sv650S?

[ups4life]

would this be a good bike for a beginner, and comments would be appreciated, thanks, joey

[QuacktheDuck]

well i had a regular sv650 (naked version) and i thought it was an excellent bike to learn on. It's not too crazy and had great handling...easy to control. Just don't fall asleep while going to work while riding like i did (hey it was 5:30 am) and you'll be ok Heh heh The s has a more aggressive riding position...I'm not sure if the suspension was slightly stiffer or not, but I think it is for the S.

[Louis]

Define beginner. Ever rode any type of motorbike? Did you take the MSF? We usually suggest something around a 500 cc bike for a true beginner (no previous riding experience). Do a search on this forum. You should find an answer.

And

[Scourge]

Welcome, and uh....Go Brown!?

[Clint]

Need more info. It's a pretty quick bike, and they are new enough that you wouldn't want to dump one.

[SERGE]

I had a 1000DS (Ducati) for about two months before I bought an SV650. The Duc was my first bike, but multiple mechanical issues made it a lemmon law case .. which I easily won.

So my SV is almost my first bike, and i love it!!!

It has enough power/speed to ride along with most 4Cy-600 (if you are not going straight line) and is easily "thrown" around in the curves. Good breaks and so-so suspenssion, but since I am not a "hard" rider I'm ok with it.

I have not gotten scared yet. The bike is fast, but the power never kicks in to fast or abruptly. In brief, a great bike.

You may want a 500, but after the break in period (which also serves as the learning period for a new rider) you should be able to ride it a SV without getting in trouble. A 500 is great, but within six months you will be thinking about a bigger one ... and unless you have extra money for a trade ....

Cheers,

Serge

[SuzukiGirl1]

I absolutely love my SV!! I have the "S" version, which does have an aggressive riding style, which takes some getting used to...but is really fun in the twisties!!

I started on the GS500, which I'm very glad I did...I dropped that bike twice (both times while going less than 1 mph!!)...and the SV would've been too much for me to start with.

There are many people on this forum though that have started on an SV or recommend it as a starter bike.

Have you taken the MSF course? That would be my first step, if I were you. Then, go sit on the SV and see how it feels.

Welcome to the forum, good luck!

[JES883]

I don't want to discount the fine advice given above, but I'll lend my two cents. That's the bike that I wanted a few years ago. A buddy of mine knew I was a newbie and knew that I was looking at the SV650 (s) and he decided to test ride one to give me his take. He had a friend that was a mechanic at a dealership, so he ended up getting one to use for an afternoon. He said it scared him witless (more than he already was). He'd ridden Harley's for almost 20 years.

Anyhow, I talked to the mechanic myself about the bike. He said that he PROMISED me that I would drop the thing before the summer was out, and not a small parking lot drop. Lacking any better guidance at the time, I stayed away.

I think that the Moderatrix's advice is the best ... Take the MSF Course, then go start sitting on stuff.

[viper94bite]

welcome

Originally Posted by JES883

He'd ridden Harley's for almost 20 years.

Is that all he has ridden. A harley to a sport bike is a big difference even if it is a twin. I have ridden mostly cruisers and I was amazed at how fast a ninja 250 seemed, but I have no other experience on a sport bike so I can't really compare.

[Louis]

I do not recommend a SV650 (with or without the S) for a complete newbie...

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

I
I started on the GS500, which I'm very glad I did...I dropped that bike twice (both times while going less than 1 mph!!)...

So what your saying is that you were standing still at the time and tipped over???



Anyway I started with my used 02 SV and I'm glad I did. If I wasn't metally ready for it I wouldn't have gotten it but even during the MSF class I was very comfortable on the Rebel and Blast and didn't have any fears about going fast thru the exercises. Hell I even managed to scrap a peg on the second night before graduation. I know riding a bike isn't like a motorcycle but if you're aggresive on a mountain bike, like to go fast and go over the bumps and jump curbs I think you might have more fun with the SV.

No one say you HAVE to get a GS500 or Ninja 250/500 as a starter bike, they are great for that but I would say that any GSXR, R or ZX chassie bikes aren't for the new rider.

[JES883]

Originally Posted by viper94bite

Is that all he has ridden. A harley to a sport bike is a big difference even if it is a twin. I have ridden mostly cruisers and I was amazed at how fast a ninja 250 seemed, but I have no other experience on a sport bike so I can't really compare.

Nope ... he'd had a couple of Japanese bikes over the years, but was on HD #11 at the time. He also had a Buell Blast for his wife. But you're right, mostly cruisers. Despite this, I did (and still do) respect his advice and experiences on bikes. I didn't get an SV. I don't know if I would have crashed and burned in year one on one, and I never will know. I do know that I'd love to try one out. How 'bout a 15 minute trade SuzukiGirl1???

This topic is so delicate that it should be banned from all internet forums. There should be a travelling troupe of newbie bike assigners that will tell you in five minutes or less via palm reading, crystal balls and the study of poultry entrails what kind of bike (if any) you should ride.

[ups4life]

i have only riden dirt bikes and that was only a couple times, im not really looking to go super fast , im just looking for a better way to commute and thats all. im a really quick learner so i believe that learning to ride a motorcycle would be easy for me , but hey maybe not, the reason why i asked if the 650 is good is because the salesguy recommended it as a first bike. and im gonna take the MSF course next weekend. what are some advantages to having a bike over a car? ne one? thanks alot again

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by ups4life

what are some advantages to having a bike over a car? ne one? thanks alot again

One is transportation, the other is recreation.

[QuacktheDuck]

I find it odd that some say the sv is too much for a beginner...i thought it was really truly easy to ride and was not a lightning fast bike. Oh well, guess everyone has a different view of what is a proper beginner bike and that's fine. As for having a bike as ur only transportation means, no way. Some may disagree but if I had to choose between having only one, I'd pick my truck (or a car) just for practicality and comfort sake. My bike's for fun number one, and occasional commutes on nice days when I feel like it number 2.

[JES883]

If you don't have a job to be at or a class to go to or a girlfriend to take out when it's raining, then you don't need no stinkin' car. Just get a bike.

[Uncle Bob]

Tell that to another newbie member here who has had two accidents in the last month on his SV.

[ups4life]

well first off i live in new mexico, very warm here sunny about 300 days of the year iw ould say, never rains, maybe like 10 times a year for an hour haha, but yea, im a quick learner and i need something new to tdo , and i think a bike would be great and im tired of driving a car. i guess you would have to live here to understand what its like, the roads are really open and straight , so its not hard to get around at all .

[Nexus242]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Tell that to another newbie member here who has had two accidents in the last month on his SV.

You assume those wouldn't have happened on a Ninja 250 or GS500f then???

Rider error is simply rider error and the SV is a very easy bike to ride.

[mikesvsix50]

Originally Posted by Louis

I do not recommend a SV650 (with or without the S) for a complete newbie...

I agree, take a look at the newer 500's. Plenty quick.