Thinking of buying an SV650... Help please!

I'm relatively new to riding. I've been riding on the road for a few weeks short of a year so by no means am I hugely experienced!

I'm thinking of buying an SV650 that I will have restricted. Well, I'm almost 100% certain. However, I've read reviews claiming the front suspension is very soft and will bottom out on small pot holes, I'm 16st7lbs or 105kgs - if you want to use metric - and as I'm sure you can imagine this will be a bit of a problem!

I've also read about the front brakes not being amazing.

If anyone could suggest anything or give me their point of view, it would be most appreciated!

Oh and also if anyone could tell me what an illegal plate is, that'd be great too!!

Alex

[yorkie_chris]

Both ends will be under-sprung for you at that weight, and will massively benefit from some heavier springs and oil.

The brakes are fine, it's just the forks that don't give you the same control of braking power as a more modern set of forks do.

There's laws about the size of number plates, lots of people put smaller than legal plates on their bikes because they look better, that's what an illegal plate is.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Rhiwbina_Squirrel

I'm relatively new to riding. I've been riding on the road for a few weeks short of a year so by no means am I hugely experienced!

I'm thinking of buying an SV650 that I will have restricted. Well, I'm almost 100% certain. However, I've read reviews claiming the front suspension is very soft and will bottom out on small pot holes, I'm 16st7lbs or 105kgs - if you want to use metric - and as I'm sure you can imagine this will be a bit of a problem!

I've also read about the front brakes not being amazing.

If anyone could suggest anything or give me their point of view, it would be most appreciated!

Oh and also if anyone could tell me what an illegal plate is, that'd be great too!!

Alex

Brakes are more than good enough - and at 1 years experience they are better than you

I am not that far off your weight - if you have a problem less than £100 will fix - I changed my Fork Springs and Oil.

Illegal plate - one that does not meet the standards as laid down by Her Majesties Government - usually too small with the spacing of the characters wrong, and a slogan tag instead of the name and postcode of the place that made it.

welcome to the madhouse............. are you from cardiff?

Originally Posted by hovis

welcome to the madhouse............. are you from cardiff?

i was wondering that too

Another bloody Squirrel!

Rhiwbina - I'm about the same weight I don't have a problem with it bottoming out. It does the telltale SV "clunk" but its never been a problem. You've not ridden a higher spec bike so you wont notice the difference. Join us at at Taffia meet sometime.

Originally Posted by plowsie

Another bloody Squirrel!

Where's squirrel_hunter when you need him?

[SoulKiss]

Also dont go by what you read in MCN/the Internet/heard down the pub.

Try the bike out and see how it feels to you.

If you like it, get it, if not look elsewhere.

[STRAMASHER]

If you buy a new SV or a 2003 onwards,( or late curvys) you get front preload adjustment which you can wind in to compensate for your weight(early "curvy" bikes had no adjustment). I'm a 15st+gear and have no problem with the front suspension. Although relatively soft compared to something double its price,it has never bottomed out in 3yr.

Brakes are great.


....just like the whole bike!

Good luck