GS500 owner looking to upgrade - need input!

[impulse816]

Okay so I currently ride a gs500f and I've got 2 years experience on it but recently I've decided I may want to upgrade. The 2 bikes I like the most are the cbr600 and the sv650. I have no problem with the 500 except I do a lot of highway commuting and I sometimes feel as if I lack the power if I needed to really get on it and get out of danger. Also I do a lot of group riding with people who have 600s or better and I sometimes have trouble keeping up with them when they ride really hard.

Talked to progressive today and insurance would go up about 777$ a year (full coverage 500 deductable) on the cbr and only 154 a year on the sv.

The cbr I would probably be looking at 2007 or 2008 since there is a few in the area and the sv I probably cold get new or slightly used.

I'm looking for input from people who own or have ridden these bikes I'll try and test ride each today at the dealers. I'm leaning toward a sv650 from a financial standpoint but would it keep up with 600s in group rides assuming we are riding pretty hard? Also a lot of people on here talk about the SV650 and make it seem like a logical step after the 500. I like the new models and they are very affordable for me in my current financial situation. Thanks for the help! 

[The Buddha]

A GSXR600 would just about outrun an sv1000 under nearly any situation, so a 650 has no chance.
So I'd say to run with a 600 4 cyl crowd you need a 600 4 cyl or atleast a 1000 V twin. To be exact my sv1000 v twin. 5G and its yours. 
Its never been crashed, never been rained on, no sun, no wind ... no nothing, garage queen.
May take gs on partial trade.
Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

They're definitely 2 different bikes, but an SV will keep up with 600s in a lot of situations. It depends what you're doing. If they're going down the highway with spirts at 120-130mph you'd definitely want the cbr. If you stick to back roads and just want the ability to keep up with them when they take off on short straights, the SV would be fine. What kind of highway riding do you do? The SV would make a better and more comfortable cruiser in that sense. The cbr would definitely be stronger on the highway, but you'd have to decide if you could take the riding position if you're going to be on the highway for a long time. If you don't have good self control the cbr will get you in trouble on the highway too.   

That's really a choice only you can make. If you're looking to get serious about group rides and sportbikes I'd get the cbr(05-06 is my favorite!).

[burning1]

If your friends are gunning it down the straights, I'd consider riding with a different group.

SV650 would be my suggestion, but you really need to decide for yourself. I personally don't enjoy riding sport bikes on the street, but I'm a more serious rider than most.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

my best friend has a CBR600 and it's a fast little machine, but it's not very comfortable for long riding days. i personally prefer the more upright seating positions. when i upgrade i'll probably go the sv650 route.

[The Buddha]

Yes SV make a much better street bike. I was working on the virago yesterday, and one guy riding a ZX6R stopped by, and he was surprised at how much more comfy the sv is. In a way that is also what makes it a worse track bike. Just the air you catch from an extra 2 inch higher grips and 2 inch lower pegs has to more than count for the difference.
Cool.
Buddha.

[impulse816]

I think the SV650 will be the one I end up with. It just makes more sense all around. I don't need a race bike for the streets thats going to cost me more to insure for 6 years than the cost of the SV. I think I may have worded the riding with friends part wrong. We aren't doing 70 everywhere diving in and out of traffic but when they get on it from a stop or get on the highway in general I get left behind. The twisties I was able to hang pretty comfortably. Most of my riding is curvy back roads, not racetracks.

[mister]

When I ride with a group that wants to gun it, I wave bye bye as they disappear in front of me and I sit on the speed I am comfortable with - and that's riding a Honda 919. When I arrive at the next stop it's only a couple minutes behind. And if it's a refill stop, they are still lining up to refill or filling up. (Them being in front by a ways also means any cops coming the other way will get them and be busy with them by the time I come through.)

If they are on 600 supersports, like the CBR600, I'd go for something more than the SV650. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice bike and if you Work it you'll keep up with them. But I think a Z750 will do it easier - assuming you get them stateside and can handle the rock hard seat. But having said this, I don't know what you experience when you ride with them. Yes, you describe it, but that's not experiencing it. So take a SV650 for a spin, accelerate like you normally do when riding with them and see if it cuts the mustard.

Take some other bikes for a spin too. GSX650, Z750, FZ6, just for comparison.

Michael

[burning1]

There are plenty of good, inexpensive, street oriented I4s you can chose from as well. The FZ1 for instance, is less expensive to buy than a lot of the supersports, and every bit as capable.

Bikes to look at:

Twin:

Ducati Monster*
Ducati Multistrada*
Suzuki SV650/SV1000
Kawasaki 650
Buell Lightning*
Buell Ulysses*
BMW R series*
Harley Sportster (I feel gross saying that, though)

Four:
Yamaha FZ6/FZ8*/FZ1*
Suzuki Bandit 1250
Honda Interceptor* (V4, FTW)
BMW K1200R series*

* Indicates a bike with a modern suspension, perfectly capable of keeping up with a modern 600


Plenty of others that didn't cross my mind.

[mike__R]

Well I ride a SV650S among other bikes and that might be my favorite to ride......Whether that will fit in with your buddies or not is another story.

[Twisted]

I would go with the SV650 or Buddha's SV1000. I myself went with a Ducati Monster 1000. Was a perfect step up. Nothing crazy. I would guess a CB600rr would only be good for spirited rides on the weekends. Not really an everyday bike.

[BaltimoreGS]

I have had SV's and CBR's and they are 2 completely different animals.  If you want to run with the I4's then I would say the CBR is the way to go.  They are just great all around bikes.  I would recommend checking out an F4i though, they are more comfortable than the RR's (especially the banana seat models!).

-Jesise

[burning1]

You miss out on so much riding a sport bike. Did ~600 miles this weekend. There are plenty of popular motorcycling roads in the bay area, but the best roads, the ones that you can have all to yourself on a weekend, the ones that only end after you're thoroughly satisfied, the ones with character... All hundreds of miles away.

[StevenDavisPhoto]

You miss out on so much riding a sport bike. Did ~600 miles this weekend. There are plenty of popular motorcycling roads in the bay area, but the best roads, the ones that you can have all to yourself on a weekend, the ones that only end after you're thoroughly satisfied, the ones with character... All hundreds of miles away.

so what would u suggest instead?

[Twisted]

You miss out on so much riding a sport bike. Did ~600 miles this weekend. There are plenty of popular motorcycling roads in the bay area, but the best roads, the ones that you can have all to yourself on a weekend, the ones that only end after you're thoroughly satisfied, the ones with character... All hundreds of miles away.

so what would u suggest instead?

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=55937.msg633257#msg633257

[NickyNumbers]

There are plenty of good, inexpensive, street oriented I4s you can chose from as well. The FZ1 for instance,

There was an 2007 FZ-1 with 2000 miles on it for 5k at my local dealership this past year.  They couldn't move the thing.  I was so tempted to pick it up but I barely had 6 months under the GS so I felt like I was maybe upgrading too quickly though.


That bike is great.  The ergo's fit me perfectly and it looks sharp as hell.  Definitely a looker and they can be had at a more affordable price than the Ducati's.  I love the monster, but the price tag puts me off.  I don't like the service interval either. 

[Suzuki Stevo]

After over 25 bikes in about twice that many years I would highly recommend a GSX650F...it is one of the best all around bikes I have owned. Personally I would choose a V-Strom over an SV (and I did) but then I ride all day in the saddle, the 5.8 gallon tank is a plus also on the Wee Strom.

[Twisted]

There are plenty of good, inexpensive, street oriented I4s you can chose from as well. The FZ1 for instance,

There was an 2007 FZ-1 with 2000 miles on it for 5k at my local dealership this past year.  They couldn't move the thing.  I was so tempted to pick it up but I barely had 6 months under the GS so I felt like I was maybe upgrading too quickly though.


That bike is great.  The ergo's fit me perfectly and it looks sharp as hell.  Definitely a looker and they can be had at a more affordable price than the Ducati's.  I love the monster, but the price tag puts me off.  I don't like the service interval either.  

The Ducati service thing is a bit of a myth TBH. I service my Ducati at the same intervals as my GS. Only difference is a set of belts for the Ducati every 2 years or 20,000 kms and a valve check every 12,000kms which like on the GS can be done yourself. Stick with the two valve engines and its not much more than owning a Jap bike. The four valve motors are a bit more labour intensive. I picked my Monster up for about $1000 more than an SV650 here in Australia. Figured the better suspension and brakes was probably worth that extra. The Buells have self adjusting valves if you were interested in a V twin.

[gregvhen]

If your friends are gunning it down the straights, I'd consider riding with a different group.

SV650 would be my suggestion, but you really need to decide for yourself. I personally don't enjoy riding sport bikes on the street, but I'm a more serious rider than most.

Why so serious? Can you honestly tell me you never speed on the streets? that's a bummer cause it's pretty fun.

[Shaddow]

If your friends are gunning it down the straights, I'd consider riding with a different group.

SV650 would be my suggestion, but you really need to decide for yourself. I personally don't enjoy riding sport bikes on the street, but I'm a more serious rider than most.

Why so serious? Can you honestly tell me you never speed on the streets? that's a bummer cause it's pretty fun.

Got to remember some people prefer to actually race on a track, as a result they don't usually think much of people racing on a street. (I am putting words in someone's mouth here).
I regularly ride these days with an R6 and I can tell you come the back roads the 500 is almost good enough to match it. If I was a bit more confident and could corner better I'd have him more often. There is a vast difference in our experience, he being a bike person from the start and myself a car nut first and foremost. In that respect I'd go the SV650 for the extra comfort on the longer trips. When I go for a blat through back roads its anywhere between 300 and 600 kilometres and my R6 riding mate bitches like a stuck pig about the comfort. Actually when our HD riding friend comes along he is worse about the comfort on longer trips.