SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I've had my SV650 for not quite a year and put around 3000 miles on it. I like the bike, but catch myself trying to lay down on the bike so that I don't get blown around so much on the highway. This causes me to get sore after long rides. I love the torque down low, and the rumble of the 90 degree V twin, but I'm not sure if this is enough to keep me from switching over to a cbr.

My roommate has a 2001 cbr f4i and I've ridden that a fair amount. The bike feels about the same weight and isn't much harder to turn/lean with. I really like the fact that it's lower to the ground which makes it more comfortable when I'm at a stoplight and can sit flat footed. The cbr doesn't have the torque that the sv does, but it shines a lot more at higher speeds. One of the biggest things I like about the cbr is that it's 4 cylinder motor is much smoother than the Vtwin.

I'd like advice on what stands out to you guys. The cbr is selling for about $3000 w/ 3700 miles on it. I feel pretty confident I could resell the bike and make a couple bucks if I change my mind later on.
http://images.craigslist.org/5L25H15...19ab3d1a22.jpg
vs
http://images.craigslist.org/5Id5Fa5...db8f431399.jpg

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Ive always been a fan of the CBRs, i almost got a 600RR before i left for california. Love the look of those.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

You got that right! I can't help but feel a little "less cool" when I pull up by a rocket or ride up by one even though the SV is a pretty quick bike.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I would buy that cbr f4i. Thats a really good deal if you look at cl they go for more. I rode a friends cbr and loved it for an older 600. I bought a cbr 929rr and I love it. I know its bigger then the f4i but its a honda and runs forever. I say buy the f4i and put some miles on that bad boy.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Yea that's really low miles and a awesome price, I would buy it in a heart beat .

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

That bike's just a baby. Make sure the seals / hoses / any rubber isn't rotting since it's sat it's whole life. And where is the front sprocket cover?

Other than that it appears to be a nice bike.

ETA: Just looked again, it's also missing the chain guard.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

You know you can lower the SV right? Lowering links are your friend.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Already found replacement parts for $40 locally. This does however, raise a flag to me. I'll be asking plenty of questions and looking over everything is close detail.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I'd only go to yellow at this point. He may have had different sprockets on there (which is very common) and brought the bike back to stock gearing to sell. The front rotors are not stock and it has a steering dampner also if you hadn't noticed yet.

I just bought my 02 F4i three days ago. And looked at plenty that were no where near this condition and had zero aftermarket on them for more than this guy's asking. You might've found one of those great deals but try to get a back story for why he's selling it. And remember, bikes go down all the time. Even if this one was down once or twice, as long as it was fixed right (and everything else checked out), I'd still buy it for $3k.

The one thing I wish the state did, since they require engine #s; is to have a way to ask if what's on the bike is what they have without having to call and wait an hour on the phone. Because if the motor was replaced and you don't have a receipt, you're screwed. This isn't related to your purchase, just something that came to mind.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

The bike was a bust. It looked like the bike had been down on both sides, and the muffler was all crunched up and there was a huge kink in the exhaust. The grips on the side of the tank were all nasty and there were lots of marks where there used to be duct tape or something. I rode the bike up and down the block and it felt nothing like my friend's cbr. I was initially going to offer $2800 for the bike, but didn't even do that. I'll stick with my sv and maybe get some more aggressive handle bars or something.

I thought it might be too good to be true, and it was. I'll probably bank up some extra cash and buy something a little nicer next summer.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I would recommend riding some other bikes too. Hondas didn't get remotely exciting until pretty recently. Yamaha's and Suzuki's are much more fun to ride, along with certain Kawi's. Yamaha is usually more twitchy with quick turn in and the Suzuki and Kawi are usually more stable, but take a little more effort to turn in.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I would stay with the 650... I love my vtwin power! Granted im on a 1000 but nothing beats the tq! I know what you mean about the wind but i look past that because tq is so much fun! I dont know about your bike but my naked handles like a dream on the track! I use to own a gsxr 600 and after riding both I know that tq is just way more fun. Depends what you like more tho.. For me its the tq.. If youd like to try my bike out to see what a 1000 vtwin is like no prob you can take it for a ride. And I personally think any 600 besides a kawi is a good bike. Kawis are known for power, but they just cant get it to the pavement like the other bikes. Ive personally road a 636 and they are weak IMO and shitty to trun. Honda use to be the team to beat in motogp until 2005 or 2006 I believe. Then yamaha took over with Rossi and he developed the yamaha bike into a beast.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

^Yea I've thought about the sv1000 a little bit, but I think at this point I might just throw on some sport bars and call it good for a while. I'll pick up a nicer bike when I've got a little more capital built up.

Oh and I appreciate the offer to ride your bike, but I live in CO now so that'd be quite the trip haha.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

fml...Right after I told all the ppl that were interested in my sv that I was going to keep it I found this...

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a98.../IMG954250.jpg
2002 R6 w/ 22,000 miles for $3400. Kinda nervous about the mileage but I'm gonna go look at it tomorrow and see how she moves.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

22,000 is pretty much nothing for a bike ten years old. Unless a grandma was riding it.

IMO, it's carb'd, run. Try finding an 03/04 with FI. If you do buy it, ask if the valves have been adjusted. It's due. If they haven't, take an instant $300-$400 off his price.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

awwwwwwwww i was thinking cbrs and thought that R6's went FI in 2001, but nope...that's the cbrs. fml

I did find a 2004 r6 with 12000 miles for $3100, but I haven't seen any pics of it. I wont keep my hopes up.

thanks for that!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Haha you sound like me a couple weeks ago. If ya got the bug, sell your SV. The right one will come along. Trust me when I say, you will find bikes you want for your price. But they will be gone within days now that summer's almost here. You're gunna need the cash then and there if you want it.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Got the cash in this envelope next to me :)

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Remember that anything with over 15k miles is going to need the suspension rebuilt, should probably be done to any bike that age if it hasn't been already. I am looking at rebuilding it on my '05 with 8k miles. It definitely doesn't handle like new any more.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

When you say suspension, are you just talking a new spring or shocks as well?

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

R6 is a nice bike if you're short like me, can touch both feet at a stoplight w/o a problem. Real revvy but still a fun bike.

Gotta get in my standard advice though:
Sell your SV and take that cash, put it towards an evo :) Safer than a bike and can be just as fast or faster!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Get a supermoto if you do a decent amount of city riding. I love my supermoto way more than my r6 for dicking around town and going to work. It's super slow but it just means you can be a hooligan at a slower speed.

What kind of riding are you going to do with it?

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

what about just getting a windscreen kinda like http://www.revzilla.com/product_imag...40A_detail.jpg

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

The big thing is the oil inside them gets bad. Fork oil isn't a biggie, but the shocks are sealed and need to be sent off to get rebuilt. You can get them rebuilt with much better parts for not tons more money too. Racetech is a good place to find out some info on it.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

But evos don't get crazy good gas mileage and are nowhere near the price I'd sell my sv for haha.

Well, the average speed on the highway around here is like 85 mph, so I think that alone rules out a supermoto. I also like the idea of throwing a lady friend on the back and going for a ride. Yet another thing a supermoto struggles with.

I'm looking to just invest in a new set of bars to lower me down a bit. If that doesn't help much, I'll throw on a windscreen. I just personally think they are kinda ugly.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

They have ones similar to that which are painted the same color as your bike, looks 100x better!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I love my SV1k! I have mine naked and wouldn't go back to the half fairing it had. I find the wind kinda helps to keep some of the weight off my wrists and stress off my back at speed. I rode my buddy's SV650 before I got my bike and I loved the way it felt and rode, but it just didn't have enough guts for me. My 1k feels pretty much the same, but it's obviously heavier and requires more effort to flick through the turns.The torque this thing has even with stock gearing is enough for me to never look at an inline engine under 750cc, unless it's a Truimph Street Triple (675cc I3).

Like Jet said, definitely look into rebuilding the suspension on a bike with more than 8-10k miles. Mine is at 10k and it needs at least the fork oil changed.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Well I almost bought a new SV, but the deal kinda fell through. Sooooooo I bought an 03 CBR600RR :)

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...07343611_n.jpg

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Sexy bike!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Looks good Brian! Have fun with it

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Well I got my first ticket today lol!

I rode the bike to the DMV to get it registered and whatnot, but since my insurance is still MN (I live in CO now) they wouldn't give me plates. So I transfered the title and figured I'd deal with my insurance tomorrow.

I didn't get more than a block from the DMV and I get pulled over by a motorcycle cop...FOR NOT HAVING PLATES! Bah!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

oops.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Nice bike brian. Honda flw haha. Way better bike then the sv and f4i by far. I love my new cbr 1000 that I bought a couple weeks ago.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

ooo now a liter bike is something I hope I never think I need haha. I know I'd kill myself for sure!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Its alot of bike for sure. 600s are fast enough for the street and track. Liter bikes are to much for the street I think. Its to easy to double the speed limit in the blink of an eye

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I've noticed that simply on this bike. When 2nd gear will take me over 85mph it's tough to stay close to the limit lol.

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I'd say most bikes are fast enough or can get you into too much trouble ono the street, well besides maybe like a rebel 250 or some goldwing or something

Still liking the bike Brian? Get used to the riding position?

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Lol my 2nd gear goes a little over 110 I think. I know doing 2nd gear sit downs I come down at 105 with some rpms to go before limiter

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

Yea Brad I'm lovin the bike. I'm itchin to go take it out to the mountains and try it out on some twisties, but I've gotta figure out this insurance mumbo jumbo first so I can get a plate on the back!

Re: SV650 or CBR F4i?
 

I agree, a 1k is overkill on the street. I will be downsizing again when I get another bike. My 1k does 106 mph in 1st gear and the limits are just too high to enjoy on the street. The part that is fun is being near the limit, no matter how high it is. My next bike might be something very different too like a KTM Duke II or some other hooligan bike like that.