What Would You Buy?

[cassina]

I am thinking of updating my Honda CB750F that I have
enjoyed for the last 21 years. I am thinking of either
a SV650 Suzuki, a Harley Sportster 883 or a BMW 850R
as I now wish to get a bike with better low down torque
than my CB. I have demoed the BMW and found it excellent
but it is approx $5000 more than the Harley and $10,000
more than the Suzuki. Both of which I have not had a chance
to demo yet as the local dealers have no demo bikes.
I would be interested in opinions with regard
to reliability long term and spare parts availability as my plan
would be to own my new bike for another 20 years.

Any opinions appreciated

[dangerous]

SV 650, Sportz zone have a 1000 test bike, it would give you the fell for that type of bike.

[James Deuce]

Given your longevity requirements I would definitely go for the BMW.

[Holy Roller]

I am thinking of updating my Honda CB750F that I have
enjoyed for the last 21 years. I am thinking of either
a SV650 Suzuki, a Harley Sportster 883 or a BMW 850R
as I now wish to get a bike with better low down torque
than my CB. I have demoed the BMW and found it excellent
but it is approx $5000 more than the Harley and $10,000
more than the Suzuki. Both of which I have not had a chance
to demo yet as the local dealers have no demo bikes.
I would be interested in opinions with regard
to reliability long term and spare parts availability as my plan
would be to own my new bike for another 20 years.

Any opinions appreciated

How about something unique,
something Harley,
At this price you would want to keep it for 20 yrs.
It's my unreal dream anyway.

[Lou Girardin]

Buy a SV650S and a naked one, only register one. Then you'll have a bike for all seasons, cheaper reg, wof's, etc. And two bikes will last longer than one.
Lou

[What?]

If you like riding, the toss is Suzuki vs BMW.
If re-sale matters, it is BMW vs Harley (I get the impression that re-sale is not No 1 to you...)
If you like spending lots of time and money fixing broken bits (like gearboxes), buy the sportster.

[White trash]

If you like riding, the toss is Suzuki vs BMW.
If re-sale matters, it is BMW vs Harley (I get the impression that re-sale is not No 1 to you...)
If you like spending lots of time and money fixing broken bits (like gearboxes), buy the sportster.

What?, how many sportsters have you owned?

Just trying to get a guage for your far reaching oppinions?

H-D haven't had a problem with XL sportsters since '92 so you may be ill informed. The new "Rubber mount" Sporty is a joy to ride and is the best handling and stopping Harley I've ever ridden.

For $15k brand new, I think they're a bloody steal and you will never loose much money in depreciation on a Harley.

The other thing to consider, is the social scene. Over 900,000 Harley Owners Group members worldwide and an event almost every weekend. Sounds like fun!

[What?]

What?, how many sportsters have you owned?

Just trying to get a guage for your far reaching oppinions?

H-D haven't had a problem with XL sportsters since '92 so you may be ill informed. The new "Rubber mount" Sporty is a joy to ride and is the best handling and stopping Harley I've ever ridden.

For $15k brand new, I think they're a bloody steal and you will never loose much money in depreciation on a Harley.

The other thing to consider, is the social scene. Over 900,000 Harley Owners Group members worldwide and an event almost every weekend. Sounds like fun!

I have owned exactly none, White Trash, but several mates have had them and that's what put me off (apart from I just don't like them). All five sporties I have known have blown 2nd gear to bits. According to the spanner man at Shafts (as it were then) "They do that". Electrical problems were also not uncommon.
Can't gaurantee they were all pre 92, or post, either. I hope they have improved.

You are right about re-sale. I inferred the same above. Any Hardly will hold value if looked after.

I couldn't think of anything more boring than a single-make bike rally (well, actually I can...). I am into variety big time, but if anyone else thinks HOG rallies are the ducks guts, well good on 'em I say; It's just not my scene.

Thanks for your comment about the new one. I recently read a magazine write-up where thay said the latest sportster handled quite well, but I do tend to take mag write-ups with a grain or two of salt... Maybe I will take one for a spin myself, sometime.

[merv]

Lynda has a one owner BMW for sale right now. She is currently in ChCh at the Britten meeting but I am sure will respond to this message as soon as she gets on-line again.

[merv]

Just found the link where she mentioned it here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=31379#post31379

Hers will have plenty of torque (talk too maybe if she's rubbed off onto it) as it is the 1150R model.

[DEATH_INC.]

What about the SV thou? loads more grunt than the 650 and still cheaper than the BM or the hardley....

[cassina]

This morning I visited my local Harley and Suzuki dealers and they
both still do not have any demos to try with the Harley dealer
saying he may not have a demo 883 Sportster untill next year.

I wonder how many other members of this site when wanting to buy
a bike find they are unable to demo the one they want? There must
be alot of lost sales because of this. I am not in an immediate hurry
but with the value of the dollar now on the way down it would not
be a good idea to leave it too long. I will email some other SI dealers to check their demo stock and try a few hire companies if I have
no luck.

I did demo the SV1000 from Sportzone but only went around the block
as it was the model with the lowered bars which I was not comfortable
with and I would never use the extra power anyway otherwise I would
have bought a bigger bike than my CB750 long before now.

The Harley reliability issue is certainly an interesting one as why do they
have such good resale if they are more unreliable than a Jap bike? Also
as the Sportster has a single disk on the front I wonder if its stopping
power is as good as my 21yr old CB750? (twin disc) as if it is not my
leaning would definitly be towards the SV or BMW that had phenominal stopping power

I will update you all after I have hopefully been able demo a
Suzuki or Harley

[James Deuce]

Have fun :)

I would go with the BMW, just purely on the longevity of manufacturer support you could expect. Honda are pretty good at keeping 15-20 years worth of parts around, and Harley changes models only once per glacial epoch. I would seriously doubt that any Suzuki dealer would remember the SV650/1000 in 20 years time (apologies to those who own one/aspire to one).

Make sure you check out Lynda's 1150 - they don't make a huge amount of horsepower (but enough torque to make touring and overtaking easy and fun)and she is an utter fanatic with her bikes, so it would be as good as new without the bother of running it in.

[Timber020]

Harleys hold there price well due to a strong dream following, harley under producing to boost perceived demand. and that since so much of there selling point is based on looks for the mid life crisis weekend rebels they are kept shiny and are less likely to be used by daily commuters, left parked outside on the street, do huge kms, lack servicing or used on wet days. There are of course exceptions to that!

How long ago was it that the RF900 was selling for 10g? A decade later and they have depreciated all of a couple grand. R650 beemers havent exactly been rocks in the price department. There are exceptions to every rule. Whats the point in something holding its price better if it costs you an arm and a leg more inservicing and its cost you 5g more?

Its probably true that dealers wont remember the sv650 in 20 years, but its seldom that parts get that hard to scratch up with a model thats sold the numbers that the SV has.

I had a simular disscussion about cars the other day with a friend, a while later we bumped into 2 cars for sale. A 91 520i BMW and a 92 Corolla. Both had simular Kms on them and the BMW was loaded with features, Both were going for 6 grand. Bikes are different I know.

In my book the bike just has to give the best value for money and value for smiles.

[White trash]

............ (apart from I just don't like them).

Don't blame ya!

:2thumbsup

[White trash]

How about something unique,
something Harley,
At this price you would want to keep it for 20 yrs.
It's my unreal dream anyway.

"Holy Roller" on a "Saviour". I like it :2thumbsup

Not sure about the lack of front suspension though. Not so nice!

This is my ultimate "chopper"

The "Fat Tracker from Exile Cycles. Totally minmalistic, 180/80x15 FRONT tyre and 240/80x15 rear. Now thats chunky!

If I ever win lotto you'll see me making jaws drop down Courtenay Pl :ar15: