the earlier blades had finicky handling in the corners, due possibly to a smaller front wheel or something? - bourbon brain is clouding memory -. If there is a reasonable jump in age between the two, the newer should automatically get a couple extra brownie points. Being older, the blade is more likely to need things like wheel bearings chain and sprockets, a major service like valve clearances etc simply because of age, as well as the likelyhood of being higher kays.
If you bought either bike, they would both benefit from some mods in the handling area, SV's have budget suspension, (if its still stock) and the blade will have close to 20 year old suspension and will probably be due for an overhaul - again due to age - if you want to get anywhere near (or better than) original handling.
Another thing to be wary of as well, is the availability of parts. my bike is a 2001, and was a pretty popular bike worldwide, and I have alot of trouble finding parts for it. All the normal shit you might want like generic shit i.e. levers chains sprockets brake pads etc arent an issue, but stuff like performance heads, cams, undertails etc etc are really thin on the ground, so if you intend to keep the bike a while and spend some money personalising it, this is definitely a point worth considering.
I would probably go so far as to say that coming off a cbr250, either bike will make you feel like your arms are getting ripped out of your sockets by comparison, but I think the SV might be a more learner friendly engine when it comes to getting to grips with a new big bike in a varied setting - mixed up between low and higher speeds, round town, open road etc etc.
Having said all this ride the both. You'll probably get a massive chubby over one and KNOW its the one you want. You might not be able to decide, then fall in love with something different as well. Its entirely possible youll buy a particular bike because you just HAVE to have it after riding it, regardless of how much bad shit people have to say about it.
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