I'm considering a bike upgrade in the near future and have pretty much narrowed my options to a Bandit 1200/1250, or an SV1000S.  My eye really draws me to the SV, but the Bandit seems more comfortable.  I'm more of a street rider and not interested in a supersport or anything.  I do like to lean, but rarely get to the edge of the tire as I don't like leaning that far on the street (and I don't do track days). 

My other concern is riding with passengers.  I'd like to ride my girl on the back of my next bike, and wonder which would be more comfortable for her.  The SV's riding position looks more aggressive than the Bandit's, which would make it less comfortable for a passenger I imagine.

Does anyone have experience riding two-up on either of these bikes, and any feedback on which would be better for two-up riding?  I do mostly commuting, with an occassional jaunt down a twisty road.

Thanks in advance.

John

From all you described you should only sit on bandit. SV1000s has very aggressive position and is an animal overall.

You could discuss Bandit vs DL1000 Vstrom ( which is touring bike with SV's engine ).

If you like your passenger get the bandit. If you dont like em... get the SV

Quote from: domas on September 12, 2007, 12:00:35 AM
From all you described you should only sit on bandit. SV1000s has very aggressive position and is an animal overall.

You could discuss Bandit vs DL1000 Vstrom ( which is touring bike with SV's engine ).

I can't really discuss the Vstrom, as I can't stand the way that it looks.  Not pleasing to my eye at all.

I've had a Bandit 1200 and a TL1000S (which is very similar to the riding position of the SV1000)

The bandit is more of an upright sitting position for both the rider and passenger. My TL was WAY more crouched and the passenger sat WAYYYY higher. Hope this helps. I would go with the Bandit for comfort....but definitly the SV for Performance!!

My stepdads Bandit Runs 131 bhp at the rear wheel ,quickest thing up to 100 ive ever been on, a Sv wouldnt even touch it

Note that on SV there are clip-ons and Bandit is more upright so it gives more confidence to the passenger and better for two up

2up = vstrom, then bandit. they both rock, with the vstrom rockin harder

1up = vstrom, bandit or sv (no 'S'). the comfort of a nice bike beats 180HP any day in my book.

Quote from: Jay_wolf on September 12, 2007, 11:02:53 AM
My stepdads Bandit Runs 131 bhp at the rear wheel ,quickest thing up to 100 ive ever been on, a Sv wouldnt even touch it

It must not be stock then. From what I could find online, the 1200 Bandit has 98 horsepower stock verses the SV1000S's 120 and it weighs more.

I have an SV650S and I wouldn't ride a passenger on it.  As said before, the rear seating position is kind of high and I don't think it would be comfortable for a very long ride.  And it seems like having a passenger would throw the balance of the bike way off.

The passenger pillion on the SV looks pretty substantial, but it does look quite a bit higher than the operator's seat.  Ergonomics alone would dub the Bandit as the more comfortable two-up bike.  I am actually more curious about whether anyone has actually rode either of the bikes with a passenger.  I can look at the bikes and see that the Bandit looks more comfortable, but I've heard that the SVS isn't bad for passengers.  Is there anyone here with seat time on either bike that could enlighten me?

Thanks to all that have posted.  I'm giving your opinions much consideration, except for the Vstrom stuff.  I just really don't like the way it looks.

Thanks everyone.

Quote from: max_boost on September 12, 2007, 12:50:07 PM

Quote from: Jay_wolf on September 12, 2007, 11:02:53 AM
My stepdads Bandit Runs 131 bhp at the rear wheel ,quickest thing up to 100 ive ever been on, a Sv wouldnt even touch it

It must not be stock then. From what I could find online, the 1200 Bandit has 98 horsepower stock verses the SV1000S's 120 and it weighs more.

I have an SV650S and I wouldn't ride a passenger on it.  As said before, the rear seating position is kind of high and I don't think it would be comfortable for a very long ride.  And it seems like having a passenger would throw the balance of the bike way off.

+1  that bandit would be eaten alive by an SV1kS. 

Riding with passengers sucks, buy the SV and if you still want a passenger to ride with you, tell her to buy you a Goldwing.

I went riding a week ago on 28.  My friend and his girl were on her SV650, he was driving,  anyway he left me like I was standing still. granted I'm not the fastest but he kept up with every one else. By the way 28 is a very curvy knee down type of road. He said he loved the way the bike handled.

^^^  I just can't imagine yet riding 2 up with something and dragging knees with a passenger.  Maybe its because I'm still a noob to all of this, but riding with my wife on the back of my gs is different and all, but dragging knees, come on???

I have never ridden two up on either bike, but I do ride as the passenger on my friend's 2003 R6 all the time.  Just by looking, the passenger seat on the SV1000 looks similar to that of the R6.

My only other passenger experience was on my GS500 for a couple of minutes (I wanted to see what it felt like to be the passenger on my bike), so I don't have much to go off of, but riding as passenger on the R6 is VERY tiring.  You have to lean forward quite a bit to feel secure/stay out of the wind when on the freeway or accelerating.  This either involves a lot of back muscles or holding yourself up by your arms on the tank.  Well, I guess you can lean on the rider, and I know girls who do, but that just tires the rider out faster.

See what you should do is keep the GS, and have your girl learn how to ride it.  Then you can ride together! 

Quote from: Somnia on September 13, 2007, 03:22:28 AM

See what you should do is keep the GS, and have your girl learn how to ride it.  Then you can ride together! 

I've considered this actually, but she told me a while back that she wasn't interested in riding one of her own.  She'd rather be a passenger I guess.  This has been a couple of years ago though, so maybe she feels differently now.

Thanks

I hate being Pillion, The fact the 2 closest times ive almost had a accident was on the back , i hate having no control . and i recently went on the back of my mates zzr600. and i was shaking when i got off, he is the worst squidy person ever, overtaking at 80 in 30 on the wrong side of the road etc  ,

I went pillion on the back of my stepdads b12 , and it was the best ride every we did 130 miles in that day and i felt great the whole time , big roomy seat , Plenty of power

It was Ace 

He didn't get his knee down but close she was a very good ride her self and let him lean farther in the turns it was an  awsome thing to see.

The bandits far from stock , and its geared for acceration . it tops out about 130 , but in the speed it gets to it is unreal

Pictures suck for comparo purposes.

The bandit is  a far better machine for 2 up riding. You may not see much difference between the SV650 and the Bandits passenger seating arrangement in pictures but it is a huge difference in person especially if it is going to be for more than just a quick ride to the corner hangout on the weekend. The Bandit is also an I4 engine instead of a V twin smoother less vibration and annoyance on longer trips.

Quote from: bombadillo on September 12, 2007, 11:32:22 PM
^^^  I just can't imagine yet riding 2 up with something and dragging knees with a passenger.  Maybe its because I'm still a noob to all of this, but riding with my wife on the back of my gs is different and all, but dragging knees, come on???

I've seen a guy on an SV650 ride two up with girl friend and he kept up with everyone 1up on supersports and liter bikes at a really, really fast pace.  It can totally be done but the driver needs skills and the passenger needs courage.  By the truck load.