The difference an inch makes to a love affair gone sour...

[GeoffB]

Haven't been here for a while.
Long story, but my much loved SV650S has been off road for 4 years. I've had it 12 years as a toy I kept at my mum's in Suffolk to give me something to do when I visited. Also I was in a flat in Kent with nowhere to keep it and who'd ride in N Kent when you can ride in Suffolk?

So. I bought the bike from a young lady neighbour of my mum's and went for years never getting round to changing the scooped seat she'd fitted. A little cramped for my increasingly arthritic knees (I'm 64 now), but no problem.

I eventually got a standard seat about 5 years ago, but rode very little. When I did I started getting severe pain in my left wrist after 20 mins. I put it down to the low bars, my increasing age and just not riding it enough. Other biking chums of similar age had wryly reported the same problem. Rather sad about it, but not too worried. Retirement fast approaching and planned to trade the SV in for a VStrom or ideally a Guzzi V7. Possibly a Sad ugli.

I now have a garage hooray and the SV in residence. I got it all springcleaned, new battery etc, easy MOT 10 days ago. While waiting for 1 June to tax it I looked through old pictures from previous rides with such happy memories. Bike has only done 20k miles, so plenty of life yet. I really didn't want any other bike. I'd fallen in love with the SV from first sight in 1999 and I was still in love... l suddenly realised (drum roll) the wrist problem coincided with the seat swap.

In short I've put the scooped seat back on, and the problem is gone. I'm ridiculously happy. Who wants a Guzzi and I wouldn't get value from a Vstrom. And the Gladius is worse looking than a pointy...

I've had some good rides this week in spite of the bike running horribly. I think it's a V 1.5 at the moment and new plugs haven't sorted it. Petrol is fresh so I'll book it in for a carb clean and balance as my trusty MOT man suggested. Dodgy knees and back limit what I'm prepared to do myself.

Life is good.

[carelesschucca]

YAY!!! Happy daze!

[GeoffB]

Had a great trip with my son in his Mk1 MX5 around Skye and up to Durness as a retirement present three years ago. I really want to take the SV around Applecross before I hang up my helmet. My heart's def in the highlands.

[ophic]

Wrist problem might have been the angle of the clutch lever rather than the seat, and the lower seat changes the angle of your arm.

Just a thought.

Although the stock seat isn't good at all. First thing I replaced and I've never looked back.

[Grant66]

When you changed the seat, did you alter the angle of the brake/clutch levers to suit or are you using a setup for a shorter person (and a taller seat)?

Makes a big difference to wrist comfort IMHO.

[GeoffB]

I did try adjusting lever angles with no improvement and just put the problem down to age. When I was only visiting the bike in Suffolk time was limited, but it'll be worth revisiting that now I can experiment more readily. Thanks for the thought. It's true the higher seat would be easier on the knees if I can find a way to use it. But at present everything is good and I can ride (4 sunny hours this morning - retirement is great!) comfortably.

Carb service booked for next week. It'll cost, but cheaper than a new bike...

[Bibio]

great news. just a little heads up, you can get lowering plates that go on the rearsets to lower them an inch. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Riser-Plat...item3aaab001ad

[Red Herring]

Originally Posted by GeoffB

.... I've had it 12 years as a toy I kept at my mum's in Suffolk to give me something to do when I visited......snip...... (I'm 64 now)
.

I hope you hid the keys when you weren't there, you know what young ladies are like for taking liberties.....

[GeoffB]

Thanks for that idea Bibio. Another variable to consider if I need to do anything. For now I think it'll be OK.

Red Herring - yes keys always came home with me and she preferred the Enfield anyway.

[BanannaMan]

Awesome!
Glad you're enjoying the SV again!