Hitcher on an SV1000...

[Hitcher]

Yesterday was a lovely day for a ride, and as I had new tyres to scrub in (see other thread for details), Mrs H and I decided to Walpole forth over the Takas for some comestibles at the Fush.

Very few bikers out and about, surprisingly. Apart from VTwin, who joined us for a coffee and chat and subsequently for a tootle up through Gladstone, over watertower hill, back through Masterton and home.

Lovely late winter riding. A balmy 12 degrees almost everywhere.

Anyway, during a stop at the Wainuioru school, VTwin offered me a ride on his SV1000, as I may have mentioned earlier in the day it was a bike I had always been afraid to ride, in case I liked it.

Well. I have now, and I do!

A very impressive package. Not as hunched as a lot of sports bikes. Nice easy-to-read instruments. Mr Suzuki's pull-the-clutch-in-to-start system, but apart from that, all controls where they should be.

And that V-twin? Yummy! VTwin's ride has Yoshi cans and sounds, well, gorgeous. There's also a nice vibe through the bike which I found pleasantly involving. The bike has pottles of torque and quite happily pulls like a third former from low revs. Nice gearbox too.

Cornering was nice and predictable. I didn't push too hard, being an unfamiliar bike, but it basicly went where I looked. No trouble at all. The brakes were nice too. Positive but not excessively grippy.

And did I mention that V-twin exhaust note? Mmmmmm...

I'll leave it to VTwin to tell you what he thought of the ST. And a big thanks again for the ride.

[Uncle B]

Thanks Mr Hitcher for the generous review. If you spend some more time on the SV you will find the sound and vibrations totally addictive.

The ST

Climbing from the rather small SV aboard the ST was a bit overwhelming due the size difference. All controls in the farmiliar places. Turn the key, push the starter button.....small shimmer from the bike as she fires up....then nothing.
You barely notice her ticking over and have to look at the rev counter....yes, she's running.

Pull in the clutch, select first.....try again.....once more. Am I in gear? Let clutch out a little ways....yep in gear.
Now I'm used to a defining "clunk" as first is engaged, but the ST has that German engineered feel about the box....solid and precise.

Time to get moving as I can see Hitcher dissapearing on my steed.

Mindful of the ST's 300kg bulk....I made a clean take off.

The seat is sooo comphy, bars are at just the right reach and there are no stress points on the body...........perfect for touring me thinks.
Gather more speed, working the super slick gearbox, I'm up to 100.
Passing through a section of road I know well thinking this will be a test for such a big machine, is not a problem as the ST becomes a nimble machine, not sport bike like but felt very stable whilst on the tighter corners.
Gave a good ol twist of the wrist during a straight and she hustlled along quite happily up to 140, but not being my bike I eased off knowing there was plenty of stoke in the fire.

Browsing over the displays I noticed air temp reading, how much fuel your using, odo, cabin pressure and such like...HA
The screen was so effective that at 120, visor up riding was a joy.

Comming up to the end of my joy ride and being on the ST for only a short time, I knew that it is a serious mile munching machine and that if I ever got into touring in a big way, the ST is the top bike for the job.

I thank Hitcher for the experience and for finally meeting you and your wife. It was a good ride and I hope to do that again with you both.

[zadok]

Great review fella's. Is the clunky gearbox a Honda thing do you reckon? Mine was a bit that way. My other bikes were smoother. Writeups on the SV650 have been very positive as well. N.Z's top selling bike me thinks.

[Hitcher]

Great review fella's. Is the clunky gearbox a Honda thing do you reckon?

Clunky gearbox? Who said anything about a clunky gearbox?

[vifferman]

Great review fella's. Is the clunky gearbox a Honda thing do you reckon?

Yes, clunky gearboxes are generally but not necessarily a Honda feature. I've had seven Hondas, and while they didn't all start off to be clunky, they ended up that way. The current Honda is an exception to that, but I've no doubt I will probably end up with the usual box of rocks, as I seem to be a SerialTransmissionWrecker, not just of bikes, but cars too.

[zadok]

Clunky gearbox? Who said anything about a clunky gearbox?

Mis-read it. Amazing! About time. Vifferman has noticed it but.

[festus]

You guy's should be working for a bike mag. Good write up's.

[Uncle B]

I think Hitcher would find the SV's gearbox very clunky compared to the ST.

The short ride I had on the ST has left a desire to find out what it would be like on a long haul.
I believe it to be a bike that if you were not in too much of a hurry, not that the ST is slow by any means...it's deceptivley(sp?) quick....that touring this country from top to bottom would be a joy enabilling you to experience the beauty of this wonderful paradise we call home.

[riffer]

I think Hitcher would find the SV's gearbox very clunky compared to the ST.

I thought Suzuki made a pretty good gearbox. The one in my RF is good - only one neutral.

Not like my FZR, in which Yamaha kindly catered for those who need extra ones between 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

But they both went "clunk" when you hit first.

Nice write-ups guys.

[Hitcher]

I didn't find the SV's gearbox clunky at all. The shifter position was just right too for a larger-footed-gent (well, not as large as some around here).

If the Harley V-Rod's gearbox is a 10 out of 10 (which, after one ride I would say it is), then VTWIN's SV would shift at about a 7. It's unfair to compare the Suzuki (or any sportsbike for that matter) with the cartridge-style shifter the ST has, but I'd also score the ST as a 7. I'd score my former ZRX1200R as an 8, thanks largely to Mr Kawasaki's most excellent positive-neutral-finder, but marked down by an occasionally irritating false neutral between fourth and fifth. What don't all bikes have this feature (the neutral finder, not false neutrals)? Are Kawasaki's patents that good?

[Dafe]

SV with a Clunky Gearbox? It certainly does have, but only when going from neutral into first. It's a nice thing though coz at least you know you're ready to roll!
Take my word for it too, the SV and its fab VTwin growl is very addictive.
So addictive infact that I was recently standing in a bikeshop trying to decide whether or not to buy a dream GSXR1000. In the end, I decided I couldn't part with the SV. I will have to finish paying off the SV and then buy the GSXR after that. Because I'm now truely convinced, I won't ever be able to let go of my SV and I ain't ever gonna run the risk of seeing an SV on the street and regretting having let one slip!

[Uncle B]

SV with a Clunky Gearbox? It certainly does have, but only when going from neutral into first. It's a nice thing though coz at least you know you're ready to roll!

That's what I meant to say.

[pete376403]

I didn't find the SV's gearbox clunky at all. The shifter position was just right too for a larger-footed-gent (well, not as large as some around here).
I'd score my former ZRX1200R as an 8, thanks largely to Mr Kawasaki's most excellent positive-neutral-finder, but marked down by an occasionally irritating false neutral between fourth and fifth. What don't all bikes have this feature (the neutral finder, not false neutrals)? Are Kawasaki's patents that good?

Royal Enfield 750 Interceptors had these waaaay back in the 70's. Probably carried over from the 700 Constellations (and there's another thing Kawasaki borrowed, the name)

[Ixion]

Royal Enfield 750 Interceptors had these waaaay back in the 70's. Probably carried over from the 700 Constellations (and there's another thing Kawasaki borrowed, the name)

RE had 'em on Bullets in teh 50's , and I've a notion they had them in teh 30's. Nowt new under sun