GSX R-600 or SV650 S ?

[CBRAero]

Ok bear with me for a minute if you will. This question is not purely hypothetical as I have been looking at these two bikes recently. Imagine you can have just the one bike (nightmare I know). Its your only transport so it will be used for commuting, weekend twisties fun and perhaps the odd group tour and trackday. Your choices are, ta da!

Susuki SV650-S 2004 (in black however)
http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2005...sv650s-a-1.jpg
http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/4...0sblack7wl.jpg
and (beware popups)
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...650_s_2005.php

Susuki GSX-R600 2004 as shown
http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6362/gsxr6004li.jpg
http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suz...r_600_2004.php

Now, I'm not a huge speed freak, I generally keep it below the point where if caught you can flush your license directly down the toilet. Hell, I've never even come off my bike(s) (well, just that once in ice at 20km/hr) in my 12 years riding, so I can't be too mad. Either that or I'm damn good...no, no.. I think its the former.

The GSXR will be another $2.5k over my current bike while the SV would be another 1k. The GSXR is also more expensive to run (tyres, fuel, plugs etc) and fix being a generally more complex and lightweight piece of track excellence but probably not the best commuter or touring bike. The SV is relatively cheap to run and fix and a decent commuter/tour/twisties bike but can't match the GSXR excellence in the hills or on the track. Rather than try and describe the various properties of these two bikes I will go with the assumption that most here know what they are. Money is a factor, but not a huge one. Oh, the GSXR/SV are located at the dealer who sold me my current bike, hence the choice in bikes due to the better deal they offer. If I had cash in my hand right now for my current bike ($10.5 k, mint V-Strom 650 K4 hint hint ) I might front the extra for a zx-6, if I could find one.

[imdying]

Have you ridden them both?

[MidnightMike]

You cant see the bike on the second link ... too many pop ups
So use this:

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/2005...sv650s-a-1.jpg

Its your choice after all, however I vote Gixxer.

[CBRAero]

Thanks, added that picture. Yes, I've ridden them both for a good hour each in as many different segments of road I could find. The GSXR has the more aggressive riding position but is oh so sweet, while the SV is more upright with lesser handling and power, but still decent by my measure.

[mattt]

Get the gsxr600 for sure - no contest

[MidnightMike]

Swap this with the tiny one.
Some of our "senior" members may have trouble seeing it.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/Wallpaper/S...w_RHS_1024.jpg

[CBRAero]

Doh, thanks for pointing that out. I don't know how that thumbnail got in there.

[cowpoos]

nothing we say will make up your mind....infact you've probally already done it...your just looking for justification for what you've decided...theres heaps of these pointless polls and threads on here...just go get the one you want....and you'll be happy....if you end up with the one you didn't really want but thought you should have got....you won't be happy...simple


still need help deciding...picture them both sitting in your garage...which one would you go and play with the most?

[CBRAero]

I take your point Poos, but infact I'm torn between these two bikes and haven't made a decision which is why I've come to this place of immeasurable wisdom . I wouldn't waste peoples time otherwise!

[FROSTY:Me]

GIXXER --fucken fantastic bike to ride fast out of the box but comfort levels are low.
SV650 -well good basic package and The handling can be improved heaps at low cost and out of this world for under a grand.
Personally unless going silly fast is what ya wanna do I'd buy the SV
If you set it up right and learn to ride it you will give zx6r and gixxer 6 riders very red faces and the comfort alone is woth a fair bit.

[thehollowmen]

I saw a GSXR K6 today lined up beside the K5

uh

it be VERY much smaller

so wait for the K6.

Also, how about the GSR ? that's new and streetfigherish and looks ever so sweet

[thehollowmen]

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewBikeCata...allery_detail/

[simo]

I saw a GSXR K6 today lined up beside the K5

uh

it be VERY much smaller

so wait for the K6.

Also, how about the GSR ? that's new and streetfigherish and looks ever so sweet

Wait for the K6 - it looks awesome and a lot lighter, actually my sort of bike!!

[skelstar]

I reckon you should make a list of you priorities maybe. I know for me the emotion votes count quite high:
1. has everybody bloody got one and does it look like yours?
2. What would I rather be seen on?
3. Does the bike make me giggle like a school girl when I go fast?

Just something to think about other than the sensible decisions .

Personaly I would say GSXR600. I havent ridden either though .

[loosebruce]

Wait for the K6, yeah but can his budget wait for a K6? hence why i think he's looking K4. Dont get me wrong though the K6 quite possibly the best looking bike i've ever set my eyes on, and i dont have one

The K4-5 GSXR is a trick peice of kit for sure, i think it would surprise you somewhat to just how easy it is to commute on it's not that bad a bike at all, you could put the same tyres on the SV and get the same sort of mileage out of them it's more down to how you ride more than different bike, feul, well twins are thirsty and the injection on the GSXR is second to none, i think you'd find you'd get close to if not more out of the GSXR and again it comes down to how you ride, there wont be a hell of a lot in differnce to servicing costs either (2 extra plugs on the GSXR, whoopee) the same things get done to both bikes when they get serviced, so .......

Really you need to get on and test ride em both, i can vouch the GSXR is a wicked peice of kit, the brakes are awesome, power is good, ride is great to, and the potential this bike has to offer further down the track (and at the track) far outweighs the SV, but the SV is a good fun bike as Frosty said, handling not quite upto par, but a good rider can ride around that, and put to shame a fast rider on the GSXR for sure, plus the Vtwin noise mmmmm, as much as i love a screaming inline4 the twin is damn cool.

Take em both for a ride and go from there