for choosing the Bandit over the SV650 on any particular ride, is comfort.

The SV650's midrange power delivery is similar to a lot of much bigger bikes, and in real world riding it's faster than a Bandit in every situation. The only time the Bandit pulls harder than the SV is when it's doing 10,000 revs, and even then it's only pulling a tiny bit harder. The Bandit may have a few horsepower advantage, but it makes about 10nm less torque, and the SV makes peak torque 2000 revs earlier, and is about 50 kilos lighter.

In 23,000 miles on my SV, a hell of a lot of those on rideouts with other bikes, I have not found a litre bike I'm unable to keep up with on the road, unless doing over 100 mph.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by Andy B

...say's im going to be disappointed going to a sv650 as it'll be slower than my bandit 600 was, and i should be 'upgrading' not going backwards....

tell him to bring a bandit along to a track and I'll show him how 'slow' an SV650 is in comparison.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

In 23,000 miles on my SV, a hell of a lot of those on rideouts with other bikes, I have not found a litre bike I'm unable to keep up with on the road, unless doing over 100 mph.

And I'll tell you what else, in this scenario, the guy on the SV650 is having a lot more fun!

cheers guys, i was thinking as much

we brought up the MCN reviews and it gave slightly better specs for the bandit (speed wise) but i wasnt convinced that a 650 would be a disappointment... but h'es been riding bikes for years so had to respect his opinion there, but then, he likes his fast fast things which is where we differ i guess...

(on a side - MCN review also gave the 1000 1mpg more than the 650? guess this is a bit of bull then?)

anyway... i reckon i'll stick with the 650 idea.. i just wanted to double check theyre not as slow and gutless like ive been warned and hear from the voices of experience if its as quick and nimble as i thought my bandit 600 was then sounds like ive found my next bike

just have to wait for the money from my insurance now :/

[flymo]

why not take one for a test ride before you commit