Talk me into or out of buying another bike?

[kyle_99_gtp]

Disclaimer: Unneeded history follows. Skip to the bottom to get to the point

Hey everyone, been a long time since I've been on here (I don't expect anyone to remember me, I lurked more than I posted). It's been about a year since I sold my R6 and even longer since I sold the GS so I haven't had much reason to come around, but now I'm considering getting another bike. I'd probably be looking at 03+ SV's this time around. My first bike was an 04 GS500F and I liked it because it was very cheap to insure, to fill up, and it was comfortable. I added a few things to it (It was stock when I got it) but nothing made any real difference.



It was a great first bike but left me wanting more. I used to work at a motorcycle dealership as a reconditioner so I got to ride a ton of different bikes. One day I decided that an R6 wouldn't be too bad of a bike to own, so I found one and bought it. It was a blast, it had a full Yoshimura system and I added a GYT-R filter and PCIII USB, integrated tail, shorty levers, sliders, etc. I loved the R6 but it just wasn't comfortable, especially to ride with my girlfriend as passenger.

The R6:


I sold it to get money to put towards a Subaru, I don't regret doing this at all. The STi is fun ALL year round

Picture for anyone interested:





However, I've started to miss riding, and it would be nice to have something to keep miles off the STi when I can. I rode a few SV's when I worked at the dealership and I really liked how comfortable they are. The looks of the SV650S/F/whatever the full fairing model is called are right up my alley (I don't like the looks of the Gladius, Ninja 650, FZ6, etc). I feel like the SV would be a lot more comfortable for a passenger as well.









The point:

Here are my thoughts. I'm looking for opinions, so please feel free to try to persuade me one way or the other. Either option is going to cost me about the same up front, so cost is not an issue. I've been saving my pennies and have a budget of around $3K.

Option 1: Put the money into the car.
The STi is quick (let's not compare cars to bikes here), but it's got a lot of room to grow. I've already done a lot of work to make the car handle well, it's ready to do some trackdays/autocrossing. Motor wise I've only done a turbo back exhaust and a tune. I can buy a larger intercooler, larger turbo, injectors, fuel pump, retune, etc to get to around 400 AWHP and have an extremely fun car.

OR

Option 2: Buy a SV650. This has advantages and disadvantages, which I've listed.
Pros:
- I kept all my gear, nothing is needed except insurance and a bike.
- Saves gas over daily driving the STi.
- Keeps miles off the STi (big deal to me).
- An exciting drive is no where near as exciting as a good bike trip.
- I do miss riding. My dad rides as well and it was nice to have a riding buddy.

Cons:
- Extra insurance policy. Cost isn't a huge problem (My R6 was only $309/year for full coverage plus lots of extra coverage, the GS was 86/year fully insured), but it's in addition to the car insurance.
- This is Ohio. I can't shake the feeling that if I buy a bike, it will rain. Every day.
- Can't enjoy the bike in the winter.
- Time. I work 2 jobs and am going to school full time (done in less than a year). I don't want the bike to just become a utilitarian thing that just gets ridden to work and school to keep the car parked, but that could very well happen.
- The STi doesn't get any faster. I'm planning on going to some trackdays, and I'd like to be able to impress myself. Maybe the slower car will give me a chance to improve my driving, but I'd rather have 400 at all 4 wheels than 290 at all 4.



So there it is. If you were in my situation, what would you do?

[BaltimoreGS]

If you have the money, I'd say go for a bike.  Even my fastest car doesn't compare to the thrill of my slowest bike.  I would also say to avoid the '03 model SV650.  While it looks the same as the '04-up model it has a lot of one year only components.

-Jessie

[Paulcet]

Me?  I'd go for the bike. 

But for you?  Have you done SCCA Autocross?  Or track days?  If not, just do one or two before you decide. 

[kyle_99_gtp]

If you have the money, I'd say go for a bike.  Even my fastest car doesn't compare to the thrill of my slowest bike.  I would also say to avoid the '03 model SV650.  While it looks the same as the '04-up model it has a lot of one year only components.

-Jessie

Good tip on the 03 model. I just know that's when they updated the fairing and it got F.I.

Out of curiosity, what's the trouble with 03's?

[kyle_99_gtp]

Me?  I'd go for the bike. 

But for you?  Have you done SCCA Autocross?  Or track days?  If not, just do one or two before you decide. 

I have not driven in either, but I've been to both and really want to try both. I've drag raced (at a track) the STi and my previous cars but straight lines are no fun

[BaltimoreGS]

If you have the money, I'd say go for a bike.  Even my fastest car doesn't compare to the thrill of my slowest bike.  I would also say to avoid the '03 model SV650.  While it looks the same as the '04-up model it has a lot of one year only components.

-Jessie

Good tip on the 03 model. I just know that's when they updated the fairing and it got F.I.

Out of curiosity, what's the trouble with 03's?

Not "trouble" per se, just makes it hard to find some parts since not everything is interchangeable with the '04-up.  Can't remember specific parts at the moment but I remember reading that when I was researching SV's.  Have you checked out http://www.svrider.com/forum/  ?  There's lots of info there (and probably where I read about the '03's).  I have an '06 and it's not a bad bike but definitely not the best bike I have ever owned.  I'm still a big fan of the '04-06 CBR600 F4i's.  Decently fast, predictable handling, reliable and a comfortable banana style seat.  Oh yea, stock SV seat is horrible!!  Sargeant makes a nice gel replacement.  And get your girl to sit on the SV rear seat, Adfalchius did not dig mine. I ended up having Jared make a custom gel one.

-Jessie

[kyle_99_gtp]

Not "trouble" per se, just makes it hard to find some parts since not everything is interchangeable with the '04-up.  Can't remember specific parts at the moment but I remember reading that when I was researching SV's.  Have you checked out http://www.svrider.com/forum/  ?  There's lots of info there (and probably where I read about the '03's).  I have an '06 and it's not a bad bike but definitely not the best bike I have ever owned.  I'm still a big fan of the '04-06 CBR600 F4i's.  Decently fast, predictable handling, reliable and a comfortable banana style seat.  Oh yea, stock SV seat is horrible!!  Sargeant makes a nice gel replacement.  And get your girl to sit on the SV rear seat, Adfalchius did not dig mine. I ended up having Jared make a custom gel one.

-Jessie

Ooooh I am familiar with the F4i, I forgot about those..hmmmmm. Might not be as cheap as a SV to insure though. I've lurked SVrider a lot but haven't signed up yet. Thanks for the info though!

[mister]

The SV650s has a more aggressive riding position than the SV650n. The naked is more upright, like a GS, the Sport version with half fairing sees you leaning quite far forward. not the most ideal bike for commuting I feel.

Michael

[BaltimoreGS]

No problem.  I see lots of the '01-03 F4i's on craigslist but not that many '04-06 models.  Guess most people opted for the 600 RR those years.  The '01-03 have a stepped seat that I think is less comfortable (but looks better to most people).

-Jessie

[tt_four]

My recommendation is a bike, and if you're looking for something in that general class of 600s, the SV is definitely the way to go. I almost bought one back in 03, but the dealership was taking too long to get the bikes in, and I ended up buying that triumph speed four only $700 more($6400 vs $5700), which was a good deal because the triumph was WAY more than $700 more bike. I've always loved the SVs though, and if I wanted a bike just to commute on, that's probably what I'd pick. My soft spot is for the first generation sv650s though, such a good looking bike. To be honest though, if I went for it, I'd try to find a tl1000s instead. 

If you hate putting the extra miles on your car now, you'll want to do it even less after you put $3k into it. I'm at the point that I really dislike owning nice things because you start getting into that game where you feel like you need to preserve them more than you need to enjoy them, by doing things like keeping the miles down. I also hated when my bike wasn't running, and the truck was my only transportation. I love driving it, but I always had to try to justify driving places. You'd want something from the store that only cost $10, but have to decide whether it was worth the half hour drive each way to get to that specific store, not to mention just because something you've wanted is on sale doesn't mean it's worth the trip because you'd spend more in gas than you'd save buying it. With the bike you don't even give that stuff a second thought because it costs you $2 for the round trip and you had more fun than you know what to do with the whole way there and back.

If you've never done any kind of autocross racing before, I don't know that you need the extra 140hp to get started. If it was anything but a subaru, I'd just tell you to sell the car, and pair up with a motorcycle and a truck, that's my current combo and it's great, but... I do happen to have a thing for subaru's, so I'll let it slide haha. If I was looking for a car instead of a truck, I would've bought a subaru wrx.

[redhawkdancing]

(My R6 was only $309/year for full coverage plus lots of extra coverage

Whew...nice price! 

[The Buddha]

SV is a good bike. But if yo ucan get a ninja 650 and they should be cheaper than the sv cos they start rusting and their resale value drops like a rock, get one of those ... parallel twin, much better IMHO than a V.
Cool.
Buddha.

[xunedeinx]

Something good, reliable, powerful, cheap to insure, and comfortable with awesome looks and good handling?



Honda VFR800.

[The Buddha]

VFR 800 - I never liked the honda's that dont have a proper frame - the swingarm pivot needs to be in the frame, not just in the engine cases.
CBR929, 954, the super hawk/vtr1000, and the vfr800 are the few examples of this brain freeze of honda.
Cool.
Buddha.

[SAFE-T]

I'd take the VFR over the SV for what you want ~ should be able to find an '01 for your price

[kyle_99_gtp]

I'm not real big on the looks of the single swingarm of the VFR. I definitely don't like the Ninja 650 either, We had them at the dealership I used to work at and they never did anything for me. I grew up riding Yamaha dirtbikes and quads, I'd like to get another but the FZ6r doesn't do anything for me either. I really like the Street Triple but theyre out of my price range, and if I'm buying a Triumph it's going to be a Daytona, but that's not practical either. The SV is the best looking bike in my mind that's in my price range. I should also add that I'm set on getting something that's fuel injected again, tuning the R6 with the PCIII was much easier than messing with the carbs on the GS.

[kyle_99_gtp]

My recommendation is a bike, and if you're looking for something in that general class of 600s, the SV is definitely the way to go. I almost bought one back in 03, but the dealership was taking too long to get the bikes in, and I ended up buying that triumph speed four only $700 more($6400 vs $5700), which was a good deal because the triumph was WAY more than $700 more bike. I've always loved the SVs though, and if I wanted a bike just to commute on, that's probably what I'd pick. My soft spot is for the first generation sv650s though, such a good looking bike. To be honest though, if I went for it, I'd try to find a tl1000s instead. 

If you hate putting the extra miles on your car now, you'll want to do it even less after you put $3k into it. I'm at the point that I really dislike owning nice things because you start getting into that game where you feel like you need to preserve them more than you need to enjoy them, by doing things like keeping the miles down. I also hated when my bike wasn't running, and the truck was my only transportation. I love driving it, but I always had to try to justify driving places. You'd want something from the store that only cost $10, but have to decide whether it was worth the half hour drive each way to get to that specific store, not to mention just because something you've wanted is on sale doesn't mean it's worth the trip because you'd spend more in gas than you'd save buying it. With the bike you don't even give that stuff a second thought because it costs you $2 for the round trip and you had more fun than you know what to do with the whole way there and back.

If you've never done any kind of autocross racing before, I don't know that you need the extra 140hp to get started. If it was anything but a subaru, I'd just tell you to sell the car, and pair up with a motorcycle and a truck, that's my current combo and it's great, but... I do happen to have a thing for subaru's, so I'll let it slide haha. If I was looking for a car instead of a truck, I would've bought a subaru wrx.

I love my Subaru, haha. Part of me wants to not care about the miles, just drive the thing for what it's worth and enjoy it, then sometime down the road buy a stock, low-mileage, World Rally Blue STi (what I wanted, but I couldn't pass up the deal I got on the black one) and keep the miles off of it.

I miss riding though, so I'm not sure what the best plan is.

[Slack]

Get the bike.
-you know you want to ride again
-the savings in gas will be more then the cost of insurance if you ride to work regularly
-you can keep miles off of your car
-did I mention you get to ride again!
-your car has plenty of power to plaster a grin on your face all day long at a track day.  The first track day I went to I was driving a 100 fwhp civic.  It was amazing!  My face hurt at the end of the day because I had been smiling so hard for so long.
-plus, having more hp will only slow your learning curve on the track, just like on a bike.

[xunedeinx]

Get the bike.
-you know you want to ride again
-the savings in gas will be more then the cost of insurance if you ride to work regularly
-you can keep miles off of your car
-did I mention you get to ride again!
-your car has plenty of power to plaster a grin on your face all day long at a track day.  The first track day I went to I was driving a 100 fwhp civic.  It was amazing!  My face hurt at the end of the day because I had been smiling so hard for so long.
-plus, having more hp will only slow your learning curve on the track, just like on a bike.

True story.

My first auto-x event was in my pretty heavially modded SL2. Yes, thats a SATURN SL2. Was putting 180 to the wheels.

Was FUN, and people with 2x the power of me were careening around corners and putting down slower laps. More power isnt always the answer, and being a subaru owner myself, a well planned and set up suspension will do more than a new turbo.

Keep in mind bigger turbo + boost = higher powerband and more lag, something you don't want around a track!

[SAFE-T]

Get the bike. You can always sell it later if you change your mind ~ try that with the parts you put on your car.

Secondly, If you mod the car to make more power, what's the use if you don't drive it harder ? Sounds like a recipe to damage stuff and spend even more money.