how does the bike's price compare to a non crashed sv650 with equivalent miles? it had better be damn cheap! I always fear a front end crash will lead to frame problems. At the very least you'll have to ride the thing, and fast, and brake fast on the front brake hard...etc. Then have it checked out.
You may not 'save' any money compared to another bike and frankly I personally wouldnt buy ANY bike crashed in such a way at speed.

Pantablo speaks with great wisdom about crashed bikes, like him I would not knowingly buy such a bike. however if the prospective insurer is Ok with it, it's your decision, your money and hopefully not your hide.
The SV is a brill bike so good luck if you go with it but I'd look for a clean one even if it's a bit older.

Quote from: Cal PricePantablo speaks with great wisdom about crashed bikes....

is that a slam? Nice one.

IMO:  Stay away from crashed bike.  I believe that the probability of things going wrong are WAY higher than that of things going right.

You will kick yourself in the ass from here to next christmas if you buy it and it sucks.

IMO.

Check out all the welds and cast joints in the frame, particularly where the head stock joins the top frame tubes.  Look for evidence of fine cracks or, worse, paint that has been used to cover cracks.

I bought a builder SV a couple months back...no regrets whatsoever!  These are absolutely fantastic bikes, and a good step-up from the GS.  check the frame indeed.  Ask if there's been any frame work done to the bike.  A good bike shop with the proper equipment can do a brilliant job of frame straightening.

WHOA!!! It's one thing to straighten a steel frame.  But an SV650 has an aluminum frame and when bent it work-hardens and can become very brittle (trust me, two metallurgy Ph.Ds in my family).  I would DEFINITLEY simply pass.  Picture yourself driving down the highway with, and then suddenly without, an intact frame, and the answer will reveal itself, Grasshopper.

I saw a 1991 Bandit 600 with 5000 miles on it for $3000.00 today.  You might want to keep looking  

Ya I bought it. I've noticed the forks are slightly bent or at least appear it when I'm riding, but I can't tell other than when I look down and see the center isn't exactly in-line with the key hole. They work spot on with no rubbing etc so he's had much of it replaced. It goes in a straight line so maybes its just me or the fairing putting me off.

The bike otherwise is awesome and the aftermarket exhaust makes one hell of a noise. Pisses on the Gs500 in every respect.

$3000 for a 91 bandit? Bah, my $3000 SV is a 1999 with 3500 miles on the clock. Your 91 was probably crashed at some point as well.

Andy.

Quote$3000 for a 91 bandit? Bah, my $3000 SV is a 1999 with 3500 miles on the clock. Your 91 was probably crashed at some point as well.

Andy.

Bah, your $3000 SV is crashed at high speed and has an aluminium frame.  

Buy a sheet of aluminium and fold it.  Notice the hairline cracks that appear only after folding it one time. Fold it back and notice how soft the aluminum has become.

Look at your frame, it has lots of welds. All these welds are potential weak spots after a high speed crash.  Think of  what happens when the frame is put under a lot of stress like when accelerating or emergency braking.

Even if every bike that's 10 years old would have been crashed, the bandit and the GS would survive this better because they have a heavy steel frame :lol:

Conclusion: The GS PISSES on the SV because the GS has a durable heavy steel frame!   Heavy steel frames rule!  :nana:

Besides, for $3000 you can pick up an older sportbike (Like a CBR1000F). That would really piss off your hairline-cracked SV. [/b]

Quote from: ac_nvmax
$3000 for a 91 bandit? Bah, my $3000 SV is a 1999 with 3500 miles on the clock. Your 91 was probably crashed at some point as well.

Andy.

Not necessarily.

Oh, and you can pick up NEW 02 bandit 1200's for $5000. That would piss on your SV any day.

Be very cautious of salvage SVs. Here in California, salvage SVs are bought and rebuilt as solo race bikes for track use, and are very popular. However, that's usually done by folks who know what to look for. There can be a lot of internal damage to the tripple clamp bearings and frame damage that can't be seen or felt unless ridden at higher speeds. Even then, its a dangerous option unless you have visually inspected the bike before it got fixed up. I wouldn't recommend it.

Quote from: FastdogI saw a 1991 Bandit 600 with 5000 miles on it for $3000.00 today.  You might want to keep looking  

I saw this bike at a meet; so I doubt it was wrecked!   I have also seen Bandit 1200's for $5000 brand-new!

Geez you guys are being hard on the guy's new bike!

First off, aluminum doesn't necessarily work harden, soften, or crack when bent, even when bent pretty severely. Lots of aircraft parts (I am an aeronautical engineer) and even the Audi A8 are made from formed sheet aluminum. I regularly make aluminum brackets for my race bike by bending up aluminum parts. If the welds are decent, there is little chance there is craking at the welds. The SV welds look pretty good.

Aluminum frames are more likely to get tweaked than steel ones, because they can be designed closer to the actual riding stress requirements without being too thin for buckling. They can be straightened, but not as easily as steel frames.

Steering head bearings are easily replaced if necessary, and usually give outward signs of damage - steering notchiness or a wobble.

It was only a class C writeoff meaning cosmetic and a little damage front end. He destroyed all the plastics on it. He came over a bridge with blind corner and locked the brakes, it was not such a high speed crash and most damage done as SV travelled through varous hedges. I've checked the frame quickly and no damage.

BTW, Im 20yrs old so anything over 650cc is not viable insurance wise, that includes the 4 cylinder 600cc's.

Previous owner was riding about for 2 yrs after the crash. I've done 120mph so far, it'll do 140mph cause of the extra 5 bhp exhaust.

Here's some pointers for those that love the GS500 and think it's a godly bike. First, I've had one and driven it for a year. It's too heavy and the brakes are totally crap. Secondly its ugly, the K1 +'s are ok but nothing compared to the SV. As for reliablility, I was happy with the engine but not the rest. The bike rusts easily.

Face facts, Suzuki are tweaking a bike with origins from the 60's. By the GS 1995 model that I have they still had not fixed the crappo front suspension (think bouncy castle).

Those that think I'm talking bullshit, go ride an SV and come back.

AC, you need to chill out man. Yes the GS isi heavier than the SV and is short ~25HP. So? We *like* the bike regardless of it's warts. Front suspension on Suzi's has always been a bit of a problem. The GS brakes are actually rather good. YOu probably had shaZam! for pads.

Sure the SV is a better bike in many, many areas. I like the GS because it's a stupid easy bike to work on and absolutely cheap to find bits for. That's why I race one of all things! Sure there is better. We don't care!

Oh, doubtless the SV is an all-around better bike, but it's WAAAAAY more complex than the beloved GS.  Plus the GS is so nerdy that it's simply the dog's bollocks to put the tune on one and ride it fast!  Rejetting, putting on a pipe, K&N and an ignition advancer, as well as swapping out the fork springs, is a simple, idiot-proof process that can certainly have a GS begin to hold its own with the SV.  If you did some head work I think you could get plenty more.  

Never liked the 2-tier seat of the SV too much either.  Though concededly the GS's seat is no design wonder!

Plus, while there aren't that many still made, gimme an air-cooled bike ANY DAY OF THE WEEK over a water-cooled.  The sound's better, they're a million times simpler, the engine looks way cooler, and, ummm, the rider gets laid more!  

Cycle World refered to the GS's brakes as superb.