Ninja 250R, Ninja 650R, Versys, or SV650SF

[kbetts]

What ever you do, don't buy the Vstrom!.........




















JK, Congrats on the new bike. Check out advrider.com under "Beasts" section and you'll find another active Vstrom community. I have a KLR and swapped rides with a vstrom before.... great bike except for the buffeting at 65+ which is curable with a windshield bracket. Enjoy!

[mievil]

Originally Posted by 03ZX3drew

So now I'm looking at a 2004 Suzuki SV650S.

Who did you hear that from? A Goldwing rider?

[03ZX3drew]

Originally Posted by mievil

Who did you hear that from? A Goldwing rider?

lol Actually, there is this guy selling one close to me. Looks like a spiffy bike and it's in my price range.

[mievil]

Pardon, I quoted the wrong part of your post. I meant to quote the part about an SV being uncomfortable.

This part.

Originally Posted by 03ZX3drew

I hear they are rather uncomfortable to ride on.

The first one doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[FocusOnPunk]

The S model will be a bit different than your V-Star, but isn't a full-on sportbike position. The non-S version would be more upright.

[Ducman69]

If you did want something like the SV650S, but with a more upright riding position, don't count out the 650R then.


Super upright and really narrow.

There are tons of em out there, both new and used, so you can wheel and deal. Engine still gets great 50mpg+ highway fuel economy. Since theres lots of used ones, unlike on new bikes, you can easily get a test ride on em at the dealers. Ditto on the SV, so you can compare em. SV is supposed to be faster, but stock suspensions still aren't as nice as hyperbikes.

For highway use, looking at the small screen though, I'd probably get a bigger double-bubble to cut down on wind noise. For commutin' though, if you are a decent height and and don't mind the funky hunchback look and red-only color option, seems the Versys is cooler.

[mievil]

Why in the world is every single bike on the planet claiming 50mpg? Seriously. All the 650s, the 500, the HD's, guys with Hayabusas, guys with 1200GSs......I swear every single bike gets 50mpg.

[Ducman69]

Originally Posted by mievil

Why in the world is every single bike on the planet claiming 50mpg? Seriously. All the 650s, the 500, the HD's, guys with Hayabusas, guys with 1200GSs......I swear every single bike gets 50mpg.

These get a REAL 50mpg+.

That means you drive normally mixed and actually get 50mpg w/o drafting a semi at 60mph pure highway.

Yes, the Hayabusa is the most fuel efficient "big" bike out there, probably due to its aerodynamic shape and very tall 6th gear. Around town though, it'll suck em down. Harley's are also notorious for getting good fuel economy, since they are very low-RPM (and low power) twins.

Our 954 is lucky to do 35mpg tops, and FJ does a little better around high 30s, low 40s.

Most bikes in real world testing get 40s.

[whiteboyslo]

1) my VFR is struggling to break mid-30s, and that's dialed in at 80 on the freeway for an hour each way.

2) IMO, the SVs CAN get uncomfortable after a while. this is especially true with the 'S' model. the 'S' tends to put a lot of pressure on your wrists. this can be alleviated with any sort of aftermarket clip-on setups (Helibars, Convertibars, etc), or by throwing on some taller stock clip-ons from another bike (i know for a fact that the clip-ons from a Honda Hawk fit the 2nd gen SVs). however, once you get the pressure off your wrists, you'll find your ass getting sore. Suzuki does make a gel seat you can buy just about anywhere, and there's always the option of getting a Sargent (sp?) seat or something like that. still, it's just not the most comfortable bike out there. don't get me wrong, it doesn't rape you like some crotch rockets do, but after a 300+ mile ride my butt would be so sore on my SV650. it's the only reason i got rid of it and bought the VFR.

but, if you're only on it for relatively short periods of time, it's not that bad.

Mike

[Ducman69]

"Its not like crotch rockets raping your butt..."

I can see that as the new slogan for the next gen VFR. Makes me wanna run out and buy one now!

Keep up the work with those amazing ANALogies.

[03ZX3drew]

Meh, I still keep going back to the VStar. I'm just deciding how big of a factor comfort is

[whiteboyslo]

Originally Posted by 03ZX3drew

Meh, I still keep going back to the VStar. I'm just deciding how big of a factor comfort is

honestly, i don't see cruisers as being the most optimal for comfort anyway. i think your more upright seating positions (V-stroms, FJs, STs, Triumph Tigers, etc) are the best way to go for comfort. it allows you more seating positions so you can shift your weight around, plus you can support yourself with your feet rather than your tailbone.

Mike

[rpvitiello]

Originally Posted by Ducman69

Oh btw, I'm also splurging on some gear, and wanted y'alls advice on if this looks too squidleh:


Jacket:
Icon TiMax 2 Mesh Jacket:

Pants:
Pair of Icon Strongarm and Super Duty Jeans (w/ wearable armor on occasion)


Boots:
Icon Super Duty 3

That is my ideal summer riding gear you just listed only it be blue and black. . Gloves i am limited to vary few options cuz i need a XXXXL (yes 4XL) Helmit i find shoei fits me the best of anything i tried on so far though. Some of my friends who hate to wear helmets tried mi shoei on and were like "OMG" this is so comfortable and i can see see fine. (i too am a full face only guy, spent WAY to much money on my face, and i dont like eating bugs for a mid ride snack! )

[mievil]

Holy friggin hands, dude. Like the hunchback guy from 300.

[Ducman69]

Can't remember if it was someone in this thread of elsewhere that said they would like to ride but need to transport their big dog around too much.

I recommended a maxi-scooter, as the dog can sit in the footwell with your legs around it if well trained.

But.... this is a more epic style and would work on a motorcycle too!




And yes... the dog is wearing sunglasses.....

[hotrodkris]

Duc, you do that, but with a sheep, right?

[Ducman69]

Kinda... reverse order minus the scooter.

[mievil]

Wow, I can't believe that. That's actually much cooler than the guy we have down here in SoCal that goes by the name Calamari Chris. EX500 loyalist.





Yes, that is legitimate. He did wreck once, and the dogbed acted like an airbag and the dog outed unhurt.

[Z63R]

YEARS ago, there was this dude that used to ride desert enduros with his dog perched on a piece of carpet on his tank... the dog wore goggles and a bandana...


I wouldn't ride with an animal on my bike, but it's sometimes cool to see others who're set up that way. It does look like the doggies enjoy it.




Now then, Duc, what sort of real-world mileages are you seeing with your new sco0ter?

[Ducman69]

Originally Posted by Z63R

Now then, Duc, what sort of real-world mileages are you seeing with your new sco0ter?

I have no idea, haven't kept track this tank. Its on breakin anyways though, so I'm intentionally flooring it once warmed and varying my RPMs all over the place.

Once I get to the 500 mile point on breakin, I'll start recording.

I did notice on our carving cruise this morning though that the Kawasaki 1000 and Honda 954 I was riding with went all the way to fumes, and I still had a little under half a tank of fuel left, so I skipped the tank up. They were riding much faster than I was, and I have a much much bigger gas thank though, so that may not mean much, heh.

Oh, and my Strom has acquired the loving name, "The Tractor", yay!

Edit: I have a TOOOON of farkles on the way though, including a much needed California Scientific shield and madstad infinitely adjustable bracket, to reduce the buffeting I get w/ the craptastic stock shield. Should have all this installed next week, and will post pics:

1) Stebel Air Horn w/ Pat Walsh bracket... HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK!!!!!

2) GIPro Gear Indicator w/ TRE

3) OEM Suzuki GSXR 16T Sprocket (makes the gears taller for low-rpm cruising)

4) Dual PIAA H4s HO lights

5) Givi E52 w/ admorelighting.com superbright LED turn/brake signal lighting kit

6) HT Engine Guard and skidplate

7) Madstad bracket

8) Buell Ulyses blinkers

9) Murphy Fork brace

10) MadStad bracket: http://madstad.com/

11) Acerbis guards

12) Audiovox cruise control

13) Frame matching aerosol to paint exhaust cover.

14) Butt beads from beadrider.com

I'm also looking for another DL650 exhaust takeoff to use the shield and chrome tip to put onto a black ABS tube on the "empty" left side for a little hidden extra storage compartment, so if you come across a used one cheap hit me a PM!!!

It'll look like this (that second exhaust is FAKE btw, and the cap is on a spring loaded hinge w/ a locked compartment behind it... nifty, eh):

[FocusOnPunk]

Just bought an '08 SV650 in gray. Should get it on Wednesdayish. Woo!!!

[Foci_Fosho]

^^ Please take pics...

I saw the 2008 250r in person last night
it's hot.

I fear that it doesn't have enough power for my highway travel.
The person I spoke to said the wind blows him around.

[W8]

Originally Posted by Foci_Fosho

I fear that it doesn't have enough power for my highway travel.
The person I spoke to said the wind blows him around.

I know people that take them on the highway (me included) all the time. More than enough power. I only have an issue with wind if I am following too close to someone.

Why is it people only associate fast bikes with the 600 and up size? The 250R does 0-60 in 5.9 seconds. That is way faster than the majority of Foci on this board. And yet people take them on the highway without even thinking about it. When someone posts up a Festiva they just bought, we don't say, is it fast enough to go on the highway. Get over the stereotype!

[Foci_Fosho]

no no, my bad... I wasn't clear.

Of course I know it'll have enough power -- I was so very happy with a 500cc....
My fear was that with a 250cc, would I be able to cruise to work at 70 mph comfortably?

I thought 250 may have much shorter gearing and RPMs at 70 mph would be at ~6-7k RPM... and exhaust sounding like a noisy bee...

The bike at idle - 2,500 rpm is near silent... I don't know if I like that. I love the exhaust note of many bikes. The 250 sounded... different than what I'm used to.