So, if you've seen my other recent posts (i.e. "The Upgrade"), you'll know that I recently traded my GS on a 2004 SV1000s.  Now, I won't go as far as to say I have "buyer's remorse", because I LOVE this new bike.  However, I can't help but feel that I will truly miss my '99 GS.

The GS, though frowned upon by many people with "real motorcycles", was a nearly perfect bike.  After riding it over 11,000 miles, I felt very comfortable with it.  I had tires with no chicken strips, pegs that were pleasantly scraped, friends that struggled to keep up in the twisties (with their "real motorcycles"), and a grin that usually stretched from ear to ear at the end of the day.  I could crank on the throttle exiting turns without worrying about breaking the rear tire loose.  If I grabbed too much front brake, I didn't have to worry much about locking the front wheel, though it always had sufficient if not excellently proportioned stopping power.  It really was the 'perfect bike' until we'd hit any kind of a straight, or if a had a passenger, and my buddies would leave me only to be caught in the next set of twisties.

Now, don't get me wrong; it wasn't peer pressure that made me decide on a new bike.  My GS was starting to show some age.  The forks had a constant weep that I couldn't rectify no matter how many times I changed the fork seals.  Also, even with progressive springs, my front end could get unsettled if there was uneven pavement in turns.  It was in need of new rubber, a new chain, a valve adjustment, etc.  I have been looking at new bikes for a while now, so I decided rather than invest in all of those items, I'd simply trade up.

Now, on to the SV.  It's an awesome bike.  Awesome by definition...I am in AWE of it.  It is very powerful  .  But...my comfort level (mental, not physical) has been compromised.  The brakes stop me in a hurry...I need a little more finesse.  The throttle seems to beg for instant speed...a little scary in the current sandy or salty corners, since the tire seems to want to spin easily.  Oh, and did I mention the way the bike seems to beg to have the front tire off the ground in first gear acceleration?  I need to work on throttle control.  Finally, there is that 180 tire on the back, the 20 or so extra pounds of weight, and the steering damper that makes the bike much less 'flickable' than the GS.  I'm getting used to that quickly though.  I love this new bike, but my GS was just so much.......FUN in the purest and simplest form.   

Mostly, I think that I would have liked to have been in a position to keep the GS along with this bike.  This bike will demand my constant attention.  I guess that's good to some extant, because I was almost too relaxed (over confident) on my GS.  This bike demands my respect.  It will force me, once again, to be a very careful rider.  More parking lot manuvering, and maybe another ARC session are due.  Ah well....more excuses to ride.   

Good bye '99 GS...thanks for the memories!  As for the new SV1000s...if any of you make it to Deals Gap for the 2009 GS rally, I'll look forward to seeing you all....in my rearview mirrors!   

Quote from: oramac on February 26, 2009, 07:14:59 AM
...the bike seems to beg to have the front tire off the ground in first gear acceleration?

That's one thing I love about my GS; I can roll the throttle all the way to the stops when accelerating, and it stays on the ground.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get the front wheel up if I tried...and I like it that way.  Keeps me out of trouble.

I had a similar experience when I got the 150R.  My Titter had been so easy to flog and to use to 100%; going to a bike with much more power, more suspension, more brakes, and more capabilities overall was uncomfortable and disconcerting.  It's like being on a bike for the first time all over again, and having to learn how to ride the piss out of a bike all over again.

Part of it is that I have to ride that bike differently than I ride the Titter, which might also be part of what you're feeling.  An SV1K doesn't behave like a GS.  I rode m'boy's SV1000S on the track, and it does need firmness and smoothness; I was intimidated more by the weightiness and sluggishness of the thing into corners than anything else.  It's still a big pig touring bike compared to most track bikes!

A SV actually is pretty crappy in that whole steering department. Needs tapered bearings and needs that damper tossed into the trash. AKA, the same work if you did on the GS, you'd have had a real front suspension.
The GS needs kat FE, not a bandaid spring in it.
Valve job and this and that and tars, wait till the sv starts neeging those and your GS will look like a picnic.
I can ride the SV to more of its limit, than the GS to past it, I am a highway long distance commuter, and they both have their place. SV needs some mods GS needs some other mods. Neither is perfect.
And upgrading a GS will make it much better unless you're highway droning 100% of the time.
Cool.
Buddha.

Compared to any other 1000cc street bike out there the SV1000 borders more on "sport tourer" than sport-bike. Very sloppy suspension for tracks and twisties, however it's a godsend on long rides. It takes very little work to get the SV1K into track mode, springs, damper, and rear shock and you can get dialed in. The bike has plenty of power to do what you want, but as I said, in stock form it's really just a bare-bones Concourse.

Its a VFR more than a concourse, but yes I agree.
And to the VFR it doesn't hold a candle as per the clueless clowns who cant tell the VFR's frame isn't complete and is missing that part near the swingarm.
The SV has a hard ass rear suspension, and a pretty soft front, and that damper makes steering seriously semi truck like.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on February 26, 2009, 11:23:33 AMneeds that damper tossed into the trash

Ja, hubby put the Ohlins damper on it and a GSX-R1000 suspension, and... it's still a big touring pig compared to any of the made-for-the-track bikes.  When I have moola, I'm getting him a big bang R1.   

I'm tempted by a different bike now, though.  Anyone want a goddam fast GS500 racebike with GSX-R suspension?  :p

I went out for a ride this evening, and I feel a little better about the handling of this bike now.  My GS was very 'flickable'...almost to the point of being twitchy.  The SV, once into the turn, is rock solid in its track.  I was feeling much more comfortable even with tonight's wet pavement.  I'll still miss the GS, but I wouldn't change my mind if I had it to do again. 

Oh, and the dry weight on the SV vs. the GS is only +20 lbs.  I can counter that with some new exhaust cans.  Good times ahead! 

You put your finger on why I like the GS so much.  Because of my personality, whatever bike I have I need to explore its limits.  But I also want to stay in one piece.  The GS allows me to do exactly that without going double or triple the interstate speed limit.  I've never ridden on a track, just the street.  I'm so glad I put a 17-tooth front sprocket on it.  It makes the GS much more relaxed at 65+ mph, and it seems just as quick.  I just use the lower gears a little more, but once you're at 70 it doesn't feel busy like it did before.  The bigger front sprocket and better padding in the seat made my bike a real joy to ride, and cheap to run and maintain!  I can't find a better combination anywhere else.  If there's another bike that does what the GS does, but better, I'd love to hear about it.

Quote from: oramac on February 26, 2009, 07:39:47 PMOh, and the dry weight on the SV vs. the GS is only +20 lbs.  I can counter that with some new exhaust cans.  Good times ahead! 

?  GSE about 370lb, SV about 420?  Then, the GS doesn't have coolant.   

Per suzuki's bike stats...GS500F dry weight 397 lbs (I know, the GS500e isn't faired, but mine had the 1/4 faring, chin faring, and all the hardware involved, so I compared to a faired bike)....SV1000s dry weight 410 lbs.  difference --- 13 lbs.  I'll concede that the SV has coolant...allowing for my aforementioned 20 lbs., but it's down low so it doesn't effect the 'weighty' feeling as much.