SV650 vs ER-6F

Author
Discussion

skahigh

Original Poster:

2,023 posts

130 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
Having now passed my theory, completed CBT and got Mod 1 test booked in, all being well I hope to have my license in a month or so and I'm starting to think about buying my first bike.

Although I'd love to go out and buy a 998 I think I'm best off going for something a bit more learner friendly and have narrowed it down to the ER-6F (09 onwards) and SV650 (fully faired 08 onwards).....I think.

I'm led to believe that both these bikes are fairly light (so good for learning on?) and obviously being twins not too powerful but also not so slow that I will get fed up quickly.

Does anyone have any opinions on one versus the other for my situation or any suggestions of other bikes I might consider?

I like fully faired, angular sports bikes and looking to spend less than 4k on my first bike.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
Neither of those are fully faired bikes, they're half faired.

I'd go for the SV650S personally.

skahigh

Original Poster:

2,023 posts

130 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all




Would those not be considered full fairings?

Mastodon2

13,818 posts

164 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
If you like angular, fully faired sports bikes, why not buy one? Neither of those bikes is fully faired, and they're not really sports bikes either. Of the two I'd go for the SV650S though, they make a nice sound, they're pretty quick, a lot quicker than most things you'll meet day to day.

FunkyNige

8,859 posts

274 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
Make sure you test ride them both first, I had an old SV650, when I went to change it I test rode the ER-6F and thanks to the way I had to sit on it (I'm quite tall and the ER6 leans forward a bit) it was the most uncomfortable ride I've had! My triceps ached like crazy after a few minutes and the fairing blasted the wind at my neck making it a) not so easy to breathe and b) my ears started ringing very quickly (my SV was 'obnoxiously loud' so I was used to lots of noise).

I 100% put this down to how I'm built rather than the bike, but make sure you test ride them both first in case something similar happens to you (on either bike).

Not sure how the new SV is, but comparing the old one to the ER-6 I found the SV to be a bit softer and lazier, the ER-6 was a bit sharper handling and the engine liked to rev a bit more. But that's vs my old SV that was getting a bit tired.

slevin911

646 posts

175 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
skahigh said:




Would those not be considered full fairings?
I would be careful showing LoonR1 up like thathehe

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
slevin911 said:
I would be careful showing LoonR1 up like thathehe
Isn't that an optional extra? Most SVs are definitely half faired



Google them and there's far more half faired.

I'm wrong on the ER6, but I can live with that. A mate had one of the naked ones and hated it with a passion.

skahigh

Original Poster:

2,023 posts

130 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
Isn't that an optional extra? Most SVs are definitely half faired



Google them and there's far more half faired.
I wasn't attempting to show anyone up.

However, whether it's an option or not, I'm buying second hand and would choose one fully faired personally. As I understand it the ER-6F is always fully faired, the ER-6N is a naked.

The reason I'm not planning to go straight out and buy 4 cylinder 600 sports bike is that while I realise that ultimately the power is entirely within my control, I'm a big believer in progressive learning and I fully expect my skills to take some time to develop, something I think will occur most easily on a lighter lower powered bike with a more comfortable riding position.

Appreciate the advice re. riding both but, how amenable are UK used bike dealers to letting newly qualified riders out on test rides?

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
You'll find most SVs are half faired though. You can always buy the rest of the fairing, but most won't have it and you'll really limit your market if you limit to buying one with that option on it.

slevin911

646 posts

175 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
slevin911 said:
I would be careful showing LoonR1 up like thathehe
Isn't that an optional extra? Most SVs are definitely half faired



Google them and there's far more half faired.

I'm wrong on the ER6, but I can live with that. A mate had one of the naked ones and hated it with a passion.
Ya would say it was an extra.What was wrong with the ER6? I remember reading reviews about them and always came out on top.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
slevin911 said:
Ya would say it was an extra.What was wrong with the ER6? I remember reading reviews about them and always came out on top.
It is an extra. Certainly was when I had mine and it still is according to the Suzuki website as they're half faired.

I've no idea on the ER6, it was my mates and he hated it. He swapped it for. Z750 within a matter of weeks.

slevin911

646 posts

175 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
slevin911 said:
Ya would say it was an extra.What was wrong with the ER6? I remember reading reviews about them and always came out on top.
It is an extra. Certainly was when I had mine and it still is according to the Suzuki website as they're half faired.

I've no idea on the ER6, it was my mates and he hated it. He swapped it for. Z750 within a matter of weeks.
Ya guessed as much I always preferred half faired anyway.I would imagine the Z had a bit more of everything over the ER6.

SMar

201 posts

139 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
Have you looked at the Yamaha FZ6 fazer (not fully faired but enough protection from the elements). I tried the SV, ER and then went for the Fazer, when I came back to biking, they are cheap as chips and great bikes. The engine is docile under 8k and then lift off. So you choose how you want to ride. If your new to biking you will find a sit up bike easier to get to grips with as well.

Deranged Granny

2,313 posts

167 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
It is an extra. Certainly was when I had mine and it still is according to the Suzuki website as they're half faired.

I've no idea on the ER6, it was my mates and he hated it. He swapped it for. Z750 within a matter of weeks.
There was a time recently when you could get fully faired ones straight out of the factory, but normally you could only get the fairings separately as an extra.

Personally, I prefer the bikini fairing look of most SVs - it looks a bit gawky, but I kind of like it - it isn't a full on sports bike, so why try to make it look like one? I also like seeing the engine, anyway.

I would recommend the SV as a starter bike. Light, easy to handle, enough power but always manageable. Had mine for a month so far and I'm really enjoying it.

pozi

1,723 posts

186 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
...

Not sure how the new SV is, but comparing the old one to the ER-6 I found the SV to be a bit softer and lazier, the ER-6 was a bit sharper handling and the engine liked to rev a bit more. But that's vs my old SV that was getting a bit tired.
That was also my take on the two, I had an SV650S at the time which I just never gelled with and in fact sold after 3 weeks because it bored me senseless. My mate had an unfaired ER6 which was just more fun to throw about.

I doubt there was a huge amount in them performance wise but the smooth V-Twin with a flat torque felt dull next to bike that rewarded using more engine revs.

Edit to add, both are fine starter bikes, it really comes down to which one suits you best.

thatdude

2,654 posts

126 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
Half-faired SV650s with a belly pan, more fruity exhaust, maybe a slightly taller screen...top bike right there. Good idea, if and when you can, to change fork oil (for something heavier) and grease up the rear shock linkage and swingarm pivot







and i would also add heated grips and a topbox rack, or even a full givi rack to take some small sidecases as well but then I like to ruin bikes with practicality

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
LoonR1 said:
It is an extra. Certainly was when I had mine and it still is according to the Suzuki website as they're half faired.

I've no idea on the ER6, it was my mates and he hated it. He swapped it for. Z750 within a matter of weeks.
From 2008 there was an "SV Sport" model which came with lower fairings from the factory. They are still relatively rare compared to the half faired bikes though.

Baldy881

1,333 posts

176 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
I rode an early SV650 bringing it back from somewhere for a mate who'd bought it and I thought it was great. Comparable performance to a sporty 400 4 stroke which is what I had at the time.

I remember the motor was lovely and linear, it did very good easily controllable wheelies (the best wheelies i've ever done) and i'd had my knee down on it by the 2nd or 3rd roundabout hehe

I'm sure newer ones are even better, certainly look nicer smile

skahigh

Original Poster:

2,023 posts

130 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
SMar said:
Have you looked at the Yamaha FZ6 fazer (not fully faired but enough protection from the elements). I tried the SV, ER and then went for the Fazer, when I came back to biking, they are cheap as chips and great bikes. The engine is docile under 8k and then lift off. So you choose how you want to ride. If your new to biking you will find a sit up bike easier to get to grips with as well.
I hadn't considered a fazer actually, how would this compare as a first bike vs the sv? Big difference or not much in it?

HertsBiker

6,300 posts

270 months

Saturday 2nd August 2014
quotequote all
Both lovely bikes, I'd go for the SV though as I've had 2. Amply fast for quite a long while. Actually mine managed 1.25 units with passenger, so enough to get you a big ban. Main thing is to just get a bike and enjoy it. The bike itself is less important than the riding. Although don't buy a shed.