I've had the chance to get on a few more bikes this week and its got me thinking. I really miss the torquey twin engine bikes.
Ninja 500R
I helped a freind of mine pick up a 2001 Ninja500R yesterday. Two college guys loading a Kawasaki into a Toyota truck in Linden, PA (read: BFE) at a HARLEY dealership of all places... you can probably guess who the two least popular guys in the place were :lol:
He let me take it for a quick rip around the parking lot when we got it home. I have to say, its a pretty bike, but I wasn't impressed. I really liked the riding position. The pullback on the wannabe clip-on bars felt better than the tubular bars on the GS. I didn't feel any more power or control than the GS. In fact, I thought it ran a little rough and the gearbox needed an attitude adjustment, but maybe its just been neglected (after all, it was at a Harley dealership and he got a great deal I think because they were embarrased to have it on the lot).
SV650S
After my recent chain snafu and finding out how uncomfortable two-up riding is on my R6, I have to say that I'm seriously thinking about coming home to twins, so I took a spin on an SV650S once last week and again yesterday. What a great bike! I can't wait to get on one again. After checking the stats on the 04 model in Bike Magazine I realized that the SV650 delivers just as much torque as the R6 :o Obviously, the power is in a different band, but that's cool with me. She is still pullin' at 100mph. I don't get out into the twisties much anymore, and with the R6 I'm paying for performance I'll never use, since I don't go to the track.
The 650 has a cool sound and feel, and potential to really turn heads with the right aftermarket can on it. Being 180 lbs and 6'3" tall, I found the bars to be wide enough and forward enough to be comfy, but I personally feel that the front suspension is going to need some work to accomodate my riding style, but that can wait since I'm not getting out to do the pleasure riding like I used to. The seat is a little hard, but not bad, and the FI is smooooooth 8) Great gearbox, too... blows the R6 away.
I was offered a smokin' trade in at the local dealer, and I think I might take it. 8)
here are a few pics of what I'm considering... trading the 01R6 on the 04SV650S. Any comments or advice?
(http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/r/b/rbd123/GStwinpics/2004SV.jpg)
(http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/r/b/rbd123/GStwinpics/2004SV-vs-R6-front.jpg)
(http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/r/b/rbd123/GStwinpics/2004SV-vs-R6-rear.jpg)
(http://www.personal.psu.edu/staff/r/b/rbd123/GStwinpics/2004SV-vs-R6-side.jpg)
oh yes, and I should add that I finally saw the new GS500F for the first time yesterday. I didn't get to ride it, but it looked so in place shoehorned between an FZ6 and an R6 that I didn't even recognize it at first :o
The bike looks nice, the photos don't do it justice, IMHO. All it needs is lower bars and an instrument cluser on the fairing instead of the tripple and it would be a nice lookin' ride. I'm impressed. Knowing how little work Suzuki probably allocated to styling, they did a fair job. My girl wants a Ninja 500R for her first bike, I'm thinking I may try to sway her to the GS500F ;-)
How does it work out financially? Insurance, equity in bike, etc. Are you still making payments on the R6? If it works financially go for it! Will you miss the faring? What awsome decisions you have to make...
Do it. The SV -s model is a great lookin' bike IMHO. A couple of people i know have Sv's and they all love 'em. They all upgraded the front suspension. That's about it minus a rear cowl or two. It didn't get best of in Motorcyclist for nothing.
well, its a $1400 swing in the dealers favor. Suzuki lower fairings are about 400 bucks, so sometime when I come into a little more $$$ I'll get them, or maybe I can work them into the deal. I own the R6 outright and I have the cash for the deal. I'll be just about depleting my cash assets, but I have some stocks and student loans that I can lean on for fast cash if something unforseen hits me this year (hey, its better than credit card debt). I also figure that if I keep the R6 in the next year I will need new brake pads, valve check/adjustment (chaaaaching!!!!), new rear-tire and who knows what else. I figure I'd spend over 600 bucks on valve shims and tires alone this year. So considering that, the 1400 doesn't seem so bad. Man, bikes are expensive, aren't they?
Insurance is practically the same. I'm getting State Farm and their formula weighs displacement heavily, so Its about $600 per year either way for insurance. Keep in mind I don't have an auto policy with them, so my bike rate is higher :(
The torque numbers are not a suprise. Any twin compared to an I4 of similar displacement will have more torque. All in the bore & stroke.
When I had my 2002 race SV, I put on a ful M4 system. Probably the best sounding exhaust I have ever heard. About the only bike that sounds better is a TL with a M4, it is twice as awesome. I have a pic of it I can post if need be.
I found the stock suspension to be soft. I am 6'0" & 175#. I put on a GSXR Traxxion front end with a Marchesini wheel and a Penske rear, awesome ride! Tried a GSXR shock but hated it, way too soft.
OK atleast the dealers around here are unable to give those SV1000's away... 650's sell very well, the 1000's not. They also have a 02 I think TL/S new which is cheaper than the SV's... Its 5999... He says its 600 below cost and still not selling ... How much is a SV 650 BTW... 5999 too right. So My vote goes to a 1000 SV or TL... Honestly I will take a TL/S over an SV1000 anyway. That USD FE is worth the older models lower resale value.
Cool.
Srinath.