Is an SV650 too much?

[Soulbreeze]

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I've read tons of thread/posts on starter bikes. The SV650 is universally not suggested as a starter bike, but it's also not usually excluded as one either.

As I've read many opinions on starting on one, I'd like to see what ya'll think about it. I've come to know that many of you have a lot of experience and I actually trust your guys' opinions more than most. I know the front shocks are usually craptacular (at least when you start pushing the bike). I'm not too concerned about that. There's way too many gravel/sand/debris variables on any road i could 'carve' around here so all turns have to been taken with apprehension. I won't be pushing lean hard in these parts, it's just flat out not safe to do so.

Thing is, I want FI. I live in Wisconsin and work 3rd shift. This means a ton of 7 a.m. starts. I don't want to have to pop full choke for 5 minutes before I can ride. This leaves few options for a starter:

CBR250: Won't buy. Too many say it's weak and I have qualms about thumpers (Duke 390 looks pretty bad-ass though, ain't gonna lie, heh).

Ninja 300: My current top option. Local dealer will give me high 2,000's trade in for my Genuine Blur scooter. (4800 MSRP)

SV650: 2003+ for FI. Have found a TON of them around me for mid 3,000's. Various mileage. These dealer's, however, probably won't give me more than 2-2.5k for my scooter. Plus side is my local dealer is a Suzuki dealer, so servicing will be a non-issue.

So it drops down to a new Ninja 300 or a used SV with FI for now. The new Honda 500's don't really excite me for their price. GW250 looks pretty nice, but I'm not sure it'll handle the freeway properly for what I need (45 Minute Commute. 18 miles or so Freeway).

TL;DR Is the SV650 too much bike for someone who only has 2k miles experience on a scooter and only 10 hours of MSF training on a shifter?
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[bluspyder]

All the new 250 are fine starter bikes. A 250 will take any economy level sedan off the line and I don't hear people complaining about a honda civic not having enough power to keep up with traffic.

Personally I would suggest a older ninja 500 because that was my first bike I know thing inside and out. I rode year around any hardly ever used the choak on it.

You don't need FI just a well tuned carb. Unless your storing the bike in a deep freezer.

Sent from my DROIDX

[I-Jo]

The SV is NOT a beginner bike.

Period.

That doesn't mean a beginner can't use one- but its not confidence inspiring the way a SS600 would be (which has a sneaky underbelly type thing going on). The bike is torque right from the start- there is no waiting for the RPM's to get to 7k and then it turns into a rocket. It's just torque torque torque from the first shift.

I had 10K on another bike and I got my SV and I went HOLY SHIT- why is this recommended for a beginner bike. It's just not.

Can it be done? sure- is it wise- meh- not so much.

Since you have SOME experience on two wheels it's probably not going to just eat you- I wouldn't recommend it personally because I don't like doing so- but you probably would be fine if you were smart about it.

[drummer92]

You have some experience on two wheels, and you're over 30, so I say go for the SV. It was my first bike and I've been very happy with it.

I would recommending going for an 04+ because the 03s have some odd parts that are 03 only. Also, the 05+ have black frames and the 07+ have 4 spark plugs instead of 2

[pickpocket293]

My vote goes for the Ninja 300. When the prices go down for those, and used models start popping up, I'm picking one up and throwing brake lines and suspension on it for a track bike.

[RocketPunch]

Originally Posted by Soulbreeze

Is the SV650 too much bike for someone who only has 2k miles experience on a scooter and only 10 hours of MSF training on a shifter?

I started with a ex250, but I don't think a sv650 is absolutely not a good bike for beginner. I would even argue a crappy ex250 with crappy tires is potentially more dangerous than a higher power bike with great tires, traction control and full ABS.

I guess you will have to ask yourself and depends on how comfortable will you be switching from a scooter to a motorcycle. I would suggest borrowing a normal bike and ride it and see if that is something you feel comfortable on right away.

[johnnywha5]

In my opinion, comfort is the number one factor you need to consider. The more comfortable you are on a bike, you're more confident in making the bike do what you want it to do. If you choose a bike because it looks really cool, but you feel like you're just hanging on for dear life every time you ride, then maybe it's not for you.

The new Ninja 300 looks really sick! Test ride one and see if you really like it. What's important is that you're happy with your bike. Good luck!

[Shamrock627]

Honda CBR500R is a good choice. New for this year.

[OreoGaborio]

I consider the SV as being "on the cusp" of what's recommendable to new riders. Meaning I don't really have much of a problem with new riders who have gone through MSF and have some prior riding (even scooter) experience starting on SV's so long as they're able to demonstrate a little bit of skill & coordination and a reasonable amount of common sense.

It's certainly easier to ride compared to the more powerful race oriented supersports, but not as tame and beginner friendly as bikes like the Ninja 250's, etc.

I've recommended it to some but held back from recommending it to others.

[Sequentialshift]

Originally Posted by Shamrock627

Honda CBR500R is a good choice. New for this year.

Rode one ?

[Soulbreeze]

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Thanks for all your input folks. I'm still heavily leaning on the 300, but wanted to keep some other options around. It's going to largely depend on if I can get through the next few months without any emergencies and can put most of my wages towards my current loan. If I get that mostly paid off by late winter/early spring, then the 300 it will most likely be.

The SV having torque as soon as it moves is good to know and hadn't seen that emphasized before. I actually like that. I hate to compare things to my scoot as it's a different world, but that's one thing that bothered me about it. It's power was all mid-range and it's kind of sluggish from the line. Picks up speed pretty good once you get moving. Just had this curve that was meh until 15-20, then was good until around 60ish, then nothing but slowly rolling the rest the of the way up the speedo.
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[RocketPunch]

^ Unless OP plan on riding the 300 for a long long time. Why not just get a used ex250 for half the price and upgrade later?

[Shamrock627]

Originally Posted by Sequentialshift

Rode one ?

Nope, gotta be more tame than a SV650, though.

[Soulbreeze]

Originally Posted by RocketPunch

^ Unless OP plan on riding the 300 for a long long time. Why not just get a used ex250 for half the price and upgrade later?

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Because they are worth less than the trade-in I'm going to get for my scooter and I don't want a carb'd bike living in Wisconsin.

Considering the bump in power on the 300 is said to fix the only issues the 250's have that I'm personally worried about (freeway power and FI), I don't see any reason why I wouldn't have the bike for at least 2 years or more. I'd probably still get a good 4k for the bike at that point, so wouldn't really be losing out much. Hell, the 09+ 250's were still selling here for almost MSRP up to last month.
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[OreoGaborio]

Word of wisdom I tell all my MSF grads and new riders... "It's your FIRST bike.... not your last."

In other words, don't over-think (cc's, carbs, whatever... really doesn't make that much of a difference)
And don't over-buy (cheap bikes don't depreciate... buy cheap, sell cheap.)

Nothing says you have to keep what you buy for more than a few months if you don't like it.