Calling all SV & VTR 1000 riders

[paturoa]

Yep, that's the plan. What pipes do you guys recommend?

Micron stainless cans are middle noisy. Sound good at low revs up to about 4000rpm but somehow aren't too noisy at high revs.

Yoshi's sound the best, but are too loud for me (I like my neighbours and they still like me)

[Pumba]

Yep, that's the plan. What pipes do you guys recommend?

I put the stainless Yoshis on mine, then went and removed the silencing pipes at the back, there loud without the silencing pipes, with them they have a great thob at idel put has soon as you take off the sound is well muffled.

I thought for a start they were to loud, but I have either gotten used of them or lost some of my hearing, not really to sure which one.

[JimO]

I put the stainless Yoshis on mine, then went and removed the silencing pipes at the back, there loud without the silencing pipes, with them they have a great thob at idel put has soon as you take off the sound is well muffled.

I thought for a start they were to loud, but I have either gotten used of them or lost some of my hearing, not really to sure which one.

what!!!!!................

[imdying]

I put carbon fibre Microns on mine, they're fantastic, would recommend them if you buy a black one

[SDU]

Go Italian FQ! You know you want to really

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Go Italian FQ! You know you want to really

hahahaha... no comment

[imdying]

One other thing worth thinking about is the local dealers. Buy a Honda new, you're likely to get it from, and serviced at Casbolts. Which would be akin to cutting your scrotum with something rusty approximately every hour on the hour... unpleasant to say the least. At least entering the local Suzuki shop isn't likely to end in a homicidal rampage.

[far queue]

Well then, it’s been an interesting day with some surprises for me. The weather was a bit grotty before I left home with some blue patches and some intermittent light drizzle, but I thought she’s right it’s clearing up and headed off to Sportzone to take the SV out. There was no sign of the port hills, they were well hidden in cloud, so I figured they were out for a test ride as it’ll be pissing down up there.

The SV
I picked up the SV demo, it was an ’03 model with an aftermarket pipe and 28000km on the clock. I took it down Lincoln Rd to Tai Tapu and back down the Old Tai Tapu Rd for a mix of some straights and twisties, followed by a bit of a ride round the general Tai Tapu - Lincoln area. The weather was an intermittent mixture clear and dry with periods of light to medium drizzle. The roads were a mix of wet and dry in different areas.

Likes
Plenty of power right through the range
Great Brakes
Nice smooth gearbox
Liked the digital speedo easy to read and easy to keep the exactly where you want it
The whole instrument cluster was pretty good

Dislikes
The riding position – I finished the 1 hour ride with sore hands, sore arse and becoming sore lower back, but figured I could fix this with new bars and a sheepskin.

It was hard work in the twisties, in that I had to think about what I was doing and consciously work at putting the bike where I wanted it, but I figured maybe I just needed to get used to it, not having ridden a road bike for a couple of years.

No fuel gauge – not a biggie, but hey other road bikes have them

I didn’t like the indicator switch – it’s an odd shape – easy to turn on, not so easy to turn off.

Summary
I ended the ride reasonably happy with the bike, but thinking there’s a couple of things that were the best.

The VTR
Then it was over the road to Casbolts for a ride on the VTR, this was a new bike with 377km on the clock and I was told the engine would still be bit tight as they come right till around 2500km or so. I rode basically the same roads as the SV in the same conditions.

Likes
The riding position – It just felt right to me – my arse was closer to the ground for getting my feet down, the bars weren’t such a stretch, the seat was a better fit, I was more upright and more comfortable.

It was easy to ride in the twisties – It felt lighter, and more natural. I didn’t have to think about it, it was so easy to flick it through the bends. It felt a great wee bike to ride. It’s 7kg heavier than the SV and the same size, but it felt smaller and lighter.

It had a fuel gauge.

The indicator switch was easy to use

Dislikes
Instrument Cluster – Speedo tucked away and not easy to read. Speedo and Rev counter both on the small side. Overall the cluster seemed a bit cluttered and busy.

Power – not as much power down low or overall as the SV, but this could improve when fully run in and with a new set of pipes.

Brakes – Not as good as the SV

Gearbox – Clunky

Fuel gauge – Although it was good to have one, it was a bit disconcerting to watch the fuel drop 2 bars in the relatively short ride I did.

Idle – This was all over the place with temperature changes, I assume due to the carbs v injection on the SV.

Summary
I had headed off to do these 2 test rides pretty much already decided that the SV was going to be the bike for me, but to give them both a fair go and see if I was right. I was wrong. Both bikes had their good points and their bad points for me, but the ease of riding the VTR came as a real surprise to me after riding the SV. If only the VTR had the power, brakes, gearbox and instrument cluster of the SV then it would be easy to decide. As it was I was left still undecided which bike I wanted but swaying way more toward the VTR than the SV purely due to the ease of chucking the VTR around and the comfort.

I had another VTR lined up to look at, a used one this time, so maybe that would answer some questions about the power and brakes once run in. So, home for lunch, and have a think about things, then out for another ride on another VTR … I thought!

The Surprise
Well, when I got there, there was another bike parked up there that I hadn’t considered in this equation. I’ve always liked this bike but never seriously considered I’d ever get one, as I thought I’d never be able to afford a decent one … and here was one here, used, but only 7800km on it and looking like new … and … affordable. Is the suspense killing you? A 2002 Ducati ST4s a red one “Would you like to take it for a ride” HELL YES!

The weather was better now, so it was out to Redcliffs up to the Summit Rd, around to the top of Evans Pass, down Sumner Rd to Lyttleton, through the tunnel and back down the Tunnel Rd.

Likes
Power – Awesome power everywhere
The seat height was spot on
The riding position was great
The handling was great
The fairing worked a treat, if anything it worked bit to well at times as I was warming up
The seat was comfy
Great gearbox, it just clicked into each gear
The instrument cluster was well laid out
The switch gear was easy to use
It’s got a centre stand

Dislikes
The clutch lever takes more effort to use than I’m used to and it was quite an effort towards the end of the ride. I assume I’ll get used to that.

Summary
This bike had everything I liked about the SV and everything I liked about the VTR. Plus it looks great and sounds great. I opened the taps a bit going through the road tunnel – oh, the music. I ended the ride with a grin a mile wide, although there was one other wee problem I mentioned to the shop owner – it’s uncomfortable to ride with a hard on.

I’m taking it out for another, longer ride, tomorrow. I think I may have a sexy Italian redhead at home sometime soon.

[far queue]

Go Italian FQ! You know you want to really

You couldn't help yourself, could you

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I’m taking it out for another, longer ride, tomorrow. I think I may have a sexy Italian redhead at home sometime soon.

Goes to show you have to take it for a ride, every one is different

[miSTa]

Go Italian FQ! You know you want to really

And your not biased are you?



You've got a great day for a extended ride today FQ, have fun mate.

[laRIKin]

I mentioned to the shop owner – it’s uncomfortable to ride with a hard on.

I’m taking it out for another, longer ride, tomorrow. I think I may have a sexy Italian redhead at home sometime soon.

The first line is way to much info for me to handle when we go for a ride today.

I think that I will have to ride with a good distance between us.
And I will have to think about, if it is a good idea to sit at the same table as you when we stop for a coffee.

[Unit:Me]

SV and long range, think I can speak on this one. I brought an '06 SV1000 in July last year brand new. In November I was sent from Whangarei to work in Tauranga, exactly 400kms. I spent the next nine weeks commuting and did 10,000kms as we had a few organised rides during this time.
Range, Tauranga to Dairy Flats exactly one tank (and thats with one tooth the front sprocket) which is about 270ks approx. Thats cruising at a solid pace with luggage.
Overall loved the bike, the supension will need firming up which I didnt bother doing cause I was so used to the wollow of the old TL. Im now on the Aprilia RSV1000R Factory, different again and loving it, but only changed cause a really good deal came along. Love the SV, would reccommend them

[Edbear]

Ummm! Ask about servicing costs on the Duc! Not cheap!

[Edbear]

PS. Just noticed, 2000 posts!!!! Doesn't itme fly when you're having fun!!!!