coming from having a SV 650 for 13'000k's and not having ridden a inline 4, I had to ride the 05 636 to find out what the 6xx class is all about.
Mt.Eden motorcycles was very nice to lend a potential buyer (me) their red 05 636 with 919km on the clock for a nice test ride, the roads I have ridden includes cruising the motorways and blatting around the twisties beyond clevedon.
1st off the 636 is small, compare with the big tall long SV, you do slot onto the cockpit, however due to the lowish screen your head, chest and sholders are open to the wind specially the buffering when you head towards the 5 digit rpm in 4th gear.
It purrs along with out the angry grow of my SV + M4 exhaust which in some ways is a disappointment. The seat is very comfy, after riding 2 hours I still don't have a sore bum issue. And that is pretty impressive. The handle bars are low, along the line of other 6xx's. However does feel closer to reach than others, hence you can be cruising along with one hand and be sitting stright up. However I did get quite a sore wrist after 2 hours. Which brings along to another point, the shape of the tank is very good. At no point was I under the feeling of my balls being compressed. And the contours on both side of the tank allows a very natural position for leaning off the bike.
coming from my 650 twin, for me there is virtually no power band on the 636 under 7000rpm. It is just usable in keeping you from being run over by the truck 5 meters behind. when cruising at 100kph in top gear, under WOT over taking is a slow process, as you wait for the revs and power to build. But drop it down 1 or 2 notch and she will instantly take you well beyond the legal limit.
compaired with the GSXR750, the induction roar is less and the torque is less sweet than the 650 twin or the 750 four. However it does certianly mumble on the stright and twisty country roads with the revvy motor and nice posh suspension. On the suspension side, the factory setup is biased more towards comfort either with a low preload or compression dampening so it soaks up the bumps very well while still delivering a good sport composed ride, the bike was never off track during corners. And I was only upset at the front suspension while going thru a series of small bumps on the road that happens to be in sync with suspension rebound, it was me that was upset at getting bounced around an in no way was the bike upset.
I personally think with a smaller and less torquey motor than the 650 twin, a higher level of skill will be required to extract the same corner speed. However the whole "package" will make the difference at the end of the day. So I can't wait to try riding a GSXR750 over the same stretch of road and see the difference.
Engine RPM / KPH - approx 5'500 rpm at 100kph in 6th gear.
Top speed per gearing (redline 15'500rpm) - 281 kph. Does anyone know the official top speed for the 05 636? I wasn't ballz enought to find out.
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Originally Posted by Two Smoker
but the SV engine is great... except when a 600 with TS screams pass you.... :P
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