New bike advice

**sturm** · 15th November 2010, 14:36

Last week a taxi ran over my CBR600 while it was parked (the bike, not the taxi!) and my insurance has just told me the damage isn't repairable.

So... im in the market for a new bike (up to ~$8k).

I quite like the sv1000 and I've never had a twin before. I rode one in the weekend and it was a lot more jerky and vibration-y at slow speeds than I expected. I commute every day, and I'm not sure how easy it would be riding it through traffic around town.

I love the twin sound, but since the test ride I'm looking at other bikes (for example hornet 919). I'm looking for a bike with more mid-range than my cbr600 but not a full-on litre sports bike.

Anyone commuting on an sv1000 or can recommend similar-ish bikes?

**White trash** · 15th November 2010, 14:42

Originally Posted by sturm

Last week a taxi ran over my CBR600 while it was parked (the bike, not the taxi!) and my insurance has just told me the damage isn't repairable.

So... im in the market for a new bike (up to ~$8k).

I quite like the sv1000 and I've never had a twin before. I rode one in the weekend and it was a lot more jerky and vibration-y at slow speeds than I expected. I commute every day, and I'm not sure how easy it would be riding it through traffic around town.

I love the twin sound, but since the test ride I'm looking at other bikes (for example hornet 919). I'm looking for a bike with more mid-range than my cbr600 but not a full-on litre sports bike.

Anyone commuting on an sv1000 or can recommend similar-ish bikes?

Ummmmm, http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1129903849 , not you was it?

After riding a 600cc multi, it would take quite a bit of time to readjust to a 1000cc V-twin so I wouldn't discount it just yet. They do need a few revs on board before they smooth out and I see a hell of a lot of people commuting happily on them every day. I had the opportunity to use one to commute from Wellington to Upper Hutt and back a couple of times and they're freakin awesome.

**sil3nt** · 15th November 2010, 14:43

Next obvious thing to look at would be the Firestorm which is Hondas litre twin.

**White trash** · 15th November 2010, 14:45

Originally Posted by sil3ntwar

Next obvious thing to look at would be the Firestorm which is Hondas litre twin.

....best suited to homos.......

**sturm** · 15th November 2010, 15:12

@wt - yep that was me!

I wasn't anywhere near it at the time luckily. I parked outside te papa about 9.30am, at 11 I got a call from the police that my bike had been involved in an accident. I work 2 mins away so I ran over and sorted it out.

The police said the taxi driver had (somehow) trapped his foot on and around the accelerator while the rest of his body was outside the car. It dragged him across the road, into my bike, over the kerb, through a couple of poles and a rubbish bin before stopping in the middle of that little street between te papa and the car park.

The bike didnt look too bad at first, but all the fairings were cracked, the footpegs had snapped off, the exhaust snapped off, back brake bent, so yeah in the end it was cheaper for the insurance to write it off.

I might try a different sv and see if I get the same feeling. VTR's on trademe are pretty cheap, the reviews I've read the sv comes out on top but I'll give one a ride and see

**White trash** · 15th November 2010, 15:16

Originally Posted by sturm

@wt - yep that was me!

I wasn't anywhere near it at the time luckily. I parked outside te papa about 9.30am, at 11 I got a call from the police that my bike had been involved in an accident. I work 2 mins away so I ran over and sorted it out.

The police said the taxi driver had (somehow) trapped his foot on and around the accelerator while the rest of his body was outside the car. It dragged him across the road, into my bike, over the kerb, through a couple of poles and a rubbish bin before stopping in the middle of that little street between te papa and the car park.

The bike didnt look too bad at first, but all the fairings were cracked, the footpegs had snapped off, the exhaust snapped off, back brake bent, so yeah in the end it was cheaper for the insurance to write it off.

I might try a different sv and see if I get the same feeling. VTR's on trademe are pretty cheap, the reviews I've read the sv comes out on top but I'll give one a ride and see

Holy shit man, what sort of clown would climb in/out of his car with the motor running and it in gear?! And we trust these muppets to drive us home when we're pissed

Glad you weren't involved.

Maybe a little bit older than you're after but take a ride on a TRX850 if you get the chance. Far smoother and less snatchy at low speeds than a 1000CC Vtwin.

**John_H** · 15th November 2010, 15:24

I would have thought that the v-twin would end up being better at commuting that the IL4 once you get used to it as it needs less revs to get going. I'm no expert though.

**sturm** · 15th November 2010, 15:31

Everytime I tell the story we all wonder how on earth it happend.

Taxi = auto gearbox, so either it must be in Park or the handbrake must be on - my guess is the handbrake was on but only a little bit, so when he hit the gas it took off across the street

**imdying** · 15th November 2010, 15:48

Shit town bike, the CBR would run rings around it. Buy the latest 600 you can and keep on smiling

**sinned** · 15th November 2010, 16:22

Originally Posted by sturm

I quite like the sv1000 and I've never had a twin before. I rode one in the weekend and it was a lot more jerky and vibration-y at slow speeds than I expected.

Anyone commuting on an sv1000 or can recommend similar-ish bikes?

Having owned an SV1000 - it would not be my choice for commuting. I do love and miss the sound of a twin - however that doesn't compensate for the jerky and vibs you noted.

Is Speed triple or Street triple is in your budget? They are nice smooth as bikes for the commute.

**sturm** · 15th November 2010, 19:39

I'd love a street triple - theres none on tradme at the moment - how much are they generally for a nice lowish kms example?

**Gibbo89** · 15th November 2010, 20:02

Originally Posted by sturm

I'd love a street triple - theres none on tradme at the moment - how much are they generally for a nice lowish kms example?

here are a few:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/browse/sear...ch_suggested=0

**BuzzardNZ** · 16th November 2010, 11:30

those jerks and vibrations can be cured with a proper tune and a few well placed mods ( TPS and TRE ). I agree it sucks that suzuki let them out of the showroom running like this. I had mine TEKA tuned and that really smoothed it out around town. As for commuting, I wouldn't as the damn thing is a bit of a gas guzzler.