Test ride

[slofox]

Got the SV in for a service tomorrow morning.

Been ogling a GSX600R in the shop for a bit. If all goes well I might get to take it for a pootle while the service is being done...I meantasay, the ACC levy is cheaper so it must be safer yes?

Not sure I should do this - might be the causing of "new bike lusts"...pity someone doesn't give me a couple hundred thousand dollars...any offers?

[varminter]

Oh dear, that sounds dangerous, you'll end up falling in love and we know where that leads.....Do it anyway.

[monkeymcbean]

You sound almost there to a new bike..(had my eye on it for some time) .

I was only wanting to test ride a bike I had my eye on, before the test ride I actually found myself cleaning the bike I owned ..just incase of a trade.
Well I liked the bike I test rode, traded my other on it, and rode off down the road shocked at how fast i had made up my mind.
Though I read alot up on the bike before hand.
Really like it though.

[Pussy]

I'll warn you right now, slofox.... DON'T take a GSX-R600 for a ride unless you are prepared to buy it... you will REALLY like it

[wynw]

I'll warn you right now, slofox.... DON'T take a GSX-R600 for a ride unless you are prepared to buy it... you will REALLY like it

What he said...unless you like a bit more horsepower and can manage the xtra rego cost of the 750 or thou. Guaranteed you will like the handling tho.

[ckai]

I suggest you book the chiro in before you take it for a spin Mr Fox She'll give you're body a wake-up call compared to the SV.

I've been riding the wife's GSXF while I wait for my new bike and I reckon I'm the other way...so used to being bent over all out of shape the body don't like sitting up prim and proper.

If you take it for a spin, make sure you set it to 'A' (they're are one of the bikes that have the different settings aren't they?)

[Maha]

Got the SV in for a service tomorrow morning.

Been ogling a GSX600R in the shop for a bit. If all goes well I might get to take it for a pootle while the service is being done...I meantasay, the ACC levy is cheaper so it must be safer yes?

Not sure I should do this - might be the causing of "new bike lusts"...pity someone doesn't give me a couple hundred thousand dollars...any offers?

Couple hundred thousand?....how good is this bike? its just a Suzuki aint it?......

[Little Miss Trouble]

Got the SV in for a service tomorrow morning.

Been ogling a GSX600R in the shop for a bit. If all goes well I might get to take it for a pootle while the service is being done...I meantasay, the ACC levy is cheaper so it must be safer yes?

Absolutely going from a 650 that puts out around 70 ponies to a 600 that puts out around 120 is going to be safer, the government tells me so

[dipshit]

I suggest you book the chiro in before you take it for a spin Mr Fox She'll give you're body a wake-up call compared to the SV.

I have found the GSXR to be more comfortable than my old SV1000.

If you take it for a spin, make sure you set it to 'A' (they're are one of the bikes that have the different settings aren't they?)

You don't need to set it to A. It will be in A unless you set it to B or C. But yes, leave it in A.

[slofox]

OHSHITohshitohshit...Now I gone an' dunnit...

You're all right. I liiiiiiiike it...an' I WANNIT!

Interesting test ride. Here's what I thought:

First up, seat position. Not all that different from the SVS. A little more forward, legs a little more back but not so different as to feel weird, unlike the Daytona 675 when I sat on that. Slightly lower to the ground than the SVS. Apart from getting the right hip cramp when I got on, it was OK...I could travel on it no problem.

Secondly, engine. Very different. Never ridden an IL4 before now that I come to think about it - all singles, parallel twins, V twins and flat twins.
First difference was the lack of engine braking. Got to the end of the service lane, closed throttle expecting to slow down and it just bloody kept on truckin'. Leading to a frantic search for brake levers and pedals. Front was where it should've been but the rear brake pedal was way out compared to the SV. But the front did the deed all on its own anyway. Certainly, it bit harder than the SV front brake. The rear felt just about the same .
Then there was the sound. The IL4 sounded as if it was revving at about 10 million rpm. When in fact it was way down about 3 - 4000 rpm. Where the V2 would just be coming on song, this thing sounded like a banshee with its arse on fire. That took a bit of getting used to as well.
And the power distribution. There were a couple of times when opening the throttle had less effect than it would have had on the SV. It took me quite a while to find just where the power was hiding (way up the rev range as it turned out). A few clicks down the road this all started to sort out. I got used to the soprano scream and stopped changing up too soon. And on the way back in to town, on a lonelyish road, I found where they kept the power. Although I have to say I didn't push it up past about 10k since it was already reading somewhat high on the speedo in second or third gear - whatever one I had selected at that stage. More experimentation needed there.

Thirdly, the handling. And this is what blew me away. It felt sooooo compact and so tight and so responsive. Felt shorter than the SV although probably not in reality - dunno about that. It just begged to be flicked around and whispered sweet nothings into my ear as it pretty much took itself around the bends...along the lines of "just don't fuck around with me sonny, I'll do the work and we'll be sweet..." This feeling is what sold this bike to me. And forever more blighted the feeling of the SVS...buggrit.

So. There ya go. Wonder where I could find a few thousand dollars..?

Next time, the 750...

[DidJit]

You mentioned the difference in engine braking between your SV and the GSXR — how did you find that going into corners?

[slofox]

You mentioned the difference in engine braking between your SV and the GSXR — how did you find that going into corners?

Well, not that obvious actually but then I did have a $3000 excess hanging over my head on this test ride so I didn't push it that hard...

[Geemsee]

You mentioned the difference in engine braking between your SV and the GSXR — how did you find that going into corners?

Having owned mostly Jap multis and only fairly recently switching to a vee-twin, my first impressions with engine braking going into corners was WTF has it gone??? It takes a bit of getting used to, to be honest (well, it did for me) and still feels sometimes that you're a gear too high, you also have to be a bit careful going down too many to avoid rear wheel lock ups!! That said, the grunt of the vee (and the noise!!) coming out of the corners is 'pantstretching', so its worth it in the end!! Just did my first track day at Taupo and after initial nerves was getting the hang of it!

[DidJit]

Well, not that obvious actually but then I did have a $3000 excess hanging over my head on this test ride so I didn't push it that hard...

Ah yes, totally understandable.

Having owned mostly Jap multis and only fairly recently switching to a vee-twin, my first impressions with engine braking going into corners was WTF has it gone??? It takes a bit of getting used to, to be honest (well, it did for me) and still feels sometimes that you're a gear too high, you also have to be a bit careful going down too many to avoid rear wheel lock ups!! That said, the grunt of the vee (and the noise!!) coming out of the corners is 'pantstretching', so its worth it in the end!! Just did my first track day at Taupo and after initial nerves was getting the hang of it!

I'll possibly be going the other way once I get my full — from my lil' 250 v-twin to an IL4 — so I'm quite curious of any traits I need to be aware of when I start test riding. Answer's obvious I guess; just take it easy and be aware that there will be differences.

[Slyer]

In 6 months to a year I'm going to have to make the 650 Twin vs 600 IL4 decision. She will not be an easy one.