SV650 is a good bike. I know a few very experienced bikes that really rate it. Paddock stand is worth investing in, they're not much and make life easier adjusting the chain if you've no centre stand. Not the easiest things to use the first few times if you're on your own.

Chain wax works fine but oil is better for the chain. If you find you do a lot of miles then a Scot-oiler might be a good purchase.

Since the bike is fully faired you might want to look into some crash bungs just in case you tip it at low speed. Don't get cheap ones.

Used some Helly Hanson thermals under my leathers when it was really cold. If you can keep moving you don't actually get that wet on a bike.

R&G crash bungs are first mod on my list as are the stands. Presumably easy to fit? I'll be doing a fair few miles when I first get it but I'll have to see if the hassle of a scottoiler is worth it.

I'm a big fan of baselayers and working in a rugby shop I get discount so go myself Under Armour ones plus some leggings. They may look silly but once all the gear is on no one sees them. Use them for cycling too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/R-G-SUZUKI-SV650-FAIRED-UP-TO-2002-CRASH-PROTECTORS-CP0027BL-NEW-RRP-68-51-/251245339780?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3a7f63a484

I presume most of you service bikes yourself? Or do you take it to an indy?

.

I take mine to the main dealer, just to make it easier for myself really, cos i'm useless!

Paddock stand defo worth it if the bikes not got a centre stand, makes cleaning etc a lot quicker, especially when it comes to the chain.

My OBC 'FI' fault was a killer as it more or less forced me to take old bike to dealers and I did a little poo at the prospect of what it might be, or cost! Wasn't too bad in end thank Christ! New bike because its under warranty and I may have to sell it, went to main dealers for first service at shag all miles, killed me inside to do so.

Just a quick one! Got my insurance renewed for £76 tpft

Not bad me thinks

Just a quick one! Got my insurance renewed for £76 tpft

Not bad me thinks

When I had ZZR600 £85 on 2nd year at renewal, in Netherlands I pay €58 a month :(

Mine will be about £221 tpft. I'll go fully comp if I need to next year when it drops

My new bike in UK was £571 to friggin insure :( ZZR1400 with all the mods declared was less, WTF is that all about!

Not looking forward to my renewal, as last year it still cost about £300 fully comp. That's with max ncb, clean licence and over 40!

Considering I've got 3 points and I'm 28 didn't think it was too bad! I don't bother with low value bikes being full comp as I could normally repair it for the cost of the excess

Considering I've got 3 points and I'm 28 didn't think it was too bad! I don't bother with low value bikes being full comp as I could normally repair it for the cost of the excess

Too right! I have only gone FC since moving here as the over all package with recovery EU wide and even full recovery for Israel and Iran etc was amazingly good value compared to what all that would cost in UK. Then the last couple of bikes and current have been worth a little more than I would like to loose :(

I'm £280 for mine, but that's my first year so i'm happy with that.

Been looking to change up to a Speed Triple R or similar but cant quite justify the extra cost just yet.

I like the look of the new Triumphs but that's something for the future

Yeah i love the Speed/Street Triples, but not even had a summer out of the RR yet so i'll wait for now

R&G crash bungs are first mod on my list as are the stands. Presumably easy to fit?

Aye not hard but keep a jack handy. The engine dropped just enough when I did it to stop the new bolt going in. Had to jack up the engine to get it to fit.

Husband of the wife's pal has just bought a new (2012 model) Street Triple. Not had a report on it from him yet. Nice bike but he's got it in last year's colour whihc was purple. Not my cup of tea that colour but he was happy.

When I learned to ride there's a garage next door that offers discounts to those who trained with them. May get them to do it, get it serviced and braided hoses installed at the same time. As something for the future I looked at shocks too. Ohlins looks nice but are frighteningly expensive.

Martyn

Don't worry about ohlins shocks the SV650 is more of a bike than you know.

Get some time in ridding first, things of bling & other things later.

Good kit & reasonable helmet.

Then start to enjoy..

Good luck.

I already have decent gear. Took FUBAR's advice and bought it all before my test. Did a deal and got boots, Carbon fibre helmet and triple layer waterproof trousers which I can take layers out of when it gets warm, all for a good price. Boots and trousers came to £100 all in, helmet, was £100 but the jacket I had to go somewhere else for I paid £110 for so all in all not bad.

One thing that's annoying me lately is that some of the people I've told keep saying to get a donor card, I won't be safe ect. I'm sure they are saying this to scare me or it could be partly their ignorance. The risk is higher but you can crash a car too. I've even had bikers saying this too. Is it a mentality some have that they think they can ride but no one else can? I've been driving 7 years and car wise it's always serviced religiously and is never illegal. I do drive quickly on occasion, live we all do but only when conditions are right. I also know what the car is doing beneath me, what understeer is and how to sort it. I look to learn how to drive better which many don't. I've had no points or convictions or even been pulled and even back when I did CBT I was told I was a safe rider it was only bike control in the beginning I needed to fine tune. This is what I'm looking forward to when I get the bike.

Sounds all good to me.

What is extra good, ride with other persons who also ride safely.

Look and see if there is a Police "Bike Safe" in your area & do one of those assisted rides.

Well worth it.

If you pick up the good habits they will stay with you.

Most important, Ride to your own ability not others.

So what if you arrive last!. Don't be tempted to keep up if your not 100% happy.

Donor card.

Get one if YOU want one.

But it does sound a good idea.

Edited 28 March, 201313 yr by Carlo diesel

Top tip, do not attempt to achieve under steer on a bike you will learn nothing from it I am very hesitant to recommend to someone to get a bike licence as I would hate to feel in any way responsible if they were to be hurt or worse, just a personal stance. But if I see someone who has made their decision and it's happening it's fantastic!

Due to the organ donor comments I would reply to the person that they should look at the back of their photocard licence and see if code '115' is on there, as I believe some years ago now we all automatically became organ donors unless we specifically opted out. '115' is organ donor and I imagine its FULL donor.

Martyn your new vocabulary should include when referring to a car or car driver the words 'cage(s)' and 'cager(s)' should now be substituted in. Cagers don't all like it but, tough titty and they are all generally nervous of us on the roads, if they see us that is!

I wouldn't recommend getting a bike license for the same reasons as you but my main reason for doing it was to learn more about driving and to pick up a new skill. I always thought I was an observant driver but after riding a bike and passing a test I do feel sharper. Plus I wanted something else to have fun with and wanted to see what the other side of the fence was like after being car mad since I was about 3 years old. I may be downsizing cars soon so would be nice to split hobbies. I don't have any intentions of getting a donor card. Will be interesting to see if that number is on the back of my licence when it eventually turns up. All I'll do is to perfect my hazard awareness so that it's even better than it is now, learn what the bike can do and how is best to do it and keep improving. I'm not a novice road user but I am a novice on a bike. As long as I keep remembering that I think I'll be fine.

As carlo diesel said 'Bike Safe' is the way forward, there will be one local to you no doubt and will have a published summer timetable. Some areas its free and you get some free bits, Lincolnshire did free day glow backpack etc with theirs the other year.

been riding bikes and spending lots of money on them for 30 year love em had alsorts this is what i've got at the moment ,1250 bandit and my stroker kh250

I wouldn't recommend getting a bike license for the same reasons as you but my main reason for doing it was to learn more about driving and to pick up a new skill. I always thought I was an observant driver but after riding a bike and passing a test I do feel sharper. Plus I wanted something else to have fun with and wanted to see what the other side of the fence was like after being car mad since I was about 3 years old. I may be downsizing cars soon so would be nice to split hobbies. I don't have any intentions of getting a donor card. Will be interesting to see if that number is on the back of my licence when it eventually turns up. All I'll do is to perfect my hazard awareness so that it's even better than it is now, learn what the bike can do and how is best to do it and keep improving. I'm not a novice road user but I am a novice on a bike. As long as I keep remembering that I think I'll be fine.

My reason for getting bike licence in all seriousness was because I was missing category 'A' from the alphabet on my licence and that alone was reason enough. That is a very typical of the type of how/why I do things. I can justify anything given given half a chance. Cars followed by bikes are my biggest money pits, I am of the firm opinion I would be rich if I had just kept my old 406, the first VRS was where it all went wrong in that sense. a nice low miles 06 Mk1 Fabia VRS was sold and ordered a new Octy VRS for the reason that I needed a tow bar for bike trailer..... 2 years later Octavia has 11K on it and no tow bar....... ZZR1400 traded in against the Z1000SX because I liked the alphabet on my licence tbh and was cheapest way to sell it as it was due a lot of coin spending on it (about half its value).