125 to 650 ?

I currently ride an Aprilia Tuono 125 but am hoping to do my direct access soon and get a bigger bike. Does anybody out there have any experience of moving from a 125 up to an SV650 ? I'm worried about the weight of the bike as i'm not the strongest bloke in world and also i've been told the engine can be a bit 'twitchy' (for want of a better term)

P.S anybody have any good/bad experience with using Fowlers here in Bristol ?

I think there are a large number of people on here who went straight from a 125 to an SV.
I didn't get here straight away, I went via two other big bikes, but the principal is the same.
Don't worry in the slightest about getting on a bigger bike.
You'll find it easier to control, easier to balance and generally nicer to ride.
Unless you're significantly under 5' and built like a piece of string (oi, you lot with dirty minds, I meant muscles, ok?) then I wouldn't worry about the weight of any big bike (until you go to extremes, anyway)

Basically what I'm trying to say is, do it, you'll love it.
Your DAS will teach you alot (obviously) and you'll probably find yourself very comfortable with big bikes at the end of it.

As for Fowlers, a few people here use them, I have no experience with them myself.

Oh, and welcome, watch out for the resident mental patients, care in the community and all that.

I went from an Aprilia RS 125 to an SV650 no problem.

I went to a 750cc (103bhp) initially, then dropped to a supersports 600cc (109bhp), then a SV650S (69bhp).

The SV is the best of the bunch to go onto from a 125cc. The extra power is there to get you out of trouble, but there isnt too much for you to handle.

Originally Posted by Cos

i've been told the engine can be a bit 'twitchy' (for want of a better term)

Forgot to answer this one.
Yeah, the throttle can be a bit on/off in town, but this is something you get used to very easily and can be fixed with a few simple mods.
Then you can add a new exhaust, which apparently gets rid of the very last vestiges of the jerkiness.

One of my first bikes was a derestricted Aprilia RS125.
Believe me, the SV will be easier to ride and live with on a daily basis.
In actual fact, the SVs is not much heavier. 169kgs to the 149 of the RS.
Oh, and less 2 stroke smoke!

Blimey that was quick !

Can't do my DAS till after March due to work commitments but i'll try and borrow the girlfriends car and pop down to Fowlers to have a look at an SV at the weekend (can't take my bike as its poorly to due some thieves trying to nick it).

Any comments on the V-twin engine ? I've read on the forum before about vibrations and engine braking. (Carsick's comment must have been added while i was writing this)

Quite a bit of engine braking and a few vibrations.
I don't think it's excessive but a few people have said they can't get on with the amount of engine braking and a few others have said they don't like the amount of vibration.
I like the engine braking, personally, and the vibrations aren't anything unusual for any bike, really.

Your best bet is to test ride one after you've passed, really.

Yeah, may feel a little different to a screaming two stroke, and certainly not as smooth as an inline four. But hey, its character and noise is the real reason to buy a v-twin and not a four pot.
The characteristics of these engines are very different, so you may want to test both v-twin and IL4 to decide which you prefer.........Though if you choose the 4, you are wrong!

IMO, the engine braking teaches you much better riding habits.

The main one being to power round a corner rather than coasting it on an IL4. Then theres the progressive power needed when pulling off, especially in winter. There will probably be others people can mention.l