Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Pongo wrote:Not me. I’m a firm believer in starting small and working up.

x0054 wrote: I was wondering though, every one seams to recommend the SV 650.

just incase, im not recommending it either, im just saying if you must get a sv650, shipping IS available.

Dohun wrote:a bit small??? NAH. im 6'0, and the one time ive sat on a CBR 600 i had to tip toe, I couldnt even put my feet flat on the ground...

I'm six feet and flat foot the CBR. We're all different. The CBR goes/stops/turns great. Don't restrict it, or change the pads. If you think it's too much try a CBF model. The CBF500 is a great bike with about 50bhp. The CBF600 can be gotten with a half fairing, and (i think) about 75 bhp.

Lots of options....

I'd go with the FZR600 as it's a detuned motor out of an R6... It's still fast, and can still easily get out of control, don't get me wrong, but it's less tuned for the high speeds than the CBR...
Wrider

Dohun wrote:ok you keep saying that the sv650 are hard to find, but if you go on ebay, you can find actual dealers selling them, and they will ship to the nearest airport for around 500 bucks..

hope this helped. good luck

SWEET! I never knew about that! You just totally solved my eBay woes! (being that bikes near enough to buy are not what i want or overpriced...generally both.) THANK YOU!

\/\/

I know that shipping is available, but I am not spending $500 on it, considering that my budget all together is about $3,000. I will keep an eye open for a SV650. Perhaps come closer to summer time people would start selling off their bikes and I would be able to pick one up.

I do like the CBFs, so I am going to look into that option too.

Also, I was wondering, what's a good place to learn general bike maintenance?

Thank you for all the help,

- Bogdan

idk about your msf course place, but my college also offered a "basic motorcycle maintance course" for $30.

your school probably has it too.

Fast Eddy B wrote:

Dohun wrote:a bit small??? NAH. im 6'0, and the one time ive sat on a CBR 600 i had to tip toe, I couldnt even put my feet flat on the ground...

I'm six feet and flat foot the CBR. We're all different. The CBR goes/stops/turns great. Don't restrict it, or change the pads. If you think it's too much try a CBF model. The CBF500 is a great bike with about 50bhp. The CBF600 can be gotten with a half fairing, and (i think) about 75 bhp.

Lots of options....

We don't get the CB500F across the pond. The CB600F is tough to find and only comes naked, plus we only have the '04 and '06 models. "Nobody" in the Americas wants a naked bike. Plus the CB600F is a poor learner's bike, as the owner of one.

Skier wrote:
They have a lot of power for a beginner bike, but they are forgiving. When the power hits on that inline 4 banger CBR, you're going to have an incredible amount of power in a short amount of time. That can and is deadly for new riders. The SV650 is a big V with two cylinders - very predictable and linear.

Having had several 4 cylinder 600cc sportbikes and having ridden the SV650, I disagree. Newbs are most likely to get in to trouble right off of idle where the SV develops a lot more torque than the 4 cylinder sportbikes. 4 cylinder sportbikes are absolutely gutless unless you are willing to rev them to 8Gs +, which requires a concious decision to do so (or total lack of any motor skills). If you have the restraint to run in the lower end of the rev-range, the four cylinder bike will be much more tractable than the SV.

High_Side wrote: 4 cylinder sportbikes are absolutely gutless unless you are willing to rev them to 8Gs +, which requires a concious decision to do so (or total lack of any motor skills). If you have the restraint to run in the lower end of the rev-range, the four cylinder bike will be much more tractable than the SV.

+1

This is what I have been wanting to write for months. Thank you!

High_Side wrote:

Skier wrote:
They have a lot of power for a beginner bike, but they are forgiving. When the power hits on that inline 4 banger CBR, you're going to have an incredible amount of power in a short amount of time. That can and is deadly for new riders. The SV650 is a big V with two cylinders - very predictable and linear.

Having had several 4 cylinder 600cc sportbikes and having ridden the SV650, I disagree. Newbs are most likely to get in to trouble right off of idle where the SV develops a lot more torque than the 4 cylinder sportbikes. 4 cylinder sportbikes are absolutely gutless unless you are willing to rev them to 8Gs +, which requires a concious decision to do so (or total lack of any motor skills). If you have the restraint to run in the lower end of the rev-range, the four cylinder bike will be much more tractable than the SV.

Having owned several 4 cylinder 600cc bikes and having ridden an SV650, I disagree with your disagreement. I have yet to see a new rider get into trouble right off idle because of a large displacement motor making a lot of torque down low. I have seen and heard time and time again of someone wringing their new 4 banger way up the revs in a corner and the power delivery causing them to lowside. Or they are riding in a straight line, doing their usual "see how fast my bike can go" and don't realize they are accelerating much much much faster than they were just 3,000 RPMs ago. Panic and carnage ensues.

The difference is you know the power is there with a big twin. If you don't know what lies in store for you once you hit 9,000 RPMs on that four-banger, you're going to be in for a painful surprise.

Just my $0.02.