Which should I buy?

[samgab]

4 options I'm weighing up:

1. Suzuki SV650S
2. Suzuki GSX650F
3. Kawasaki Ninja 650R (EX650A8F)
4. Kawasaki ER-6N

Do you own any of the above? Which do you recommend? Why?
Which is best? Most reliable? Most economical? Most fun? Cheapest to maintain/repair/buy parts for? Most comfortable on a long ride? Handles strong side winds best? Looks best IYO? Best build quality?
Looking for as much input and opinion as possible, preferably from those who own or have owned or at least ridden any of the above. Cheers!
BTW, It's a few months before I'll be buying, but I want to get in early and make up my mind, so I end up making the right decision.

[Usarka]

Have you experienced riding faired and unfaired bikes? That could be a big factor right there and cut the list by 50%. Or phone the audience.

If not, take a couple out for a test ride or beg/borrow from a mate.

[ManDownUnder]

Don't know - but step one... Take a twin and a 4 cylinder bike for a ride - that'll narrow things down for you to start with (that's totally individual)..

[Gubb]

The GSX650F is an awesome bike, then again, I didn't end up buying it.

Test ride everything, don't rely on other peoples opinions.

[MidnightMike]

4 options I'm weighing up:

1. Suzuki SV650S
2. Suzuki GSX650F
3. Kawasaki Ninja 650R (EX650A8F)
4. Kawasaki ER-6N

Ive test ridden the '07 SV650, and the ER-6N.

I also own an '02 SV650S.

Havent ridden the faired ER6N, no doubt the only main difference is the wind protection and looks. Nor have I ridden the GSX650F, which IMO looks like a good bang for buck all rounder, there was one at one of the last trackdays I went to, seemed to get around quite well.

Anyway, between the Er's and SV's Id go for an SV hands down, theres something cheap looking about the er6's (must be the dials) I didnt like the bar postion or the where the tank curves outward so that whenever I went to change gear it catches under your knee, but thats probably because Im 6'5".

The SV's have been around for coming up on 10 years now. They are great bikes. The '07 naked I test rode I loved, the '02 I bought because of the looks, that frame, the curved bodywork etc. (See my profile, Im almost done fixing it up.)

Take them all for a ride when you get your full, that will be the decider.

-Mike.

[carver]

4 options I'm weighing up:

1. Suzuki SV650S
2. Suzuki GSX650F
3. Kawasaki Ninja 650R (EX650A8F)
4. Kawasaki ER-6N

Do you own any of the above? Which do you recommend? Why?
Which is best? Most reliable? Most economical? Most fun? Cheapest to maintain/repair/buy parts for? Most comfortable on a long ride? Handles strong side winds best? Looks best IYO? Best build quality?
Looking for as much input and opinion as possible, preferably from those who own or have owned or at least ridden any of the above. Cheers!
BTW, It's a few months before I'll be buying, but I want to get in early and make up my mind, so I end up making the right decision.

I have ridden all of the above bar the ninja

the GSX is a good but boring sports tourer.
the SV needs mods to make it work and aint as exciting as the ER

i did 20,000 hard ks on my ER6n, smoked plenty of KBrs on sportsbikes around the loop, did 2 up riding, gravel roads, wheelies, stoppies, flat out speed runs, touring, riding pissed, etc....
i left it out in the rain, never cleaned it, and it took it well, the finish is good, its a true all rounder, looks different, has a nice lumpy engine, i loved mine, and i have had 35~ bikes and still have fond memories of this bike.

[samgab]

Thanks for the replies so far. There's a bit to think about there.
Of course, when it gets closer to the time I'll do a bit of test riding, esp as I'm thinking of going new. I want to gauge popular opinion out there as well though.
I think I like the sort of whizzy smoothness of a 4 cyl. rather than the thumpy torque of a 2 cyl. esp. a V-twin, but I'm not 100% convinced of that.
If the 2 cyl. engines are still pretty smooth, then I'd still consider them.
How do they compare economy-wise in the real world?

Oh, and I really value a fuel gauge too, whether it be digital or analogue.
I can't find the power of the gsx650F or the SV??

[James Deuce]

The one you like best.

1. Look with your heart. Buy something that makes you go, "Hmm, it's all mine", every time you look at it.
2. Test with your bum. Does it fit, will I be comfortable in two hours time.
3. Buy with your head. How much does it cost to service, how much are tyres, will it crash well?

Ignore the paper stats. You don't ride everywhere at 290km/hr with the bike on its ear.

[The Stranger:Me]

They all have too many cylinders.
Go the XT660.

[carver]

Thanks for the replies so far. There's a bit to think about there.
Of course, when it gets closer to the time I'll do a bit of test riding, esp as I'm thinking of going new. I want to gauge popular opinion out there as well though.
I think I like the sort of whizzy smoothness of a 4 cyl. rather than the thumpy torque of a 2 cyl. esp. a V-twin, but I'm not 100% convinced of that.
If the 2 cyl. engines are still pretty smooth, then I'd still consider them.
How do they compare economy-wise in the real world?

Oh, and I really value a fuel gauge too, whether it be digital or analogue.
I can't find the power of the gsx650F or the SV??

22kpl for the ER

the parallel twin is quite a engine

[AllanB]

i did 20,000 hard ks on my ER6n, smoked plenty of KBrs on sportsbikes around the loop, did 2 up riding, gravel roads, wheelies, stoppies, flat out speed runs, touring, riding pissed, etc....
i left it out in the rain, never cleaned it, and it took it well, the finish is good, its a true all rounder, looks different, has a nice lumpy engine, i loved mine, and i have had 35~ bikes and still have fond memories of this bike.

But does it make coffee and give you a three hour stiffy?

[CM2005]

the parallel twin is quite a engine

go the ER6N

the ninja 650 as a fairing which is useful sometime, but definitely they are a cool bike mate.
i rode a GPZ500 from palmy to kaitaia on saturday/sunday, great engine, veryuseable power and good fun

[Little Miss Trouble]

But does it make coffee and give you a three hour stiffy?

No silly thats what a girlfriend is for



Go the SV! but I would say that I've only had mine since Saturday so haven't had a chance to see how she does on a long haul, heading up north tomorrow so I'll post up some more once I get back to civilization next week

[stify]

does it give you a three hour stify?

i've heard the blue pill can help with that

[Clivoris]

Get the Ducati Monster or Aprilia Shiver.