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! :)
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. :D
Its never been crashed, never been rained on, no sun, no wind ... no nothing, garage queen.
May take gs on partial trade.
Cool.
Buddha.
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. :police:
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!).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 06:41:50 PM
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?
Quote from: StevenDavisPhoto on April 26, 2011, 06:57:34 PM
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 06:41:50 PM
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
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 02:38:42 PM
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.
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.
Quote from: NickyNumbers on April 26, 2011, 07:15:28 PM
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 02:38:42 PM
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.
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 11:47:05 AM
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.
Quote from: gregvhen on April 26, 2011, 11:06:27 PM
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 11:47:05 AM
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.
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 02:38:42 PM
Harley Sportster (I feel gross saying that, though)
This one probably isn't what you want if you're riding with guys on 600s. Some of those sportsters don't make much more power than a GS, and toss in an extra 1-200lbs and you're gonna be in the same boat. Triumph makes some pretty nice naked bikes too, either the Speed Four or newer Street Triple. Both will keep up with any 600 just fine, have all the comfort/naked bike benefits of an SV, but have way more power and a MUCH nicer suspension.
Quote from: Shaddow on April 27, 2011, 05:29:30 AM
Quote from: gregvhen on April 26, 2011, 11:06:27 PM
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 11:47:05 AM
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.
When I go for a blat through back roads its anywhere between 300 and 600 kilometres and my R6 riding mate Buddha Loves Youes like a stuck pig about the comfort. Actually when our HD riding friend comes along he is worse about the comfort on longer trips.
Nail on the head. If you ride a sport bike, your effective range of riding on the bike is ~100 miles away from home. That's a big problem for me, because so many of California's best roads are hundreds of miles away from home. I need a bike that can get me to the good roads in comfort, but that's agile enough to take advantage of them when I get there. The SV650 isn't ideal for that kind of stuff, but it's certainly serviceable.
FWIW, you're right that I abhor street racing, and I find it cringe worthy what some of those guys consider racing. Real racing is a test of skill and preparation; with street racers, it's often a question of who is willing to take the greatest risks.
Don't get me wrong... I have no problem with a good spirited ride in the right conditions, or a little burst of speed on the freeway when there are no cops around.
But, IMO... In a group ride through the twisties, there's no reason to be blasting down the straights. Enjoy the corners. Relax between em and let everyone catch up.
Quote from: gregvhen on April 26, 2011, 11:06:27 PM
Quote from: burning1 on April 26, 2011, 11:47:05 AM
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.
I don't think anyone's saying keep to the posted limit at all times, I think they're saying that if your friends are hammering it in a straight line to the point where you need to be wide open throttle on a GSXR just to stay with the group, you might be riding with the wrong group. An SV650 (or even a GS500 for that matter) can do speeds that'll get your bike impounded and earn you a court date. By all means buy a more powerful bike for the feeling you get as you twist the throttle, but a group ride would have to be sitting at speeds over 200km/h before you'd actually be in danger of being left behind cos your SV650 was too slow in a straight line.
Burning1:
For clarification, what type of bike do you call the GS500, SV650 & SV650s, GSX650, Ducati Monster and Honda 919?
Are they all Sport bikes or some Sport some Sport Tourer and some Supersport or ?
I ask so I can understand your "don't ride sport bikes on the street" concept.
I call them all Sport Bikes and with the exception of the SV650s more aggressive position, they feel comfortable enough for longer rides up near the 300m/500km range.
What I call Supersport (CBR1000, SR1000RR, R6, R1, Ninja 1000, ZX10, etc.), however, I agree. Not comfy enough for longer day rides. Though I know people who take them on longer rides, but they aren't too comfortable.
Michael
Quote from: mister on April 27, 2011, 01:44:46 PM
For clarification, what type of bike do you call the GS500, SV650 & SV650s, GSX650, Ducati Monster and Honda 919?
Are they all Sport bikes or some Sport some Sport Tourer and some Supersport or ?
I ask so I can understand your "don't ride sport bikes on the street" concept.
(Edited due to a mistake in the original post about the 919)The SV650s is a lightweight sport bike (IMO, it's on the very heavy end of lightweight.)
The 919, GS500, SV650 and Ducati Monster are standards, and cosmetically 'naked bikes.'
The GSX650 is a standard, though it looks like a sport bike.
IMO, a bike doesn't qualify as a sport tourer until it has some luggage capacity. Arguably, something with luggage and sport ergonomics is a sport tourer, but I personally add the stipulation that it has to be comfortable enough to do multiple 500 mile days.
There's nothing saying that a sport bike has to be modern E.g. a GSX-R 1100 is very old tech, but it's unquestionably a sport bike. There's nothing saying that a standard can't be wrapped in plastic and be incredibly sporty (E.g. the new Ninja 1000.)
There are other odd bikes out there too... E.g. The Honda DN-01 is unquestionably a cruiser, even though it's wrapped in plastic like a sport bike.
In my experience, on the retail market, supersport generally implies a 600cc class I4 (or 1000cc twin) sport-bike built to the leading edge production technology of the time. Superbike generally implies the same about the literbike class. Supersport and superbike obviously have different meanings to racers, and different meanings to each club, however.
Quote from: burning1 on April 27, 2011, 04:11:26 PM
Quote from: mister on April 27, 2011, 01:44:46 PM
For clarification, what type of bike do you call the GS500, SV650 & SV650s, GSX650, Ducati Monster and Honda 919?
Are they all Sport bikes or some Sport some Sport Tourer and some Supersport or ?
I ask so I can understand your "don't ride sport bikes on the street" concept.
The 919 is a sport bike, but it's on the more comfy end of sport. The SV650s is a lightweight sport bike (IMO, it's on the very heavy end of lightweight.)
The GS500, SV650 and Ducati Monster are standards, and cosmetically 'naked bikes.'
The GSX650 is a standard, though it looks like a sport bike.
IMO, a bike doesn't qualify as a sport tourer until it has some luggage capacity. Arguably, something with luggage and sport ergonomics is a sport tourer, but I personally add the stipulation that it has to be comfortable enough to do multiple 500 mile days.
There's nothing saying that a sport bike has to be modern E.g. a GSX-R 1100 is very old tech, but it's unquestionably a sport bike. There's nothing saying that a standard can't be wrapped in plastic and be incredibly sporty (E.g. the new Ninja 1000.)
There are other odd bikes out there too... E.g. The Honda DN-01 is unquestionably a cruiser, even though it's wrapped in plastic like a sport bike.
In my experience, on the retail market, supersport generally implies a 600cc class I4 (or 1000cc twin) sport-bike built to the leading edge production technology of the time. Superbike generally implies the same about the literbike class. Supersport and superbike obviously have different meanings to racers, and different meanings to each club, however.
Never heard the term Standard.
Ok. So my upright riding position 919 is a Sport bike but cause it has luggage it's a Sport Tourer, while the GS with more forward leaning is a standard so when I add luggage it becomes a Standard Tourer?
Man, that's just confusing. But makes me ask, what defines a bike as a Sport bike vs a Standard? Maybe it's a different POV based on our localities and how we culturally consider a bike to be :dunno_black:
To me...
Sport - GS500/F, Honda 919, SV650/s GSX650, Gladius, Z750, FZ6, FZ8, etc.
Supersport - CBR1000, SR1000RR, R1, R6, CBR600, ZX9, etc.
I guess, by default, my take is, if it ain't a Supersport then it's plain sport. And the Sports all seem to have a common element - they may have a link with a Racing version of the bike but they have been de/retuned for more street use and the riding position is often, but not always, less aggressive.
Michael
Sorry, I confused the 919 with the Honda 954rr. The 919 is a naked standard, just like the GS500. The 954rr is a sport bike.
In stock form, the GS500 is very much a standard. If you go directly from a GSX-R 600 to the GS500, the difference is immediately obvious; the bars are higher, and closer to the rider. The pegs are lower and more forward. The terms aren't absolute, either... There can be some crossover.
Things get more confusing when you start looking at bikes that have been ergonomically/aesthetically modified, and when you start paying attention to manufacturers terms. Manufacuters seem to take issue with the terms 'naked' and 'standard,' and have renamed many of their standards as 'sport bikes' and their naked bikes as 'streetfighters.'
Generally, I wouldn't slap bags on a sport bike and call it a sport tourer as it leads to confusion. E.g. if someone asked what your 919 is, and you told them that it was a sport tourer, they would rightfully assume that it came from the factory that way. I'd instead say that the 919 is a naked bike I modified for touring. Added confusion is that sport tourer usually implies ergonomics similar to a standard, but more sporty than a full on touring bike.
The term standard comes from the days of the Universal Japanese Model (UJM) where pretty much every bike on the market was a 'standard.' Positions tended to be very upright, bodywork was rare. In the 80s, sport bikes started becoming popular, and the term standard was used to differentiate the UJM from the sport bike. These days it's a good way to speak about the ergonomics of the bike... To imply that it's a solid all-rounder, that can be used for sporty riding, touring, or street duty - just like the UJMs of old.
I guess standard is an American thing. I break bikes down into 5 categories....
Standard: Naked styling, no fairings, upright position, no clip ons (sort of)
Sport: Your basic faired street legal "race" bike
Cruiser: Harleys and such
Tourer: Goldwing and anything with intended luggage.
Dual purpose: Goes on dirt and road
Some bikes fit those perfectly, and some are in between.
As for the OPs question. Im dreaming of a SV650s so that would be my choice. If will be faster and definitely keep up most of the time. It also comes down to the type of engine you like to ride. Some people hate twins and love I4s like a friend of mine but i prefer a twin.
For me bike classes depend on how the insurance company views them. Cruiser, Sport Tourer, Supersport. After all, they set the rates
I would see if I could find a bike with more performance but without the higher insurance premium.
For instance, up here according to insurance the SV1000 is a sport-tourer, while the VTR1000F Superhawk is a sport bike.
You may be able to get something bigger for less if you ask your insurance broker/agent some questions.
If you want to keep up when your friends are twisting the throttle, maybe check out an 'older' CBR929/954RR, that may have a little better ergonomics for riding distance than the 600RR for you.
On the other hand, the SV650 already has 60% more power than your GS500 did, and it's popular for a reason. The 2005+ model has the twin-plug head, so a little better gas mileage on top of an already great middleweight sport bike.
A note on the SV650's, the 2003 model was a bastard year. It looks like the '04 up models but a lot of parts are '03 specific. Keep that in mind if you go that direction.
-Jessie
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on April 28, 2011, 03:48:29 AM
A note on the SV650's, the 2003 model was a bastard year. It looks like the '04 up models but a lot of parts are '03 specific. Keep that in mind if you go that direction.
-Jessie
Plus fuel injection after 03 too.
Quote from: Twism86 on April 28, 2011, 05:42:14 AM
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on April 28, 2011, 03:48:29 AM
A note on the SV650's, the 2003 model was a bastard year. It looks like the '04 up models but a lot of parts are '03 specific. Keep that in mind if you go that direction.
-Jessie
Plus fuel injection after 03 too.
I thought '03 was the first year of FI? I know the frame on the 03 was unique.
Yes 03 had FI too. But Baltimore mentioned other issues too so I guess considering an 04+ is best.
I don't really know where I would draw the line between a sport bike or standard anymore. It just seems like all standard bikes are influenced by sportbikes because that's what's so popular now. I tend to think of riding as an activity/sport, so any bike that's made with the intension of riding just for the fun of it, is something I would consider a sportbike. I still consider something like a triumph bonneville a standard. Basically something that's styled like a cruiser, just not as long and heavy. I feel like the bikes companies are selling as "standards" are still just lower budget and less aggressive sportbikes. I don't see why a fairing would factor at all into whether or not something is a sport bike. All that determines is how much a rider likes to deal with wind. My xb9s is the same exact bike as an xb9r except it has different handlebars, different headlight fairing, and a 1 piece seat instead of plastic and 2 seats. I don't see why me being positioned 5 degrees more upright makes it any less of a sportbike when I ride exactly the same way I would otherwise.
Supersport, superbike, race bike.. those are all terms that only certain bikes fit in, but if you ride a bike in a sporty manner, then it's a sportbike. I think it's one of those "all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares" situations.
Wasn't it 04+ had the twin front rotors as well and previous had single :dunno_black:
Quote from: tt_four on April 28, 2011, 11:47:17 AM
I think it's one of those "all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares" situations.
And the poor oblong misses out again, as does the rhombus. Meanwhile the polygon is furious it has been neglected and the quadrilateral has just drunk itself into a stupor in its depression over it all.
Michael
Quote from: mike__R on April 28, 2011, 05:49:54 AM
Quote from: Twism86 on April 28, 2011, 05:42:14 AM
Quote from: BaltimoreGS on April 28, 2011, 03:48:29 AM
A note on the SV650's, the 2003 model was a bastard year. It looks like the '04 up models but a lot of parts are '03 specific. Keep that in mind if you go that direction.
-Jessie
Plus fuel injection after 03 too.
I thought '03 was the first year of FI? I know the frame on the 03 was unique.
Correct, '03 is fuel injected. The frame and some other parts are unique to the '03 model year which makes replacement parts harder to find and some aftermarket parts aren't compatible. '04 up are pretty interchangeable but there are still some changes like the dual plugs in later years. I like the tubular look of the frame on the original SV650's. They may be carbureted but they are not known to have any major carb issues. I still have an '06 SV650 that has been a decent bike. The stock handling/suspension is a bit lack luster but if you are used to the GS it will probably feel pretty good. My favorite bike I have owned was a '96 CBR600F3 back when it was still a new bike. As much as I loved that bike I think now I would opt for a nice used F4i with a banana seat that hadn't been dogged to bad. As far as new bikes, I have always liked Katanas so I would consider a GSX650F. And as much as I have been disappointed with my previous Yamaha ownership experiences I would consider the new FZ8.
-Jessie