SV650Sport vs FZ6 Fazer...?

Obviously i'm gonna get a very biased opinion here, but having ridden neither bike I'm hoping someone could enlighten me.

I'm all ready to guy a SV650Sport but I got the opportunity to sit on a couple of Fazers (both an FZS600 and the newer FZ6) the other day and I have to say, the Fazer is the more comfortable bike. It also has a better pillion provision and better luggage options, so you can see me being swayed a little bit...I'm just wondering if anyone else faced this dilemma and what made you choose the SV? Personally, i think the SV Sport is a better looking bike, especially compared to the FZS600 but still better than the FZ6 too, but there's a lot of other factors in choosing a bike!

If it makes any difference to the bikes suitability, I'm 6' tall, athletic build, 13.5 stone, the missus is 5'4", athletic, 7.5 stone, my useage will be commuting (so build quality/corrosion resistance could be a factor?) pleasure riding on my own and with the missus, and possibly some light touring round northern France, etc.

Ta.

i went for the sv because of 1. price
2. looks
3. its a v twin!

a local yam dealer was doing good deals on the fz6 when i got the sv but TBH i didnt like the look of it and i wanted a change from the rev'y IL4 engine config.

[fizzwheel]

I've got two words for you "Test Ride" then make your own mind up. Don't take advice from a load of strangers on an internet forum that you dont know and havent met.

I know it sounds harsh, but you've posted an awful lot of questions and IMHO you need to make your own mind up as its you thats going to have to ride whatever bike you buy and not anybody else and you cant judge what a bikes like to ride jsut by sitting on it a dealers showroom.

Remember the only time you see what the bike looks like is when your not riding it. So buy something that does what you want rather than just buying on looks alone. If your worried about comfort then buy a bike that you find comfortable.

All of the current crop of middleweight bikes are capable of meeting your requirements you just need to make up whcih one YOU like best. Every bike if you don't look after it is going to at some point go rusty. Its regular maintenance and cleaning is what keeps them nice. However Honda's seem to stand up to mucky roads a little better than other brands of bike.

Now down to Fazers, I havent ridden the latest model Fazer, but it always get a slating in the magazine reviews for being rev happy, i.e it needs plenty of revs in order for it to go. which is now bad thing it depends however on your riding style. IIRC the gearbox is notchy and the brakes are about the same level as the SV. Now if you commuting or touring you want something with a fairing on it so that IMHO rules out a naked bike.

You might want to look at the previous generation of Fazer, everybody who I have spoken to loves them, my dads had two and he really does like it. Same brakes as the R1, detuned thundercat motor which has plenty of stomp from low down in the RPM range unlike the current bike. Also being 2nd hand you can pick one up for less and your insurance will be cheaper.

You might want to think about the Honda Hornet as well. Have looked at Bandit, What about Kawasaki 750 might be up your street to, Also so might be the Kawasaki ER6, also dont forget about the Suzuki GSR600 either. If your going to be doing a lot of two up touring then you need to be looking at something a bit bigger like a VFR.

Nah, get the SV

Thanks fizz. I would love a test ride, but nowhere seems to be able to give me one at this time of year! I guess dealers run their stocks a bit lower, and the dealer I'd get the SV from doesn't have a demonstrator - plus many dealers won't let u test ride bikes in poor weather, of which there's an abundance at this time of year!

I can test ride an FZ6 next week which I may well do, but there's no SV650's about for me to have a go on, and if i want the Sport with the free insurance I may well just have to buy it without riding it...I guess having no real comparison, I should adapt to it pretty easily. Just hope it doesn't kill my lower back if I do go for the SV!

As u said, naked bikes are ruled out and smtg like a VFR is a bit too big - I may only keep my first bike for a year and see where my riding takes me - if it does look like more toruing then I'll get a VFR800 VTEC, no questions, I love 'em. If not, I may keep my chosen steed!

The SV is still in the top spot, I just wanted to make sure that the FZ6 isn't a blindingly good bike I'm ignoring on the grounds of looks alone!

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by MikeC

Just hope it doesn't kill my lower back if I do go for the SV!

It won't honestly I think your making the clipon's on the SVS out to be more uncomfortable than they actually are. I've done thousands of miles on my SVS its never given me a bad back. My girlfriend uses her K5 SVS for a 120 mile commute everday shes never had a bad back either. It might make you ache for a few days when you first get it but you will get used to it.

If the dealer won't give you a test ride, try another dealer, at this time of year bike sales are slow so they should be keen to make a sale. If they arent keen to take your money off you what are they going to be like at after sales service etc when it comes to service time etc etc.

All true - I think I found the SV to have quite a sporty riding position when sat on it in the shop, but as you say you prob get used to it - I was just checking that was likely to be the case! The SV is still my favourite of the lot...

As for test rides, the dealer has 4 SV's in stock but all are unregistered K6 models so I def cant ride any - no tax, plates, insurance, etc!. Other than that, the dealer is really quite pleasant to deal with so I have no qualms about buying from them, plus they're super local (2 miles) so if anything goes drastically wrong with the bike I can ride or trailer it down there easy enough!

Bit of back ground for you. I ride SV650n, my first V-twin and love it. My brother (6"3, 17 stone, his girlfriend, 5"3, 7 1/2 stone) rides FZ6. Recently we have both had our bikes trashed by other people (thanks car drivers!!) and have both been given 650n bandits as courtesy bikes. Now i would say SV all day long because it suits me personally, however i rode the bandit to Newquay 1 weekend and then to Co. Durham the following w/end, only complaint is it`s flat as f*^" til you hit about 7 grand, haven`t done a long journey on the SV but don`t think it would be as comfy as the bandit.

Now my brothers input.

I have rode my brothers SV and its is superb for him, load of fun to have on your own. My FZ6n is absolutely perfect for taking a pillion passenger, ultimate comfort and still loads of power and fun.
The build quality is outstanding, smooth as u like no clunks or jerks, every time i take my girl on the bandit all she says is hurry up and get your bike back ! ! If u want your bike for just u get the SV if u want it for long trips u will not get better than the FZ6n. Quick tip with the FZ6 u must get the belly pan it completely changes the look of the bike ! !

All that said and done, test ride is the way ahead

Thanks Spider and your brother!

Itl'll mainly be just me riding it but i'd like to take mates on the back now and then, or the missus. For instance, her parents are 120 miles away up the A1 - would that be out of the question for the two of us on the SV?

I really do need to test ride both....!

Don`t think it`s out of the question, however like pretty much any bike having someone on the back will upset geometory, handling etc. Like i said, SV all day long and if the missus wants to see the parents put her on a train n meet her there!