K... I'm about to re-enter the streetbike world after a 1 year vacation. FYI, prior to selling my last street ride, I've logged well over 500k miles and rode everything from GSXR's to BMW airheads.

So I find myself needing a somewhat compact, simple, fun and CHEAP commuter bike. I'm too old and the world is in too much dissarray to buy used... I like new bikes. :D I'm also a double thump kinda guy, never been into the inline-fours...

TL1000, yummy.... want one. Too expensive and would likely kill myself. Lot's of Italian V-thumps out there... nope... way too finicky and WAY too expensive. Harley or "cruiser"... uh, no :rolleyes: not going there. I'm into function WAY over form. What to do???

So I've stumbled lately into the little SV650. I gotta say, I'm very excited about this thing. I know the first thing you're gunna say, underpowered. Yeah, mabe... but from what I've been reading on pro writeups and rider reviews, they respond VERY well to bolt on HP products and are just a fawking HOOT to ride. Nimble, flickable, light, dependable etc... and at the same time, has the exhaust note that turns heads...

I'm damn near ready to go plop my $6k down for a brand new one. What do you guys know/think about em???

Welby has one, and I think Rerard has one.

Welby will let you know everything about 'em:)

Welby? Sweeeeet. Come on Welby! Gimme some love...!

Ya they are nice bikes, underpowered? I doubt it, unless you're used to riding liter sportbikes. I dont know the specs on, but I have read that 0-60 time is 3.2sec. Not too underpowered. Although it may be more noticable if you're a big guy. Take one for a test ride, thats about the only way to know.:D

Speak up Welby, you know more about them than I do:flipoff2:

Yeah, everything you've read is true. They're great bikes, not as quick as the 4 cyl bikes, but they handle great, are light, and have plenty of power to keep you entertained. Plus insurance is dirt cheap.
Cycle World listed the quarter mile at 11.8, and 0-100 is like 8.7 seconds. Plenty fast in my opinion. I have the unfaired version which I actually like the looks of better than that half-faired "S" model. Plus the gearing is better on the unfaired, which makes it more fun at stoplights. I'm 31, married, and have taken the MSF safety course (You save 15% on inusrance if you do), and my insurance for a year is $170. Probably 1/10th the cost of a liter bike's coverage.
All I've done to mine is add a Two Brothers racing exaust, which sounds fantastic. The stock exhaust sounds OK, but very quiet. I know with the Two Brothers pipe, I go through long tunnels heading into Pittsburgh, and I get giddy listening to it. If I wind it up in the tunnel, it takes on this deep toned demonic howl that I can't really explain. :evil: :D
I'm running Dunlop D205 tires now, which wear much better than the Metzelers that come on it. I only got about 3,500 miles out of my Metzeler rear tire...
There are also tons of add-ons out there now too, from exhausts to clip-on handlebars, to different shocks, etc.

Here's a couple links :
www.svrider.com
www.sv650.org Good link, but appears to be dead for the moment...

I've thought about selling mine, because we're trying to save for a house, but I really want to keep it. Love the friggin' thing. Have 11,000 trouble free miles on it already :)

I got one last summer and simply LOVE it! Welby is right. Fun, agile, cheap, etc. I also have the non-s version and like it far better thatn that ugly faring.

Mine is int he for sale section now. A friend is paralized from the waist down froma recent accident, and that shook me I guess. I know you are miles away, but take at the add to see whay they go for anyway before you plop down 6K for new.

Nice starter bike.
Here is my naked ride.

http://zrxoa.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12656

Sold mine on Sunday :(