Roadstergal : Review of your 2001 SV650S please

[jag69]

There is a red 2001 SV650S for sale close to where I live with 4k for $3,500 obo.  

Thanks.

[Roadstergal]

They're good bikes, very solid, no big issues.  I traded my GS500E in on my SV, thinking that the SV would be the best all-around bike.  After getting the SV on the track, I've gone back to the GS for around-town, though; it's just frustrating to use so little of the SV on the street.  It's not fast in the superbike world, but it's more of a fast and capable bike than most street riders are fast and capable riders.  People who race say that the suspension needs stiffening, but I haven't had any problems with it so far (being relatively light might help).

It has good low-end torque, and the power just keeps coming on nicely throughout the rev range.  The carbed bikes have a throttle response that has been described as "jerky;" I found it to be so initially, but now that I've gotten used to it, I find the FI SVs to be overly buffered in their response; I think it's not so much jerky as very, very touchy.  It starts with very little choke when cold and needs it for only a short time.  It leans differently than the GS; while the GS leans as I lean, I really need to countersteer the SV with authority.  When I do, it just leans way over very, very nicely, though, with none of the GS's front-end wobble in moderately high-speed turns.

I typically get 55ish for mileage, giving me a 180ish range, but I got my best mileage ever on my SV; 72.9mpg average on a roadtrip where I was just cruisin' at 60.

That's all that's springing to mind right now.

[jag69]

Thanks for the quick reply.  I have been in the looking stage for the past 6 months.  I like the SV's, YZF600R, and Ducati monsters at the moment.

I didn't think it would be this hard to have the 749 at my house.  I have to close my eyes when I go to my garage and just jump on the GS.  I love my GS and it has been a great bike, but I would like something more modern.  Note that I said more modern and not super powerful.  In town the 749 uses gears 1, 2 and sometimes 3.  Where is the fun in that?  What it does have is the looks.  This machine is gorgeous.  And the suspension is WOW.

I just can't make up my mind.  I am going to have to do what you did and buy more.  So far I have an 82 450 Nighthawk that I am going to begin to restore, a 2001 Buell Blast (brothers BIG mistake), and the 97 GS.  

Thanks again for your review.

[Roadstergal]

Honestly, that's what I like about the F.  Modern looks with a reliable bike I can wind out without getting illegal.  On the SV, 1st gear is illegal everywhere but the freeway, and 2nd is illegal everywhere.  Then there are 4 more.

Going through Turn 3b at PR and trying to hang off to get more speed through it without scraping - now that's more like it.

[jag69]

Since you did have a GS (E) before the F, what are the pluses or minuses?  Is there more power?  How good is the fairing on the Highway?  I just wish the GS would at least go to a 150 or 160 series of tires.  There are alot of good choices in those sizes.

[Roadstergal]

No power difference that I can discern.  Since it wasn't a direct swap, it's hard to say, but I swear my F is nimbler - dunno if that's an honest difference in the bikes, something wrong with my E, or just my fallacious memory.  The fairing is nice for wind buffeting and crud being kicked up onto the legs in the rain.  It adds another step for oil changes.

One thing that I really like is the bigger tank on the F.  I now have a range of ~240 before reserve, and that makes a big difference when doing trips through national parks that don't have gas stations.

[jag69]

Thanks for the chat Roadstergal.  Local Law enforcement along with a local Riding Club ( cruiser types) are going to have a motorcycle clinic tomorrow morning at an empty shopping mall parking lot.  It should be interesting.  I better go and rest a bit.  I am sure we will chat again.

Goodnight.

P.S. If you know of anyone wanting a 749 send them my way  

[aevans17]

I was hoping to get an SV as my second bike after I learn to ride on the F. So far I like the F, but I can't wait to get over the 5K RPM limit. I was on a state route going 55 in 6th gear and I felt like I was going way to slow. Hopefully, after the initial service, I'll get to experience some more fun on the bike. Thanks for the good write-up roadstergal!!! Also, what track to you ride your bikes on? Not that I'm ready for a track, but I'm just curious as to what track options are available here in the pacific NW.

[Roadstergal]

The pickings around here aren't as good as they are down in CA.  WA's two big tracks (and that's being generous) are Pacific Raceways in Kent and Spokane Raceway in Spokane.  Portland International Raceway is a better-paved track than PR.  PR is nifty in that it has elevation changes and tight turns; it's not nifty in that it has areas that are very much in need of repaving, it's small, and all of the drag folk park their tow rigs in Turn 8 (car nomenclature), so it's slicker than snot with all of the oil they've dropped over the years.  Spokane is supposed to be better, but so far I have not felt like making a half-day ride over there, running all day, and then riding back, all in a weekend.  The same thing has kept me from running at PIR, even though I've at least gone around there in a car.

Bremerton "raceway" is an old airstrip, and it's nasty enough to do in a car.  The pavement is terrible, any 'turns' are made out of cones, and there's VHT for the dragsters right in the middle of the course.

I'm going to PR for the Conference races next weekend; say hi if you want to come down.  I crew for Dirt Cheap Racing.  I'll be on my GS.

[aevans17]

Thanks for the invite! Not sure what I got planned next weekend, and I'm not that big into racing. I am into improving my riding skills through proper education practice. I enjoyed the MSF class that I took and I feel as though I learned the basics, but I was looking for something more advanced to help build the skills\confidence and heard about some racing schools like 2fast.org and Sullivan racing schools. I didn't know they had them around here.
I also didn't know that the old SIR was now PR. I work out in Issaquah and drive 18 every day of the week. Did you ever go to one of the racing\road riding schools or did you just go to the open practices and learn how to ride there? If you did goto a school can you elaborate on the experience?

[Roadstergal]

I joined NESBA to do their schools, and I am very happy with them.  Their track days are more well-organized than any car track day I have done.  They have three groups; beginner, intermediate, advanced.  The beginner group gets split into smaller groups of about 5, and each is assigned a control rider; an instructor who wears an orange t-shirt.  They show you the line and give you instruction with simple hand signals, and a more extensive debriefing after the session.  The Intermediate folk have a handful of control riders watching out, but aren't as closely monitored; the advanced group has no control riders (well, most of them are the control riders).

Go to NESBA.com; they let anyone who wants to ride in the first beginner session of the day for free, just to get a taste.

[aevans17]

Thanks alot, I'll check it out!