Don't kick me out yet though, I've still got the bandit.
It's a yellow 1999 sv650s (the curvy model, I don't like the newer pointy sv's so much and they're more expensive) with 43,000km.
I've only had the sv a couple of weeks now, so have only ridden it a bit. It's
really different to the bandit and different to what I'm used to. My first bike (yamaha fzx250) and the bandit are both naked inline 4's with standard bars, no fairing, stock exhausts.
The sv's got a Two Brother's muffler, so it's fairly loud. It's the sv650s so has a fairing and lower clip ons. Plus it's a v-twin so the feel of the engine is completely different. It's got way more engine braking, blipping the throttle on downshifts seems pretty much essential, whereas on the bandit I don't have to blip so carefully. The rev limiter cuts in at 10,500rpm and the torque delivery is quite different to the bandit. I've been told you have to "short shift" sv's (changing up before the revs get too high) but it's going to take me a while to get used to it.
I like the idea of the twin, less valves to check and adjust, slightly simpler, etc. I think it'll take a while before I learn to ride it properly and appreciate it's power delivery though.
It's my first bike with clip-ons too. I tried some clip ons briefly on the bandit, but the reach was too much of a stretch forwards, worse than sports bikes that were made for clip ons (they were after market ones that clamped under the top triple clamp). I've still got to see how I cope on a longer ride on the sv, it's not as much of a stretch as the aftermarket clip ons on the bandit but there's definitely more weight on my wrists.
I kind of think that clip ons and fairings are mostly there for looks because people want bikes that look like race bikes. The only advantage I can figure out for clip ons is they're in a slightly better position when you're crouched over the tank racing than standard bars would be. And most fairings (including the sv fairing, even with the upswept givi screen my one has) are too small to protect you from the wind unless you're in a racing crouch again.
But I want to see if I can get used to clip ons and fairings. I'd be limiting myself from far too many bikes if I decided fairings and clip ons were impractical except for racing.
So the sv is quite a different beast to what I'm used to.
One of the previous owners must've used it for touring because they had a pack rack on it. I'm intending to use it for weekend rides and trackdays, so I've removed that. I found a screw was missing that was supposed to hold the tail under tray to the subframe which has resulted in a snapped tab/bracket on the fairing. There's also cracks around both indicators on the front fairings from being dropped at standstill by the looks of things since there aren't any scratches on the exhaust/frame/pegs etc. So I get to do a bit of plastic welding with the soldering iron and a modified tip. I've done the rear bracket, still have to do the indicators. And I want to check the valve clearances, check the compression (just so I know where it's at for future reference), check/adjust the suspension sag, give it a clean etc. It's got heated grips on it which I'm not entirely sure about. The wires look like they might get in the way a bit and they're not the sort of thing you have on a bike that's meant to go fast.
But they might come in handy on the long cold ride to trackdays at Taupo, so for now at least I'm leaving them.
I'm thinking I'll keep the bandit and see how it goes with the sv. I'm looking forward to getting to know it, and I really like the design - the frame, engine (except the oil pickup preventing me learning to wheelie), even the fairing and the yellow.
The bandit still puts a smile on my face though. It's a fun bike to ride and I'm really comfortable on it. I still want to do more track days on it when I get some better tyres to stop me crashing...
Topic: got myself an sv650s! (Read 4290 times)