So after my FZ6 was totaled out, started looking for bikes and this happened last night:
(https://i.imgur.com/pj01Y7x.jpg)
Has around 17k miles on it and as far as I can tell the only modifications to the bike are heated grips, and additional LED brake lights on the rear fender. Otherwise, bone stock which is surprising considering it's a 12 year old SV650. Doesn't look like it's ever even been dropped, other than a tiny scuff on the rear passenger handle, it's in pristine condition considering its age. Already ordered frame sliders.
My plans on molesting this clean example :lol: :
- Remove passenger handle
- New mirrors
- Straighter/lower handlebar
- Tail tidy and/or integrated taillight
- Powdercoat rear passenger peg & bracket
- Maybe a can, or a full exhaust system
- Chin spoiler
Out of those mods, I imagine I'll probably only do the first two things (remove passenger handle & get new mirrors). I can already tell I'll probably want something else by end of the season - I actually would've bought a Ducati Monster 696 this time around but the only reasonably priced ones were 4 hours away and I didn't want to go that far and I also wanted to get back to commuting on a bike ASAP. So chances are I'll probably ride the SV this summer and then switch out to a 696 by the fall. But for now, gonna enjoy it!
Nice! And if you don't carry lots of passengers do like me and PlastiDip the rear peg/bracket!
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on June 06, 2018, 01:38:18 PM
Nice! And if you don't carry lots of passengers do like me and PlastiDip the rear peg/bracket!
I thought about just spray painting it, but I hear that wears off very quickly if you ride with a passenger (I occasionally do, although not sure if the ladyfriend will find the SV comfortable). We'll see!
Nice!
How are you adjusting to the new engine character? That sounded like a bit of a dealbreaker for you initially. I personally prefer 2s to 4s... you feel a lot more connected to what the engine is doing.
Good looking bike! Congrats.
Nice bike.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 06, 2018, 01:49:33 PM
Nice!
How are you adjusting to the new engine character? That sounded like a bit of a dealbreaker for you initially. I personally prefer 2s to 4s... you feel a lot more connected to what the engine is doing.
I couldn't get insurance for it this morning (the damn broker called me back as I was on the subway to work), so it's sitting at home. But I got insurance and registration taken care of this morning so I just gotta get home, throw my old plate on it and go for a ride :praise:
Took it out for a spin tonight, finally got some real impressions.
- The SV and FZ are completely different bikes. I always figured they were competitors and I know they got compared back in the day but really they were designed with two very different things in mind.
- It's obviously early but I'm not sure I'll ever understand the allure of this motor. The v-twin noise is alright, but just how much the whole bike feels like it's going to vibrate itself apart if I lug the engine even a bit is very weird/concerning. I'm sure this is made worse by the fact that I came from a super smooth I4 but still.
- As expected, the SV definitely does feel like it has more pep in the midrange but I'm still expecting the thing to take off as the revs build like the FZ6 did but obviously the SV just doesn't work that way. And the SV is definitely builds speed through the midrange faster than I expect but still overall disappointing
- Everything about the SV feels so light compared to the FZ - the bike itself and the controls. Especially with how narrow the bike is compared to the FZ, just feels like a much lighter, easier to ride bike. I would definitely say the SV is a better bike for beginners compared to a FZ6
Yea revs are not your friend here. You're going to make much more progress short shifting.
For me the big appeal of a vibey twin is you have much more sense of how the engine is loaded.... key when you're leaned over. On the street it probably doesn't matter but I'd be afraid of high siding. On this Gixxuses I rode I felt no connection to the engine whatsoever. It felt like a video game. Scary when you have like 140RWHP underhand. I guess you get used to it. But I'd learn to connect with the engine
Nice bike. The tail is so high, old farts may not be able to swing their leg over it, though. :lol:
Quote from: shp4man on June 07, 2018, 07:36:20 AM
Nice bike. The tail is so high, old farts may not be able to swing their leg over it, though. :lol:
I'm coming from one of these, this SV is easier to get on/off of :lol:
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1391/6795/products/web_side_7b27c402-057b-4002-92f7-e7980e83f923_1024x1024.jpg?v=1491345766)
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 07, 2018, 05:12:44 AM
Yea revs are not your friend here. You're going to make much more progress short shifting.
For me the big appeal of a vibey twin is you have much more sense of how the engine is loaded.... key when you're leaned over. On the street it probably doesn't matter but I'd be afraid of high siding. On this Gixxuses I rode I felt no connection to the engine whatsoever. It felt like a video game. Scary when you have like 140RWHP underhand. I guess you get used to it. But I'd learn to connect with the engine
The SV just feels like it needs ~20-25% more power. I took off on green lights a couple of times this morning and by the time I feel like I should be doing triple digits in the FZ, the SV just simple isn't there (which I guess is better for my license :lol: )
An aftermarket exhaust makes the twin sound much more engaging, the sound is way too restricted with the OE pipes.
And yeah mine would run out of steam at about 90 mph, but the power down low made it more fun around town and in the twisties. I could just leave it in 3rd and do my thing
SV's power is just about perfect for the street. Really no need to go any faster. At the track though :zzz:
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 07, 2018, 11:52:06 AM
SV's power is just about perfect for the street. Really no need to go any faster. At the track though :zzz:
Nah, I need my adrenaline fix :devil:
Wringing the FZ6 from 8k to 14k through 1st/2nd was hella fun, even after ~10k miles on the FZ it still gave me a big smile when I opened up the throttle.
Quote from: SVT_Power on June 07, 2018, 12:09:13 PM
Nah, I need my adrenaline fix :devil:
Wringing the FZ6 from 8k to 14k through 1st/2nd was hella fun, even after ~10k miles on the FZ it still gave me a big smile when I opened up the throttle.
I feel you!
Just for everybody's entertainment, a bit of news from earlier this week.
I forgot to keep the shiny side up, went asphalt surfing at probably around 30 mph. Basically was not paying any real attention to riding, leaned the bike over way too much because I wasn't leaning properly (lazy + not thinking about it) and down she went. I don't know if it's because the tires have pretty shiny chicken strips, or I just simply bottomed out.
Either way, bike went for a little slide and so did I. Luckily, I put frame sliders on the bike literally 2 days before this happened. The slider did its job perfectly, and the extra large stock muffler also worked very well as a sliding surface. Frame, swingarm, handlebar, and tank did not receive a single scratch.
Just gonna replace the peg (wanted to do that anyway because the rubber pad on top was worn smooth), rear brake pedal, spool, and frame slider. I'll eventually get around to replacing the muffler as well, and then you wouldn't even be able to tell it went down.
I have a little bruise on my hip and finally small (maybe 1 square inch) road rash on my knee from sliding. Good times :lol:
HOLY SHIT!
Quote from: SVT_Power on June 14, 2018, 11:45:05 AM
Just for everybody's entertainment, a bit of news from earlier this week.
I forgot to keep the shiny side up, went asphalt surfing at probably around 30 mph. Basically was not paying any real attention to riding, leaned the bike over way too much because I wasn't leaning properly (lazy + not thinking about it) and down she went. I don't know if it's because the tires have pretty shiny chicken strips, or I just simply bottomed out.
Either way, bike went for a little slide and so did I. Luckily, I put frame sliders on the bike literally 2 days before this happened. The slider did its job perfectly, and the extra large stock muffler also worked very well as a sliding surface. Frame, swingarm, handlebar, and tank did not receive a single scratch.
Just gonna replace the peg (wanted to do that anyway because the rubber pad on top was worn smooth), rear brake pedal, spool, and frame slider. I'll eventually get around to replacing the muffler as well, and then you wouldn't even be able to tell it went down.
I have a little bruise on my hip and finally small (maybe 1 square inch) road rash on my knee from sliding. Good times :lol:
C'mom man, you're going to have to get a side-car if you keep doing that.
It's official, you're an inattentive FOG who can't keep a bike upright. Might as well get one of these things and accept your fate:
(https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2016-Harley-Davidson-Trike-Freewheeler3-small.jpg)
He's a Yamaha guy
(https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/PageFiles/636360/1000x750/2018_Yamaha_Niken_006.jpg)
Finally figured out what that thing looks like
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Male_gorilla_in_SF_zoo.jpg/1920px-Male_gorilla_in_SF_zoo.jpg)
:lol:
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on June 07, 2018, 05:12:44 AM
Yea revs are not your friend here. You're going to make much more progress short shifting.
For me the big appeal of a vibey twin is you have much more sense of how the engine is loaded.... key when you're leaned over. On the street it probably doesn't matter but I'd be afraid of high siding. On this Gixxuses I rode I felt no connection to the engine whatsoever. It felt like a video game. Scary when you have like 140RWHP underhand. I guess you get used to it. But I'd learn to connect with the engine
That's less it being a vibey twin and more the amount of power available and gearing. Run one of the Gixxers down at an RPM where they only make ~50 hp and you'll get the same sensation of loading. Reality is, you shouldn't be putting down power while the bike is leaned. You should be at neutral throttle, rolling into it as the bike pulls out of the lean. Same with a car. You don't start rolling into the accelerator until you start unwinding the wheel.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on June 15, 2018, 02:22:48 PM
He's a Yamaha guy
(https://mcn-images.bauersecure.com/PageFiles/636360/1000x750/2018_Yamaha_Niken_006.jpg)
I still can't figure that thing out. It's not self-supporting, so it's not for the usual trike rider who has difficulty with balance or holding a bike upright. I guess it effectively makes it harder to wash out the front end since there are 2 contact patches, so if you hit a small patch of something on the road with one wheel, the other has enough grip to keep you from falling (provided whatever you hit doesn't cover the whole road). Probably works great with those tar strips that get greasy when it's hot out. Adds a lot of weight and complexity for that benefit, though.
Quote from: 93JC on June 15, 2018, 06:00:33 AM
It's official, you're an inattentive FOG who can't keep a bike upright. Might as well get one of these things and accept your fate:
(https://www.totalmotorcycle.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2016-Harley-Davidson-Trike-Freewheeler3-small.jpg)
lolll