ER-6F/N, GSR 600 or SV650/S?

[captain_andrey]

As some of you know I am currently residing in Sweden :) Its summer here and naturally I want a bike.
Things are a bit different here which means anything with too many ZZZ XXX or RRR in the model number is un-insurable and insurance is compulsory.

So I am left with the bikes above. All 2006-07 models with low Ks and perfect condition. All same price. What would you get? Why? Anything else in the category I should consider? (under 650cc and not a supersport)

Plan to do long rides around the country and into Europe mainland.

But also, a friend of mine will be learning how to ride and will be borrowing my bike most likely. What would be most learner friendly?

Thanks for advice and enjoy the winter :shifty:

[george formby]

I don't think you could far wrong with any of them. Find out which "fits" you the best or get the best condition bike for your money.

[MSTRS]

Thanks for advice and enjoy the winter :shifty:

Any, all or none. We hate you...

[PirateJafa]

As some of you know I am currently residing in Sweden :) Its summer here and naturally I want a bike.
Things are a bit different here which means anything with too many ZZZ XXX or RRR in the model number is un-insurable and insurance is compulsory.

So I am left with the bikes above. All 2006-07 models with low Ks and perfect condition. All same price. What would you get? Why? Anything else in the category I should consider? (under 650cc and not a supersport)

Plan to do long rides around the country and into Europe mainland.

But also, a friend of mine will be learning how to ride and will be borrowing my bike most likely. What would be most learner friendly?

Thanks for advice and enjoy the winter :shifty:

ER6n is the hands-down winner there.

The GSR600's look quite nice, but I understand they have serious quality issues, particularly in the corrosion department according to UK owners.

The SVs feel cheaply made, and are one of the most uninspiring bikes I've ever ridden. Same goes for the thou version. Plus even with a exhaust, they still sound like ass.

The ER6f essentially is a ER6n for people who want to pretend they have a Ninja. It doesn't quite pull off the look, and the downside to the fairings is that it makes it expensive to drop, and provides a real disincentive to exploring the back gravel roads.

However the ER6n has it all. That great parallel twin 650cc engine (which is admittedly an oooold design, but there's no point changing something that clearly works?), comfortable for pillions, sounds good even with the stock exhaust, handles well on the road and on the gravel, good brakes...

Of course, that's just my 2c.

[wysper]

Hehehe shows how personal taste comes in to it.
I have to disagree with the Honourable Pirate above.

I really disliked the ER6's. For me they were a nothing bike. Just didn't do it for me.

I had an SV, loved it. I like twins. Nice torque, not a rocket ship but you can have fun at New Zealands speed limits. Mine gave me no troubles over several years of use. It was stock and was fun.

So for me, I would go with the SV.

But really, only you will be able to know which one you like the best.

(although Pirate is right, the SV is definitely built to a price point)

[Nutter34]

Er6n.

Never ridden one but always preferred it to the SV.

Tough call between faired and unfaired. For long distance etc, I'd have said faired. For teaching/learning on, definately naked with crash bungs.

The other thing for naked, conventional bars vs clip-ons... Easier to replace.

Ride them, choose the one which thrills you most.

[NZsarge]

Don't discount the new Yamaha XJ6 or even the new FZ8.

[breakaway]

The GSR600's look quite nice, but I understand they have serious quality issues, particularly in the corrosion department according to UK owners.

Don't they put salt on the roads over there?

[captain_andrey]

Don't they put salt on the roads over there?
They put salt on everything, road, candy.... But I wont be riding in winter.

[blackdog]

They put salt on everything, road, candy.... But I wont be riding in winter.

does the gsx650f fall into the catagory?

reasonably sproty, efi and enough cylinders

[Urano]

er6.
F.

if you want to use it for touring the fairing is a bless.
and if you fall, all you need is a... a... oh fuck... how do you call them?? well those two little steel things to screw to the frame that keep the fairing safe...
the only problem is a bit of vibration: the kawa engine is phenomenal but a bit "buzzy"...

you can consider the diversion too... but it's finished as a shit...

[CookMySock]

Anything vtwin, and put a loud pipe on it. :niceone:

Steve

[DarkLord]

I have a 2001 SV650s which I've spent the last 6 months tidying up. From what I have heard from others, they are good, strong bikes with a solid engine. Mine has over 70,000 k's on the clock now and it still runs fine, despite the odd rattle/clunk here and there you would expect from a bike that is 9 years old.

I do enjoy the SV, however mine is carb'd, I think my next bike will be fuel injected.

[captain_andrey]

Thanks for all the comments, I now am the owner of a 2005 SV650S and a friend of mine got the GSR which I also got to ride. They are both brilliant bikes. The GSR is the most good looking naked bike I have ever seen. I generally dont like naked bikes but this one is a beauty and the engine was great, reminded me of my CBR600RR.

With the SV I will have to learn how to ride again as I keep hitting the rev limiter :) but overall it was great. It fits me better then the CBR ever did. I can actually see the dashboard and I can actually fit myself behind the bubble.

[Nutter34]

That's the thing I couldn't get to like about twins. They just sound wrong, lol.

But, I have mates who feel the same about IL4's, so it's all good...

Enjoy the SV.

[onearmedbandit]

If you ride IL4's at the low end of the rev range they sound like nothing, and if you ride vtwins at the high end of the rev range they sound awkward.

Steve


Wrong. My IL4 sounds very nice from down low, from as low as 2000rpm. And a friends RSV1000R sounds great at high rev's. A low quality V-Twin probably sounds crap at high rev's, even with an aftermarket pipe. Whereas you don't hear many complaints about the sound of a Ducati 1198, RSV1000 or RC51 being rev'ed out.

Shooting my mouth off since ages ago.