[WeaponZero]

the price looks good. mine i paid $3000 US for which is about the same as $4400 CAN. its a 2000 model that had a crack in the front fender and had high miles but was otherwise in excellent shape. had 14k miles on it which is fairly high but didnt bother me because i knew the guy who owned it had only used it for highway miles. they’re excellent bikes and only have a couple things to watch out for:

1. Reg/rec mod. The stock voltage regulator/rectifier is insufficient for the bike and they fail OFTEN in first generation models. You can replace it with another factory OEM model but it will fail fairly quickly too. The most common fix for this is to replace the stock one with one from off of an older CBR600RR/CBR1000RR (model FH800EB), or one from off an older Yamaha R1. This requires some rewiring but is worth it because you’re getting one that’s bullet-proof. It’s a fairly safe bet that most used ones have had this mod done to them, but just in case, I’d ask. Otherwise when it comes time to replace your battery you’ll also be replacing your Regulator/rectifier unit and possibly your stator as well.

2. GSX-R rear shock. Probably the single most common mod done to SV650s is to replace the rear shock with one from off of a GSX-R600. Pretty much every single SV650 in existence has had this done because it bolts right up and it’s far superior to the OEM one, which is not adjustable and just a crappy piece overall. It does require you to use spacers (oversized nuts usually) to move the rear fender/battery box down and back by about 1/4″ to accomodate the reservoir that goes along with the shock but aside from that it bolts up just like the OEM one.

Aside from these two mods, which are pretty much musts for any first gen SV, it should be as close to stock as possible and won’t give you any problems.

[WeaponZero]

That thing is sexy. Hope everything goes well with it!

[WeaponZero]

It looks like a nice jacket but from the picture it doesn’t look like it has sufficient ventilation for Florida heat. How does it feel?

[WeaponZero]

Post pics when you get it. We want to see.

You mentioned you have a one piece race suit, what kind?

[WeaponZero]

Also, it’s not that carburetors are bad, just that they’re older technology. They are mechanical rather than electronic, so they have more moving parts that CAN go wrong and need maintenance. A carburetor rebuild is recommended every like 15k miles or something like that. Not sure of the exact number. But it’s really no big deal, and the advantages of EFI over carbs are definitely something you won’t notice in FL.

[WeaponZero]

My SV650 is carbureted and it only takes about 30 seconds to warm up with the choke on. No problems.

[WeaponZero]

The 500R hasn’t got a styling update since it first came out back in the ’80s, which is why it doesn’t get the press that it deserves. The GS500 from Suzuki, its main competitor, got a styling update that included a full fairing based on the GSXR bikes a few years back and because of that people have ignored the 500R, despite being a newer and more technologically advanced design, with liquid cooling and 4 valves per cyinder versus the GS500’s air cooling/2 valves per cylinder. It also offers more performance and is just as reliable.

It got an engine overhaul in 1995 that fixed what little reliability issues it had and improved performance slightly, and they also redesigned the tail section for a slightly (but not very) updated appearance. Ones before that were called EX500, ones after that were called 500R. That is the only update of any kind it got in its 25+ years of existence.

[WeaponZero]

Personally I think the Street Triple R would be way more fun than the Speed Triple

[WeaponZero]

I got a quote for that same bike from Geico. I’m 29 with one not-at-fault accident on my record. It was less than half of what the progressive one was. It was $400 or so for a year, full coverage.

[WeaponZero]

I’ll concede that the 250R is a standard and not a sportbike so my earlier remarks about it not being suitable for your intentions were incorrect. But I still stand by what I said about supersports being stupid and pointless for anyone who doesn’t take them onto curvy roads or the track.

[WeaponZero]

Too loud = when peoples windows in their houses vibrate from you riding by, or when the kids in the back seats of cars adjacent to you at a stoplight cry and get scared when you rev your engine. Thats not being a rebel, its just being an inconsiderate jerk. Sorry, my 2 cents.

[WeaponZero]

If going fast in a straight line is what you want to do then you’ll find there are many bikes out there that can do it with far more comfort and practicality than a track-focused sportbike. Suzuki B-King? Kawasaki Z1000?

All I’m saying is that track-focused sportbikes make a lot of sacrifices in the name of performance and handling, and if your riding environment doesn’t allow you to take advantage of that performance and handling, then really, why make those sacrifices in the first place when you can get the same straight line speed you crave from much more comfortable bikes?

I’m going to be brutally honest here. Buying a supersport bike if you don’t plan on doing any track riding or have access to roads that can take advantage of the awesome handling capabilities of a supersport, then buying one is just outright stupidity. Why? Because a bike such as my SV650 can do everything you would ask of a sportbike outside of those scenarios, and getting much better gas mileage and being much more comfortable in the process. It can also keep up with a GSXR on a tighter windy road.

There’s an old saying that you’re probably familiar with if you’ve ever had to work with tools, and that is “use the right tool for the right job.” Motorcycles are tools, designed for different jobs. Pick your bike based on the job you intend on doing with it, not because of how sexy it looks in the photographs or because it was featured in your favorite motorcycle movie, or even because it has a rich racing heritage. And the only situation where a supersport would ever be the right tool is if you have access to lots of winding roads or plan on doing lots of track days. This is a big portion of why I’m trading in my SV650 for a DR-Z400SM at the end of winter, because SM-style bikes are the ultimate “urban assault vehicles” when it comes to motorcycling. They turn urban riding environments that are normally nightmares for bikes into playgrounds.

Also, yes, the remark about the 250R being a standard not a sportbike is correct. So that one makes sense.

[WeaponZero]

The 500R is one of the quintessential beginner bikes. Along with the GS500, it is one of the two bikes most recommended by experienced riders as the ideal first bike.

[WeaponZero]

the only thing where strength/weight will work against you is if your bike falls over and you have to pick it up off the ground. aside from that, no biggie.

although i do know a guy who owns a hayabusa (500+ lb bike) who, interestingly enough, says that he used to be able to flick the bike a lot easier back when he weighed 300 lbs, and now that he lost the weight and got down to 170 the bike is a lot harder to handle.

[WeaponZero]

One thing I just HAVE to know. Why a sportbike? I know they look cool and all but living where you live there are no roads anywhere within like 2 hours ride that have curves. Its just a big grid with straight lines. Sportbikes don’t really perform well under those circumstances because you can’t make use of their fantastic handling, which is the primary focus of the bike, even above speed.

Now I’m a fan of sportbikes too, and I love them and own an SV650, but living in a place where all the roads are straight and flat I don’t know why I would even bother with anything but a cruiser or a motard because you can’t do anything with that sportbike that you wouldn’t be able to do on a cruiser in more comfort.

Not trying to dissuade you, just curious is all.

[Author]

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