Hi all
I'm currently idly looking into a new bike.
The GS500E I have is nice, but struggles a little with 2-up riding.

I've looked at a few bikes and really narrowed it down to 3.
I thought I had it down to 2 as the new SV650 is kinda ugly.
However I then found out about the Cagiva Raptor 650.
Its a nice looking Italian built frame with an SV650 engine strapped in.

Anyone know anything much about this bike or Cagiva in general.
My main worries is build quality, rust resistance, and availability of parts.

Did you look at the SV650S? Less ugly than the naked one!  :mrgreen:

i don't know much about the Cagiva Raptor 650. my bike mag gives it 3 stars and says it's in the NU11 insurance group (not sure if your insurance works like england's).
looks nice.

did you want to go V twin for sure? once again not sure about in scotland but in england they just redid the bandit 600 and made it a bandit 650. kinda looks like a beefed up version of a gs500. same insurance group as the raptor.

this mag also lists the sv650 as being in the NU10 group (not sure how signifigent that is)
the gs500e is listed in NU7
the gs500f is listed in NU8

I'd check around online for independent reviews for the raptor. not sure if any of this helps, my knowledge in european biks is limited.
did you want to go Vtwin for sure?
and what are your preferences and prorities in a bike?

i lied, the mag also has some stats for the raptor.

top speed 129 (mph)
quarter mile in 13.9 sec at 96.7 mph
engine 645cc, v2cyl, 4v
bhp/rpm 66/8900
lb.ft/rpm 43/7400
6 speed transmission, chain final drive
fuel capacity/ range 19 liters/ 171 miles
seat height 775 mm
claimed dry weight 180 kg
wheelbase 1440 mm

Pandy:
I agreee the faired SV650 looks way better than the naked one.
Which is something as I generally far prefer naked bikes to faired ones.

Church:
I don't trust most mags review ratings.
They tend to have reviewers who like sports bikes and reviewers who like
classics and reviewers who like cruisers, but rarely do you find a reviewer
who'll give a low displacement Naked bike the time of day.
Given that a 3 (out of 5 I guess) isn't bad.

Insurance in Scotland is almost exactly the same as England, with perhaps
a few minor differences due to the different legal systems.

As I will be doing my own wrenching I'd prefer a twin to a 4 cylinder engine.
Also I'd prefer an air/oil cooled engine to a liquid cooled one.

The Bandit 650 does look nice and is one of the 3 bikes on my short list
the other is the Bandit 600. It's not as nice as the other 3 but it is a LOT cheaper. I did want an SV650 but the new frames are UGLEEEEE and the older ones while nicer they are still a bit odd looking.

get this one.

2005 Cagiva 650

Bandit 650S

SV650S

I'm thinking that Cagiva is looking good.  

Inverted forks ...  

Seems like this would be a good all-rounder ...

Kawi 650R



Maybe not great for two up but neither are the others.

i too am wary of biased bike reviews, i lust heavily after the rather unpopular (amoung magazine reviewers) bandit 1200. i suggested the bandit 650 bacause i thought it might be better with a passenger.

but that raptor is nice looking, i'd end up with a naked bandit anyway.

go with whichever feels right for you, magazine opinions and hp #'s mean nothing if a bike isn't right for you.

i must say, i envy the selection of bikes available to european riders.
good luck in your search, and keep us posted on whatever you find.

That Cagiva is as ugly as a mud fence, if you ask me.  The SV650S is better.  The B6 is better, and Kawi 650 is better.  But the Cagiva does appear to have a huge gas tank.  So that is a plus.

I like the Cagiva's looks.

Banana seats tend to be more comfy for passengers than split seats.  I'd have your passenger try them out as part of the selection process.