First bike. Is and SV 650 really the best?

[Triumph-ant]

Well first off... howdie *tips hat*

I am 25 and saving up to do direct access. I guess the first question is does anyone know anywhere good and reasonable price in the surrey area?

I want a proper bike once i have passed, something fun and pretty fast, but nothing that im going to kill myself on or more importantly, ruin, lol.
Now it seems that everyone i seem to be meeting these days has an SV650, even going from bigger bikes back down to the SV, is it really that great?!? Because everyone seems to have an SV i kinda dont want one, but im not going to cut my nose off to spite my face!

soooooo, is there anything as good as an SV which isnt an SV???

Cheers in advance

[Clanger]

It depends what you want, tbh. An sv is a v-twin, torquey but poor build quality. There are lots of cheap spare parts around because many new riders do DAS then buy an sv and then crash, and thus create a big spares market.

But there are a lot of other perfectly good starter motorbikes out there...like ER-5 / Honda Bros / Honda Hornet / Faser 600 and many many more besides.

If you do decide the sv is the bike for you, might I suggest the sv650.org website, where you will find many for sale for a decent price.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Triumph-ant]

see now a hornet i would love! they are sooo much fun, but i keep getting told that an SV is a great first bike as its so easy to handle, has the torque and is good in all weather

[Keir]

im in the 'ive had most things and returned to an SV650' group.

They are what they are, a budget bike. they do everything fine but nothing amazing. good on fuel, cheap to run and reliable. ive not found the build quality too bad really, certainly no worse than any GSXR of its age.

For a first bike they are great if a little tame.
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Current : '08 Yamaha FZ1s
Previous: '99 Honda CBR 600FX, 03 ZX636 B1H, 99 Fazer 600 (red), 02 GSX-R 600 K2, 00 SV650s (red), 2008 ZX10R, 97 Bandit 1200N, 04 ZX6RR K1H, 04 GSX-R 1000, 98 Fazer 600 (gold), 05 Madness 110 Pit bike, 04 CR125R, 00 SV650s (black), 06 KTM 625 SMC, 99 SRAD 600 track bike, 03 SV650, 98 Bandit 1200N, Bandit 600SY, 03 GSX-R 600 K3, 01 GSX-R 600, 01 Fazer 600 (black), VFR 400 NC30 x3, 78 Honda Dream, 00 Speedfight 50

[Bloke]

Meh, i've a brand new xj6-s. Tiz awesome, finally getting to explore from 5000-12000rpm now it's run in and it scares the shit out of me if I grab a handful, but it's so gentle in town, great bike.

Engine is a 600cc In-line 4 though not 650 v-twin. Wtf that means other than the shape of the thing I don't know
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[stonesie]

I'm still getting used to my SV650 and I love it, I know there are better handling bikes out there and more powerful but for a first bike I would recommend one, It's teaching me to ride more smoothly than I had to on a 125, good on fuel as has been said and has instant urge when you want it to go.

The best thing though is the noise, with a decent can they sound gorgeous and for my riding style its fine (I like to make progress but going everywhere at 3 figure speeds is not for me)

[t101]

get a hornet, they are great for a first bike, nice handling and easy to ride

[Triumph-ant]

what would a street triple be like as a first bike? ....

[Inkognito]

[IanRMartin]

Until you have ridden a bike for a while you aren't going to know what you want so spend as little as poss on your first (£500 or less) look along the lines of the usual training bikes:
GS500
ER5
CB500
You will probably want to move on fairly quick! so just get an old one! then after a few months move on once you know what you really want.

Spending as little as poss means you won't care to much if/when you drop it and come off it a couple of times which you probably will! and they are real easy to fix and there are tons of cheap parts for them.

Ian
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"A little inaccuracy sometimes saves a ton of explanation."
Current Bike: Suzuki GS500EN
Next Bike: ?????????

[Triumph-ant]

[YZFR1IAN]

+1 for the hornet, i had great fun on mine
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05 Yamaha YBR125 > 94 Honda CB500 > 98 Honda Hornet 600 > 02 Yamaha R6 > 2000 Yamaha R1 > 2000 Yamaha XJR1300SP > 2000 Honda CBR929RR Fireblade
MY BIKES Past & Present

[dragstaar]

THe newer hornets are harder to come by than the others, because people tend to keep hold of them, and they entered the market at quite a high price, so expect to pay a bit more for a hornet.

I have a sport Bandit, and think its an absolutely brilliant bike, quick easy to handle, is forgiving and is bulletproof. As a new rider you may find that you forget to do certain essential maintenance, and the bandit will forgive you for it. Its not going to start crying on your way to work. Push it, and it will spring into life, but take it easy and it'll happily cruise along. Great bike.

[Triumph-ant]

hmmmm, now i may have to go hornet window shopping

[el_oso]

i too was also be tempted to spend as little on your first bike as possible. a gpz500/er-5 etc can be found around that price in running condition. if you want bulletproof go honda.
you will probably drop your fist bike. i dropped mine twice. both on grass.
never riden an sv but everyone i know that owns one never really complains about it, but they never say it the best bike ever either. so also a good learner bike i suppose
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Willson]

Welcome! *tips hat also*

The force is strong with this one! You have your priorities perfect:

[ulster exile]

[IanRMartin]

[Clanger]

If you do opt for the GS500, be wary they feel light on the front end and are serious rust buckets. Nothing a fork spring upgrade won't solve, but the rust...it's something you'd want to be on top of immediately.

Suzuki's are notorious for rusting up/corrosion, so if you are using it during winter, make sure you clean it religiously after every ride, and keep it in a garage or shed.

(I know, I had my sv for 9 years).
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Slacker24seve...]

I considered an SV and sat on one amongst around 15 different bikes after I passed my DAS. I ended up with a Hornet and its perfect; smooth, completely reliable, extremely easy to ride and very comfortable.

Apart from being docile in town its also fairly quick for a 'first big bike', I won't be embarrassed in a straight line by my mates GSXR600 SRAD and more importantly will show him a clean pair of heels through the really twisty stuff. I had reduced the previous owners chicken strips to a 1/4" within a few weeks of ownership and to be blunt, I'm a hamfisted idiot so it must be quite flattering.

Its a great do it all bike but long stints above 80 on the motorway will require a strong neck, but thats hardly the point. The only real ballache is the tank range. Whether I thrash the tits off it or not I get just over 100 miles to reserve.
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[YZFR1IAN]

[Clanger]

[ThoughtContro...]

[Slacker24seve...]

[ollieholt]

i opted for an fzs600 fazer for my first big bike. great bike couldnt ask for more, very comfortable on any roads, good handling (opinion based) great power fair amount of torque for a pint sized 4. 6 speed box and the ability to play tig with passing power rangers.
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< This? Well this is just a day brightner.