SV650S Vs Thundercat

[jay_666]

I can't make my mind up. Now i know one is an IL4 and The other is a V-Twin but i've heard they are fairly similar in ride position etc...

Been looking at the '98-'00 Thundercat and the '99 - '01 'Curvy' SV650S, so prices are fairly similar.

So help me make up my mind. What should i go for? Is there another bike i should consider aswell?

Cheers!
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[Black Knight]

what sort of ride are you after?

Personally, i'd opt for the Thundercat.
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

[jay_666]

I will be using the bike to get to 6th form collage on daily, generally getting about and then having fun at the weekends. Also thinking about doing a bit of touring on it aswell

Oh and it will have to be 33bhp . Will the sv restrict better than the 'cat because it has a lower bhp to start with?
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[APNess]

I'm new to riding myself (passed last week) but I would have thought the SV would be easier to live with. A number of guys have them at work and all say how easy they are to get on with. The Thundercat will have more power/torque (I'm guessing) but will be more focussed to 'fast road' riding rather than the 'all round' ability of things like bandits (half faired version not hang on in the wind no fairing version) and the SV. I'm no expert, that's my opinion, but I considered an SV before settling on my eventual choice for a 1st bike after passing test, which was a Thunderace (1000cc version of Thundercat) because I wanted more of a 'fast tourer' (other main choice was a ZZR1100). For town riding I'd have thought the SV would be better, and pretty good on an A road blast too.

[instigator]

Can confirm that the sv takes very well to the restriction. Still a good bit of low down torque and a nice kick at 6500rpm. I would say more character than the thundercat anyway whilst restricted (never ridden a cat but once you've ridden one IL4, they're all really the same )

Go sv.

[jay_666]

any thundercat owners want to contribute?
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[G]

I would say a faired SV probably has a less 'nice' riding position than a thundercat.
The 'cat isn't really an out and out sporty position at all, but the SV has quite low and short reach clip ons, while the 'cat is a bit longer and higher.

The SV is lighter, and probably a bit nimbler as standard.
The low down torque of the SV makes it easy to ride in town, (though I'd go for a derestricted 600 sports bike given the choice) - however it can also make slow speed manouvers a bit more tricky as you have to modulate the throttle, rather than just 'gliding' in (ie lots of engine braking if you shut the throttle off).

Given the choice, I'd go for the cat because it offers more when derestricted. Definitely have an engine with a lot more character than the very bland SV engine, in my opinion.
Couldn't comment about restricted though, from what instigator has said the SV may even have a slightly less bland restricted!

[crofty1]

Ive got a 2001 thundercat that used to be restricted And it was great before and after the restriction. Its comfy very very forgiving smooth to ride and great fun and in my opinion looks much better than the sv I read loads on the thundercat before i bought it and the majority was good and all seemed to say it was a great all round bike.

[alex_t]

SV i luuurrrvvveeee mine, nice speed, nice handling and nice slow control for town
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[CBT - passed 29.04.06] [Theory - passed 19.05.06 *34/35*] [DAS - passed 09.06.06]

SV650, blue

[Rookie]

You know what I say.

The Cat is a great commuter, I've been using it for about 2 months to commute on, and it's just brilliant. And when you want a blast, it will never fail to put a grin on your face. I love just wringing it's neck for acceleration and getting lower and lower in the corners. It's faster, it's more expensive to run and insure, and it's not really the 'sensible' choice I don't think. But you don't buy a bike like the Cat to be sensible all the time, it's got far too much grunt.

[jay_666]

ok. Now i'm really stuck
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[chalky143]

what is the performance like with the sv and thundercat when restricted, any good? 0-60mph times? would they be faster than a full power 125?

thankyou
leon
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Current bike :: sv650 minitwin race bike
Previous bikes::cbr600 steelie race bike, 1989 Honda vfr750f, 2013 Honda fireblade, 2013 Ducati multistrata 1200s, 2012 Triumph street triple R, 1999 yamaha r6, vfr 800, ducati 600ss, vfr 400x2, ntv 650, bandit 600, cagiva mito 125, aprilia rs 50, honda c90x2, honda hornet 600x2, cbr 600, aprilia rx50, suzuki katana
My bike pics: https://www.bikepics.com/members/chalky143/

[darrens_here]

I have a thundercat (which is for sale by the way! see link below)
Bbeofre I got it, I toyed with the idea of the SV, but EVERYONE I spoke with said the cat would be the better option.

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thundercat-Yamaha-Yzf-600_W0QQitemZ4648364582QQcategoryZ9809QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Its a great bike, will commute (i used it for that) tour( I used it for that) and track day (I used it once - very slowly and nervously for that!!! lol). What more could you want.

Mine is not restricted, but from the commenst above you will see it restricts well, and then you have a nice bike for after your test..................... buy mine buy mine buy mine..........

[crofty1]

That thundercat looks just like mine even the scratched bit! LOL
Thats a good price too, i dont think you will have any problems selling it.

[APNess]

[stevo as b4]

If you want fun, a sportly lightweight feeling machine, with excellent handling, and capable of being ridden quickly on the road or the track, then the SV is the one to have, without a doubt!

The Cat is softer, more comfy, better for touring, long distance riding, and carrying pillions. It's also smoother, and feels more stable, but handles not as well, and will never feel as exciting as the SV.

TBH, im suprised that you are considering two quite different bikes, as alot of people seem to have a thing for a particular engine configuration, IL4's or Twins etc.

Id choose the Cat myself, but out of the box the SV is far better handling and more fun to ride! Spend some money on the Cat, and it can be massively better, but it will never feel as light, or nimble as the SV will.

[Rookie]

Don't know why you think the SV will be more fun to ride really. It's got less power and it's a V twin with a pretty sedate power delivery. If it's going to be restricted I suppose the difference is less so, but still it will be very different. I suppose it's what you class as 'fun'.

Plus the Cat has fully adjustable front and rear, not just preload like the SV, so if you tune it to your weight the handling could easily be better than the SV.

And it's got some stonking brakes. Brembos at least on the back, not sure about the front. Essentially they're the R1s brakes.