Should I get an sv650?

[erik]

I've realised that learning to fly (a cessna 152) hasn't reduced my savings as much as I thought it would and that a cheap sv650 is within reach.

My first bike was a yamaha fzx250 (Zeal), my current bike is a bandit 400 - both naked, inline 4's.

I've taken an ER6F for a test ride. It was interesting. More upright than the bandit, the bars were closer and higher. The engine... well since I'm used to inline 4's, I think it would take a while to learn to appreciate a twin. I can understand why some people describe them as "tractors". I haven't ridden an sv650 yet, but I'm guessing the engine response will be similar.

I like the idea of only having two cylinders - fewer valves to adjust etc. Plus it'd be something different (for me). It'd also be different having a sports style bike, I don't know how my back and wrists will cope, only one way to find out though.

I'm looking at the 1999-2002 sv650's, the new angular ones don't do it for me.

There's three on trademe at the moment:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154037759
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154587683
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=154911511

High k's on two of them. The one in wellington seems like the best deal to me...

Maybe I should stop looking at trademe and just go ride my bandit. It's done about 87,000km now and been over a few times so I ain't going to get much for it if I sell it. But I might be able to squeeze another bike in the garage between the bandit and my brother's zzr250.

[McJim]

If you're gonna come and join us twin riders on the dark side howabout one of these instead. Gallons more street cred than a Suzuki

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-154000428.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-154480881.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-154434693.htm

[erik]

They're a bit out of my price range, plus I think I'd feel too guilty if I crashed one.

(and I think the old sv looks better.)

[Pwalo]

Go and take one for a ride. I had a parallel twin before the SV. The V twins are surprpisingly smooth (well the Hondas and Suzukis, can't vouch for the Italian brands), and deceptively quick.

[FROSTY:Me]

Why not the nekkid SV? cheaper and a more upright riding position

[imdying]

They're a bit out of my price range, plus I think I'd feel too guilty if I crashed one.

Don't be... it's a bottom of the range bike, it's not like you're breaking a mint first edition 916 or anything.

[R6_kid:Me]

Do it erik!

[erik]

Why not the nekkid SV? cheaper and a more upright riding position

Because I can't find any old style naked SV's for sale (the only one I've seen was a few weeks ago on trademe and I think was over priced), it seems we mostly got sv650s' here for the early models. Plus I haven't ridden a bike with sports style position, so might as well give it a go.

I've been pm'd with a 1999 sv650s to go check out. The colour - bright yellow - isn't one I'd pick if I had a choice, but other than that it looks good. Watch this space...

[erik]

Gone and done it, I'm now the proud owner of a yellow 1999 SV650S!

Thanks breakaway, I hope you don't miss her too much.

It must've been dropped at standstill on both sides because both front indicators have been pushed through the fairings. I'll probably try fixing that with some fibreglass. I'll also check the valve clearances soonish because I don't know when it was last done. Plus check and set the laden sag on the forks and rear. I only went for a short ride, but the suspension didn't feel too bad to me.

I've changed my mind about the yellow, I think it looks quite good now. I guess it grew on me. Given the perfect weather outside right now and the new bike sitting in the garage, I should be out riding. But after riding to and from Taupo yesterday for the trackday on the Bandit (and then not sleeping well last night) I'm a bit knackered, so I think I'll leave the riding and tinkering till tomorrow.

From my short ride on it today, I gotta say my god the exhaust is loud! (it's got a Two Brother's exhaust). And also it seems to pull a lot stronger than the old bandit (and have more engine braking). It's going to be fun getting to know it.

[Burger]

The ER6 is hardly a tractor at 7 thousand revs.

[kiwifruit]

congratulations, you'll enjoy it on the track too

[James Deuce]

Noice! I feel sorry for those 1000cc riders you used to terrorise at track days on the 400. You'll be lapping them now.

That exhaust system looks lovely.

The indicators have probably been dealt to by other ignorant "bikers" when its been parked.

Have fun, and no making people cry!

[AllanB]

Good for you - those earlier ones look better than the later style - more organic. Plus they look like a TL

If the Two Brothers is too loud any decent muffler shop will be able to make a cheap insert that will shut it up a bit without any noticeable power loss - just a smaller diameter perforated insert that disturbs the flow a bit to shut it up.

Let the mods Begin - get onto e-bay there is lots of goodies for the SV

[svr]

It must've been dropped at standstill on both sides because both front indicators have been pushed through the fairings. I'll probably try fixing that with some fibreglass. I'll also check the valve clearances soonish because I don't know when it was last done.

If you're pulling the cams to change the shims you might as well change the intake cams for 2nd generation sv's - cheap as chips on ebay for about a 5hp gain. Use the std intake cam as exhaust cams.
If you need some std front indicators pm me as you can have mine.

[erik]

The ER6 is hardly a tractor at 7 thousand revs.

I didn't mean to say it was, just they're very different to inline 4's.


Thanks for the comments and tips.

svr: the indicators themselves are ok, (one might be a bit scratched). Just the fairings need fixing, but thanks for the offer.