I keep hearing from people that riding a motorcycle is way too dangourous

[monkeydelmagico]

The military has a lot invested in this... why should civilians be any different?

The military is the ultimate dictatorship. It's only gonna take one 4 star general having a bad hair day to make motorcycles disappear from their base. Why it hasn't been done already is a mystery to me.

For civilians our elected leaders try to strike the balance between rules and freedom. A graduated license sytem certainly makes sense to me but others may view it differently.

 

[Midwayman]

I would not reccomend a sv650 for a first bike. It's a bit torquey for a first bike but I suppose if you have nice throttle control from the start it should not be an issue.

Its just about the biggest bike I could see someone getting for their first. (Well aircooled cruisers aside). Not ideal, but you can't convince everyone a 250 is a good idea.

 

[sze5003]

Its just about the biggest bike I could see someone getting for their first. (Well aircooled cruisers aside). Not ideal, but you can't convince everyone a 250 is a good idea.

It will depend on their weight. If you have a bad wrist smoothness problem you will find out sooner on an sv compared to a 250. I've ridden my friends cbr600 before I got my sv and my bike is still more torquey feeling. I'll need to look into adjusting the tps sensor.

 

[z1ggy]

It will depend on their weight. If you have a bad wrist smoothness problem you will find out sooner on an sv compared to a 250. I've ridden my friends cbr600 before I got my sv and my bike is still more torquey feeling. I'll need to look into adjusting the tps sensor.

Probably b/c your SV is a V with low end torque and the cbr is a I4 where torque is mid to high.

 

[Midwayman]

It will depend on their weight. If you have a bad wrist smoothness problem you will find out sooner on an sv compared to a 250. I've ridden my friends cbr600 before I got my sv and my bike is still more torquey feeling. I'll need to look into adjusting the tps sensor.

Yup. It was my second bike. It was way faster than the POS '70s yamaha that was my first.

 

[sze5003]

Mine is an svs version. I think only difference is the fairings. They are annoying because I stripped the screw on my left side that holds the frame sliders in place. Doing an oil change and other work while on a stand with the fairings on and slightly loosened is so annoying. But it looks nice with fairings. I just wish the guy's wife that I bought it from had not dropped it and ruined the tail end where the license plate is. I think that was when they decided to put frame sliders on, heh.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I have hundreds of thousands of miles on motorcycles. Everything from 2 stroke 250 to ducati 1098 to 1400cc tourers.


Take the MSF before you buy a bike.

Buy the right gear.

Most of all, start out on the right bike. For a sportbike - GS500 / Ninja 500 is the biggest bike you should start on unless you're 200lb. If you're > 200lb then an sv650. NO inline 4's. NO liter twins.

For a cruiser, 800cc is ok. Nothing with long forks or heavy.


Riding is dangerous. You need to accept this before you even sign up for the MSF. You can get killed or worse. I've seen people paralyzed, waist down and neck down. In comas for months. I've consoled family members of dead riders. There are things worse than dying. You need to accept this risk before you sign up for the MSF.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Probably b/c your SV is a V with low end torque and the cbr is a I4 where torque is mid to high.

And a twin has much more progressive torque, more predictable.

A 600 supersport is by FAR the worst starter bike you can have. At least half the idiots I see who buy a 600ss to "save money so they don't have to sell a 500cc and buy something else" end up wrecking and giving up riding.



Take two identical new riders. Put one on a 500cc twin, the other on a 600supersport.

Let them ride a year, then put them both on an identical 600ss.

I guarantee that the rider who started on a 500cc bike is faster, safer, smoother, and more confident.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Mine is an svs version. I think only difference is the fairings. They are annoying because I stripped the screw on my left side that holds the frame sliders in place. Doing an oil change and other work while on a stand with the fairings on and slightly loosened is so annoying. But it looks nice with fairings. I just wish the guy's wife that I bought it from had not dropped it and ruined the tail end where the license plate is. I think that was when they decided to put frame sliders on, heh.

Pretty sure the faired had clip ons while the non faired had regular bars. Also at one point the faired version was shorter. Both are a big deal when first learning how to ride.

 

[sze5003]

Pretty sure the faired had clip ons while the non faired had regular bars. Also at one point the faired version was shorter. Both are a big deal when first learning how to ride.

Yes, Mine has clipons. It also is shorter and I'm 5'11 and can flat foot it wearing boots. I also think the guy's wife lowered it for her height and I haven't had the time to set the springs back to original height.

My friend has a 2002 regular edition, carbed, he has straight handle bars and his frame is not aluminum so his bike is a bit heavier than mine.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Sorry I meant short front-back, not height.

2002 is really a completely different bike in my opinion. I've owned both a TL1000s (similar to pre 03 SV) and an 04 SV standard.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Yes, Mine has clipons. It also is shorter and I'm 5'11 and can flat foot it wearing boots. I also think the guy's wife lowered it for her height and I haven't had the time to set the springs back to original height.

My friend has a 2002 regular edition, carbed, he has straight handle bars and his frame is not aluminum so his bike is a bit heavier than mine.

Both the first and second generation SV's had aluminum frames. There isn't much difference, if any, in weight between your bike and your friend's bike.

Edit-Actually, your bike might even be a bit heavier than his.

Lowering is done through shorter dogbones. Has nothing to do with the springs, only adjustment to springs is preload.

Might want to check the fork tubes to see if they have been moved up in the triple clamp.

 

[pauldun170]

First bike - 83 cb750sc in Candy Wineberry red
750cc of pure fury pushing 572lbs (weight wet) as measured by an 85mph speedometer.

That thing would enter tank slapper with nothing more than a slight bump and a wet fart. (Combination of well worn suspension and fading tires). Had that for a couple of years. Great memories on that thing.

Not a good first bike, but it was my first bike.

 

[Z15CAM]

A CB 750 was beautiful and smooth machine except it would speed wobble when attempting Hi-Spd corners compared to English and European BMW or Italian models which where all spooked back in there time.

The powerful KZ 900 was infamous for this let alone the killer 750 3 Cyl Kawasaki 2 stroke that literately slapped the forks while wheeling in the air between shifts - Been there done it. Never want to get back on one of them machines again; however, I did like the Kawasaki Mach 550 2 stroke and Suzuki 550 Titan in Cafe configuration.

 

[sze5003]

Both the first and second generation SV's had aluminum frames. There isn't much difference, if any, in weight between your bike and your friend's bike.

Edit-Actually, your bike might even be a bit heavier than his.

Lowering is done through shorter dogbones. Has nothing to do with the springs, only adjustment to springs is preload.

Might want to check the fork tubes to see if they have been moved up in the triple clamp.

Might need to check the forks then. The manual talks about lowering and making it higher via a circular switch labeled 1-5..I have not been able to look into it. Raining today all day and busy this weeekend, I can't remember when is the last time I rode.

 

[Throckmorton]

What should give you anxiety riding a motorcycle is the mass of all the other vehicles on the road

 

[Z15CAM]

The English and Japan learned a few lessons from Ceriani:

I run the original Brake shoes from 1971. As I said: "A Breganze will out live me."

This was my favorite Enduro - Name it:

I sold her $450 ;o( The engine was sick at the time and had plans of putting a 550 twin in her but never did.

I paint my Bikes Red with Big Head lights an loud horns.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Might need to check the forks then. The manual talks about lowering and making it higher via a circular switch labeled 1-5..I have not been able to look into it. Raining today all day and busy this weeekend, I can't remember when is the last time I rode.

What it is lowering or raising is the amount of preload on the spring, it has nothing to do with ride height. I'm 5'11" and I could flat foot a stock '08 SV650. Both the front and rear suspension have adjustments for preload only.

Are you sure your bike has been lowered at all? I'd like to see a picture of the bike on the side stand and of the rear shock (close up of the lower part of the shock/spring) and how close the top of the forks are to the top of the upper triple clamp.

Easiest way for someone short to make the bike lower is to shave the seat. Lowering a bike by the suspension usually requires some mechanical modifications.

 

[sze5003]

What it is lowering or raising is the amount of preload on the spring, it has nothing to do with ride height. I'm 5'11" and I could flat foot a stock '08 SV650. Both the front and rear suspension have adjustments for preload only.

Are you sure your bike has been lowered at all? I'd like to see a picture of the bike on the side stand and of the rear shock (close up of the lower part of the shock/spring) and how close the top of the forks are to the top of the upper triple clamp.

Easiest way for someone short to make the bike lower is to shave the seat. Lowering a bike by the suspension usually requires some mechanical modifications.

Here is an old one when I first bought it. I'll need to get a better pic. Bike is at my gf's house since my apartment complex complained about it sitting in the winter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Here is an old one when I first bought it. I'll need to get a better pic. Bike is at my gf's house since my apartment complex complained about it sitting in the winter.

Well, the seat doesn't look shaved and the forks look like they are at the normal height in the triple clamp. Hard to tell if the rear has been lowered from that pic.

This was mine.

 

[Z15CAM]

a stock '08 SV650

Old story for Motorcyclist's to make the ride fit you. I'm 5'11" @ 136lbs. I require Rear Sets that are extremely different then the OEM Mfgr'd Breganze Set designed to fit a 5'6" 150lb rider upon which most racing bikes are designed for, so I build my own, anything from parts using Gun Cleaning Rods, Moto Morini, Hayabusa and inverted Yamaha levers.

Providing you own your ride out right, you might as well cancel your insurance and run Outlaw as NO Ins Co. will insure you with a MODIFIED OEM Motorcycle that fits you were you feel SAFE and CAN HANDLE - DUMB Money Grabbing Life Eating Industry - Isn't it - That knows nothing about a Motorcyclists, who's only will is to survive riding on 2 wheels.

We already know this if we want to ride and reduce our chances of not being killed.

My advice is not to look at the GUI Glimmer but concentrate on your ability when modifying your ride and above all built it SOLID. TEST it and adjust it over and over with every Ride - In that way you learn how to ride and survive and it's still the roll of the dice.

Sish! I mount my own tires and still making $200 per tire purchase Enigma's which I can't handle.

 

[sze5003]

Well, the seat doesn't look shaved and the forks look like they are at the normal height in the triple clamp. Hard to tell if the rear has been lowered from that pic.

Mine is an 05. My friends is an 02 and he doesn't have fairings or clip ons. I can't flat foot his bike for some reason. I also test drove a 03 which was also similar to mine (started fuel injection that year), and I also could not flat foot that one. But mine I can, I'll have to take it to a shop and have them look at it. I don't think I've had it inspected as I've done all the work on it myself and haven't had time.

They don't pull you over here like cars if your inspection isn't renewed.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Mine is an 05. My friends is an 02 and he doesn't have fairings or clip ons. I can't flat foot his bike for some reason. I also test drove a 03 which was also similar to mine (started fuel injection that year), and I also could not flat foot that one. But mine I can, I'll have to take it to a shop and have them look at it. I don't think I've had it inspected as I've done all the work on it myself and haven't had time.

They don't pull you over here like cars if your inspection isn't renewed.

Sounds like it was lowered in the rear. Kind of looks like that judging by the picture too. You'll need shorter dog bones to raise it. This is what I'm talking about. There are two, one on each side. Your bike should handle better after too.

 

[Z15CAM]

That PIC is one of the most disposable, despicable Japaneses crap I've ever seen and would never trust my life on it.

And that's 2008 New Tech - I'm afraid for you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

That PIC is one of the most disposable, despicable Japaneses crap I've ever seen and would never trust my life on it.

And that's 2008 New Tech - I'm afraid for you.

I put almost 17,000 miles on one with no trouble at all. It was the most trouble free bike I've ever owned in fact.