My friend Lance is almost 100% positive he's going to be buying this bike. He sat  on my GS, and decided it's a bit small for him. He wanted to buy an R6 as his first bike. I politely told him that's he's retarded, and slapped him in the head. After making him take the MSF with me, and buy a jacket, gloves, boots, and a helmet, I let him ride my GS. He likes it.. but again, too small. He asked for suggestions, I suggested the SV650 or the Kanatuna 600.... I like the SVs a lot better though. We'll probably go pick up the above bike sometime this week.

What do you guys think? Based on my limited experience with bikes, I think it's a good deal. He seems pleased. He was looking at an '04GSF for like $3800.. so I think the SV's a better deal, and he's pretty levelheaded, I doubt he'd do anything dumb with the extra power the SV has over the GS. TYIA for your input.. after I get some replies, I'll be linking him to this thread.

Alot of people have started with the SV as  first bike.  Nothing wrong as long as he stays lvl headed.  And you did a great job of makeing him take the MSF course and getting all the gear before he got a bike.

SV and the GS are both lousy starter bikes.
What if you dump it and I have had people dump them on the damn test ride ...
What if you decide you dont like it ...
What if sheite gets stolen off it when you're acting all "biker cool" at a bar ...
What if you decide you dont want the dealer monkeys work on it ...

I recomend something like a 1980's CB450 or a KZ440 or a GS 450 or whatever yamaha made then XS XJ crap ... previously owned, crashed and trashed ... AKA the cheapest POS you can find, and pay dirt dollar for it ... ride the Mofo till the wheels fall off ... and if you still want that GS or SV or whatever then buy it.
Its like the hazing before you become members of the fraternity.
You face that bike everyday and still ride, you're in it for the right reason.
You could lose your shirt ... even if you dont dump the bike .... just for the fact that market changes so much year to year. The SV is now old ... the kawi 650 is the sheite ... personally I think its cheap ass crap with a steel frame ... but its that gorgeous red ... ooooo ... BS. Parallel twin OK I like that, but all else is crap.
Cool.
Srinath.

Srinath has been hitting the crack pipe again...

I started on a CB360.  OK, well actually I bought 2 bikes at the same time the other was a 90cc Yam.  Anyway, the CB360 was a POS, but it didn't matter that I dumped it a few times.  It was just a POS that I could learn and make mistakes on.

I think that's the advice Srinath is trying to give.

I'm proud to say that my GS500 is my piece of crap to learn the ropes on 

Quote from: Mandres on July 01, 2006, 11:40:25 PM
I'm proud to say that my GS500 is my piece of crap to learn the ropes on 

Same here.  Luckily, I haven't dropped her yet.  But I do agree with Srinath.

you havent dropped her yet ..... but you will   

Take it from someone who has owned all three of those bikes (GS, R6 and SV) the SV is a fine bike to start on: a reliable bike at a reasonable price.  Don't let the 65 HP worry you.  The SV puts it down like the GS, nice and linear... very manageable.  An R6 would have been a HUGE mistake.  Good job convincing him to look elsewhere.  I say go for the SV and enjoy!

I hope to be 'The One" who doesn't lay down his bike. I've always been lucky like that.

And I realize that it is luck, not always skill that keeps us rubber side down and in one piece.

Regardless, ZX-14 or moped, be safe, be honest with yourself about your abilities and fears, and keep a cool head.

Rich "Phaedrus" may have saved me, his accident has made me look at my riding habits and realize that even riding "safe" isn't perfectly safe, nothing is. Phaedrus, always teaching us something, even in your passing you've taught me the value of life.

I've had my '05 SV650S for a week now and I'd say it's a decent starter bike. My '04 GS500F is probably a better one, but not by much. I would agree with Srinath except that an older bike might have some reliability problems. If you want to learn to work on a bike, too, that's fine. But if you want to learn to ride without a lot of hassles, a newer bike would be better.