I knew it was only a matter of time until someone brings up Ducati. I bought the SuperSport 950 this summer and having tons of fun with it. The first two weeks I just couldn’t stop grinning. Still riding it now in near and below freezing temps; fairing survived a drop after a slow speed crush with a Benz pulling illegal u-turn. Gosh, whole bike is rideable, picked it up, bent the shifter back and kept riding on. Insurance practically totaled it and I got a free bike ( well almost minus fees and taxes ). Small invisible crack in fairing and few metal bits. 4000 miles, not a single issue.
Next bike? still love my SV :,)
So this feels a little blasphemous coming to an SV forum to ask advice about purchasing another bike.
Long story short I purchased the SV650X about a year ago. It was my first bike after getting my motorcycle endorsement and it truly has been a great first bike. In the beginning I thought "wow, this is a lot of power" when mentally comparing it to the 250s from the rider course and friends dirtbikes and groms I have fooled around on over the years. So now I find myself at a crossroads. I use my bike daily to commute to and from work and have put 7000 miles on it already, so while I haven't had it long I ride a lot, everyday, rain or shine. Just through researching and going to bike shows I sorta fell for the XSR900 and the MT10s aesthetically and that is the displacement I suppose I am looking for (I feel like I am at the point where I am just looking for more out of the throttle than my 650 has to give. After going and shopping MT10s, MT09s, the XSR900, CB1000r (not the cbr1000) I have found that I just really do not like the upright style handlebars. The sport bike style/ clip on bars of the SV650x are without a doubt the way I like to ride. furthermore the bikes felt squat and as a taller guy (6'1") i feel awkward on all of them. When sitting on any of the fully faired sportbikes, though, it folds me up in a way that it feels like I fit correctly if that makes any sense. So my existential crisis is do I get an XSR900 or something similar and put clip-on style bars on it along with whatever other customizations id like to make further down the road or do I go the sport bike route. To be honest, sport bikes feel right and the naked bikes feel like cruisers to me (riding position wise) It is mind boggling to me that all the bikes i mentioned above are in the sub $10k range but a liter bike like the R1 and zx10r r nearly double in price. Preferably I would like my bike payment not to match my car payment but I also don't want to be looking at other bikes 3 months after getting into something else. I guess I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation where they are torn between higher displacement naked bikes and going w a true fully faired sportsbike. I am leaning towards the XSR900 which i can go onto turning into the bike i want it to be (mostly by swapping handlebars which I'm aware isn't a small ordeal) or getting something like an R1 or GSXR750. After a year of being on the sv650x I've found that despite what so many have said I do not mind the more commited riding position and definetly feel more "right" on crotch rockets than I do on the bikes I've listed above. I know this is a convoluted question and there is no "right" answer, just looking for input from folks who have more experience than I do. One other thing I'd like to add is I am open to the idea of a 600cc fully faired bike (gxsr600, r6, etc) but what I do love about the sv650 is the torque down low, and from what i keep hearing 600cc sport bikes dont have that. Would I find that a gsxr600 or the like has just as much pull in the same range of the powerband as my sv does? If so that would be preferable $$ wise and I like the idea of a lighter more maneuverable bike (although I hear a lot that with newer bikes the weight difference is pretty minimal between liter bikes and their 600cc counterparts. AlsoI am looking at new bikes only, I am not mechanically inclined enough to deal w the abuse a used bike has probably been through.
Thanks to anyone for their input
Long story short I purchased the SV650X about a year ago. It was my first bike after getting my motorcycle endorsement and it truly has been a great first bike. In the beginning I thought "wow, this is a lot of power" when mentally comparing it to the 250s from the rider course and friends dirtbikes and groms I have fooled around on over the years. So now I find myself at a crossroads. I use my bike daily to commute to and from work and have put 7000 miles on it already, so while I haven't had it long I ride a lot, everyday, rain or shine. Just through researching and going to bike shows I sorta fell for the XSR900 and the MT10s aesthetically and that is the displacement I suppose I am looking for (I feel like I am at the point where I am just looking for more out of the throttle than my 650 has to give. After going and shopping MT10s, MT09s, the XSR900, CB1000r (not the cbr1000) I have found that I just really do not like the upright style handlebars. The sport bike style/ clip on bars of the SV650x are without a doubt the way I like to ride. furthermore the bikes felt squat and as a taller guy (6'1") i feel awkward on all of them. When sitting on any of the fully faired sportbikes, though, it folds me up in a way that it feels like I fit correctly if that makes any sense. So my existential crisis is do I get an XSR900 or something similar and put clip-on style bars on it along with whatever other customizations id like to make further down the road or do I go the sport bike route. To be honest, sport bikes feel right and the naked bikes feel like cruisers to me (riding position wise) It is mind boggling to me that all the bikes i mentioned above are in the sub $10k range but a liter bike like the R1 and zx10r r nearly double in price. Preferably I would like my bike payment not to match my car payment but I also don't want to be looking at other bikes 3 months after getting into something else. I guess I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation where they are torn between higher displacement naked bikes and going w a true fully faired sportsbike. I am leaning towards the XSR900 which i can go onto turning into the bike i want it to be (mostly by swapping handlebars which I'm aware isn't a small ordeal) or getting something like an R1 or GSXR750. After a year of being on the sv650x I've found that despite what so many have said I do not mind the more commited riding position and definetly feel more "right" on crotch rockets than I do on the bikes I've listed above. I know this is a convoluted question and there is no "right" answer, just looking for input from folks who have more experience than I do. One other thing I'd like to add is I am open to the idea of a 600cc fully faired bike (gxsr600, r6, etc) but what I do love about the sv650 is the torque down low, and from what i keep hearing 600cc sport bikes dont have that. Would I find that a gsxr600 or the like has just as much pull in the same range of the powerband as my sv does? If so that would be preferable $$ wise and I like the idea of a lighter more maneuverable bike (although I hear a lot that with newer bikes the weight difference is pretty minimal between liter bikes and their 600cc counterparts. AlsoI am looking at new bikes only, I am not mechanically inclined enough to deal w the abuse a used bike has probably been through.
Thanks to anyone for their input
21 - 29 of 29 Posts
Buy what makes you happy.
I remember! My two best friends each had Honda Trail 70s. I had a Yamaha 100. I took my first "girlfriend" for a ride down a NJ forest fire trail. We were 13, I was in love, so yeah, it was kinda awkward, lol.And how many of us remember the grins we had riding the Trail 90's around the farm and neighborhoods? Or the high-pipe 125 enduro that your older neighbor had, who'd let you ride it around to show off to the girls?
Absolutely! I've owned every mainstream marque apart from Moto Guzzi and Triumph, spread over 19 motorcycles and 36 years including two trouble-free Ducati's haha. I've never understood riders who get polarized on one marque. They all make good and perhaps not so good models within their range of product. The trick is to pick out the top models from whatever manufacturer it may be and buy those ones.Buy what makes you happy.
Regarding manufacturer bashing: They all produce the odd lemon model from time to time or maybe an owner unfortunately gets one of those friday afternoon bikes that just gives on going grief. It happens, no need to run a smear campaign over it lol.
Have you thought about renting other types of bikes to see what you like? Seriously. Rent a Harley. A duel sport. A big touring thing. A medium sport-touring thing. Whatever. You might be surprised what feels right.
Judging from your riding experience, your use case, and your preferences, my answer for your next bike is easy:
Hayabusa!
Just kidding. But you seem to just have gotten comfortable going fast in a straight line on your highway commute and wish for a more sporty feel. The SV is not the best bike for that scenario. Neither is the XSR, albeit slightly better.
What you want is a sports touring bike.
With good weather protection, highway stability, options for luggage, and possibly direct drive those are excellent highway commuters.
Super sports bikes like the GSX-R 750, R6, R1 or the ZX10R are probably the worst bikes you can get to learn on. They need to be ridden on track, that's what they were designed for. And that's why they're nearly double in price as you have noticed. The money is in the premium suspension, brakes, and weight reduction. Improvements that are overkill for street riding.
Don't join the masses of weekend squids who can't ride anything but straight with their show bikes.
There are plenty of options on the used market and since these bikes are usually ridden by more mature riders I wouldn't worry about any issues as long as there is a good maintenance record available. Get a well ridden Japanese model from the late naughts. Examples are the Honda VFR800, Kawasaki Concourse 1000, Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300, or Triumph Sprint ST. These bikes are made for long distances and are virtually indestructible. With their larger displacement engines tuned for torque not peak power, they have plenty of torque down low, so unlike super sports bikes you can ride them in a relaxed fashion.
These are not the most popular bikes on the used market and there's tons of them around, so they can be had for less than $5k. Remember, mileage doesn't matter nearly as much as maintenance.
You may even keep your SV for weekend rides on the twisties, because that's where it'll shine and where it'll be able to serve as your learner bike for years to come. A heavier, more powerful bike won't be nearly as easy to make progress on. Actually in hindsight, learning to ride corners on a sub 50hp bike would be my advice. The SV is not the best beginner bike either.
I hope you are aware that you're still a beginner with lots to learn.
If you want a new bike look at the 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT. Probably the cheapest of the large sport tourers.
Hayabusa!
Just kidding. But you seem to just have gotten comfortable going fast in a straight line on your highway commute and wish for a more sporty feel. The SV is not the best bike for that scenario. Neither is the XSR, albeit slightly better.
What you want is a sports touring bike.
With good weather protection, highway stability, options for luggage, and possibly direct drive those are excellent highway commuters.
Super sports bikes like the GSX-R 750, R6, R1 or the ZX10R are probably the worst bikes you can get to learn on. They need to be ridden on track, that's what they were designed for. And that's why they're nearly double in price as you have noticed. The money is in the premium suspension, brakes, and weight reduction. Improvements that are overkill for street riding.
Don't join the masses of weekend squids who can't ride anything but straight with their show bikes.
There are plenty of options on the used market and since these bikes are usually ridden by more mature riders I wouldn't worry about any issues as long as there is a good maintenance record available. Get a well ridden Japanese model from the late naughts. Examples are the Honda VFR800, Kawasaki Concourse 1000, Honda ST1300, Yamaha FJR1300, or Triumph Sprint ST. These bikes are made for long distances and are virtually indestructible. With their larger displacement engines tuned for torque not peak power, they have plenty of torque down low, so unlike super sports bikes you can ride them in a relaxed fashion.
These are not the most popular bikes on the used market and there's tons of them around, so they can be had for less than $5k. Remember, mileage doesn't matter nearly as much as maintenance.
You may even keep your SV for weekend rides on the twisties, because that's where it'll shine and where it'll be able to serve as your learner bike for years to come. A heavier, more powerful bike won't be nearly as easy to make progress on. Actually in hindsight, learning to ride corners on a sub 50hp bike would be my advice. The SV is not the best beginner bike either.
I hope you are aware that you're still a beginner with lots to learn.
If you want a new bike look at the 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT. Probably the cheapest of the large sport tourers.
Those are great bikes, on my short list.I knew it was only a matter of time until someone brings up Ducati. I bought the SuperSport 950 this summer and having tons of fun with it. The first two weeks I just couldn’t stop grinning. Still riding it now in near and below freezing temps; fairing survived a drop after a slow speed crush with a Benz pulling illegal u-turn. Gosh, whole bike is rideable, picked it up, bent the shifter back and kept riding on. Insurance practically totaled it and I got a free bike ( well almost minus fees and taxes ). Small invisible crack in fairing and few metal bits. 4000 miles, not a single issue.
I've ridden a couple of them, and it really fits the definition of a usable sport bike.
Thank you everyone for the input. I have definitely been on the other side of this type of question, grinning as a noobie asks "which fins will make me dive the deepest or what caliber is best for big deer",,, there are no right answers but ya'll have definitely helped me narrow my scope and consider some things I hadn't. Thanks again for the suggestions and those of you who put effort into explaining the logic behind them. I will be rereading this thread & looking into the suggestions many times before making any decisions.
P.S if anyone is in the South Florida area and wants to ride feel free to message.
P.S if anyone is in the South Florida area and wants to ride feel free to message.
Here's another couple of thoughts:
My friends and I ride spiritedly on the weekends. On my SV I get around 50 mpg riding whether I'm riding with them or commuting. They get 30 mpg. The SV takes 87, their bikes take 93. And except for those rare long open straights where they leave me in the dust, I keep up with them well.
Thought number two is that what feels comfortable for a minute on the showroom floor may be very uncomfortable after 15 minutes of riding. So find a quiet day to go sit on bikes and stay put for a while.
A sportbike might not be so extreme a difference compared to your current bike, but it might be enough difference that commuting is suddenly uncomfortable.
My friends and I ride spiritedly on the weekends. On my SV I get around 50 mpg riding whether I'm riding with them or commuting. They get 30 mpg. The SV takes 87, their bikes take 93. And except for those rare long open straights where they leave me in the dust, I keep up with them well.
Thought number two is that what feels comfortable for a minute on the showroom floor may be very uncomfortable after 15 minutes of riding. So find a quiet day to go sit on bikes and stay put for a while.
A sportbike might not be so extreme a difference compared to your current bike, but it might be enough difference that commuting is suddenly uncomfortable.
21 - 29 of 29 Posts
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