SV650s SV1000s differences?

**Monty69** · 3rd September 2013, 16:12

Ive owned a 2006 SV650s for 2 years now (replaced my CBR600) and have absolutely loved it. But the kms are getting up there now so ive sold it and am about to purchase another SV.... Im quite a short guy, especially in the legs, but can ride the 650 fine, and am happy with the performance, (i managed a 12.041 sec 1/4 mile at ruapuna) but a lot of people have said if you try the 1000 you wont want to buy a 650 again. So, ive checked the dimensions online and the bikes seem to be near identical apart from a bit of extra weight on the 1000.

My main question is anyone out there ridden both and can confirm theyre physically pretty much the same size?
And is the 1000 much more sluggish in handling terms? As the 650 is renowned for its handling and i DO NOT want to sacrifice agility for more power

**DrunkenMistake** · 3rd September 2013, 16:37

Originally Posted by Monty69

Ive owned a 2006 SV650s for 2 years now (replaced my CBR600) and have absolutely loved it. But the kms are getting up there now so ive sold it and am about to purchase another SV.... Im quite a short guy, especially in the legs, but can ride the 650 fine, and am happy with the performance, (i managed a 12.041 sec 1/4 mile at ruapuna) but a lot of people have said if you try the 1000 you wont want to buy a 650 again. So, ive checked the dimensions online and the bikes seem to be near identical apart from a bit of extra weight on the 1000.

My main question is anyone out there ridden both and can confirm theyre physically pretty much the same size?
And is the 1000 much more sluggish in handling terms? As the 650 is renowned for its handling and i DO NOT want to sacrifice agility for more power

Buy the thou, you won't regret it.

If you are short, (im 5'4, and short in the leg) you will be ok, I have a K3 which has the higher subframe so a higher seat height, any later model should be a wee bit shorter but I manage fine, I did shave about an inch off the seat foam, I didn't need too but I decided too so I could be a little more at ease,
All else fails I have some lowering dog bones here you can just about have if you decide to buy one and need to lower it,
I was going to lower it but im pretty comfortable with how it is.

**BuzzardNZ** · 3rd September 2013, 17:38

I bought the thou new, but rode the 650 1st ( only demo sv they had ). Love the 650, but glad I got the 1000.

Handling IS better on the 650 though.

**Monty69** · 3rd September 2013, 19:20

Originally Posted by DrunkenMistake

Buy the thou, you won't regret it.

If you are short, (im 5'4, and short in the leg) you will be ok, I have a K3 which has the higher subframe so a higher seat height, any later model should be a wee bit shorter but I manage fine, I did shave about an inch off the seat foam, I didn't need too but I decided too so I could be a little more at ease,
All else fails I have some lowering dog bones here you can just about have if you decide to buy one and need to lower it,
I was going to lower it but im pretty comfortable with how it is.

Yeah i went for the 06 sv650 originally because of the narrower seat over the earlier models, but as you say, shaving a bit off the seat would make it even easier, especially with the 1000. I appreciate the offer for the dog bones and will keep that in mind if shaving the seat doesnt do enough. Looks like ill have to go for the 1000, my mate just came home not 30mins ago with a repsol fireblade the bastard! I can touch the ground quite easily on that surprisingly.... But the vtwin bug has bitten, im not goin back to 4cyl.

Cheers for the help

**SVboy** · 3rd September 2013, 19:56

I had an 05 sv650s and loved it.I am quite short-5'6-7".I swapped it on here for a mint sv1000 and didnt like it-didnt handle as well, felt top heavy/tall and I didnt gel with it.Sold it quickly. That was a few years ago so recently I borrowed another 1000 for a ride and it really reinforced my previous opinions. Not the bike for me. How-ever it was head and shoulders better than the VTR1000 I tried at the time! Just my opinion of course.

**BuzzardNZ** · 3rd September 2013, 19:59

Originally Posted by SVboy

How-ever it was head and shoulders better than the VTR1000 I tried at the time! Just my opinion of course.

I've always wanted to try a VTR1000 to compare against the SV. In what ways did you find the SV better?

**SVboy** · 3rd September 2013, 20:08

The suspension shortcomings of the sv are well known but I thought the VTR was suspended on BIC pen springs! I found the Honda soft and wallowy and lacking in torque cf the suzuki. It was a mint near new example too. I will qualify my opinions by saying when I rode this, I was still just getting back into bikes and didnt have a huge pool of experience to draw on. It was interesting to re-try the SV recently and realise my opinions now are the same as then. I imagine I would be more scathing of the VTR now.

**rocketman1** · 3rd September 2013, 20:28

I had a SV1000 for 2 years, I bought it new, tonnes of grunt but personally found it a bit of a handful on tight roads, on the open highway it was great, big sweeping bends it loved, but I have heard the SV650 handles better in the tight?
Hey don't get me wrong the 1000 does handle, but compared to some better handling bikes it does not give the rider full confidence
Personally unless I lived on the plains in Canterbury I would go for the better handling 650.
Handling wins over power in my opinion.
Most fun in my opinion on a bike is on corners , I just love cornering I get bored on straight roads.

To be fair though , I rode a Honda VTR1000 and a Bandit 1200 and the SV1000 handled better than both IMHO.
I now ride an old R1150GS BMW and it easily out handles them all, it just lacks the power of them all in a straight line

,
If you want handling and speed go for a Suzuki 750 GSXR.

**Ender EnZed** · 3rd September 2013, 20:47

Originally Posted by BuzzardNZ

I've always wanted to try a VTR1000 to compare against the SV. In what ways did you find the SV better?

I've ridden both and much preferred the VTR. I thought the SV felt and looked cheap and tacky in comparison.

**boman** · 3rd September 2013, 21:47

I bought a SV Thou new 2008. I had the front sorted by Dr Bob. It was a great bike, but a tad heavy to chuck around. 220kgs, 190hp IIRC.
I bought a Triumph 675 Daytona, 135hp 175 kg, to replace the Thou with, and have never regretted the decision.

In fact a recent ride on my old bike, just reinforced how much better the lighter and more nimble bike is.

Just my 2c worth.