My K4 naked GS500 was nicked 5 weeks ago and I'm debating what to get as a replacement when the robbing insurance bods finally cough up.

Owned the GS500 for 8yrs and put 28,000mls on it, serviced myself, thoroughly enjoyed the bike but often wistfully yearned for a tad more grunt...

Naked SV650 seems to fit the bill pretty much for me - but couple of queries for those who've owned/ridden both bikes longer term:

1stly, cannot bend left leg much and relaxed as the GS riding position is I definitely do not want a more sports riding position, so clipons a no no, is the SV with pukka bars (not clipons) same as/more relaxed/less relaxed than the GS?

2ndly, am getting on (66) and even the GS was starting to feel a tad heavy sometimes - how does a naked SV compare in weight and manoueverability to the GS?

3rdly, FLICKABILITY - GS was an absolute joy to flick about and very forgiving with instantaneous direction changes - how does an SV feel in comparison?

4thly Fuel consumption - how do they compare?

5thly Any thoughts on years to avoid/go for? Carb or FI versions - low mileage (less than 20K ideally but flexible if good history) budget £1200 to £2500 in the UK Reading/London area.

Looked up old threads from 2008 but reckon there may be other riders withe experience now, many thanks for your thoughts, Happy Trails, gruntle   

edit to add: have ridden numerous 4cyls/sundry others incl 850 Vtwin during 50 years of riding so not looking for alts 'cos this will be an everyday bike ridden in all weathers and not a pose machine... so MGuzzi & REnfield not option, tho' much desired of course...

The successor to the GS500 is the kawi 650. Not the SV650. But if you want to live with the inherently more complex V twin, atleast buy the 2nd gen SV650, where you get EFI and an aluminum frame and not 1st gen where you get carbs or the 3rd (gheydius) or 4th gen which is Gheydius without the Ghey ... same chit streel frame and complex V twin.
I would actually recommend you look at the BMW and triumph parallel twins too. IMHO, a parallel twin is not NOT a V twin.
Cool.
Buddha.

Many Thanks for your reply old fruit - are you suggesting the Kawasaki ER6N 650? There seem to be numerous 650 models available. Should mention that a Naked to me means a bike without acres of (or any) plastic - just asking to be damaged imho and serves no real purpose other than styling...

Seems you're not a fan of the SV tho' so welcome your alternatives even if my budget needs to be significantly increased...

The only Kawasaki I've owned was a GPZ900R (put about 25,000mls on it) written off twice due to plastics and forks, put more white hairs on me bonce than any other bike I've ever owned (may explain reluctant consideration of Kawasaki as an option)...

The couple of twin Beemers I've ridden were very poor handlers with lousy suspension and way way over weight, but maybe that's just those models 

If I could find a Triumph in my price range I'd absolutely POUNCE on it tho'...

Welcome other thoughts - but think £3500 is absolutely top end of my budget sadly...

The Honda CB500 engine is also a nice modern version of a GS500. I rode a friend's brand new Rebel 500 home from the dealership and the vibes/feel/power of the engine really felt like my GS.

I've seen some used CB500F bikes for a good price. Also look at the CB500X, CBR500R, and Rebel 500. They all use the same engine that feels like a more modern take on a parallel twin. With liquid cooling and EFI they are a lot easier to live with than a GS500. The Rebel 500 and 500F weigh about the same as a GS. The CB500X and CBR weigh a little more, about the same as an SV.

I've never ridden the SV650, but I have done a lot of miles on a Vstrom 1000. The V twin motor has a very different character. Some people love it. I was kinda mixed on it. Maybe because I grew up on the GS500 I've just got parallel twin vibrations in my bones. But if you are not a parallel twin type person, you can't go wrong with a 2nd gen+ SV. I think The Buddha is overly critical of the Gladius and newer SV models with the steel frame. There is a reason the SV650 is almost universally agreed upon to be a great bike. The Vstrom 650 has nearly the same engine and people regularly put 100,000+ miles on those.

Is the rebel 500 rather revvy, cos in the cb500 its pretty much like a GS on steroids.
Then there is the rebel 1100 wonder what that's like. Cruiser or sporty - and its going in the adv and the standard and sport standard right
Sadly Honda has taken the GS and tripled it in displacement and X 4 in models making 12 models out of what the GS created. While suzuki is desperately playing catch up.
Cool.
Buddha.

All good advice.

In my humble view, while Buddha is always right, it is also true that the SV650 1st gen is a good successor if you want to develop mechanic skills. Or like tractor bottom and snarly midrange. I am looking at a somewhat unmolested one now. And if you want to buy when they are fast disappearing, before too late. It is a bit fat to sit on, and very noticeably stiffer chassis. Jump back and forth, the GS has a wiggly steel chassis.

The Honda 500 upright road version is a mild newer twin, a few more hp, not many, same mission. Adjusting the valves is a black hole of despair effort. Can be had in ADV or sporty style too.

The Royal Enfield 650 is also good to aspire to, and cheap for a new modern 650 air cooled twin. A bit more power, more torque, and yes, fully modern. This is high on my list. A smarter buy than an SV650 overall since I have a DL 650.

1-  It is bigger than a GS. I found the legs cramped and found a footpeg setup solution

2- and 3 It is less flickable as less flex and slightly heavier and more solid. Maybe 30 lbs more, fatter. Change the bars the first day please., super bike bars.  You will be doing your flicking at 60-80 MPH instead of 45.

4- My SV got same mileage as my GS, both are tuned for good OEM setup.

5- The 1st gen is the friendliest in my view. The FI version are more robotic. FI is good, though. 

6- Do not expect to abide the OEM suspension. Rear shock upgrades along the lines of older 600 sport bike OEM spares, things like that fit, the forum shows which, and cheap on ebay. Front, not so easy, cartridge emulators and what goes with that.

7- The seat is bad. Spend.

My old clean nice 2009 DL650 which is an ADV version of the SV, has about 65 hp, and perfect fueling, and nice slow easy quiet down low, and nice fast snarl up higher.   They go for $3-4k nowadays. They require suspension replacement for serious riders. Like all cheap bikes. They are far more comfortable.

Good luck

SV650 is a killer bike imho. When I was shopping for my first bike I was specifically looking for an SV. I looked at the first gens (carbureted) and second gens with FI. As I was shopping I came across more than a handful with 100K+ miles - both first and second gen.

I ultimately snagged up an '03 because I wanted fuel injection. Super low-maintenance. Only oil changes and valve adjustments. Obviously the regular wear and tear/usable life limited items like chains, tires, brakes, etc. Picked it up with about 30k miles, sold it with almost 60k and sold it for more than I paid for it.

Just my $.02

An SV 1000 - 03-07 is a lot easier to do valve adjustment on. Its got TL inherited 2 stage cams with chain then gear drive.
Cool.
Buddha.

Thank you all - very useful info and food for thought. Have looked at CB500 variations and it's definitely an option to compare with pretty good price points too.

Have put many 1000's of miles on Suzukis (120ml round trip commutes to and from London - up to 12K pa) and have a fondness for the marque so am maybe a bit biased. Owned a Guzzi 850 for 28 yrs so familiar with Vtwin foibles and like the lowdown torque + rumble of a Vtwin engine. If this was a Sunday afternoon dry weather bike I'd probly splash for a V7 750, but there's no way it would survive British winters and road salting etc.

So 2nd gen SV or poss CB500 variation seem like best options, just my luck that it's not the best time of year to buy in the UK 

Cheers folks - Happy trails, gruntle

Here's another myth - V-Twin makes more torque ... Like how via magic

Well, 90 V-Twin has perfect primary balance. But worse all around than a 180 - because you can put a 90 degree crank in a parallel twin too, and those that do it in an XS650 invariably make a whole lotta other mods cos it does involve taking out the crank and swapping the center connecting pin. They can get a balance factor of -50% but well, its a lot of BS to cover here - it doesn't get any better revving or power just from that.

A V twin is heavier than parallel twin all else being equal. That alone negates any gain from any other balance related gain.

So a twin all the other factors being the same makes more torgue and less hp than the same displacement 4 cyl, but longitudinal 90 V, Boxer V, splayed or transverse V, 45 V, 60 V or parallel V with 180 crank, 90 crank etc etc are all nearly the same.

IMHO the narrower the V the harder it is to work on. Splayed/Boxer V like guzzi/BMW is easier for carbs and valves but if you ever had to do a clutch on one of those god help you. And alternators too are hard to get at I believe on them.

Cool.
Buddha.

I love the SV, superb bike, I've ridden series 1 and have series 3 (I think - 2000 mod). Both excellent, quick, light etc etc.
My son had no end of trouble with his Triumph.

I replaced the clutch corks on my '76 850 Guzzi - absolute doddle. Chock the engine, remove the frame from the engine with hoist, undo the large bolts and split the cases, replace corks and reassemble, sorted. Also replaced one barrel and reground all valves, again simple, logical and nice big bolts not awkward cheesy ones. Also replaced universal joint, again relatively simple and unstressful. Modern Guzzis are much lighter and more compact, but still very easy to work on I believe.

The torque I talk about is pulling strongly from 1500/200rpm which whilst agricultural is exhilarating and very grin on face making. Modern Vs are no doubt much more civilised but retain some of that essence...

Quote from: Joolstacho on July 01, 2021, 04:51:58 PM
My son had no end of trouble with his Triumph.

well, alternately, my Suzuki has been a relative disaster and my triumph has been trouble free. I think modern Triumph motorcycles are at least as reliable as Suzuki. Only difference is repair expense. Maybe more of a wash if you're in England.

Quote from: gruntle on July 02, 2021, 03:45:39 AM
I replaced the clutch corks on my '76 850 Guzzi - absolute doddle. Chock the engine, remove the frame from the engine with hoist, undo the large bolts and split the cases, replace corks and reassemble, sorted.

WTH ... dude that is about what you do to replace a transmission on a GS. On a GS and most jap parallel twins and I 4's the clutch is under that large cover by your right foot. Take off 8-12 bolts and there it is. But ofcourse the crank runs left to right, that's why its there and usually starter and alternator are on the other side. If your crank runs front to back you're gonna have to line up the starter and alternator along that axis. Transverse V and boxer twins have easier carbs/FI to get at than parallel, and longitudinal V's are the worst for that. But again clutch, starter alternator etc easy to get at.
Cool.
Buddha.

I test rode an SV650 before buying the GS. Couldn't have been happier with the GS.

However, I sold it to subsidize a 2002 Sportster Roadster because I had started an informal Sportster fund to see what all the fuss was about; this one was completely stock and barely broken in.

The Sportster cost me about three times what I paid for the GS. Is it three times the bike? I doubt it, but it's what I'm riding now.

Ted: please forgive my ignorance, but wth is a Sportster?

Quote from: gruntle on July 04, 2021, 05:14:40 PM
Ted: please forgive my ignorance, but wth is a Sportster?

A harley POS that looks like a yamaha bolt, sounds like a big a$$ power monster but runs like a honda rebel 250 from 1989.
Cool.
Buddha.

Readers, I bought an 04 790cc carby Bonneville, and It Is Delightfully Degorgeously Denoyingly Itself!!...
 

Good choice the Bonnie. I just recently bought a carb 865 Scrambler to add to my garage that's likely filling with more Triumphs. If I had more space, I'd probably have a Ducati Scrambler too, but the deal on the Triumph was way too good to pass up.

Suzuki just released a new mid size parallel twin with the Vstrom 800/ GSX800. We should all be buying those bikes.