- This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by Gary856.
Choice of ride
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March 14, 2010 at 4:28 am #3754returneeParticipant
I live in Australia & am restricted to a Learner Approved motorcycle.
I’m a pretty experienced rider returning to 2 wheels after 25 years (having been sucked into the typical vortex of immigrate to new country, start a family, bring up 2 kids, focus on career etc). It’s now time to PARTY AGAIN (just like the old days)!I’d like to purchase a new bike and have a shortlist below with pros & cons against each item. I’d really appreciate members thoughts on my choices.
By the way I’m 6ft 2” and 110Kg (i.e. NOT a petite type).
I haven’t ridden any of these listed bikes.
Suzuki SV650 LAMS http://tinyurl.com/yz73hgl
PROS: My preferred choice. Looks awesome. Felt great when I sat on it at the dealer. The centre of gravity felt so much lower than the Suzuki GSX650 & GS500. I liked that low CG a lot.
CONS: Dealer advised that on long rides the sporty riding position caused wrist & shoulder fatigue. Someone else advised it was expensive to maintain. Asnd not as reliable as a GS500.Suzuki GS500 http://tinyurl.com/ykshh7p
PROS: Someone advised that this was the perfect learners bike. Simple. Tried & tested. Reliable. Dealer advised the more upright riding position would suit me better than SV650
CONS: The review mentions cold weather starting issues requiring the choke. Sounds awful for a cold Melbourne morning. Sat on the bike at dealer. It was plain Jane, boring uninspiring etc. CG seemed much higher than SV650.Honda CB400 http://tinyurl.com/ylhmqdf
PROS: Famous brand. Read some great reviews on it. Sat on it at dealer and it felt okay (but nothing great).
CONS: Don’t think the twin rear shocks look as good as mono shock. More expensive than even SV650 LAMS.Other new-bike options from Kawasaki, Hyosung, Yamaha didn’t make the short list for a variety of reasons.
I could of course consider a used bike from the Learner Approved list at http://tinyurl.com/yfr4za8 but would prefer a hassle free new bike.PS: How do I get dealers to allow me a test ride? Seems to be a BIG ask!!
March 14, 2010 at 6:33 am #24943Gary856ParticipantPlease consider yourself a NEW RIDER if you haven’t ridden in 25 years. The motorcycle accident statistics show that a lot of accidents happened to middle-aged RETURNING riders. Riding is a perishable skill. Take riding lessons, and take it very easy until you have regained your skills.
I own both a SV650 and a GS500 so here are my thoughts regarding your concerns:
SV650 –
Seat is about 1.5″ higher than the GS500, so this bike feels taller and bigger to me (at 6’0″). The bigger size and the extra power made it harder to ride until I got more experienced. Fuel injection and liquid cooling are great. If you’re concerned about the sport riding position being uncomfortable, get the naked version (more upright) instead of the faired version (more leaned forward). I haven’t heard that it’s more expensive to maintain or less reliable than the GS500.GS500 –
The lower seat felt comforting for me as a new rider, but now feels a little low. Overall the bike feels more petite than the SV. I’m guessing the higher handlebar position compared to the faired SV w/ lower clip-ons made you feel the GS had a higher CG. The carburetor is a little cold blooded and requires longer warm up. Mine GS is running rough when cold and at low throttle opening (seems too lean, a common complaint) and I’m having a shop adjusting the carburetor (shim the needle, adjust air-fuel mixture screw) for $160; hopefully this would improve it’s rideability when cold. Less powerful and less polished than the SV (newer design), but extremely new rider friendly. Still very fun to ride and capable after you gained experience (I’m keeping mine because I still enjoy it), but some people wish for newer/bigger bikes after some time. Valve inspection/adjustment interval is 4k miles, so unless you’re the home mechanic type, this is an added expense to consider.Used bikes make a lot more sense for new riders.
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