SV650 or 1000?

[Jfaden23]

Hey guys, relatively new to the streets, just over a year since I've had my permit/DR650. Have my toys for offroad and have been riding offroad for over 4 years. Getting to the point, I'm looking for a street upgrade and the SV series caught my eye as well as my budget.

I'm very bored on my DR on the road, just not enough power to feed my appetite. I'm just curious if an SV 650 is enough to keep things interesting for the next couple of years as well as some 2 up weekend tours, or should I jump to a 1000.

Another question, SV650 is all over craigslist, the 1000 isn't, but I just ran across an 05 w/ 8500 miles for $4800 (havn't bargained w/ him yet) so it could go lower. If I do decide to go 1000, is that a decent deal? Anything typically going wrong w/ that year?

[pickpocket293]

Grab an SV650... They're cheap, the parts are also cheap and readily available, and the bikes are very good machines, capable of taking you into the "A" group at a track day if you've got the skill. You're in CA, so there should be some tracks within a reasonable distance for you to learn how to actually ride a sportbike.

[cat0020]

SV650s is probably all the bike anyone would ever need for public roads and track use.

Personally, I prefer the 99-02 variety, carbs are much easier to tune for more performance if you decide to take it on the tracks, being lighter in weight helps, too.

It's got plenty of getup and go in stock form for public roads, suspension mod is probably the first thing you should do before perforamce tune anyway.

Carb'ed SV650 you can probably find under $3k, closer to $2.5k.
I'm on my 4th carb'ed SV650 just because they are so cheap to find and I turn profit everytime I sell them after putting few k mils on mine.

[Jfaden23]

Originally Posted by cat0020

SV650s is probably all the bike anyone would ever need for public roads and track use.

So is a Ford Focus, but I'd rather have a 67' Camero w/ a 427 in it. Seeing as you've had your fair share of SVs, you are completely happy w/ the 650 in terms of "get up and go"? I suppose at this point that's my main feature I'm looking at, a couple hours ago I set up appointments w/ 3 sellers from craigslist on some SV 650s, just waiting for a local enough 1000 to pop up for a test drive.

[drummer92]

The sv650 has twice the horsepower of the dr650, and roughly 10 more ft lbs of torque. Probably more considering your dr is a 92. I don't think you'll be disappointed. And if you do end up bored with it, you can flog it at the track or sell it for what you paid

[Justice06RR]

I've never ridden either but have plenty of buddies who own them.

Since you have some riding experience already, I'd just go with the SV1000. Easier to ride for the street since you have a better powerband. If you were a noob I'd recommend the 650, but you're not.

Agreed on post #4 too. having a 4-cyclinder sportscar doesnt' mean I wouldn't want a V8 Ferrari...

[pickpocket293]

Originally Posted by Justice06RR

I've never ridden either but have plenty of buddies who own them.

Since you have some riding experience already, I'd just go with the SV1000. Easier to ride for the street since you have a better powerband. If you were a noob I'd recommend the 650, but you're not.

Agreed on post #4 too. having a 4-cyclinder sportscar doesnt' mean I wouldn't want a V8 Ferrari...

So by that logic he should just pick up an S1000RR then right?



Ask yourself this, OP... Would you rather ride a fast bike slow, or a slow[er] bike fast?

[Jfaden23]

Originally Posted by pickpocket293

So by that logic he should just pick up an S1000RR then right?



Ask yourself this, OP... Would you rather ride a fast bike slow, or a slow[er] bike fast?

Lol, this makes sense. All the life long riders in my life have been telling me go w/ the 650...I guess I was just looking for an excuse to get the 1000. Looks like I'll try the 650 for a bit and go from there, can always upgrade.

[Süsser Tod]

SV1000 is a better bike, but it's cool to hate it... Never understood why.

You get 45 more hp, endless torque, stronger swing arm and forks along with cartridge forks and a better rear shock. 40lbs extra weight for all that. Most SV650 riders complain the 1000 feels "heavy", what they are complaining about is the steering damper, that goes to show how much they know.

The SV1000 being a misunderstood bike, and the SV650 being almost a cult bike, means that you can get a SV1K for the same money as a SV650.

FYI, SV1000S weights the same and has the same power as a Ducati 998.

[drummer92]

Originally Posted by Süsser Tod

SV1000 is a better bike, but it's cool to hate it... Never understood why.

You get 45 more hp, endless torque, stronger swing arm and forks along with cartridge forks and a better rear shock. 40lbs extra weight for all that. Most SV650 riders complain the 1000 feels "heavy", what they are complaining about is the steering damper, that goes to show how much they know.

The SV1000 being a misunderstood bike, and the SV650 being almost a cult bike, means that you can get a SV1K for the same money as a SV650.

FYI, SV1000S weights the same and has the same power as a Ducati 998.

I haven't seen as many sv1000's in my area and they usually sell for almost a grand more. The extra insurance, gas, and tire costs also make it a pricier bike to own.

But damn I wish I had dual exhaust on my 650. 200+ mile range would be hard to give up tho