Bandit 650S vs SV650-S

[Swin]

I had 2 bandits and did over 60,000 miles on them - I did around 20,000 miles on the SV I had.

Both bikes were mostly used for commuting, I confess I expected the SV to be less suited to commuting than the Bandit, but the low weight and agility make up for the sportier crouch.

I found both bikes to be doing around 50-55mpg, both able to effortlessly keep up with other road users (no surprise there really) and both of them well able to get away from the lights before the lane-changing cars and lorries that London throws at you!

I personally think that calling them "Bland" is a bit facile really - agreed, they aren't as striking visually as perhaps an SV, but you don't really notice that when riding one - and I have had just as much fun on a Bandit as an SV!

[fizzwheel]

Ridden both.

For scratchy or pressing on I prefer the SV. For commting, esepcially if that commute contained alot or long stretches of motorway work, I'd prefer the bandit. Bigger screen & Comfier seat win it on that score.

Both suffer from a slightly under damped front suspension and that way IMHO more noticeabe on the bandit than the SV, I cant remember the weights, but the bandit IIRC is heavier and takes a little more muscle to turn whereas the chassis on the SV felt more responsive, hence why I prefered it for those days when one felt like enjoying ones self.

Nowt wrong with the bandit thought. I loved the like clutch and the smooth power delivery. You need to rev it to make it come alive, but then I am more used to riding IL4's than twins so I never found that a problem, in fact I found it quite satisfying to rev the nuts out of it.

I also liked the fact that the bandit had a fuel guage and I think it shows the clock all the time as well. Little things, but there you go.

I found the 650 bandit to be really easy to corner on, once i had got used to the wider bars, you can really force it around, and it makes a lot better comuter, but for fun the sv wins, they both have the same top speed but the sv just gets there easier, and looks miles better. As fizz said, the bandit does have a couple of extra gadgets.

[svsam]

i like bandits, its was bandit or sv for me. so glad i got an sv, as i said i do like bandits but i think the tubular frames how they are look a bit dated.

depends what you use it for, inner city i would go with a naked sv, lots of mway work i would go with the bandit s if just for fun naked sv all the way

if its down to hp alone then the 650 bandit got about 5 more hp pumping out about 77hp against the sv650s 72 hp.the 650 bandit is most prob cheaper and easyer to tune bearing in mind that most oil cooled parts are interchangeable and the 650 bandit pumps out less hp than the old 600 bandit at about 79hp which is most likely down to the exhaust system or cat if its got one on your 650

[mikerj]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Yeah they inflated the newer ones a bit.

Bandit is ok, better on fuel, heavier, bulkier, more old school in construction.

Better on fuel than an SV? I'm quite surprised at that to be honest, I thought the SV was very frugal.

I have looked at both...

I THINK I have settled for an SV... with Renthal (or similar) bars to change the riding position

Originally Posted by grimey121uk

The only downside is the SV is a little cramped (im 6ft 2"), where as the Bandit is really comfy
Yet i find myself having the urge to get rid of the bandit.

What are you thoughts?

I'm 6'5" and I never found my 650 curvy to be cramped nor do I find my 1000 to be cramped either. I suppose it's what you are used to.
These are the only two bikes that I have ridden for any length of time.

[andrewsmith]

Originally Posted by paiste

I'm 6'5" and I never found my 650 curvy to be cramped nor do I find my 1000 to be cramped either. I suppose it's what you are used to.
These are the only two bikes that I have ridden for any length of time.

I'm 6'1" and don't find the 650 cramped.
My mates got the bandit 600 and I find even sitting on it, I find it to be a noticeably more portly bike (I think its 30kg heavier fully fuelled).

Whereas my mate finds mine to be too light, but is slowly being wooed by the v-twin appeal.