My first bike, and my first proper bike...

[Dean-J]

After always wanting to get a Bike, and never having done it by the time i was 25, i thought id never get around to it.

But then a mate of mine ( biker) bought his boy a KX80 MX bike and i had a cheeky go on it.... i was hooked. I rounded up what little i had left in the bank and went looking for something suitable to learn to ride on, and have a bit of cheeky off road fun with at the weekends. I ended up taking a risk on this 1989 Yamaha DT125R:

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/1311138841024.jpg
https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/1311138833627.jpg

It had no V5, and hadnt been on the road in a couple of years, but had matching frame and engine numbers so i bought it for £400.

Got myself a V5, fitted a new rear shock, some headstock bearings and new tyres and UFO headlight and got it on the road.

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/2011-10-14175314.jpg

After a couple of months riding around with the dreaded L plates, i got fed up of the way i was being treated by other road users, and decided enough was enough.

I lobbed the DT on ebay and was amazed when she sold for £920

I gathered up some more monies, and went out looking for an ideal first "big" bike.... i kept on coming back to Suzuki's SV650. Enough grunt to get used to having some power between my legs, handles well enough to learn to ride properly with, and the insurance and running costs are pretty attractive!

So after a few weeks of looking around i found a contender just 5 miles from my door. 2001 SV650S K1, 18k miles, 2 owners from new, Alphadot'd, Scorpion Can, Rear hugger, Fender extender, Double bubble screen, Heated grips, it all looked pretty good!

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/KGrHqJjoE5fJ2lmGtBOdky1nmw60_12.jpg

I went to see the bike and took my wifes uncle with me who races bikes competitively as well as having built them for the last 20 years. He inspected and took the bike out and was suitably impressed. Only things he pulled it up on was headstock bearings and front brake could do with a bleed. Engine wise, he said it was the sweetest twin he had ever ridden, which inspired massive confidence as he raced an SV650 in the Minitwin class last year!

So after the money had been taken care of, he rode her home for me and she now sits in my father in laws yard waiting for me to pass my DAS in a couple of weeks!

Got a new set of Headstock bearings ready to go on, as well as an oil and filter change, and some new plugs. Alarm system to go on, and a few small bits like Rim tape, swingarm Bobbins, smaller plate etc

Will update when i get stuck in with sorting her out, monday hopefully!

[Nope.]

The subframe looks twisted on the SV.
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Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[tvchimp]

Chain looks slack too.
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[Dean-J]

The SV? think you mean the chain is slack on the DT! and yes it was!

As for the subframe on the SV being twisted, id be interested to know how you came to that conclusion....

[The Original Muzza]

[Nope.]

[Dean-J]

Is a sensible answer too much to ask for?

Or are you just a Knob....?

[P.]

[Nope.]

[Dean-J]

well in that case i take it back, not that i see the humour in it if im honest!

Only rode the SV up and down the (private) road, not passed my DAS yet so not taking the risk!

Can sounds awesome, although i may need a baffle for the MOT man!

Insurance is fine, £138 year more than the DT125 was! Lower fairings they said i dont need to declare as a modification as they are factory fit fairings, not aftermarket. Winning

[Dean-J]

Im a black and white kinda guy. Say it as i see it and all that.

And lets face it, "Your subframe looks twisted" is hardly the height of comedy is it.

[Redoko]

[P.]

[Dean-J]

I can see from the other side of the fence it may be funny, but not from the newbie side it aint!

On the SV650S the lower fairings were a factory optional extra. My insurance company said that as it left the factory like that, it was not classed as a modification.

Does work the same way on cars sometimes, ie a VW Golf mk2 could be specified from the factory with a Big bumper kit, although they were not standard spec. Same with alloy wheels, if you specify a different type of OEM alloy wheel when you order your new car, it is not classed as a modification by insurance.

As my first proper bike, i doubt ill be disappointed by it. I mean sure, its not a Gixxer or an R6, but its plenty big and powerful enough for me right now, especially as my first foray onto the road on a big bike will be coming at the end of November and riding right through winter as it will be my daily transport!

As i get more confident and my riding skills increase, i intend to fit progressive fork springs, heavier oil and revalve the shocks, and same with rear. Im a fairly big lad at 15+ stone, and the SV's have a bit of a reputation for the suspension being soft, so i think that will probably be the best route for me to take.
i dont really want to go down the road of fitting a GSXR front end and ZX10R rear shock and skyrocketing my premiums just yet!

[Dean-J]

An yeah Zorst etc will be declared.

[P.]

Well my car came from factory with both the standard bumper and a bumper with adjustable intake.

I fitted the latter and got charged for it.

Didn't think the SV came from factory like that anyway...

A GSXR front end would be a good bet...Cant see how it would affect your insurance...as upgrading your current forks would be "upgraded front end" anyway

Hope you enjoy it though dude

[Dean-J]

If you fit something after it leaves the showroom, its a modification. if it is factory fitted then it is not a modification.

Only thing that could be classed as a modification doing things my way would be the progressive springs. Oil and valving is simply setting the bike up correctly for your weight. and besides, who's gonna know?
Not like they're going to strip the forks down and check valve sizes, oil weights or spring part numbers now is it!

[Dean-J]

well, been a while since i posted in here...

Passed My Mods 1 and 2 first time round last month, and have been on the road since.

Sorted everything i had to do to the bike, then found i needed new rubber as rear was too big, and front was squared. Went for a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2's, and they are impressing me so far Also wound rear shock up a bit as was far too soft, just some 20w fork oil in the fronts now to do.

Also stubby'd the can, as i thought it looked odd poking out behind the rear tyre, so it now sits exactly where i want it to. Sounds a touch throatier now too, not that it wasnt loud enough before!

I do have a slight blow to attend to, but here's a lil vid of how it sounds with sod all throttle:

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/th_20111216_160553.jpg

And some random pics, just because a show and tell thread is useless without pics!

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/20111216_160535.jpg

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/20111216_160527.jpg

https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/deangte/20111216_160511.jpg

[Nope.]

Forks look bent.
____________________
Former: Derbi GP1 50, Sachs XTC 125, Suzuki GSXR 400 GK73A, Kawasaki ZX7R, Suzuki DR250, Yamaha RD350
Current: 2011 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré, 2003 Yamaha YZR-R1 5PW (In Build), 2009 Kawasaki ZZR1400

[Redoko]

Not a fan of Sv's myself but looks like a tidy bike.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[Dean-J]

KNOB!!! lmao

[Dean-J]

Not you Redoko