SV650 for first bike?

[Oni]

TS80 and bush just summed up why I know I wouldn't have learned as much. Throttle control is just one very small part to riding. I don't feel it's a matter of "not feeling overpowering". It's a matter of how you react/respond when the $hit hits the fan.

You might think you have throttle control or braking control until something happens to truly test that. With the 250/500 engines, brakes, suspension you are more likely to scare yourself. Depending on the situation you might go down, might not. Just because the bike has less power, is no guarantee that you won't. On the SV650 a mishandling of the throttle for a new rider makes things go bad, much, much faster.

Right now I've put in about 30k+ miles with about 10k on an SV. Had I started on an SV, I can remember a couple of close calls in my first year or two (street) that I might not have ridden away from unscathed.

I love the SV and think it's a great all-around bike. Great second bike, definitely. The Ninja 250, Ninja 500, GS500 have all taught me so much I'll probably always have a smaller bike in the garage. I still learn from them.

[Lewd Ferrigno]

-1 on the SV as a good starter bike.

I think a few years on a smaller bike is a much better idea, essentially for the reasons that everyone else has put up in their posts about it.

[Dominion]

Very helpful and informative thread guys

+1

[N.Y.STYLE PIZZA]

Originally Posted by Oni

TS80 and bush just summed up why I know I wouldn't have learned as much. Throttle control is just one very small part to riding. I don't feel it's a matter of "not feeling overpowering". It's a matter of how you react/respond when the $hit hits the fan.

You might think you have throttle control or braking control until something happens to truly test that. With the 250/500 engines, brakes, suspension you are more likely to scare yourself. Depending on the situation you might go down, might not. Just because the bike has less power, is no guarantee that you won't. On the SV650 a mishandling of the throttle for a new rider makes things go bad, much, much faster.

Right now I've put in about 30k+ miles with about 10k on an SV. Had I started on an SV, I can remember a couple of close calls in my first year or two (street) that I might not have ridden away from unscathed.

I love the SV and think it's a great all-around bike. Great second bike, definitely. The Ninja 250, Ninja 500, GS500 have all taught me so much I'll probably always have a smaller bike in the garage. I still learn from them.

+10 !!!!

I started on the 250 Hyosung and I'm really glad I did. I will be going back to the track in Sept. for my second track day session. I will be the first to tell you I don't know sh#t about riding motorcycles, and probably won't for several years. I am also a big believer in training. MSF BRC and ERC should be taken by everyone on two wheels, and if you ride a sportbike, you should definitely invest in some track time......

[Rebelde]

I started on an EX500 and had a few k miles on it before trying my husband's sv. I'm glad that I had the time on the ninja before trying the sv (mainly because my bike was broken due to carb issues). While I have not had any problems with the sv, I would have to agree with the posters saying the sv is not a great beginner's bike. Good throttle control is essential. The throttle is much more sensitive "twitchy" if you like, than the 500, and as a new rider, you will probably be surprised by the torque. Also, as a previous poster mentioned, I can think of a time or two on the 500 that, had I been on the sv, I probably would have dropped it/gone down, but didn't because I was on the 500. If you do get the sv for your first bike, practice a lot around the neighborhood before venturing beyond.

*edit* I wouldn't say that the positioning of the sv is "very" aggressive compared to the 500; it is more aggressive to be sure, but it is still very upright, think step-function... I am 5'8" and can flat-foot the 500, and not quite flat-foot the sv. Also, the sv feels more top-heavy (for lack of a better way to describe it) than the 500, even though it's lighter. I think this is because the tank is higher.

[ConcreteCarver]

I'm learning on the SV650.. talk about fun

My contrary point of view is that the SV's sensitive throttle and engine braking actually teach you to be smooth, because when you're not the bike gives you immediate feedback (but not so much as to get you into major trouble). In that way its not a bad learning platform, especially if you intend to eventually move up to bigger bikes. At around 15 more horsepower than a ninja 500 its also still reasonably forgiving.

I know others disagree, but I think if someone has passed the MSF course with good skills, they will be fine on the SV - though at first it might not always be pretty!