the SV650 is a great looking naked bike, and i've heard that it is a very versatile machine.

as far as naked bikes i would go with sv650 as well, but i heard lots of good things about honda 599 as well.....

yey, can't rule out the 599, but last i heard it was still carb, not fuel injection.

SV went to fuel injection in 03

:dunno:

yeah, the 599 looks nice though

and my bike is carb too  :dunno:

Quote from: Church6360yey, can't rule out the 599

Given that red_phil is looking for a bike you don't need to rev high for power, I'd suggest staying away from the inline fours.  sv650 would definitely be a better choice.

How about a bandit 1200

that is one inline four you wouldn't have to rev much.
1200 cc of streetfighter awesomeness

SV is still most likely a better idea, going from a limit of 33 hp to the 100+ the bandit 1200 easily makes would be quite a jump.

and the SV is more maneuverable and lighter.

SVS.  

Do a google search, there are lots of comparison reviews.  Usually SV wins the comparisons though.

Just because a bike has an I4 that DOESN'T mean it has no low end power.  

Jesus, I'm SO tired of hearing that crap.  

I have a 600 Ninja and at idle it pulls 2-3X better than the GS.  At 4-8,000 it pulls VERY well, probably 5X better than the GS.  

At 8,000+ it's an animal.  

That is what people (who actually know) are talking about.  Past 8K a normal v-twin gets left behind like the GS does.

An I4 DOES have low end power.  Anywhere from 4,000 and up it is VERY nice.  And they go insane above 8,000.  A "thumper" or a "big twin" will have SOME more pull at idle-4,000 than the I4.  It is NOT a night and day difference like going from the GS to say a 600 class sports bike.

People who want that low end power are "putters"  They ride real mellow and try to stay in a high gear ALL THE TIME.  If you like to have fun, get a sports bike.  An I4 will decimate a "normal" v-twin anytime.  Except maybe a roll-on in 6th gear doing 15mph.

NOW, a RACING v-twin is another story.

Thanks for the views.

I have looked at online reviews etc, but I wanted to see what the opinion of
GS fans were,  seeing as how I like my GS.

I think the SV is my favourite right now.
I was worried that the water cooling might complicate maintenance,
but I suppose the Bandit has double the number of Carbs and valves etc to maintain.

As I'm looking at 2nd hand bikes from around 99 both the SV and Bandit would be carbureted.

Quote from: joerockerJesus, I'm SO tired of hearing that crap.

take a deep breath and relax...i don't think i4s need any defending

Phil,

I think it's time you prowl the SVRider.Com Forum.  Search out keywords on what you fancy learning and see if it satisfies your desire for simplicity.

Seems to me that maintaining a bike with two cylinders has got to be easier than four.  No fairing is easier than with.  Lighter is more fun than heavier  Still, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  If you've got a year to think about it, you'll come to the right conculsion for you.

Enjoy...

Quote from: red_philI was worried that the water cooling might complicate maintenance,

Nah, no biggie at all.  It's easier if you have a rear stand, but it's easy even if you don't.  I changed my SV over to water, but even with coolant, the only difficult part is getting it to the recycling center.

svs over the bandit any day


- alex

I've been eyeballing the new 650 Bandit myself.  The seating position is quite a bit more upright than on the SV.  

Looks like there may be some more touring gear available for the Bandit than the SV.

Insurance is comparable based on the internet quoting I tried and the (Canadian) list prices are identical.

The SV is a mere 372 lbs.  The Bandit is 450 lbs.  I've found the GS gets blown around a bit by the trucks so the SV would be at least as bad.  The Bandit'll probably feel nicer cruising on the highways.

The SV is fuel injected whereas the Bandit is carburated.  Might give the SV the nod on this point.

I doubt you'll be doing wheelies on the Bandit.  

Any chance you can demo them both?  At the very least sit on them both for a while.  it was the sitting test that made the GS500F my choice over the Ninja EX500.

If you want an "SV for the highway", then maybe the DL650 "wee-strom" is a good bet.

From another thread i added to about the Bandit 600 vs GS:

I had a great time demo riding a 2005 650 Bandit 2 Saturdays ago.    Yeah Suzuki has updated the 600 Bandit for Canada but its not available in the US (I think). It's supposed to have about 78hp - no different than the 600 but the low and midrange torque has been increased. The frame geometry has been changed as well to make it an earier ride - so I have read. I think the rake has been increased and thus the overall length.
I don't know nuttin bout da horsies but I loved the smoooothness and the shifter! Geezs I believe if i thought hard enough about it, it would shift for me. Man was that slick - just a tap on the shifter and 'click' I'm in the next gear. No trouble finding neutral. My bike is another story and I have trouble getting out of neutral once I do get it in there. The power seemed very easy to deal with not a whole lot different from the GS. I noted that the rpm's were almost the same as the GS, just 100 or 200 less in top gear at a given speed.
It seemed pretty flickable for what I could do under the 'Demo constraint conditions' but I do think the GS has a lighter feel. The Bandit definitely was quicker, no question, but not that you would lose your grip on the bars. Wait a minute - I almost forgot the seat. It is VERY COMFY. I could ride a long way on that seat without having to do much squirmmin'. The seat and bars are adjustable on the 2005 - a little anyway.
Anyway the experience of feeling the smoothness and sound of the IL 4 was an eye opener. In a BIG way!    The comfort and additional power - all good. I know now that I will be moving up to 'something' in the not-to-distant future. If not this year then for sure next. The SVs to me is too leaned over while the SV is just not as comfortable to sit on as the bandit. I have never demo'd one though - so I have no idea what its like on the road.
Ride Safe
Dandy D

I rode a nekkid '04 SV today, and found it a striking contrast to my SVS. I dunno if it's a FI/carb thang, or a nekkid/S thang, or an '01/'04 thang, but I was surprised by how little it moved me, in the visceral sense.  Sure, it was quick, but so is my SVS - and my SVS is much, much more fun. The non-S riding position is a compromise between comfort and sportiness that I don't feel hits either. And something felt toned-down about the engine. Noise, vibration, throttle response (my '01 is downright jerky), maybe?  Just my own observation.  I was expecting to like it a lot more.  
Try the S, too, if you're test-riding...

And a good thought with the V-Strom. If you're looking for a comfy riding position, that one is straight up.

Yeah good plan on the sit test.

I quite like the position on my GS.
I thought the SV looked similar.
I have read that a better seat on the SV is required if your going on long trips.

I'll have a look into the 'wee-strom'. it's not a bike i had realy heard about before. It looks good on paper, but I'm not sure about the windshield etc.
I prefer the look of a true nakid bike with a single lamp out front, no windshield.
Thanks.