Which bike would you get if you can't have the SV650? And why?

ziffusion said:

I get it. You love your SV650. That's why you are here.

But if you were to get a different bike, which one would you pick, which is more fun than the SV650?

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Of the 40+ bikes I've owned, the only one that was more fun was an RZ350.

Street Triple RS, XSR900, ZX6R are all on my list.
I like the character of the triples.
I think the 636 is the perfect bike for the kind of riding I like doing, twisties!

It would depend on how you define ‘fun’… But yes, the SV is a ball, if a bit ‘utilitarian’. It’s the perfect bike for a newer rider that can only have one reliable bike for everything, on the cheap.

If you were to take mine away, the first two I would probably look at would be the Honda Hornet and Suzuki GSX-8S. Same basic equation, but just a little bigger of an engine.

I'd love to have my RZ350 back, but for a new bike, it'd definitely be an Aprilla 660.

Before getting my first Gen1 SV650S, I considered a Ducati 750SS. It's a sporty V-twin, but the atrocious reviews of ride quality and reliability put me off. After mistakenly selling the Gen 1, I missed it so much I bought a Gen2 SV650S.

The two-strokes I had in the past (350 GTR, R5, RD350) were 'fun' bikes, but rebuilding motors took off some of their shine.

In the same neighbourhood of the SV? Triumph Trident 660.
Higher end retrò style? Yamaha XSR 900 or Kawasaki Z900 RS.

How are the Italian models for reliability and upkeep costs?

I had that bike and a 2007 Tuono, 2nd gen. Both gave me no problems. Both had electric issues sorted before I got them. They were good to me.

The 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 I got with about 2,000 miles on it and added 25,000. Also good bike, but spent more time in shop and was more dollar intensive. Needing a dealer to shut off the oil change light and do some other things helped me decide to sell. The nearest dealer is now 150 miles from me since we moved. Glad I had the Duc though, I wanted one for 20 years before I got it.

ziffusion said:

How are the Italian models for reliability and upkeep costs?

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I wouldn't own one, I've seen first hand too many issues with them.
Met someone today on a ride up at Turtle Rock. He has a new Aprilia v4. He literally had a tampon stuffed in between the cylinders somewhere soaking up an oil leak he says he's been chasing after two times to the dealership.
Same place last year a tow truck has what looked like new 660 Aprilia on its bed.
A close friend of mine had his Ducati stolen, I swear he was celebrating! I heard many negative things from him about how much it cost to keep it running.
Someone on this forum had a Ducati that he could not trust to go far from home due to it being so unreliable.

Soulspinner said:

I wouldn't own one (Italian bike) ...

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I am curious. Which bikes would you consider? You had mentioned Yamaha, Kawasaki and Triumph models earlier in this conversation.

Italian bikes have style.
I've heard the SV650 called a Japanese Monster, and think I am OK with that.

Have also heard, buy Italian suits and shoes, and Japanese bikes.