Swapping GS for SV650x?

[Dickyboy]

GS was supposed to be for two up stuff but turns out Mrs DB only endures rather than enjoys being pillion & to be honest once all 24st of us is on the damn thing there isn't much more we can load it up with before it becomes too much of a handful. She has a licence but hasn't ridden for 30 odd years (hardtail triumph chop bitd) so I'm thinking she should be able to manage an SV & I'd quite like a lighter bike for London filtering, so my two questions are:-
Any reason not to?
What will I smell of?

[Rockburner]

I think I'm the only person who ever saw anything wrong with the SV650, I found the one I rode a bit "lumpy".

I also commuted on a Gladius for a bit, nothing exciting, easy to ride, reasonably good choice for daily stuff as long as the finish is looked after.

[Supermofo]

As a first time Suzuki owner I'm finding myself wiffing of weed and stella since Jan last year.

On the SV sounds like a great choice, I've always had a soft spot for SVs and the X looks pretty cool. They are long in the tooth but all tests I read basically say they are still a match for the MTs etc. I seem to recall reading that the seat on the X is particularly uncomfy and in MCN I think they swapped for a standard SV seat.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

New SVs are tiny, try one before you buy one, I prefer the ordinary SVs riding position.

[matt]

Can't see a reason not to personally if you're not using the GS as you intended and you've got the space and money for 2 bikes .
I'd love it if my Mrs had an interest in getting a bike and going out riding ,but that's never going to happen.

I may have read that wrong, would the sv be your only bike that you'd share? If so I'd say no

[Dickyboy]

New SVs are tiny, try one before you buy one, I prefer the ordinary SVs riding position.

Enquired about a test ride for Friday thing that's putting me off are reports of being a bit cramped & quite revv happy for a vee twin, my last foray into Suzuki ownership which looked good on paper was not a happy one (VX800)

[Noggin]

I think I'm the only person who ever saw anything wrong with the SV650, I found the one I rode a bit "lumpy".

I also commuted on a Gladius for a bit, nothing exciting, easy to ride, reasonably good choice for daily stuff as long as the finish is looked after.

Not the only person. I tried one once (partly because people kept saying I should get one instead of the Blackbird - more of a girls bike they said!! ).

Not sure what he'd done to it if anything, but I wasn't particularly keen. Bloody loved the TLs, but the SV650 not so much.

And VERY happy to read someone else not saying it's the best bike ever!! LOL

[Dickyboy]

I may have read that wrong, would the sv be your only bike that you'd share? If so I'd say no

Would still have the Guzzi 1200 sport, but if I find I like the SV enough I might go completely mad and chop the Guzzi in for my brothers Brough project which he is making noises about passing up.

[matt]

That's it then, nothing to lose ,happy days

[Bustaspoke]

If you're planning on using it as a commuter I think it makes sense,they're nimble,good on fuel & have a good reputation for reliability.I'd have a look at the N version as I think not having Ace bars it would be less cramped.It's a pity you didn't buy one last month as Suzuki were doing a mad deal on them,£6200 OTR & 3 years free servicing, I was seriously considering P/Xing my Street Triple for one
I bought a SV650S as a winter hack bike about 16 months ago,my other bike is a 675R Street Triple.What I've noticed over my time with the bike is that,the SV650S is smaller & slimmer than the Street Triple,it took a few months to get used to how a Vtwin makes power compared to a triple or four but when I got used to it I found it great fun riding on the torque.
Should make a good commuter.

[Taipan]

Didnt know they were still being made! Anyway, i've had a few early ones, the original curvy model and the later pointy, as they were known. Always found them to be cracking bikes. Great on back roads etc and a bit of a demon filterer in traffic! Only downside to the ones i had was the build quality, which was pretty dire. Hopefully, Suzuki have upped their game since back then?

[Beancounter]

Didnt know they were still being made! Anyway, i've had a few early ones, the original curvy model and the later pointy, as they were known. Always found them to be cracking bikes. Great on back roads etc and a bit of a demon filterer in traffic! Only downside to the ones i had was the build quality, which was pretty dire. Hopefully, Suzuki have upped their game since back then?

I swear mine used to breathe in to fit through the narrowest of gaps.

I had a curvy W reg/2000 model, was an excellent bike. Did 60k miles, most of it two up, commuting, track days, trips. If it was ULEZ compliant I'd have another.

[Taipan]

Didnt know they were still being made! Anyway, i've had a few early ones, the original curvy model and the later pointy, as they were known. Always found them to be cracking bikes. Great on back roads etc and a bit of a demon filterer in traffic! Only downside to the ones i had was the build quality, which was pretty dire. Hopefully, Suzuki have upped their game since back then?

I swear mine used to breathe in to fit through the narrowest of gaps.

I had a curvy W reg/2000 model, was an excellent bike. Did 60k miles, most of it two up, commuting, track days, trips. If it was ULEZ compliant I'd have another.

Did you have the S model? I used to pull the mirrors in and go through gaps cyclists questioned! I got rid as it was too sporty a riding position for me and I preferred the naked ones, but I missed that narrow gap ability!

[Dickyboy]

Looks like I'll be test riding a Shiver 900 on Friday too

[Dickyboy]

Well the Shiver was a great play thing for sure but it felt like I was sitting way too far forward on it and having nothing (couldn't see my hands or the clocks) in my peripheral vision was a bit disconcerting didn't even go out on the SV650 - too small & the seat was like a plank. So where do I go from here?
Ideally I'd just have one bike, but unless anyone knows something that resembles a Shiver / F900xr hybrid that's probably not going to happen.
So I need to swap the GS for a possibly dull but lighter smaller workhorse, short list so far is Tiger 800xrt, F800GT or F800GS

[Supermofo]

Everything other than a Goldwing is smaller than a GS isn't it!

On the basis it's traditional to recommend ones own bike I'd say GSXS 1000. It'll blow the socks off that list.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Apillia Dorsduro, it's basically an off road styled Shiver

[Rockburner]

Apillia Dorsduro, it's basically an off road styled Shiver

When you say "off-road" - do you mean "Adventure", or "Trail-bike" ??

There's a pretty big difference:

Adventure bikes tend to have taller screens, higher bars, bigger tanks and so you sit "in" the bike.
Tail style tends to be a somewhat lower bars, thinner tank and seat (often shorter too), less/no screen, and you sit "on" the bike.

By the sounds of it Dickyboy doesn't like the "Trail" style, but prefers "Adventure" (going on what he said about the Shiver).

[Dickyboy]

I think the Dorsduro is the worst of both worlds, basically a supermutard with all the downsides of an adventure bike with none of the practicalities
Ideally I'm after something around 90bhp, 200kgs, not too tall, will take a pillion, with a practical side (top box & slim panniers) but also a bit of soul failing this I'll have to stick with two bikes & get something that is boring.
One of my problems is that I'm built like an ape, my ape index is +8cm & one of the reasons I'm happy on a Guzzi, if the v85tt was lighter & more powerful I'm be all over it

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Ideally I'm after something around 90bhp, 200kgs, not too tall, will take a pillion, with a practical side (top box & slim panniers) but also a bit of soul failing this I'll have to stick with two bikes & get something that is boring.

XSR900, Z900RS, BMW Nine T, Triumph Speed Twin, Honda 1100 Rebel