Getting a used Suzuki SV650S instead of the Yamaha R1 as a starter bike

[Zerosum]

I vote frame sliders.  First bike + cherry, low mileage SVS... definately some frame sliders.  

Think of how good it will feel when you drop it. (Not IF, WHEN)  You'll pick it up off the ground and only have a scrape on your $10 bar-end weight.  

Spend ~$75 now so you don't have to spend hundreds later.  

Doh.  It has frame sliders.  Drop away!  

FYI, if those low handlebars start to really get to you, you can swap in the naked SV handlebars and they will clear the fairing:

http://forum.svrider.com/showthread.php?t=72804

[LowRes]

What prompted my questions is that I was at the Yamaha dealership the other day, and the owner was pushing me to get the R1 now over the R6 (or any 600 class bike for that matter). He has thirty years of riding experience and blah, blah, blah....I told him that as much as I loved the bike, it seemed crazy to consider as a first ride. He insisted that the bike could be as docile as I choose to make it, and that he'd always take more power over less so he could power out of bad situations in a flash, and that being able to do that had saved him more than once.  

My jaw hit the floor when I read that. The simple fact that this tool knows you don't have any riding experience and is suggesting that you "take more power" in an R1 should be a huge red flag. I wouldn't mind telling him he is an idiot to his face. WHO suggests an R1 for a beginning rider - freaking crazy.

[TitaniumVT]

Zerosum, yes, the frame sliders are already on!  Thanks for the awesome how-to article and the heads up on what to expect as the engine gets broken-in. They're very helpful.

The only other farkling mods I can think of wanting to do right now are installing more streamlined clear LED front turn signals (the rears have already been switched out), and possibly raising the handlebars if the riding position turns out to be too uncomfortable. Oh, and maybe getting a fender eliminator kit. I'd love to install a factory lower chin fairing at some point, but don't know where to find one at a reasonable price.

LowRes, in retrospect, I'm so glad my BS radar went on when he told me that, and I was able to find you guys to validate my gut sense about the R1 as a starter bike.

[Tony T]

Nice bike!  

Well done, you made good choice there and should be happy for many smiles miles.  

[Kootenanny]

The only other farkling mods I can think of wanting to do right now are installing more streamlined clear LED front turn signals (the rears have already been switched out), and possibly raising the handlebars if the riding position turns out to be too uncomfortable. Oh, and maybe getting a fender eliminator kit...

LowRes, in retrospect, I'm so glad my BS radar went on when he told me that, and I was able to find you guys to validate my gut sense about the R1 as a starter bike.

Regarding the clear LED turn signals...go ahead, but be careful.  I prefer large turnsignals on stalks (preferably rubber stalks); I'm not looking at them when I ride, but I want other people to see my signals clearly!  Similar thinking for the fender eliminator...yes, the kit will make the bike look much better and cleaner...but I can't see it from the saddle, and when I'm aboard I DO want others to be able to see my lights, so...well, just go in informed.  (There are some places where the cops will decide it's time to crack down on bikes, and you might get a "fix-it" ticket if your eliminator kit doesn't meet all the DoT regs).

As for the BS radar--yeah, that was a good call, and that salesperson deserves a swift kick.  A bit more power is fine, but the R1 has excessive power and it is FAR more likely to get a rider into a situation than out of one (and not only newbies, BTW).  As for it being "as docile as you want it to be"--well, that's fine on paper, but throttle control is a skill which must be learned, through practice, trial and error, and time...you are MUCH better off learning that on a more tractable bike (everyone thinks throttle control is easy, and it is seldom talked about, but it is as important as any other skill for smooth riding, and takes a fair bit of practice to get it right).  As it is, the SV650S is considered a lot of bike for most newbies.  You'll do fine, but do practice controlling the throttle until all your inputs are smooth as butter.

The problem with the clip-ons goes beyond mere comfort.  Clip-ons are low-set, forward, and narrow; they put the rider in a crouch, and many riders rest their weight on the grips.  This is hard on the wrists, and makes it more difficult to give smooth, controlled inputs; the narrow set means the steering is heavier, and along with the forward weight bias, this makes slow-speed control more difficult.  Yeah, you can learn on a bike with clip-ons, but it's not as easy as learning on a more "standard" bike.  Fortunately, clip-ons are usually easy to raise, which gives a riding position that offers improved control at legal speeds as well as increased comfort.

[danheck7]

I'm a semi-experienced rider...  I rode the crap out of motocross bikes in my youth.   Now, I'm going thru my mid-life crisis at 45 & wanted to regain my love of riding.  

So,  this spring I picked up a used 2006 SV650S.   These things have plenty of grunt to get someone who's completely inexperienced into trouble.    Off the line,  you're as quick as a 600cc supersport, & only start to drop off once you hit 90mph & higher...  and, for a n00b,  thats ALOT.

The thing you may not like about a 650s, is the riding position...  I thought I'd love it.   In reality,  noone needs that much lean for the street, & you'll end up doing some mods just to make it tolerable.
It'll have you folded up,  just like a super sport...   Before you disregard this statement, because I admit to be 45...  I'm pretty athletic, & work out pretty much every day.   You wouldnt think I'm 45, if you met me.  

Anyway,  for me... its been a fun bike, & a great place to get my feet wet again...  but, it hasnt done anything that I found remotely scary.   But,  I have probably 10 years worth of dirt bike experience...

At this point,  I'm already researching my next bike...  which is why I came to this site.