My next bike must be faired. I was thinkin of complementing my GS with a sportstourer like say the FJR1300.......oh well its good to dream.  

Quote from: ghettorigged

I have the GS and a VERY lovely dualsport!  :mrgreen:

And that would be?

Quote from: pantabloyes, its very fast.

yes that's true, and you feel the heat under your ass on this bike everytime your ride it no?  :mrgreen:

I've been thinking about upgrading as well. I need more power, acceleration, and reliability. My Carbs and crappy petcock connecting to the gas tank can't keep up with me. On at least 3 occasions my carbs were starved of fuel while riding riding for 10-20 min at 80+ mph (speedometer indicated). I'm pretty sure the petcock is to blame. Probably need to replace it with one with a bigger ID.

Anyways, here are my biggest criteria:
1) SEAT HEIGHT - Lets face it, the market is seriously limited to 5'2" bikers with 29" inseams
Bottom Line: GSX-R 600/750/1000 are too tall, all having the same 32.5 inch seat height --> what gives? :dunno: I can sit on a Haybusa, but not a GSX-R 600? :x  :guns:

2) WEIGHT - I want "flickability" while I ride b/c I want the option of being able to get out of a bad situation (or into one :lol:) in a hurry
Bottom Line: Sorry Hayabusa, your 478 lb (dry) frame would be too much work for me

3) LOOKS - I decided I wanted something other than a naked bike this time; half fairing is acceptable, the uni-seat is not
Bottom Line: Kawasaki's mean grean just isn't doin it for me; Yamaha, the majority of your supersports have the ugly uni-seat

4) PRICE - I don't know about you, but I'm not rich and my credit sucks; nuff said
Bottom Line: Do I really want to shell out $10,000+ on a brand new bike?

5) FUEL INJECTION - It allows for greater tweakability, performance, and fuel economy, but prepared to pay much $$ if it goes out.
Bottom Line: Sorry pre-2003 SV650/1000, your outta luck


In Conclusion, the GSX-R600 would have been in contention if it weren't for the seat height. Therefore, I think the 2003&up SV650S would suit my needs best:
- 31.5" seat height is barely doable for me (can you say tippy-toes?)
- 372lb dry weight
- half-fairing standard (full-fairing optional)
- no uni-seat
- EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection)
- Best-Bang-For-Your-Buck (~$6K price tag)
- not as mainstream as all the Gixxers and ZX-Rs out there (this uniqueness appeals to me)



With all the positive press it has gotten I can't imagine the SV650S leaving me wanting more, especially after the GS500

BTW, do yall think the SV1000S would be a possibility or overkill (I saw a 2003 SV1000S at a dealership just waiting to be taken home for less $$) My Dad likes the extra power the SV1000 offers over the SV650, but I'm not sure if a 1 Liter bike is flickable enogh for somebody of my size.



Thanks in advance for any feedback

wow that orange is sweet.  I have several similiar categories as well flash:

1.) handling - need to be able to "flick" as they say.  I personally wouldn't mind a cruiser but I want something I can take to the track if I feel the urge

2.) seat height - wearing my gear and extra tight jeans I can barely flat foot a gs, but wearing gear and shorts I can flat foot easily.  I think the height of the seat is what? 30"?

3.) power -> already I'm looking for something with a bit more upgradability (if that is a word) I might try to get a bike on closeout in feb or march but we'l see what I can find.  Something in the 750 size, maybe a 929 or even a ducati if I find one that I like since I haven't looked at them often.

4.) looks - I get tired of seeing gixxers everywhere but at the same time I see hardly no yamahas around here.  I don't like kawa green (eek) but love the yellows and blues that are out there.  Although I do like the styling of the buells as they are different and more of a canyon carver than a straight line machine that many are.

mike

Quote from: kyzee

Quote from: pantabloyes, its very fast.

yes that's true, and you feel the heat under your ass on this bike everytime your ride it no?  :mrgreen:

uh, no.

Quote from: FlashMy Carbs and crappy petcock connecting to the gas tank can't keep up with me. On at least 3 occasions my carbs were starved of fuel while riding riding for 10-20 min at 80+ mph (speedometer indicated). I'm pretty sure the petcock is to blame.

Hey I had EXACTLY the same problem as your two months back. Took off the tank and jet blast the fuel outlets for 5 mins. Never encounter the problem anymore.

So far the only bike that makes me go is a 2003+ SV650S.

It's beautifull, it's fast (well, 200km/h is fast), it's flickable (so I've heard/read - had no chance of a test ride yet).

So that's what I'm gonna get as a next bike (I do wish I could keep my GS as I've invested so much love and work in it).

  D.

the SV650 rocks for town and twisties... slightly lacking the roll-on power dept if you are on the highway.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the R6 yet... rumor mill says that the 2005 Yammaha R6 will have undertail exhaust, inverted forks and all the goodies now on the GSXR.  that's another great supersport if you are looking at 600's.  Get an 03 or newer... they have FI and the 2nd dear issue was addressed in that design.

I think a 600 SS is a fine jump from the GS.  Its as far as I would ever recommend bumping up though.  The GSXR 750 puts down about 20% more hp and only weighs about 2% more than the 600... you will certainly notice the difference!!!

The SVs aren't perfect.  The suspension on the 650 is as crapy as what comes on the GS.  The 1Ks have had problems with thier crank bearings.
EFI is pretty cool in that you can precisely change the fuel and timing maps, BUT unlike carbs where you can change with $10 worth of little brass jets, you have to shell out for a $400 for a Power Commander in order to "rejet".
Both of them look like they were designed by someone who played with an erector set too much as a kid.
 :mrgreen:

But as an option for someone moving "up" from a GS, its not a bad choice.

You have a valid point about tuning a FI bike. Not just with the SV but almost all sport bikes now are coming with FI instead of carbs. A Power Commander (PC) is one way to tune a FI bike. There are several different ways to remap a FI system; PC, Yosh box, Techclusion and a couple of others out now. Either way they are easier and more forgiving than a carbed bike. Plug & Play.

Having a PC on my TLR is great. Easy to change maps and if I had a palm pilot, I could try different maps and/or settings while I am out riding. Ideally a dyno run is the best way to tune the bike but there are plenty of generic map available that work just fine.
btw......I only paid $125 for my PCII.

Quote from: JamesGThe SVs aren't perfect.  The suspension on the 650 is as crapy as what comes on the GS.

Yeah i think that's how they keep the price down at newbie level.  Which sucks because after you get done upgrading a GS, if you move up to one of those you get to do the same thing all over again with tires, a schock and springs...... :dunno:

Quote from: cozy

Quote from: JamesGThe SVs aren't perfect.  The suspension on the 650 is as crapy as what comes on the GS.

Yeah i think that's how they keep the price down at newbie level.  Which sucks because after you get done upgrading a GS, if you move up to one of those you get to do the same thing all over again with tires, a schock and springs...... :dunno:

That is true with most every bike. Unless you are a 125# rider, the suspension is way under sprung. When I had my forks rebuilt on my TLR, the stock .90 springs were changed to 1.0 springs. They come even softer on the TLS. The SV was way too spongy for me. The manufacturers try to find a happy medium to fit all riders. But from what I have seen 75-90% of all riders need to change there suspension. It does not cost any more to install heavier springs at the factory.

I think they do it because:
A) The Japanese test riders are little people.  

B)(more likely) they spring them soft because at the low speeds most test and demo rides are done at, the soft suspension feels better and smoother, helping the sale.

Quote from: JamesGI think they do it because:
A) The Japanese test riders are little people.  

Yeah, but they are selling alot of bikes to fat americans.

I too have been looking at the 600 sport class and thinking of picking one up when the prices drop. I hear the gsxr, r6, and 600rr are all great bikes and similar enough that unless you are a racer, you won't be able to tell the difference in performance.
The R6 seems to be such a popular bike though and costs quite a bit more than the honda, even though its msrp is less, at least in SoCal.   :dunno:

Has anybody done a write up about moving from the GS to a 600 or other bike?

Shucks, well i guess it's just one more reason to keep the GS, at least unitl i save up for something with an Ohlins(?) or truly good stock setup.

Quote from: ghettorigged

Quote from: RoadstergalI'm thinking of complemeting my GS with a dualsport when I have a little more moola.

hi, have we met?  :lol:  
I have the GS and a VERY lovely dualsport!  :mrgreen:

Will you bring pizza?