SV650S vs GSXR600

Hey all - long time no post for me! Glad to see some old and new names on here.

I'm seriously thinking about trading in my SV (2000W 8,500miles) for a GSXR600 (2003-4 around the same miles).

Does anyone have sound experience, knowledge and opinion of how the two compare?

Also, the SV is in pretty good nick. I was thinking of selling it for about £2k - is that reasonable for a trade-in?

Ta/Bud

[fizzwheel]

Moved to Bikes - Talk & Issues.

Fizz

Riding the GSXR is a completely different riding experience. Sharper brakes, sharper steering. I havent ridden a 600 but if it handles anything like my 750 does and from what I've read it ought to. It should be a hoot to ride.

It'll take some getting used to. The turn in on bends is much faster. Also the suspension copes with bumpy road surfaces much much better than the SV does. Only thing you'll find is that because it makes its power higher up the RPM range you'll need to rev it harder than you do your SV. Also the engine braking will be less. But you will still have some.

Go and take a test ride and see if you like it or not. It took a little time for me to get used to riding the IL4 after the Twin.

[northwind]

From memory, 2003 and 2004 are different generations of 600s? I think the K4 was the first with the USD forks and radial calipers. Not that that makes a huge difference, mind. Try before you buy, if you can, the whole IL4=buzzy, twin=torquey thing gets ridiculously overplayed but with the GSXR600s there's a bit of truth to it. Great bikes, though.

If you get offerred 2K on an SV of that age and milage, that sounds good. My bike an SVS K5 on an 06 plate with a whisker under 8K on it I was offered 2.5K at one dealer and 3K at another. Mine is full dealer service and has all the parts to take it back to standard.

I was thinking of a GSXR760 ruling out the 600 on the grounds of wanting some more useable low down power (not that you'd get the same as an SV) and not having to rev the thing all the time to make progress. My old CBR600 FM was about on my lower limit for low end grunt, over the years revs seem have gone up in the persuite of more power at the expense of lower end grunt.

I have to agree with the others on this thread.

[Balky001]

Originally Posted by northwind

From memory, 2003 and 2004 are different generations of 600s? I think the K4 was the first with the USD forks and radial calipers. Not that that makes a huge difference, mind. Try before you buy, if you can, the whole IL4=buzzy, twin=torquey thing gets ridiculously overplayed but with the GSXR600s there's a bit of truth to it. Great bikes, though.

Yep - K3 is wide and nothing below 8500rpm and only real pull above 12000rpm (although it will still feel fast below 12k next to the SV). K4 is much thinner, has the mods and has more mid-range power although top end is a couple of bhp down - but the two handle very differently - K3 being softer and easier to get on with although ultimately heavier in the turn and slower. I've got the K3 model (well K2 is the same) - I'd go for a K4 if you can.

Hmmm... sounds like someone is bored and wants a step up. I've only had my Sv for 2months (and love it to bits!) but can see myself in a few years wanting to change already. I think that the Sv has been a really good starting point for me and I have loads of fun everytime I go out on it! But I think because I'm a novice that I enjoy it sooooo much. Don't get me wrong I will still enjoy it in a few years but will welcome the challenge of learning how to ride a sportier, faster bike. At the mo I can see myself on a GSX-R 750 after my SV.

Both great bikes and it's all about the way you ride and what you want to get out of your bike!

Good luck with the change - £2k sounds like a decent price but you can always haggle with them to try n get as much as possible for yours if it is in good nic!

My comparisons are as follows:

Brakes are a lot better although I never felt the SV's were bad.

Suspension is far better - no knocking from the front on bumps, if anything the ride quality is better.

Handling is just mental - the bike wants to turn all the time, its as nimble as a BMX and always feel it could turn sharper.

Acceleration is out of this world, you probably have an idea in your head as to what a GSXR1000 feels like and that is how the GSXR600 will feel in reality! Feck knows what the 1000 is like in real life!

Mid range is a red herring. They really aren't that lacking in power even at the same rev's but the gearing is shorter so it seems to run 1000rpm faster for a given speed and gear than my old SVS anyway so that compensates.

Downsides are bad physical comfort (might not be as bad on the GSXR) although I found my back, backside and right hand were better with the IL4. Wrists and forearms killed me until I had built up.

Fuel consumption is similar if you don't use the extra performance.

It is a buzzy kind of ride though. Sounds absolutely amazing but could be annoying if you were doing a lot touring - I'd prefer the V-Twin sound for that.

Costs double to insure.

Personally I'd get a 2003/2004 ZX6 if I were you.

If your after an IL4 600, why not try an r6, i changed from my sv to one and absoultely loved it. It's a pure buzz every time I ride it.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<pics over there

Thanks - all great replies and advice. Tiggers, I'll have a look at the R6. Toypop, I've always ruled out Kwaks and am not sure why....I guess I've just seen them as a little bit shoddy - maybe as they're relatively cheap. How do they compare with the GSXR?

Originally Posted by Bud

Thanks - all great replies and advice. Tiggers, I'll have a look at the R6. Toypop, I've always ruled out Kwaks and am not sure why....I guess I've just seen them as a little bit shoddy - maybe as they're relatively cheap. How do they compare with the GSXR?

More focused. The GSXR is IMO a better road bike, but I love the ZX636 (I have a B model same as Toypop) because it feels so sharp. Quite a wild ride