Sv650 vs Monster?

I think my next bike will be a mid size sport standard. Right now I am thinking sv650 and the ducati monster (small motors only). What are your thoughts? Other options?

The Duc is FAR sexier IMO, IIRC the Suzuki is more reliable. I did some research a ways back... I still wanted the Ducati.

Buell XB9SX (City-X).

I like my bikes like I like my cars...American or European. The Suzuki does nothing for me. If I had to pick between the Buell or the Ducati I would follow my heart and go Ducati.

( I have never ridden either of these, or anything in the same class )

I am positive that my friends would not allow me to get the harley powered buells. One had a xb12, I think, and had tons of trouble with it and it was constantly trying to shake him off the seat.

Reliability is my main issue with the Duc.

Road my friends sv today and couldn't stop grinning when I got off.

Some Buells had problems, but all are fixable...at the end of the day you can't buy a better handling bike...and the torque is like a drug. Absolutely addicting. I have a XB12STT...and it is the best smiles-per-mile machine I have ever owned.

SV + Buell = SV1000? Gobs of torque and not too much weight to ruin the handling. Also, as a former SV650 owner, the stock handling leaves much to be desired. Especially the front fork. I did the gold valves, upped the spring rates, changed the preload to the front. Got a rear shock off of a GSXR750, had custom dog bone made. Then had the rake, sag and preloads adjusted for my weight and it was much better.

One of our local racers owns a track day rental company, rents and also raced SV650's. He was the man in getting it set up and was under 1k for everything.

That being said, I do love the monster and would get a version with the good brakes and suspension and just adjust what is there. Wouldn't do the SV again.

My end goal is continuing to look like a Buell 1125r with the rotax. Love those bikes and it fixed the one thing I don't like about other Buells. However, I don't need that much power right now. That rules out the sv1000 in my book. I am not going to be tracking this so the stock suspension should work fine for me.

Is a Triumph Street Triple above your price range?

I would take a Yamaha FZ6 over the SV650.

SV650s are everywhere, as are dealers. Ducati's, not so much.

The guys at ADVrider.com love the SV. I looked at them myself, but the riding position doesn't work for my aging back. I got the DL650, and am pretty pleased with it. Suzukis you don't fall in love with; they just get the job done with no fuss. But I'm okay with that. I have enough crap to work on without adding a motorcycle to the list.

having owned a Ducati Monster M750, Monster S4 (916cc)and Monster S4Rs (998cc) as well as a SV650 that was quickly converted to a race bike I vote Ducati. BUT - unless you are looking at the newer monsters, I would go with a M900. The air-cooled 900cc motors are going to be more comparable with the SV650 powerplant.

Lots of used stock and mod parts around (I am always trolling the Monster & Ducati boards for used parts). They sound awesome, the service is not THAT bad and all of the bugs from the earlier bikes (voltage regulators and whatnot) have been fixed by Ducati and the aftermarket.

Another bike that might not sound as nice or be quite as sexy is the Honda 599. Not a lot sold but worth a look. It is, however, a stinky inline-four so bear that in mind. That said, an M900 seems like a great option.

What a horrible problem to have deciding between those two bikes. I like the Monster cuz Seckz but the SV is probably the better overall choice.

nocones wrote: What a horrible problem to have deciding between those two bikes. I like the Monster cuz Seckz but the SV is probably the better overall choice.

I know right!

Beer Baron wrote: Is a Triumph Street Triple above your price range?

Well I am trying to avoid something that powerful to be my first REAL Street bike. I actually have a Triumph ST 955i in pieces but I don't think that is a good start for me.

I have been riding a Yamaha XT250 for a bit now. I just want something with a bit less power than that for a while. I also want something I will want to keep for later.

If you go SV make sure you get the naked. Or be prepared to swap the bars if you get an SV-S. I really didn't like the riding position/ergonomics of the SVS. It's worse than most 4 banger crotch rockets. You know how to maintain and tinker so I would go Ducati. It should handle a lot better from the get go.

Ducati.......I berkeleying hated my sv. Conversely, I can say the Kawasaki Ninja 650 its naked counterpart the Versys are probably leaps and bounds better than the SV. And the 650 Kawa's are pretty good learner bikes as well.

And Jordan, I might just have to try talking you out of that big Triumph tourer before long.....

Wow I've never met anyone who hated the sv650 and had realistic expectations of what a 60hp bike is.

In reply to nocones:

Mine was an older one, and nothing felt "good" about it. The lack of power wasn't my biggest complaint.

I talked to a guy who commutes from Hayward to Petaluma everyday and rides a SV650. Said the bike has 125k miles and hasn't been rebuilt or taken apart. Might even be on the original clutch. Guy said the hot ticket is to put the front end from a gsx-r. People love the SVs I need to ride one some time.

I don't know much about Ducks, they sound good(except at idle) but also sound like you'll have to do a bit of work on them.

In reply to FSP_ZX2:

Still the only reason I never went that route was the belt drive......

singleslammer wrote:

Beer Baron wrote: Is a Triumph Street Triple above your price range?

Well I am trying to avoid something that powerful to be my first REAL Street bike. I actually have a Triumph ST 955i in pieces but I don't think that is a good start for me. I have been riding a Yamaha XT250 for a bit now. I just want something with a bit less power than that for a while. I also want something I will want to keep for later.

That's smart. Since this is your first true street bike I vote for the sv....I think it's a great beginner bike and won't hurt as much $$$wise if you drop it vs the Duc. Once you get some miles under you you may want to add a more exotic bike to the stable or just trade the SV. I ride a lot, so keep two good bikes around because one may be down for tires, maintenace, repairs, etc and I always want something to ride.

yamaha wrote: In reply to FSP_ZX2: Still the only reason I never went that route was the belt drive......

http://streetfighterperformance.com/xb12-turbo/drivetrain/final-drive

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Buell-Lightning-XB12S-XB12Ss-CityX-XB12Scg/chain-conversions

easily fixed...

In reply to FSP_ZX2:

I know its fixable, its just something I'd rather not have to do.

Yeah, that makes the Duc look better to me. If I have to work on something, it might as well be Italian.