ZZR600 compared to Suzuki SV650

[Peperami]

Hi folks,

I am seriously thinking about a second bike for "pottering around on" to use when my ZZR600 is undergoing maintenance.

Anyone out there owned both an SV650 and a ZZR600???
If so can you tell me how they compare.

And for SV650 owners a question.
I am seriously attracted to the SV650 coz it sounds nice and (on paper) is quite lightweight for a 650 but what are they like to ride?
Any tips for buying one second hand?

To put it another way, would an old g** like myself who used to ride BSA650's and Triumph 650's etc be happy with an SV650 for riding along "B" roads or would I find it hard work and be safer on a moped

Regards,

Peperami.

[wr6133]

I'd look for a ZX6R or GSXR reasonable examples of either can be had for around the price of an SV and would provide more smiles per mile. Only briefly ridden an SV though...... was less depressing than an ER6 is about the best I can say.

Also don't they die in the rain due to location of plug hole?

[c_dug]

I've owned both, but for quite short periods.

The SV is definitely much slower in a straight line, but realistically it's more than quick enough to have some fun on.

From memory the SV handles way better, it's a more modern design, and far lighter too. Plus it doesn't seem to suffer with a saggy rear end the way the ZZR6 does. As a fun bike, I'd have the SV out of those two.

It's horses for courses mind, if I had plans for any sort of distance work I'd pick the ZZR any day of the week, it's one of the most capable "small" engined sports tourers I think I've ever come across.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Albigularis]

Keep your weight in mind, I'm about 90kg in my birthday suit and I found the SV to ride like a bouncy castle. I did like the engine though.
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Biking history so far-
Aprilia RS125 - Kawasaki ZXR400 - Triumph Street Triple R - Suzuki GSXR1000 L3 - BMW R1200GS - Kawasaki Z1000 - Kawasaki ZX10R C1H - Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring - Suzuki Hayabusa

[ADSrox0r]

The SV is fun enough but the engine is pretty gutless and utterly without character.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[J4mes]

If you're spending SV650 money then buy another ZZR6?

[c_dug]

For alternatives I'd look at a fazer 600, for a bike that's something like 30bhp down on my previous, I'm really loving mine.
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[stevo as b4]

Isn't one IL4 enough though assuming the OP wants to keep two bikes and not go all ZX6R instead?

If I had a ZZR the last bike I'd want in the world would be a second ZZR (very shit advice IMO).

Fazer 600 is another buzzy 4pot with similar performance, so fairly pointless too.

I've never ridden an SV and not sure how I'd like them, as my mind says they are a bit budget componentry wise and have a poor finish, though how they compare to an old ZZR in that respect I'm not sure.

I'd prefer the 650S to the naked one I think, and I'd prefer a Honda CB500 to a Fazer, just because I don't like the high bars funny riding position on the Fazer and it would piss me off.

[WULFSTAN]

What about a ducati 900ss or a moto guzzi something a bit different.
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Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[stinkwheel]

Owned neither but I'd expect a ZZR6 to run rings round an SV.

I haven't had one but two mates have had SVs and the thing they both said is the quality of the finish is less than amazing on the SV too. Lots of quick rot parts. Especially the brakes.

Knowing how both of them ride, I found the bikes to be unexpectedly slow compared to my 1st gen GPZ500 in terms of both acceleration and top speed. In that I could take them on it if I could be bothered stirring the gearbox enough and I wouldn't have expected to be able to, all things being equal.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Blue_SV650S]

I've had both, but ~20yrs apart in ownership, so hardly back to back riding so what I say is from memory and may have coloured over time.

Back in the 90s when I had my ZZR, it was always slated in the press as it was podgy compared to bikes like the CBR6. Although the ZZR was actually down as the fastest 600 top speed, the press never favoured it.

I actually really liked my ZZR, given that previous bikes were all <125cc, it felt big and meandinful. The acceleration and speed was mind bending (for me at the time). I managed to throw it around enough for my liking. I can't say a bad thing about my old ZZR.

Right, skip forward 20yrs to the SV650. I bought it after having a series of 'sports' bikes, and actually wanted something a bit different to an inline four, and something that might keep my speed/licence/life a bit more in check.

Loved the sound and feel of a twin, had more than enough poke to do anything I wanted (and more). Took a bit of a while to get used to what felt like short-shifting, but liked it after a while.

Everything on the SV650 is fine, but I do recommend upgrading to progressive front fork springs and a ZX6R rear shock (google for those mods), makes the bike sit taller and handle better. It will never handle like an all out sports bike, but who cares? Oh and get the faired version (S) or you will really miss not having a fairing!

As someone that has had both and plenty in-between, I say go for it!
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The purpose of life is to fight maturity.

[redeem ouzzer]

Just remember SV stands for "still virgin".......
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Be a REAL MAN!

[stevo as b4]

There's nothing for it then, OP should just get a GSX1100 with a 1260 big bore kit on it, for occasional use to pop to the shops on nice and steady whenever His ZZR 600 is off the road for maintenance then.

[UnspeedySam]

Go and ride a bunch of bikes and decide what you like. I personally quite like the old naked carbed SV. A friend had one with a few suspension mods and renthal bars which I really got on with.

I seem to be quite unusual in that I have the ability to have fun without a gazillion horsepower though
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[Tdibs]

[Blue_SV650S]

[Springbok_Rider]

The naked SV650 was my first street bike so perhaps I'm biased. However, from what I remember it was confidence inspiring and great fun on the twisties.

Obviously it's not the quickest engine, but it's got plenty of torque for a mid sized bike and sounds good with a can on. I can second the "f*** you I'm out of here overtaking moments" which it was good at.

It's also bullet proof compared to other bikes.

After having a CBR600 I ended up missing the torquey v-twin and bought a Monster 1100.
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2005 SV650 ---> 2002 CBR 600 FS ---> 2010 Monster 1100 ---> 2006 Yamaha YZ250F ---> 2008 Street Triple 675

[Peperami]

Hi again folks,

Thanks to everyone who responded on the topic of the comparisons between the zzr600 and the sv650.

From the various responses it would seem the sv650 gets a massive thums-up as a second bike. The lightweight torquey-twin sounds just right for me.

While it has been pointed out that the sv650 has some "issues" I think this is true of all bikes. My current zzr600 has issues with the front brake pistons/cylinders corroding after they get a splash of water but such problems are what give a bike its "character"

Thanks again for all the input.

Regards,

Peperami

[UnspeedySam]

Get some fireblade callipers on there asap! Massively improved my ZZR although some dremeling was required for the particular callipers I ended up with.
____________________
Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

[Motorhate]

SV650 is a big pile of bollockydogwank. Crap brakes, crap suspension, boring boring ride. Avoid IMO.
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Current - Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob | Harley Davidson FLTR Road Glide | Harley Davidson Road King
GONE - Honda CB500 Ratbike | Yamaha FZ750 | Yamaha XVS1100 | Kawasaki VN2000 | Kawasaki ER-6 F | Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster

[Doink]

[J4mes]

[stevo as b4]

Daytona 650 is a great bike, but if you wanted one then why not sell the ZZR at same time though?

Two fast fully faired 600's to look after and maintain and insure/run seems a bit daft to me? Its the same as having two ZZR's in that it's pointless, but at least with 2x of the same bike you can swap bits around for fault finding or if something falls off one of them etc. I believe it's the same logic as those people that have two of exactly the same old cars at any one time.

Oh and rule no.1 for a second bike especially if it's a spare/back up/ run around etc, is get something slower and less capable than bike no.1.

That way the first bike will always feel more impressive and make you want to use it more often. Would you or I put an old ZZR under an old tarp in the garden if we had a nice Daytona 650 to ride instead?

[J4mes]

I have a thundercat. I like my thundercat, I've had it 5 years and can't see me buying anything else any time soon.

Now if I wanted to buy another bike to use while it was off the road, I'd either buy another thundercat (as I have such a boner for the current one) or buy something absolutely totally different. Not a 650 naked sports bike, not a 750 sport, 400 sport. Something totally different.

250 single, C90, something daft and useless like those ex army Harley/ Armstrong things.

The point of the thread was that he wanted something else to "potter around on while the ZZR6 is under maintenance" and for me the 650SV isn't different enough.

Although I've never rode one. Just read an awful lot of shite on here about them. So I'm talking bollocks.

OP just buy another ZZR!

[Pigeon]

If it's for pottering and a cheap second bike, why not a drz sm or similar?

Single cylinder, single disc, maybe even air cooled. Something cheap and simple.

I like my SV, it's not exciting, but it's enjoyable. Especially giving it grief and not really going silly speed.
Instant shove makes overtakes in traffic queues a doddle. Narrow profile helps.
The standard can is an abomination and must be replaced instantly as it turns it from a hair dryer into something with a bit of character.

Brakes and suspension are terrible. It's under-sprung and under-damped.
£100 on sintered pads up front and braded lines do help
£100 on new front springs + 15w fork oil do help
£150 on a 2004/05 ZX10R rear shock helps. But they themselves are like hens teeth and getting more expensive and more ropey.

But, this bike is for "pottering" so if a 16st lump like me can live with a 48k mile example on standard suspension for a couple of years, its fine for pottering. Only in the faster stuff do you remember that its crap.

I like the bike enough, I've spent a bit on it (see above). I'll be doing the rear shock, but have a horrible feeling it's going to mean £350 for a new unit because the donor shocks are now harder to get in good nick for good money.


CCT's are a problem on <=2002 bikes, the K3 mostly sorted the issue.

Reg recs go bang, I lost 2 until I fitted a MOSFET unit for £100.

I also found a short as the loom had rubbed away the plastic on the wires, scraping on the inside of the fairing (s model).