SV vs CBR600F for starter rider

This dealer isnt being straight with you. The SV is a great bike, and reliable too - I dont know of any engine woes apart from those where the owner hasnt been too kind to the bike anyway. Which would cause any engine to fail, even mighty honda lump!

If you can afford it, go for the CBR, its a great bike and probably better finised than an SV (i'm 99.99999999999% certain of this). That being said, a tidy SV is better than an untidy CBR

SV's arn't boring - sure, they dont have the most power, and the suspension isnt that great aswell (BTW, this is quite easily sorted), but its a happy, fun little bike. I wouldnt sell mine for the world. Theres a truck-load of torque avaliable, which for a new rider means that when you run into a turn too hot, and brake loosing revs, you can still pull out really easily from as little as 3000 rpm

Matt

If i was only concerned with getting the best all round bike I'd go for CBR, but factor in insurance, and the age / milage of bike you can get for the same cash, it's close. I opted for the SV and got a sub 5000 mile minter as opposed to a 30k CBR - fair bit cheaper on the insurance too, but I am only 24.

In hind sight, i wish I'd gone for the CBR as i do quite a lot of long distance 2 up and the missiz hates the SV - CBR F looks much comfier and I think they have better wind protection. I also miss the top end rush of the four pots but thats just personal taste i guess. V twins generally give you less work for your left foot to do, so good for the ride back from work when you really can't be asked to stir the gear box all the time.

Having said that, I do love the SV, and it's been a great first "sports" bike - sounds better than a CBR with a race exhaust too . Thud thud thud...

You should ride both and see which you like best. Bare in mind with a little tweaking, the SV can very smooth. Go with your heart as both bikes are great, just different.

You can't argue with him.

The SV does suffer from the water problems in the front cylinder which is a black mark on reliability. Sure you can take measures to prevent it but you shouldn't have to when you have just spent £4000 on a new bike.

The SV does have a poor quality finish. A comparison of any SV & CBR of the same age, mileages and weather usage will always confirm that.

Also I have never felt that the SV is a beginners bike. It is quite tricky to ride in comparison to an IL4 due to the engine characteristics. Mainly in terms of slow speed stuff like tight junctions and mini roundabouts where it can be snatchy.

The performance of the CBR should be better too. Better handling and more powerful and perhaps more comfortable in terms of the throttle hand numbness and nasty seat on the SV.

Downsides are obvious. High price, high price and high price. The IL4's don't lack mid range or need a lot of gearbox stirring, they just run small gears that make them rev higher all the time - which avoids those problems but causes another - a buzzy ride.

Depends on your budget really. You can splash out on the "better" CBR but as a first proper bike you may not keep it long and want to move onto something better. Granted with its extra power and sporty characteristics it has more "growing into it" potential than the SV but I think after a year you may want to go for a full SS600 or a larger capacity bike so the cheaper SV would make a more cost effective short term first bike.

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

Dont agree. I've owned both bikes side by side. In low speed situations like traffic you'd need to be very hard on the throttle on a cbr. Never had to ride the clutch on the cbr anywhere near as much on the SV. A heavy tweak of the throttle on the SV can get you into bother whereas you need to wring the cbrs neck to get the same response.

I was taking a more general overview but yes i agree with your point...but if you are pootling along in traffic you would be a bit of a tit to let fly with the throttle, especially as a novice. I also would of thougt that new bikers would err on the side of caution not let it rip....but maybe im more sensible . At the end of the day you can get into trouble on any bike if you are not sensible/malcoordinated.

I also thinks it depends on the year CBR as they got a better low/midrange in 2005. Prior to that they were a bit lacking but its sorted on the newer bikes. My mate had an older version then upgraded and he reckons the difference is staggering...allows for lazy gear changes.

depends whether you want a girls' bike or not <ducks>

[Stu]

I have bought my Bandit & then SV without test rides so depends on your POV just buy something & see how you like it, can always sell on (as long as it's not brand new!)

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by WRCSixtyThree

Did this bike shop happen to have a CBR600F for sale

My thoughts exactly. I'm of the opinion that most sales people are that, they just want to make a sale and get as much cash out of you as they can rather than selling you the right bike for you.

Test ride both, make your own mind up as to which you like best.

Bear in mind the SV might cost less to insure, which as a new rider might well swing things in its favour. You might find the SV a little less intimidating, and perhaps because of that more confidence inspiring.

I know for me when I started I didnt want a IL4 600 for precisely those reasons. Both bikes should have plenty of room to grow into, but with perhaps the CBR edging the SV out in those stakes so you might end up keeping it for longer...

Originally Posted by ASM-Forever

thougt that new bikers would err on the side of caution not let it rip....but maybe im more sensible .

I'm with you there dude...I posted something about this a few months ago. Someone at pro scot training was on a twin doing a u-turn but messed it up. Got a bit heavy on the throttle and the bike landed in someone's garden. Woops!

[northwind]

Of all the assorted race rep 600s, the last CBR600F is IMO far and away the best learner, and maybe the best all round, phenomenal bike- not the fastest, or the most agile, or the most powerful, but it's not so far off the pace that I minded much, and for compensation it's more comfortable, better made and more practical than the rest. Great bike... The earlier ones were great as well, there's never been a bad one as far as I'm concerned.

But, I have to admit I've never clicked with one, which is why I have an SV instead, if logic ruled biking I'd have a last-model CBR600F in the garage, or maybe a Hornet. Arguably, it's a bit more bike than is ideal for a learner, but not horrendously so IMO, the brakes are effective rather than massively powerful, the engine's smooth and easy to use... Bit too much expensive plastic for a learner maybe

The SV, well, it's not as good on paper. Much less good handling and build quality. And yep, the throttle could give an incompetent a lot of trouble, rolling off the throttle abruptly can upset the bike. But I still prefer it, I love the engine. As a learner bike, well, it's tough and cheap to crash, a very hard bike to kill... Generally very reliable too (and bear in mind they don't get the love a lot of bikes do, the only reason most GSXRs fare better frinstance is that they get more TLC).

Hornet's a great third option, one of the best first big bikes. Solid, tough, cheap to crash... But also a good bit more power, better built than the SV, and better handling. Deserved champion of the naked 600s, IMO, and faired it's a great workhorse. But again, I don't seem to be compatible

I reckon none has the killer advantage of a rubbish bike for learning- going fast on a good bike is almost too easy, going fast on a rubbish bike brings out the best in a rider. I learned on a 125 and rode it for 10000 miles, and I'm glad of it, you learn a lot and also, you appreciate anything else more. A GS500 seemed like a beast when I first got on one So, personally I don't think anything this good is a great starter bike, GS500, CB500 are both better in my book. But the SV, Hornet and CBR will all give you room to grow, maybe a rougher initial learning period though.

Actually, I think everyone should ahve to spend a year on a terrible 125cc cruiser that breaks down every time it rains. But that's just me being bitter.