Bike Choice advice
Discussion
Hey everyone,
New here but recently decided to start commuting with a bike as traffic is just horrific.
Used to use a scooter long time ago so busy doing my licence for a 'big bike'
Looking around so much so many videos recommend the SV650 as a great starter bike.
Been investigating the options out there and the SV650s fairing version looks great to me. I grew up with more of a love for sports bikes so naked bikes just dont excite me but then a few people said look at the kawasaki er6f as its pretty much the same category.
Ive been searching second hand for them under about 10-15k miles on the clock. couple options out there. If you found either one at similar cost, similar age, similar miles. which would be better?
Is £3500 too much to start off with? Its really complicated with so much choice, i dont want to buy new and drop the thing and feel awful so going something 5-8 years old it wont feel as bad if i do drop the thing.
Anything else around this sort of budget you would recommend for a 'big bike beginner'
Cheers guys
New here but recently decided to start commuting with a bike as traffic is just horrific.
Used to use a scooter long time ago so busy doing my licence for a 'big bike'
Looking around so much so many videos recommend the SV650 as a great starter bike.
Been investigating the options out there and the SV650s fairing version looks great to me. I grew up with more of a love for sports bikes so naked bikes just dont excite me but then a few people said look at the kawasaki er6f as its pretty much the same category.
Ive been searching second hand for them under about 10-15k miles on the clock. couple options out there. If you found either one at similar cost, similar age, similar miles. which would be better?
Is £3500 too much to start off with? Its really complicated with so much choice, i dont want to buy new and drop the thing and feel awful so going something 5-8 years old it wont feel as bad if i do drop the thing.
Anything else around this sort of budget you would recommend for a 'big bike beginner'
Cheers guys
A little bit more than budget but how about a Yamaha Tracer 700? I have one for commuting duties after passing my test on an SV650 last year and didn't want to ride my Duke790 through the winter.
The Tracer goes well enough, handles well enough and has a degree of protection from the elements. I'm tracking an average of 65mpg with a mixture of sedate and less than sedate riding.
I wouldn't worry too much about dropping - although I have dropped the Tracer once (forgot to put the side stand down
) and there was very little damage other than a small scuff and a bent clutch lever.
My concern with an older bike would be reliability
The Tracer goes well enough, handles well enough and has a degree of protection from the elements. I'm tracking an average of 65mpg with a mixture of sedate and less than sedate riding.
I wouldn't worry too much about dropping - although I have dropped the Tracer once (forgot to put the side stand down
) and there was very little damage other than a small scuff and a bent clutch lever.My concern with an older bike would be reliability
Jazoli said:
SV650
ER6F/N
CB600
MT07
Street Triple
Vstrom 650
Versys 650
Are all good bikes, to be honest there's not really a bad middleweight starter bike, I'd buy a Street Triple as they are brilliant but you won't go wrong with an SV.
This. Just bear in mind most people swap out their first big bike quickly, so go for something that won't drop too much in value, and ideally has all the mods that you'd end up doing yourself already on it (end can, taltidy, etc) as you'll save a fortune.ER6F/N
CB600
MT07
Street Triple
Vstrom 650
Versys 650
Are all good bikes, to be honest there's not really a bad middleweight starter bike, I'd buy a Street Triple as they are brilliant but you won't go wrong with an SV.
SV650s are the staple first bike and are light, fun, bulletproof and hold their value well when buying used.
The faired version of the sv650 had a surprisingly sporty seating position, much more so than the er6f which is far more upright. Have a sit on both to see what you prefer.
I don't commute on mine, but if I did top of my list would be a bike with ABS. You should be able to get something within your budget.
I don't commute on mine, but if I did top of my list would be a bike with ABS. You should be able to get something within your budget.
One of the new CB500s (CB500F, CBR500R, CB500X) could be good if you haven't ridden for a while. 47 bhp is still enough power to get you into trouble and to be entertaining for at least a year or two (maybe more depending on how and where you ride), but a bit less than some of the other good suggestions here. Also the NC700.
Edited by jchesh on Wednesday 19th February 12:56
SpeedWeasel said:
A little bit more than budget but how about a Yamaha Tracer 700? I have one for commuting duties after passing my test on an SV650 last year and didn't want to ride my Duke790 through the winter.
The Tracer goes well enough, handles well enough and has a degree of protection from the elements. I'm tracking an average of 65mpg with a mixture of sedate and less than sedate riding.
I wouldn't worry too much about dropping - although I have dropped the Tracer once (forgot to put the side stand down) and there was very little damage other than a small scuff and a bent clutch lever.
My concern with an older bike would be reliability
My concern with a Tracer would be that it might dissolve over the winter. A looked after "older" bike is no less reliable than any other - assuming we're talking 10 years or so, not 1920s.The Tracer goes well enough, handles well enough and has a degree of protection from the elements. I'm tracking an average of 65mpg with a mixture of sedate and less than sedate riding.
I wouldn't worry too much about dropping - although I have dropped the Tracer once (forgot to put the side stand down
) and there was very little damage other than a small scuff and a bent clutch lever.My concern with an older bike would be reliability
So small update,
Found a 13' SV650S full fairing with 6400miles on the clock for £2200.
Guy had it in his garage for last 3 years. and only rode it about 1000miles over the past 4 years. so its been started a few times but hardly used.
Seems pretty good but I need to do a full service to it. Probably replace all the main things, filters, oil, chain and sprockets, spark plugs. Then atleast I know its good to go.
There is some rust on the fork clamps, whats the best way to deal with it?
Also on the exhaust closer to the motor side. Doesnt look terrible, probably just surface rust but would be nice to be able to clean it up.
What brands do you recommend for cleaning products? chain lube? Spark Plugs? etc. seems there is so much choice, what are the best brands to go for?
Found a 13' SV650S full fairing with 6400miles on the clock for £2200.
Guy had it in his garage for last 3 years. and only rode it about 1000miles over the past 4 years. so its been started a few times but hardly used.
Seems pretty good but I need to do a full service to it. Probably replace all the main things, filters, oil, chain and sprockets, spark plugs. Then atleast I know its good to go.
There is some rust on the fork clamps, whats the best way to deal with it?
Also on the exhaust closer to the motor side. Doesnt look terrible, probably just surface rust but would be nice to be able to clean it up.
What brands do you recommend for cleaning products? chain lube? Spark Plugs? etc. seems there is so much choice, what are the best brands to go for?
That SV probably wont need chain and sprockets (clean it up, adjust it and see), but yes to all the fluids (including brake fluid). They benefit well from a good brake service in general. Budget also for a replacement battery, the one in there might be a bit s
t now if it's been hanging around a while. Check the tyres too, they might be past their safely usable window as far as time goes.
I had an SV650 as a first bike, it was brilliant. They sound good with an aftermarket exhaust (Fuel are a good option).
Oil: I always used castrol. You can get by just fine with semi-synthetic and 4000 mile drain intervals (I think suzuki state 3500 miles). use a genuine suzuki filter.
Spark plugs: NGK - i think they are CR8E's but check the handbook. For changing the front spark plug, it can be done by swinging the rad forward as much as it goes, but you get far better access if you remove the radiator. Rear plug is a doddle. Be warned, there might be two plugs per cylinder - i cant remember when they switched to a twin-spark head.
Air filter - use a suzuki genuine part.
Coolant - I would use this: https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-124226-motul-inugel-m... it's compatible with anything so you wont have issues with odd materials / depoits forming which can mess up the engine cooling galleyways.
The engine does respond well to a throttle body sync; if you;re not keen on doing that, then I can recommend Stewarts Motorcycles - the owner (stewart) has a lot (a LOT!) of experience with servicing SV650's.
A good online resource for all things SV650 is sv650.org
t now if it's been hanging around a while. Check the tyres too, they might be past their safely usable window as far as time goes. I had an SV650 as a first bike, it was brilliant. They sound good with an aftermarket exhaust (Fuel are a good option).
Oil: I always used castrol. You can get by just fine with semi-synthetic and 4000 mile drain intervals (I think suzuki state 3500 miles). use a genuine suzuki filter.
Spark plugs: NGK - i think they are CR8E's but check the handbook. For changing the front spark plug, it can be done by swinging the rad forward as much as it goes, but you get far better access if you remove the radiator. Rear plug is a doddle. Be warned, there might be two plugs per cylinder - i cant remember when they switched to a twin-spark head.
Air filter - use a suzuki genuine part.
Coolant - I would use this: https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-124226-motul-inugel-m... it's compatible with anything so you wont have issues with odd materials / depoits forming which can mess up the engine cooling galleyways.
The engine does respond well to a throttle body sync; if you;re not keen on doing that, then I can recommend Stewarts Motorcycles - the owner (stewart) has a lot (a LOT!) of experience with servicing SV650's.
A good online resource for all things SV650 is sv650.org
Edited by thatdude on Monday 24th February 11:55
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