imo it's two different types of power... but i'm not a racer, so I wouldn't be able to say which type of power is the better one..

 

i4's are faster. no doubt. they have more power. no doubt. the difference is you have to rev up for 10k on the tach to find the power. v-twins have a torquey sort of power that's available from 3k on.

 

Just look at the Dyno runs of the different engines...that will pretty much explain everything

 

I know the difference... what I am trying to say is that SVRiders (a lot) will say that I4's are too much and that they wouldn't know what to do with all that power on the street... but i4 guys on the other hand will say the opposite...

It would almost imply that SV riders like slower bikes and are not capable enough to handle an I4 and that somehow I4 riders are super capable.

I don't think that's the case, but that's the implication.

 

I-4s have more power but its developed at higher rpm, V-2s generally develop hp quicker but it drops off at high rpm

imho, v-2s have more "street friendly" hp

 

I know V-twins in general lack in the high rpm horsepower department. However coming out of a corner if I twist the throttle to the stop it still gives me an instant 'whoah!' moment followed by a huge grin.

Thats all I can ask for;D

 

What about V-4's? ;D

 

Its all personal preference. On the highway the SV has no balls- but around town it is a blast to play with.

 

I agree... I took my SV out for a ride in town yesterday. It was amazing. The thing is so easy to ride and fun.

 

I find I4 is a bit more committed when its come to power. When you tap the power its not easy to "untapped" or go back to normal cruising speed without braking. While V-twins can engine brake a lot so you can literally drive more like a lunatic without putting yourself or others in danger. Especially out of a corner. Watch your I4 buddies they tend to shy sharp corners because an I4 is easy to spin out and lose traction when they go WOT.

V-twins have linear power delivery, 600cc I4 have a sharp curve. Its almost like a ON-OFF sensation. 750cc - 1000cc are much better to drive street with their midrange with a responsible driver but that not always the case. They're overall way too powerful.

 

Seems to me the I 4 s usually have more than the SVs Top speed, I think a 600 CC Inline 4 may have a top speed of 150-160 vs the 125 mph for the SV. They seem to have most of their power higher up the Band, An Rider with an inline 4 engine may have to concentrate on keeping his bike within the power band while doing spirited riding so that would mean keeping the engine revved up around certain RPMs. The Svs and maybe V twins in general have much more usable power in the lower rpms, The I 4s can blow past V twins in the long straights however while aggressive cornering he would have to worry about braking, blipping shifting whatever he has to do to stay in the power band while the rider on the V twin only has to concentrate on his lines. So yeah in a sense The skill level needed to operate I-4s probably may be higher.

 

another thing is that most I4 riders don't ride around with their bikes at peak power all the time.

yeah, i know that the liter-4s make power EVERYWHERE, but even still... you could make an analogy to cars -- even the slowest piece of crap out there is able to make it to 85+mph. it's the cars that can get you there fastest that are considered fast.

i guess a way to explain it might be that because of the way the SV engine makes its power, SV riders (while they probably aren't as lustful for the newest hypergixxaninjabusaRR superfast1000), generally have 80% of their maximum power output on tap (just making up numbers), whereas because most I4 owners ride at reasonable RPMs so they don't have to have their engines singing at 10000rpm, and thus need larger engines to have that same amount of proportional power ready (say they're making maybe 40% of their max output)...

 

Don’t underestimate how important the impression of speed is. An I4 has twice the cylinders and is probably spinning faster than a V-twin. It Sounds faster even when it’s not. Those extra bangs add up. I don’t even remember how many multi bike comparisons said the Ducati felt slower until they looked at the speedometer or the lap times. That would explain why someone would think a CBR600 is faster than a 1098.

“On the other hand, most of the people I know that ride I4's will say (after riding a V-twin) that they lack power and that they are generally speaking kinda slow. I even heard this from guys riding CBR600 and trying out Ducati's 1100's...”

 

:deadhorse:

Just saying.

 

SV650s have plenty of power for fun. They are so easy to ride. 600 SS bikes have so little power in low to mid-range rpms. One must really take the engine up high to get any power. In other words, a 600 SS bike is more like a 2-stroke engine. An SV650 is more like a 4-stroke engine should be.

 

I think that the point of my thread was lost....... I am not comparing the two style bikes... that's beating a dead horse. I guess I can re-phase. Why do some of us (including myself) sound like a bunch of incompetent little whiners when we talk about the SV and how we couldn't handle "the power" of an I4 while the I4 guys claim that the twins are just not enough for them as if they were super riders. And I am talking about experienced and people with a couple of seasons under their belts. That was my observation....

I hardly (although I have) hear people here saying that they like the SV for xxxxxx, and had had I4's but didn't quite like them for one reason or the other. As opposed to, " I don't ride an I4 because I can't handle it."

 

Speaking from experience, the SV is no ZX6R in the adrenaline rush department. With a super sport I4 it seems the ride revolves around the performance rather than just enjoying the ride. I enjoyed riding a ninja 650R more than a ZX6R because I was able to just cruise along and enjoy the scenery. I enjoy the SV for the very same reason and that's why I didn't get another race bike. When you get to the power in second gear you're well over the legal speed limit in most places. I need my drivers license for work so 70 hp is plenty. Besides, I'd sure hate to hit a deer at 130 just as I'm shifting into fourth.

 

I just posted something in another thread about running into the rev limiter. On the SV, the power surge never comes, only the bike screaming at you to shift.

Blah blah I4's have no low end torque. A SV650 isn't that much (if at all) quicker than a 600 I4 at 7k RPM. SV650 is more linear for sure, but the linearity is more a function of having nothing up top than anything else.

The SV is much easier to ride around town, much easier in traffic, much easier under 30 mph. Anything over 30mph, when you're at actual "moving" speed, there's nothing to discuss. I4 has something to offer that the 650 simply lacks.

 

30mph, thats what mid 2nd gear.... around 7k rpm. Yeah... thats pretty much the top of the power band. Going from 30 to 60 takes like a second.

Fast enough for me

 

The SV is not a sportbike, we really shouldn't be comparing it to supersports.

If you want to compare a twin with a modern 600cc supersport, probably the Ducati 848 is the best comparison, or maybe even the SV1000.

 

This is all relative, but I've owned a Bandit 400, 600 and 1200 all within close time frame to each other and I enjoyed them all for different degrees of similar reasons. The 1200 had power everywhere, but realistically going from 0 to 60 in first gear is not very practical. The 400 spun up to 14000 rpm and felt like you were doing plenty, but was mostly fun for corner speed. Every bike I've owned has been a lesson in my inability. The SV650 just feels the most comfortable. Of course the 400 was stolen 9 years ago and I'm just getting back into riding at 40 so probably I'd have fun on a liquor sickle.

 

I'd have fun on a liquor sickle.

Ha. Rep.

Apples and oranges. Can't a man just like both?

Yes. This. Now getting closer to a case between carrots and pears.

Whoa, what year? My 98 costs me about $100 LESS per year than my 07 SV did.

Newer bikes have not depreciated as much on an insurance payout.

 

in Top gear roll ons , 40-60 mph, the SV650 is one of the fastest bikes out ther

inline 4s have to be in second gear, their so slow in 40-60 top gear roll on they don't even test them

 

Funny this topic should come up, I own an SV650, and it actually broke down this week. My buddie let me borrow his CBR600F2 for the week, hes trying to sell it. I actually think the CBR doesnt feel like it has SOO much less around 4k than the SV does. The I4 feels overall smoother but gets buzzy at higher RPMs. I actually think the CBR is slightly more comfortable. The CBR is definatly faster in just about every way shape and form minus EXTREMELY tight corners. I have actually been considering selling the SV and buying the CBR. Just a thought.

 

V-twin torque/power, in my opinion makes for a more fun ride than an I4 with it's power and lack of torque.

Most of the guys I ride with ride I4's, and they're always complaining about how I leave them off the line and power away from them coming out of turns when we hit the twisties. If we get on a long straight, they'll usually catch me, but they're running like 13-14K RPM when they do.

I've even offered to swap bikes with them when we go out for a ride, and they always decline my offer. I think they'd like the v-twin if they rode it. I don't mind the I4's, but I just like my v-twin better.

 

Apples and oranges. Can't a man just like both?

 

I have both: a GSXR 750 and a Superduke. A faired I4 vs. a neked V2. Undoubtedly, the power delivery is different. The GSXR will do 80 in first, so you don't shift much. That's really the key to riding an I4. You don't need to shift. As long as you keep the revs up, you have all the engine braking, etc. you could want. The 750's torque is on par or greater than the SV650, so it pulls through turns fine.

Being a supersport, it also has different handling characteristics. Its top heavy and will drop like a rock at gas station speeds if you are inattentive. Its edgy and likes to be ridden fast. It rewards with smoothness. It does not like hamfisted inputs and will spin up or lock the tires with rough inputs. Its riding position punishes with a stiff neck and back, but I have done 400 mile days on it.

The Superduke has better ergos. It has about 15 more lbs torque than the 750, but about 20 less HP. Supposedly, it will hit 150, but there is so much wind blast at speeds over 80, I doubt I'll ever get near that. (I've had the 750 to 142, on the track, (its top speed is 170) with no wind issues whatsoever).

With its wide bars, the SD handles like a dirtbike. It maneuvers much better at low speeds. It lacks top end, but has a wonderful midrange. It will wheelie off the throttle. It only goes around 35mph in first, so you have to shift a lot. Because of the wind blast, it always feels like you are going faster than you are.

I'm much more rough with my inputs respecting the SD than the 750. It not nearly as finicky as the 750. Frankly, the 750 makes me a better rider. I can step off the 750 and onto the SD and ride the snot out of it, but I have to retrain myself as to how to ride the 750 if I don't ride it for a while.

So, to answer the OP's question, "Why do some of us (including myself) sound like a bunch of incompetent little whiners when we talk about the SV and how we couldn't handle "the power" of an I4 while the I4 guys claim that the twins are just not enough for them as if they were super riders?"

You can "handle" the power of an I4. Its not the power, per se, its how the power is delivered. You're inputs need to be smoother. Snapping the throttle open or closed can make really bad things happen.

 

I was riding an I-4 before I bought the SV. I like the SV so much more than what I had. More comfort and usable power when you really need it. I don't care to be doing 140 down a straightaway, I enjoy the ride and just being on the bike. I don't see myself ever going back to an I-4.

I think the comments you first stated just stem from the I-4 riders being used to having the high RPM power band and constantly keeping speed to stay there instead of the low end torque of the SV riders being able to blip the throttle for power at slower speeds. In my book..If it's two wheeled, you are good. :thumbsup:

 

The 750 makes you a better rider? Interesting

I've heard of track day junkies stepping off an I4, going to the SV, and eventually pulling the same track times. They're on a much slower bike, but they are faster riders.

I think it's because it's easier to ride the SV fast. The powerband is more forgiving of the newbie rider

 

Yeah, I have to be smoother to ride the 750 fast. But, once I get the 750 sorted, I can really rail on the SD. The SD makes me a sloppier rider and when I get used to that, it takes a bit to get used to the 750 again.

 

I had a ZX6 and a CBR F4i before I picked up my SV650. I enjoy the throaty vtwin bark but I still miss the scream of an inline-4. That's what I grew up thinking a sportbike sounded like.

I think the SV650 power is fun around town and I wanted a more upright commuting position but I miss the smoothness and power of the inline 4 too. As for handling, the supersports come with better suspension so I wouldn't say SV650 people prefer handling over power.

I think it all boils down to the fact that the "average" sv650 rider is a little less conceited about his own talents or bike. People want a flashy fast motorcycle because they really like speed and/or they think it's cool. Nothing wrong with that. It's just unlikely that the same people that think it's cool probably would say "it's too much power for me". And anybody can go fast in a straight line anyway.

If I had a house with a garage, I'd like own both.

 

I think it all boils down to the fact that the "average" sv650 rider is a little less conceited about his own talents or bike. People want a flashy fast motorcycle because they really like speed and/or they think it's cool. Nothing wrong with that. It's just unlikely that the same people that think it's cool probably would say "it's too much power for me". And anybody can go fast in a straight line anyway.

BINGO! We have a winner. I think many supersport riders bought their bikes for looks. Full plasitcs = cool, fast bike and people will think I'm awesome! I've had SO many I4 riders ask what kind of bike I'm riding. They decide they want a bike and start looking for the super sport Gixxers (I hate that word,) Ninjas, R1s/R6s etc without consitering any other options. They have no clue. These are the same hotheads that would never in a million years admit that their bike is too much for them. Even if it is. I think just about any SV rider COULD handle just about any I4 bike for the most part. We just don't WANT to have to worry about the extra power.