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Kymco Filly 50
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gitchy42Participant
Craigslist has a lot of new/nearly new gear up here, for pretty cheap. But if you do go that route make sure you really check out the gear before handing over the cash.
Cycle Gear has OK prices, much better on their close-out/clearance items, and decent selection.
gitchy42ParticipantPersonally I think that you have answered your own question. You don’t like the looks of the SV650, go with the GS500. If it is a newer GS500F it looks a lot like a gixer. There is the SV650S that would probably look better to someone that likes fairings on a bike.
As for what licensing you need to ride, we can’t answer that without knowing where you are. FYI, usually to take a training course you need to have a valid drivers license
gitchy42ParticipantThanks for the review, sounds like a fun bike. I think that most of the people that have trouble starting the GS are inpatient. Most of the reviews I read said that you have to warm it up on full choke for 2-3 minutes. Really, not that bad, if you know what to expect.
The truck I had back in high school took longer to warm up on cold days than the few mins I let it warm up plus the 5 min drive to school. I don’t know about you, but it takes me a couple mins to getting earplugs in and the helmet and gloves on anyway, so are you really loosing time letting it warm up? Probably not…..like I said, impatient people writing reviews
Anyways, a little tangent never hurt anybody, lol. Enjoy, ride safe…
Nategitchy42ParticipantSorry for the quality of the photo, it was taken with my phone….
Had to turn in my ballot for the primaries before the polls closed today, and the weather was pretty good, so I thought it would be a good time to get a second ride in. I put in another 40 miles this evening, and had a great time. Started by heading over to the county elections office, then I had to fill up the bike. I planned on getting some parking lot practice in, but when I got to the parking there are a bunch of bumps now, from all of the big trees growing under the pavement….so I need to find a new parking lot.
So, off I went!! I had a brief encounter with wildlife shortly after I took the photo. There was a young deer on the road when I came up a hill. Slowed way down, and it bounded off into the forest. Kept going slow up to the stop sign that was on the down side of the hill. About that time the back end started to feel a little light, I think my mind was playing tricks on me, because it seemed to corner the same.
My route was mostly country roads through pasture land, until I started heading back home. Then it dropped down into a canyon, across a creek, then back up the other side. Unfortunately there were cars in front of me that had me a little distracted. I’ve been sticking to roads I know fairly well, so I’m not surprised too much by what the road does. Though, the roads feel a bit rougher on the bike than in the truck.
I need to work on being smooth through corners, I was sawing a little on some corners. I really noticed it in a 25 mph zone with a couple sets of back-to-back s-curves. Good thing it that it is easy to change line on my bike without upsetting it….at least at the speeds I was going.
Before my ride, I picked up a pair of Tourmaster overpants, and a pair of Shift Chaos gloves. The overpants are pretty good. The knee armor fits well, and doesn’t float around to where it shouldn’t be. I’m not a big fan of the hip padding, not affixed to the pants well, but at least it is there. The price wasn’t that much more than kevlar reinforced jeans, so I think they’re a decent deal. The person at the shop had suggested some kevlar reinficed jeans and wearing some strap-on armor under it for warm days, wondering what everyone thinks about that.
The new gloves are shorty gloves which are a lot easier to get on and off than my alpinestars, but I don’t think they fit as well. They seem to let enough air in to keep my hands cool, cold tonight. There is hard rubber over the knuckles for the ring and pinky finger, foam padding for the fore and middle finger knuckles, with some foam and accordion stretch panels on the fingers proper. The palm is leather and faux suede, with some foam padding under the suede. The padding feels a little weird, but it isn’t uncomfortable. One thing that I really like about the gloves is that they actually go over the wrist and don’t just stop right at the wrist like many other shorty gloves I tried on. For the price (about $40), I think they are a great product.
So that’s 80-90 total so far…..
Nategitchy42ParticipantThank you for the suggestion. I did remember the clutch modulation, but at first it was sloppy. I figured it out after a while
gitchy42Participantfor the tip!
gitchy42Participant….needs to be considered.
You say that you are planning on doing mostly highway riding, so perhaps the a bike with a fairing would be better. I was surprised at the wind pressure on my first ride on my SV650 yesterday. Simply, a fairing reduces wind pressure. Also, according to a few survey’s I’ve read (sorry, don’t remember which), a full fairing makes you more visible.
You already have two good choices in the GS500F and the SV650. Madjak suggested the Ninja 250R and 500R, which are good bikes from what I’ve read. Another choice if you want bigger bike is the Ninja 650R.
My suggestion is to figure out what you NEED in a bike, what you WANT in a bike and what WOULD BE NICE to have. Then take that and look at the bikes, sit on a few and see what feels best. Be willing to sacrifice the ‘would be nice’ for a bike that fits better.
The main reason I bought the SV was that it was a better deal ($$$) than the Ninja I was looking at. On my first ride I found the SV to be jerky and temperamental below about 2k RPM. But the torque that made it a little rough low, pulled me from 40 to 70 in a heartbeat, without a shift; which makes it great for passing on the HWY.
The good thing is that in the $3000 range there are a TON of used bikes that are beginner friendly.
Have fun, good luck, ride safe and I hope I haven’t added to the confusion…….
Nategitchy42ParticipantOn the ZZR, GSXR and CBR, those are full blooded sport bikes that are basically *slightly* detuned race bikes. Bad idea for a newer rider…..
gitchy42ParticipantGood call, and thanks for the correction!
gitchy42ParticipantThe nice thing about new is that you get to break it in yourself, you know all of the history of the bike and it will be covered by a full factory warranty. If you can find a new bike in a shop that is 1 or 2 model years old you can get it for a good price.
The great thing about a used bike is that it has already been broken in, a previous owner may have already installed upgrades and the price is almost-always better than new. If you manage to get a used bike that is 2-3 years old, you can keep it for a season or two and usually sell it for what you paid for it.
Nate
gitchy42ParticipantI’ve got bar end mirrors on my SV650. I like that they are set wide and it is easy to see both behind me and to the sides a bit. Unfortunately because they are low, and off to the sides I had to remind myself to check the mirrors. Also, it takes a little bit of a head turn to look at them.
I think I will get more used to checking the mirrors, and better at remembering. After that, the better visibility will be a BIG plus.
Nate
gitchy42ParticipantCongratulations on completing the course and passing the test! Sounds like a great course too. Can’t wait to hear how the GS500 rides.
gitchy42ParticipantLOL, that’s kinda funny actually. I was in there a couple days ago again, this time looking at bikes. The sales girl was nice, listened to what I was saying and made an ok suggestion, but she wasn’t that knowledgeable, although she owned up to that. I knew more about the models I was sitting on than she did (or at least more than she said she did), but she said that she mostly rides dirt….so I’ll give her a pass this time.
Some of the guys at work have said that they are usually decent to good as far as selection and customer service, but high priced.
Thanks for the comment,
Nategitchy42Participant…and have fun!!
gitchy42ParticipantOK, so I wasn’t intending to buy tonight, but I was at a dealership, and they had a nice bike for a decent price, talked them down a few hundred, and now I am the proud owner of a 2007 SV650. Now I realize that this is a lot of bike, and will give it the respect it deserves. I also picked up a pair of alpinestar tech 2 boots. I’ll be posting some photos on Sunday probably, as I am gone all weekend and I don’t even get to enjoy my new ‘toy’ :’-(
I really appreciate the advice/comments/feedback that I have gotten from everyone.
Gary, thanks for suggesting getting a Japanese bike over a Ducati. Really when I went to the Duc dealership I was just window shopping, and after talking with the salesman found out that I actually could afford one, but the ones that they had were too much bike and service intervals are a lot closer together from what I understand. Also, you are right on with the title of your post, there were WAY too many bikes in my sights. Although, FYI, the Kymco Quannon is a little (itty bitty) sport bike. It looks really cool, but like I said, felt tiny under me.
Allen, I’ll probably be picking your brain on Duc’s. Those are some sweet looking bikes, and they feel awesome sitting on them. I think in a couple years I may be moving up.
Craig, thanks for the info on the Ninja 250R, had I not gone to the dealership that I did today I probably would have gotten a used 08 250 that the place here in town has. Also, dead-on for buying used, I was looking mainly at used bikes, but you gotta try on the brand-new out-of-the-box items every now and then
Now, I just have to wait for that jacket from Cycle Gear to come in. They supposedly ordered it for me Monday….haven’t heard back yet.
Thanks Again!
Nate -
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