Thanks for the advice on the helmets, guys. Money wasn’t really the issue: I don’t care how expensive it is … if protects a part of my body from harm, it’s priority #1. But if the integrity of the helmet is compromised so easily, I will definitely just borrow a helmet from a friend for the BRC and buy a new one when I decide on which SV I end up getting.
And JackTrade, I’ve heard good things about the new Gladius (SFV-650 I believe is what they’re calling it) — the SV-650 replacement from Suzuki. They look very similar, but the stock exhaust on the new rendition is horrendous looking to me … not that they stay stock for very long anyways.
I’m just excited looking through Craigslist … there are so many SV’s around my area! And some are very tastefully modded (clean tails, Gixxer front ends/rear shock) … I’m really looking for a completely stock one to learn with and mod when I see fit.
I just got my BRC booklet/guide in the mail yesterday from my local community college where I’m taking the class through … I’ve read it three times already! I really hope everything works out and I decide riding is for me!
One thing I did want to ask: went by the local book store to see if they had any good books on riding and they didn’t have any … does anyone have any good suggestions/recommendations for a good riding read for a guy just getting into it?
Ha, I keep editing this darn thing. I’ve heard mixed reviews of the SV650-N being a good starter bike. This is all based on reading and lurking on forums. Being a bigger guy as I said in my initial post above, I can’t think of any reason why it wouldn’t be a good bike for me? No fairings to mess up if (when) I drop it, displacement is in range for a V-twin … other than the throttle — which some say is way too sensitive/twitchy — I can’t see why it would’t fit me great.
