[updated with pic now] Finally! Motorcycle!

[soccerballtux]

Finally settled on a 2006 sv1000s that I got for $4200 with Yoshi exhaust. Came with a custom seat, TRE mod, and frame lighting.

I'll post back with some pics later, it looks beautiful.
Very powerful.
A little uncomfortable, until I get my neck muscles built up to hold up the helmet.

It's a midnight blue color, and got a Yellow Rebel EXO-400 helmet with yellow mesh motoboss jacket to go with it.

I'm thinking I might need to do a handlebar mod to make it more comfortable to ride.

Lot to keep track of. I'm keeping it on back roads until I get better.

edit: here's the bike!


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I'll get a pic with the frame lighting tonight. Friend's bike's handlebars are at the bottom of the pic.

 

[JulesMaximus]

That is a brute of a bike. I have an SV650 and it is by no means slow.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Nice. Post some pics. Alot of guys getting bikes on AT lately.

 

[Zargon]

nice!

I kinda miss mine, sounds great with the yosh's

 

[jlee]

I couldn't imagine that much torque at once

 

[JulesMaximus]

I couldn't imagine that much torque at once

I have a friend who had a VStrom1000. He said it was the fastest bike he ever owned, he currently rides a Ducati GT1000 and had a BMW R1150R prior to that. He said he would exit the freeway and blast up this hill in Carlsbad and be doing 100mph by the time he shifted to 3rd.

 

[MiataNC]

Finally settled on a 2006 sv1000s that I got for $4200 with Yoshi exhaust. Came with a custom seat, TRE mod, and frame lighting.

Grats!!!!

I loved my SV650S, and I have always admired the 1K. Nothing like the grunt and growl of a twin with a good set of pipes....


...Well except maybe a triple. :biggrin:

 

[Greenman]

I couldn't imagine that much torque at once

How much torque? I couldn't find any specs that mention torque or horsepower.

 

[EightySix Four]

How much torque? I couldn't find any specs that mention torque or horsepower.

120hp, 75lb.ft

 

[jlee]

120hp, 75lb.ft

and you don't need to wind it to 14,000rpm to get it.

 

[Zargon]

tops our around 13K


power comes on really around 8, but noticable at 6

just over 100hp at the rear wheel

 

[Greenman]

Sounds like it has plenty of go, and it's not a bad looking bike at all. I wonder why I don't see them on the street?

 

[Zargon]

they didnt sell that well

they nerfed the motors output from the TL1000R and it sorta annoyed alot of the suzie fans, droped 20hp off the top, its not near the hooliganing bike yo would think out of a DOHC all aluminum watercooled 996cc VTWIN

was friggin GREAT around town though

 

[MiataNC]

Sounds like it has plenty of go, and it's not a bad looking bike at all. I wonder why I don't see them on the street?

Simple...

It's not a "Gixxer"

The SV1000K judged by sales was a failure in the US.

Far too many awesome bikes fail to make a large impact, because they are not flashy enough for US buyers.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

A little uncomfortable, until I get my neck muscles built up to hold up the helmet.

I'm not sure I want to know as I'm picturing a pencil necked geek duct taped to the tank with arms barely long enough to reach the handlebars but, wth are you talking about?

 

[Zargon]

Simple...

It's not a "Gixxer"

The SV1000K judged by sales was a failure in the US.

Far too many awesome bikes fail to make a large impact, because they are not flashy enough for US buyers.

pretty much

the naked SV1000 only made it one model year, they were GREAT

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'm not sure I want to know as I'm picturing a pencil necked geek duct taped to the tank with arms barely long enough to reach the handlebars but, wth are you talking about?

When someone first starts riding it's hard on the neck keeping the helmet steady while going down the highway. Takes a little while to build up the neck muscles.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Simple...

It's not a "Gixxer"

The SV1000K judged by sales was a failure in the US.

Far too many awesome bikes fail to make a large impact, because they are not flashy enough for US buyers.

Yep. Too bad too. There have been alot of bad ass bikes that never made it to the US market because all we want are gixxers.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

When someone first starts riding it's hard on the neck keeping the helmet steady while going down the highway. Takes a little while to build up the neck muscles.

I guess learning to ride on a Honda 125 at the same time I was playing HS football kinda let me skip that.

All these threads about new riders and their bike choices seem to have one thing in common. They approach the purchase of their first bike like they do a new computer. They check out things online and, ask for opinions online and, pick gear online and, I'm sure, prefer to learn to ride online. Every rider who sticks with it knows that riding is an evolution of needs, wants and, abilities. There is no 'best' bike.

OILFIELDTRASH, I like your bike even though it's not my style but, what demented goblin held a tire iron to your head and forced you to pick such a toxic color?

 

[MiataNC]

OILFIELDTRASH, I like your bike even though it's not my style but, what demented goblin held a tire iron to your head and forced you to pick such a toxic color?

That is "Kawasaki Green"

A day after Ontario, 1969, a writer, J. D. Putterman, shows up at the Team Hansen facility in Santa Ana, and he and Bob go to lunch together. After lunch, they walk out of Waukeen's Restaurant, and right next door, there is a paint store Santa Ana Paint. Bob and J. D. had been discussing recognizing the bikes at Ontario the day before, with all different colors, and how hard it was to see who was who. One had to wait to identify by the number as the bike ran by you, no clear identification.

Bob and J. D. went into the paint store, and Bob asked "Well, what color do you think would show up easily, J. D.?" J. D. saw a paint that was outrageously green, picked it up, and JOKINGLY said "Bob, nobody will ever miss a color like this one".

History was made, as Bob said that it was the one, and Kawasaki's have been "Ditzler AMC/Rambler Big Bad Green" ever since. What started as a joke, became the most recognizable racing color for bikes in the universe.

Oddly enough, J. D. was instantly against it, but our fearful leader, the DOS, Bubu Hansa, had to have the green color. Bob just wouldn't believe it was a joke on J. D.s part. Also, oddly enough, execs at both Kawasaki, U.S.A., AND Japan, LOVED IT.

 

[soccerballtux]

I have to say I'm very glad I didn't get a bike with less power. I'm not going to outgrow this but I was already comfortable going WOT on my friend's Suzuki 750cc bike (~75hp).
Controlling the throttle hasn't been anywhere near the problem some people made it out to be. I'm very comfortable on this bike. Higher RPMs in 2nd and 3rd gear can be a little twitchy, so that's what 4-6 are for.

Muscles seem to be getting a little bit stronger, I might not need to modify the handlebars.

 

[soccerballtux]

and you don't need to wind it to 14,000rpm to get it.

Yeah that's my favorite part. The economy of having 120hp was irresistible, but the 600c bikes are apparently a PITA to drive. This has torque from the very low end. So happy with the purchase.

 

[Throckmorton]

Fuzzybabybunny, is that you? I thought this was a parody thread at first, especially once I read the weak neck line.

How come no one is flaming the OP for getting a 1000cc bike being so new he's not even able to wear a helmet comfortably?

 

[soccerballtux]

Simple...

It's not a "Gixxer"

The SV1000K judged by sales was a failure in the US.

Far too many awesome bikes fail to make a large impact, because they are not flashy enough for US buyers.

Weird, this bike is EXTREMELY flashy in my book. The headlights are great, it looks like a creature or dragon of sorts.

 

[soccerballtux]

When someone first starts riding it's hard on the neck keeping the helmet steady while going down the highway. Takes a little while to build up the neck muscles.

Yeah. It feels more like my upper back/spine I think. Gotta keep head raised a little for looking down the road. Reminds me of the neck crick you get from playing the demo units of Gamecubes/Xbox's at Walmart with the television mounted 10 feet up.