Well, I've decided to get a new bike this spring.  The gs has served me well as a great learning bike and I will probably ride her until June or so, then it is off to the dealer for a new ride.  I'm thinking of either a SV650S or a YZF 600R, any ideas or comments.  Any idea on which one is better for two up riding? My girl loves to ride.  Any idea which one carries the higher insurance?  The cost difference is like less than $1,000 bucks so I want to get something I'll be happy with for a while.  I may keep the GS, not sure though.  My buddy wants to learn to ride so I may donate it to him.

If you do your own valve adjustments, the SV will be much easier. You wont have to remove any bodywork to do oil changes, either.

With it's recent price lowering, you should also consider a Triumph speed four $6495. Fully adjustable front suspension, fuel injection, 600cc's. It's not really an exotic anymore. It might be cheaper than the yama.

if you are set on a yzf-600R or SV650... I would say the 600R is probably better for two-up riding by virtue of its one-piece seat.  isn' the SV650 a split-seat?  Also to consider:  The 600R cranks about 90HP at the peak of its power-band, that's alot more than the SV650 does.  A 600R will out-pull and R6 below about 10,000 rpm because the 600R is tuned for mid-range power.

Personally, I really like the look and stats of the 600R.  Does anybody know if they switched the tranny on the 600R's to have 5 drive-dogs instead of 3?  They did this with the R6 in 2003 amidst complaints of the dogs wearing out in 2nd gear.  Just a thought before you buy a 7000 dollar bike.

happy shopping  

Having riden both, I like the feel of the SV a bit better, but again, for 2 up riding perhaps the YZF is a better choice. It pulls harder, but the SV has some real charactor which I love in a bike.

A speed four under $6500!  Sounds like a winner to me, but I must check insurance costs first.  Anyway, I can't wait till spring to start test driving these bikes.  I'm a little wary taking out a brand new bike that's not mine this time of year in wet, salty, gravely roads and really "testing" the bike.  So, alas, I will wait until a warm spring day after the spring showers have cleaned up the roads.  Thanks for the advice, I'll update you on the progress.

Got my insurance quotes today.  What a rip off.  I pay a measley 150 a year for liability on my gs.  Full coverage on the truimph is 3000 a year.  And get this, for an sv650s they want 3000 a year for full coverage and 950 a year for full coverage on a sv650.   Thats f'd up!  I guess I'll have to save the money, take out a personal loan for the rest, buy a used bike, and get liability only on it.  sheesh, and I only have two tickets on my record, both in speed traps in my truck.  So much for my dream of a new bike.  Maybe by the time I am 50 I can afford the insurance on one!

If I were you I would check with different insurers.I forget which one it is, but one of them charge for cc's. My dad asked rates on a V-max and they said $3000 USD I think. Then he checked with a different insurer and it was like $80 USD a year. Make sure because you realy might be able to get it for a lot cheaper.

Good Luck      

its what i love about south Florida, Insurence not required to get your tag for your bike,  if you want to go lidless, then its 10k worth of insurence to cover you.