Another Newbie, am I on the right track?

[dave0]

what's up guys, i've been checking out the beginner's garage here for the past few weeks and there is tons of great info here - thank you guys already! i have been very interested in getting a bike for the past few years and i am planning (scheming is probably a better word) to get one in the next few months. i want to be able to eventually ride 2 up with my wife onboard, but i am def going to put in some serious miles before she comes along, i want to make sure that i know what i am doing first. i am am about 6'4" and my wife is 5'11" combined weight around 400 lbs, so i dont think we would look too cool huddled up on a tiny bike. my taste leans more towards sports bikes and after i found this site i think sport touring is just right for me. i have limited experience on bikes, mostly have played on my brother in law's 125cc 2 stroke. i think i catch on pretty quick, but at the same time i dont want to get in over my head. i plan to take the MSF course and then pick up a Ninja 500 to start on. i think a 250 would be too small for me at my height and weight. i plan to then move up to a SV650 naked and then to a Bandit 1200. i dont think i would plan to 2 up until i got to the Bandit and probably keep the SV650 for solo riding (i live in east TN, close to the Dragon, so i think the SV's light weight would tear it up). does this seem reasonable to you guys and do you have any tips/suggestions for me going forward? thanks in advance!

[falconati]

That's a fine strategy, but instead of starting with a Ninja 500, why not a Suzuki 650F?  It's super cheap, light, has a comfortable passenger seat (so you can start to ride 2-up), and has the sport bike look you like.

Check a new one out at a dealership, and then look for a used one in your area if you like it!

[falconati]

(Just trying to save you some money by buying 1 bike instead of 2!)

[dave0]

thanks falconati, the reason i want to start on the Ninja 500 is mostly budget-guided. i can get one of those for dirt cheap (i would like to spend about $2k on my first bike) so that if/when i drop it, i wont feel as bad. also, i plan to sell the 500 to get the next bike. i really like the 650F and i think it is way more of a looker than the 500 (just about anything else is). i may even go that route rather than the SV650, i like the look of the 650F more and as you mentioned wld be better 2-up, thanks for the suggestion!

[UHOH]

That's a fine strategy

Agree  -  SV and Bandit are good choices.  

welcome.   you can edit your preferences if you want to show where you live...

[dave0]

thanks UHOH, i am also interested in the gs500e (on my quest for a cheap set of wheels). i have read on other threads here that the suspension is better on the gs than the ninja 500. are there any advantages to either that would better suit my weight/height? not sure what the riding postion differences are between the two? are there are any differences in the ease of cornering? i would like the one that would be most forgiving first and foremost. thanks again for the help and replies

[UHOH]

thanks UHOH, i am also interested in the gs500e (on my quest for a cheap set of wheels). i have read on other threads here that the suspension is better on the gs than the ninja 500. are there any advantages to either that would better suit my weight/height? ...thanks again for the help and replies

It's been so long since I've been on a 500 . ask someone else.

Your first bike: well, my son had limited dirt bike experience (probably less than 10 times) and his first bike was
an SV650 naked.  He loved it, became a good (even fast) rider on it too.  
SV naked is the biggest bike I recommend to a new rider who is controllable of his emotions; maybe you fit that bill.   Don't know.  You will be tall for most first bikes ...

[Atitalongtime]

Take the class first.

Take time to sit on all your final choices for a long time... make your dimensions and the bike's seat/bar/peg relationship are a match.
Not with your feet down, you'll have your feet on the pegs 99.7% of the time, how it feels with your feet down has little effect.
I don't think you can go wrong with any newer 500 to 650 scooters as long as you are comfortable.

[dave0]

You will be tall for most first bikes ...

yeah this is my dilemma, too big for most starter bikes, but at the same time, i dont want to get something that has too much motor for me starting out

[falconati]

yeah this is my dilemma, too big for most starter bikes, but at the same time, i dont want to get something that has too much motor for me starting out

I absolutely love this attitude (it was mine, too - so it's probably a little self-congratulatory...), but the SV650 or the 650F won't be too much engine for you - they make around 70 horsepower.  That might seem like a bit much given the other motorcycles you're looking at, but given your weight (just assuming based on height) it won't feel like overkill (promise!).  Also, both of those bikes use a twin cylinder engine configuration, so you'll have a lot of power off the bottom of the engine, and therefore you can keep your revs low while you're riding, THEREFORE not releasing all 70 ponies.  So, the engine configuration will allow you to keep the power under control as well.

Again, I'm just trying to save you from buying a beginner bike and then selling it in a year - I'm all for saving cash.  That said, safety is paramount.  I wouldn't recommend you either of the 650s if I felt it would be too much bike for you.  For a teenager, a 650 is definitely more than they would need (due to weight, but mostly due to the fact that teenagers have unchecked egos and an 'invincible' complex), but for you I think it would be great.

[ScottB]

Yeah, I hear ya!  6'5", about 230 over here, and I started two years ago.  No way was a 250 going to be any real use to me.

I actually started on a brand new Tiger 1050 (which, in retrospect, I probably wouldn't recommend, but which didn't exactly try to jump down my throat and kill me, either - controlling engine power is all about respecting the thing, heh.)  I have since ridden a Strom 650 (not an SV, but more or less the same engine) and it's a total howl!  I could see a bike like that lasting you a long time and returning large on your initial investment.  And it's different enough from something like a Bandit that you would probably be happy riding both in turn.

If it were me, in your similarly sized shoes, I'd start with the SV now and start to look at the Bandit in a year or two if that's financially feasible.

[Papa Lazarou]

The SV is an excellent choice-but have you thought about a Guzzi or a Triumph?

[Mastros2]

I would say that the 500 would bring you anywhere you want to go but I agree with others that the 650f or the sv would be a good choice. Remember, you will only go as fast as your throttle hand allows you to go. Respect is key!  

[dave0]

thanks to all that have replied, its nice to get perspective from someone the same size too. yeah i hated to start this thread considering how many other "pick the bike for me" threads there already are, but most could get away with starting on a 250 ninja, but i didnt find one with someone my size. i am leaning more and more toward the SV650 naked. i love the look of this bike and have heard nothing but good things about it (except for the budget suspension, but hey thats what the aftermarket is for). it def wins on the wow factor over the ninja 500. i like the 650F also, but for some reason the SV holds a special place in my heart, lol. i am going to start looking to get into the MSF class and keep looking at craigslist to try to get a good deal. it will probably be a few more months before i buy (i don't believe in financing toys) but i am trying to get a plan of action together to know how much i will need to save. i will be looking for both a 650F and SV650 and if i can get a good enough deal on a 650F i will go that route since it will be better for 2 up riding once i get some miles under my belt.

[nater]

thanks UHOH, i am also interested in the gs500e (on my quest for a cheap set of wheels). i have read on other threads here that the suspension is better on the gs than the ninja 500. are there any advantages to either that would better suit my weight/height? not sure what the riding postion differences are between the two? are there are any differences in the ease of cornering? i would like the one that would be most forgiving first and foremost. thanks again for the help and replies

Either the GS or the Ninja would be fine to start on.  I started on a 94 GS500E myself.  It was kind of a beater, but it ran.  I rode it for 5000 miles and got rid of it.  The ninja 500 is similar.

[Papa Lazarou]

A V7 Guzzi 750 would be a keeper...

[kevin_stevens]

My standard response to the "beginner too big/tall for a 250/500" is the adventure bikes, the Suzuki V-Strom and the Kawasaki Versys.  Taller and with more relaxed ergos (and better passenger room) than the SV650 and 650R, with the same engine detuned for better midrange, and definitely sport-bike enough for any beginner.

I personally wouldn't recommend anything but a Japanese bike as a first bike.  There are parts, service everywhere, you can sell them readily, all the online aftermarket stores "work", etc.

KeS

[dave0]

thanks guys for all the helpful replies! yeah i am pretty much sold on the SV. i really like the naked bike look and the upright seating will fit me well. i agree w/ kevin_stevens on the japanese bike vs the moto guzzi's, etc. there arent many bike shops around here that service those bikes and i can think of at least a handful off the top of my head that sell/service japanese bikes close by. i have heard moto guzzi's have lots of character, but i will stick with something simpler starting out. a couple of you have recommended the V-Strom and while i like that bike and actually dont mind the looks, i have heard it is a little harder to control at low speeds due to the higher center of gravity. it would be a cool second bike for sure tho and i might deck that one out as a long distance tourer. now its time to window shop for gear! once again, thanks for all your suggestions!

[bogfro]

Hey I saw you're thinking about a SV650, and you live in east TN.

I live in east TN and have a SV650 for sale!  
And it has lots of good upgrades, too.


http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,47692.0.html

http://www.easttnriders.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33500

[falconati]

RIGHT IN YOUR PRICE RANGE!  I think I see an ST.N marriage in the works  

[sfalexi]

Wonder how much flak I'll get for this on a sport-touring forum, but have you thought about starting on a used 800 or 900 cc cruiser?  Much lower seat height and center of gravity should make you feel pretty comfortable for learning to ride.  Also, it is (IMO) good for learning to ride two-up.  Easier for sig other to get on and off the back, shorter fall if it DOES go over, and you can throw crash bars on it and save it from any REAL damage during any drops.  

It's the route I took, and I wouldn't have done it any other way.  After about two months and 2000 miles, the first 1000 solo, I felt MUCH better getting on a taller bike.  Also, cruisers are a dime a dozen, and you can find a cheap one that you can resell for about the same (I spent 5500 on mine, and traded it in for 5250 off of a bike at a dealer)

Alexi

[Blunder]

Wonder how much flak I'll get for this on a sport-touring forum, but have you thought about starting on a used 800 or 900 cc cruiser?

No flak from me.  

It's a "first bike" and the new rider should be on something comfortable and reassuring while learning to ride. If it's a pseudo-mini cruiser, so be it.
 

[dave0]

 have you thought about starting on a used 800 or 900 cc cruiser?  

yeah, actually i have the honda shadow 750 on my short list of bikes that i thought would be a good to start out on and also be in my price range. its not really my style, but then again i was looking at a ninja 500, so what could really look much worse than that, right? lol. it's a good thought and i will consider this also, but this opens a whole new can of worms: how do u think the extra weight of the cruiser vs the lower center of gravity will effect handling - do u guys think that this would be easier to learn on (hatred for cruisers aside)?

[dave0]

Also, if there are any other newbies reading this, check out this website if you haven't already:

http://motorcycles.about.com/od/howtostartridin1/tp/Ten-Beginner-Bikes.htm

[Zerosum]

a couple of you have recommended the V-Strom and while i like that bike and actually dont mind the looks, i have heard it is a little harder to control at low speeds due to the higher center of gravity. it would be a cool second bike for sure tho and i might deck that one out as a long distance tourer. now its time to window shop for gear! once again, thanks for all your suggestions!

I've had a V-Strom 650 for about 2 years now.  It's very easy to ride.  Yeah, it's a tall bike, but the center of gravity doesn't feel high when you're on it.  The engine (the heaviest part of the bike) hangs from the frame as low as possible.  It swerves and turns in quite well.  The wide handlebars and wide steering sweep allow you to apply all kinds of leverage to the thing at low speeds.  Low-speed handling is all about leverage and weight distribution.  Height and CoG don't have much to do with it.

One thing the Wee Strom isn't great at is 2-up riding.  It simply lacks the power to pull 400lbs of people.  The suspension becomes a disaster as well.  If you and your wife/girlfriend were a combined 300lbs, it would probably be okay.  It's also not the best bike for cruising down the highway.  It's geared on the low side, so you'll be reving it a good bit to sustain an 80mph+ cruise.  (This applies to the SV as well.)  You can replace the front sprocket with a larger one, which will lower your RPM in every gear.  Lots of Strom owners do this and are happy with it.  Basically you lose some off-the-line torque and gain some top speed.  Personally, I just stay off the highways and keep to the curvy backroads.

I've never ridden an SV, but I do own a Honda Hawk GT, which (some say) was the inspiration for the SV.  Given your maturity, I'd say it would make a fine first bike.  It's 5 years older than the Wee Strom, so you can find used ones in the $2,500 range pretty easily.  Just remain humble.  Bikes like this handle so well that you'll feel like an expert after a few months, and that's when bad stuff can happen.

[dave0]

thanks zerosum, yeah i like the adventure bike thing too, but having something on the cheap side and then moving up to a nice sport touring bike for 2 up is a must for me. i think i am going to ax the honda shadow from my list, i have lurked around craigslist a couple of times and i checked again this morning - i just dont think i am interested in getting a shadow or a cruiser, just doesnt seem appealing to me. i think i am going to just stick with my guns and head for the SV. i have a hard time shelling out that much cash on a bike i dont really like.

[GoGreen]

Dave-I think that you would be fine with a 500 or 650, either Kawi or Suzuki, both make IMO excellent bikes. Take the course first, they teach you valuable information that will get you started in a safe and confident manner. The Ninja 500ex was my first bike, has plenty of power and handled great, I loved it. The reason my upgrade was to the 650r is because I am small (5'6") and light and I wanted something that I could manouver with ease. Plus I feel it has all the power I'll ever need and is a joy to ride in the twisty stuff! Hubby has the bigger bike-Bandit 1250S, you might want to consider something like that if you plan to tour two-up eventually. That being said, I don't like riding on the back because I ride my own! Much more fun! How about your wife riding as well, then she could take her own gear, wouldn't that be grand. I agree, you do not want a 250 (like the Ninja250) You are much too big for it although it is a great little bike. More power is only dangerous in the wrong hands. Good luck with your decision!

[dave0]

thanks gogreen, those 650r's are sweet, enjoy it! yeah i will probably try to get my wife to get her own bike eventually, but i think she will want to ride on the back a little and that should be enough to convince her, she likes to drive when we go places so i think that would translate over to bikes. it would be cool to tour like that! once again, i appreciate the comments/suggestions

[birdrunner]

 .... i want to be able to eventually ride 2 up with my wife onboard, but i am def going to put in some serious miles before she comes along, i want to make sure that i know what i am doing first...

Hey, I meant to add this last time I read this post.

You should seriously consider your wife taking the course as well.  There's lots of benefits.

A) She might really like it, and be 100% "on Board"
B) She will be 1000% better passenger if she understands what's going on
C) You have a back up driver "Just in Case"
D) She'll trust you more after seeing you develop skills.

E)  If she really likes it, she might insist on her own ride.  This can be a negative if she's a better rider
than you, or financially.


My wife is taking the course this spring, in spite of being a passenger for over 7 weeks of vacation and 10's of thousands of miles in the last 3 years for all of these reasons.

[dave0]

good call, that is good advice, yeah i will convince her to take the class too. i think she will enjoy picking out her own gear and that may be just enough to get her hooked, thanks!!!

[birdrunner]

good call, that is good advice, yeah i will convince her to take the class too. i think she will enjoy picking out her own gear and that may be just enough to get her hooked, thanks!!!

 

[Justin]

Also, if you can find an old "standard" on craigslist from the 80's or 90's that would be a good idea too. Learning to ride on an older bike is good, as you learn to ride on a bike with less technology. It's more about the rider than the bike. You can grab many good choices of standard bikes for well under your budget.

[dave0]

yeah i have considered this also. there are several honda varieties that interest me like the CB750's and larger displacement nighthawks. i would like to spend less $$$ on my first bike so i can get into the game quicker, but not sure that would be wise. i have seen a few cheap (one for $790 and one for $1000) GS500E's on craigslist that i might go for if i get too impatient soon. my only dilemma with the older standards is their higher weight and maintenance. i am a handy guy, but i dont want to buy and then spend $1k to get it roadworthy.

[birdrunner]

I'd avoid going too cheap, unless you like fixing up bikes, or you are familiar with the bike in question.  Even on a relatively unused 20 y/o bike, things like hoses, carbs, tires, tiedowns etc etc will need to be taken care of.

[dave0]

I'd avoid going too cheap, unless you like fixing up bikes, or you are familiar with the bike in question.  Even on a relatively unused 20 y/o bike, things like hoses, carbs, tires, tiedowns etc etc will need to be taken care of.

true, true, yeah i dont want to go back that old, i am looking for bikes that are less than 10 years old. the two bikes that i talked about above were around 1999ish models, but i am staying away from bikes older than that for that very reason. i understand that even these bikes will have to be well taken care of to be decent 10 yrs later

[bogfro]

My SV is still for sale...........    

[dave0]

My SV is still for sale...........    

yeah, im picking up what you're throwing down, bogfro, let me go out back and water my money tree again.......i wish i was independently wealthy.....

[Marcster]

Hey, Dave0...  If I could throw my $.02 out there...

Look for something that you can "buy right" (and/or cheap) that fits you personally (just worry about you on the bike).  That very well might be a used Ninja 500, Seca II, Bandit 600, or even a Suzuki DR650 or Kawasaki KLR650 (latter two are large single-cylinder dual-sports).  Try to keep the purchase price between $1500-$2500.

Ride the tires off of it in 2010!  If you do take your wife out for rides, stick to in-town or backroads type of stuff that won't require the kind of power that two-up freeway travel requires...

In 2011, sell your first bike and buy a bike appropriate in size and power to carry both of you on longer trips on the open road.

Benefits to my proposal:

• Learn on a bike that isn't too powerful to intimidate.
• Get a bike sooner than having to wait for another harvest from the money tree.
• Buy your gear and a cheap bike in 2010 vs. trying to juggle finances on gear and more expansive bike.
• Lower m/c insurance for 2010 (smaller displacement = smaller insurance costs.  Dual-sports and cruisers are typically the lowest cost classes).
• Learn if you like riding in the first place with a smaller cash outlay.
• And finally, the bike you buy in 2011 will be the style of bike you are after*

* You may like the SV650 now even though passenger space is severely limited, but after a year of riding you might decide that adventure riding and you'd both like a V-Strom 1000 or perhaps you see touring from the comfort of a Concours (or Goldwing), or perhaps you'll want a bit more sport in your sport touring and go for an Aprilia Futura 1000 or Triumph Sprint ST.  It is practically impossible to know what style of riding you are going to be interested in for year #2.

Nutshell: Buy a bike cheap, replace with something you want later on when you are ready for it.

Personally, I bought my Yamaha for $1999 (less my scooter in trade) last year and for year #2 I am after a dual-sport, probably the WR250R.  I know it won't have the pickup off the line of my Yamaha, but I'm perfectly fine with that.

[dave0]

Hey, Dave0...  If I could throw my $.02 out there...

Look for something that you can "buy right" (and/or cheap) that fits you personally (just worry about you on the bike).  That very well might be a used Ninja 500, Seca II, Bandit 600, or even a Suzuki DR650 or Kawasaki KLR650 (latter two are large single-cylinder dual-sports).  Try to keep the purchase price between $1500-$2500.

Ride the tires off of it in 2010!  If you do take your wife out for rides, stick to in-town or backroads type of stuff that won't require the kind of power that two-up freeway travel requires...

In 2011, sell your first bike and buy a bike appropriate in size and power to carry both of you on longer trips on the open road.

Benefits to my proposal:

• Learn on a bike that isn't too powerful to intimidate.
• Get a bike sooner than having to wait for another harvest from the money tree.
• Buy your gear and a cheap bike in 2010 vs. trying to juggle finances on gear and more expansive bike.
• Lower m/c insurance for 2010 (smaller displacement = smaller insurance costs.  Dual-sports and cruisers are typically the lowest cost classes).
• Learn if you like riding in the first place with a smaller cash outlay.
• And finally, the bike you buy in 2011 will be the style of bike you are after*

* You may like the SV650 now even though passenger space is severely limited, but after a year of riding you might decide that adventure riding and you'd both like a V-Strom 1000 or perhaps you see touring from the comfort of a Concours (or Goldwing), or perhaps you'll want a bit more sport in your sport touring and go for an Aprilia Futura 1000 or Triumph Sprint ST.  It is practically impossible to know what style of riding you are going to be interested in for year #2.

Nutshell: Buy a bike cheap, replace with something you want later on when you are ready for it.

Personally, I bought my Yamaha for $1999 (less my scooter in trade) last year and for year #2 I am after a dual-sport, probably the WR250R.  I know it won't have the pickup off the line of my Yamaha, but I'm perfectly fine with that.

Marcster, your $.02 is def worth more, i completely agree with what you are saying here, even down to the price range, i have a hard time shelling out $3k+ on an SV650 (sorry bogfro, i do love your bike tho) when i am brand new at this and need to pay for gear, MSF class, etc, all up front. the price range $1500-2500 is what i am shooting for. i am going to get gear w/ money from my birthday and use a large check that i get in june to buy the bike (my wife and i are aggressive about paying off our debt and i dont want a bike to get in the way of our plans). i have gear picked out more or less and i plan to buy that first so i wont be tempted to ride the bike while skimping on 1-2 pieces of gear that may have not arrived yet. i like to plan ahead, so i have been trying to check out all my options.

[Marcster]

Marcster, your $.02 is def worth more, i completely agree with what you are saying here, even down to the price range, i have a hard time shelling out $3k+ on an SV650 (sorry bogfro, i do love your bike tho) when i am brand new at this and need to pay for gear, MSF class, etc, all up front. the price range $1500-2500 is what i am shooting for. i am going to get gear w/ money from my birthday and use a large check that i get in june to buy the bike (my wife and i are aggressive about paying off our debt and i dont want a bike to get in the way of our plans). i have gear picked out more or less and i plan to buy that first so i wont be tempted to ride the bike while skimping on 1-2 pieces of gear that may have not arrived yet. i like to plan ahead, so i have been trying to check out all my options.

Sounds like you are heading in the right direction.

One more benefit of my proposal that I thought of this afternoon:
You will drop your first bike.  You will drop your first bike.  One more time, you will drop your first bike.  Some people may claim that it's not a guaranteed, but from what I've garnered here and elsewhere, 95% of new riders drop their bike in the first year of ownership.

I had a twist-n-go Kymco 250cc scooter for 15 months.  Put 800 miles on it (not much I know), never once dropped it (though it did fall over when I didn't park it properly in a slanted parking space).

Traded that in on the Yamaha.  Dropped it TWICE in the first two months of ownership.  First time I stalled when pulling away from a stoplight -- over we went.  The second time was pulling out of my own driveway in a steady rain - slanted driveway driveway to turning right onto my street that slants down to the right -- over we went (this time I was pinned under my 400 lb. bike).

Another benefit of an older bike, used parts are readily available on ebay from people parting out wrecked bikes.

Engine guards (or frame sliders) -- if your first bike doesn't have 'em, look on ebay for a cheap set.  They are simple steel or aluminum bars that will protect your engine or plastics in a tipover.  I paid about $40 for mine and put them on myself.  Much cheaper than replacing cracked parts.

---------------

Also, you'll want to feel very confident in your riding abilities before taking your wife on as a pillion.  It's one thing if you fall and get hurt.  If a newbie mistake causes a spill for the both of you and she gets hurt, that can gnaw at you.  Read this: http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,2638.0.html

I now have 3K miles under my belt and still don't want to take a pillion (though my wife did ride on the back when we rented a 50cc scooter in Bermuda, but that's a little different).

---------------

Best of luck!  

When shopping for gear, don't count out some soft-sided luggage and/or a tankbag for your first bike.  Those can be transferred from one bike to another (vs. a hard plastic topcase).

[dave0]

more good advice, thanks! yeah i had been lurking for a while before i started this thread and read that novel (hell, its got chapters) by BMW-K, it was chock full of good stuff. yeah i am commited that i wont ride 2 up til i have some serious time under my belt and it will prob be my second bike before we get into that. this website has really opened up my eyes about different options and steering me towards the best ones. yeah i know i will drop my bike, thats another reason why i had a hard time looking at the SV, i didnt want to get a bike that i loved and then be pissed at myself for damaging it. i have considered frame sliders as much of a neccessity as a helmet, lol  

[Gohot229]

Well your a grown Man and should be able to control your right wrist, so heres my take on it. You can get one or another of these 'small' bikes cc. wise or for the same or less money, get something you will want to keep after you become experianced. The bike I'm talking about will carry you and your wife, and have abundant power for anything that you could ever come across. The bike.....a Generation 1 FZ1 Yamaha. For anywhere from 3-5.5K you can get a really low mileage FZ and with your heigth of 6'4" be VERY comfortable, and allow 'Her' to be comfortable too, no thong seat in the rear, or...uncomfortable pillion for Her, no.......a real seat.....She will thank you!!! Once you are experianced, this bike will amaze you with about 125 rear wheel horspower, all in a EASILY controlable package. Pluss 45 mpg. It can be fearsome, but it's way easier to be very mellow too. I believe one of the best kept secrets out there. While I can see your thinking with the Bandit big block, I believe when it's all said and done you'll be far better off and happier with an FZ1.

[Skidmark]

This is contrary to standard recommended practices of buying a smaller starter bike to learn on and progressing to a larger one, but when I started, it was on a 1999 YZF-600R.  It has all the suspension adjustment of an R6, but with a steel frame and slightly lower seat which is also not split (more accomodating for passengers).  I took it 2-up on numerous occasions, and aside from turning the damping and preload up a bit, it was perfect as is.  The YZF is small enough to solo carve the dragon, and large enough to take the wife if you want.  

The SV650 is a great starter bike if you're going solo.  It does not have the fully adjustable suspension however.  So you would want to upgrade to GSX-R suspension, or another bike if you planned on doing any long 2-up riding(several days).  Rest assured, your head is in the right spot with wanting to start small and work your way up.  I learned on my YZF-600R and didn't die(just barely).  You will learn faster and be more proficient if you start small, but if you can respect power and know your limits, you may be able to get away with a larger bike as your first.