Semi-Faired 600's ?

[tvchimp]

Apart from the Obvious Hornet (2002-ish) and the Fazer, what other 600cc Semi Faired bikes are there for around £1000-1500 ?

I know of the Divvy and bandit 600, but honestly I've known a few people who owned them and all had problems starting with build/finish quality and heard quite a few bad things about them (sluggish/overweight for what they should be).

Any others I'm missing that people can say they've had a good experience with and would recommend?

Looking at semi-faired, being my first big bike, would rather not have a fairing to smash into pieces on my first off (I'm a realist and known I'll have one at some point within my first year, even if it's a minor incident )
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Bike: Currently Bikeless... Gahh

[P.]

Couldnt really fault the Divvy... Nemo has one 1993 with 14k on it, looks brand new.. genuinely brand new. Had it for £780 I think... stuning condition, full history etc. If you PM him, he may or may not be selling

[neatbik]

Triumph Speed Four. Ok, its not half faired, but does come with a little 'bikini' fairing above the lights.

I had one and liked it. Very good suspension, good build quality, and probably about as comfy as a sporty 600 gets.

Theres also the sv650. I havent owned one, but a few on here do.

[chris-red]

TDM900

Don't let the engine size put you off it makes about the same power but more torque, I think would be a better first bike than my S4 was.

It is similar weight to the Fazer and lighter than a Divy/Bandit.

If you are above average height it is perfect, if you are below it isn't.


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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[Seb]

Add the SV650 to that list. Frankly if someone's saying that a bandit 600 is heavy and slow then they are probably expecting it to be a sports 600, not a commuter/all rounder. You could argue that the Divvy is underpowered for a 600 but then it's really more in line with the commuter 500 twins, just with a smoother more refined motor.
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2010 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST

[stonesie]

The SV650 is a good bet, apparantly the earlier curveys are more comfortable than the 03> pointys but I dont find mine too bad untill well past 100 miles.

And they sound gorgeous with a decent can

[neatbik]

As regards SV650's....... I'm thinking of changing bikes. I like v twins, i want something that i can use all of the power of but not go warp speed. I will only (if i do change bikes) have about 2k to spend, and i want something that handles well but hasnt got a crippling riding position.

Now, really the SV650 seems like my ideal bike, but there is so much negativeness out there about them its very easy to dismiss it....


I did test ride one a few years back, but not for long or very far. I do seem to remember the motor felt a bit flat, but maybe its time for another test ride..

[P.]

[stonesie]

They don't have the nothing, nothing, holy fuck, change up.... power delivery but there is a deffinate surge at 7K on mine, it will thump it's way out of a corner at anything down th 3K but is happier above 4.


They are a pretty mechanical sounding engine though and that does make some people think twice about getting one.

[andys675]

my fazer 600 has been A1 for the last 3 years of daily grind, only bother was the mild steel downpipes which I replaced

[tvchimp]

My old man's friend had 2 Divvy's, one after the other, first engine went (around 16k miles, FSH and maintained v.well but just blew for some reason?) and the other rusted beneath him (think that was a '94 reg or something like that but fairly old anyway) so he's now bikeless, but I've always heard bad things about the Suzuki build quality on their naked bikes?.. Maybe I'm wrong and shouldn't base my view on them from just that?..

SV650 - hmm, I was 50/50 about this. Great first bike, but a lot of people (even on here) have said that it has a boring power delivery, I'm going to own the bike for at least 2 years to get more than enough experience on it, so I dont want something that after 6months I'll be rubbing my hands together and thinking of selling it to get something which (even if it's just the power delivery) has more 'poke'.

I wont be in a position til next year (once my loan is cleared off) to buy a bike, so I'm just getting idea's now on what to buy, If need be, I could always try and get a few test ride's on a few bikes, my local bike place who i'll be doing my DAS with normally have an array of different bikes in so may see about that when it comes to it.

[chris-red]

I have a Speed Four and a TDM900,

The Varadero has a taller and wider seat, 5'10 you should ok on it.


I love them both but at 6'5 the S4 was a little bit cramped but once I fitted upright bars it was fine.

Which bike depends one what you want, if you are doing commuting or distance TDM all the way, if it is just fun the the Speed Four all the way.

The TDM hussles pretty well for a big girl and has awesome brakes, and a nice motor, and is pretty good on fuel.

The Speed Four is an amazing handling thing, excellent suspension and it is faster in a straight line than the TDM, it also has a great gearbox.

The TDM does really have any downsides, the Speed Four is just more fun.

The Speed Four is as great on fuel and the engine required more work. It has more power but it is all in the top end so you had to be in the right gear to get anywhere.

TDM - Easier to live with and more practical.

S4 - Faster and more fun
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.