Touring on the SV650

They are great bikes, beginner or experienced. I put my GF on one, for her first bike. And, I ride it more than she does.

For sure. I've been riding 35+ years and done over 250,000 miles and ridden a variety of European and metric bikes and this has to be the funnest bike to ride so far. It does it all.

Nevada Hwy 376

^ cool photo!

Fixed

Great bikes, loved my '00.

I've got a 2004 and find it to be the best all around bike I have had. Good power, weight, and comfort. User and aftermarket support is tremendous.

My 03 was my beginner bike.. i'm keeping it though.

Bought my '01 on Memorial Day this year. Added the top case for a bit of storage.

My Rick Mayer custom seat finally arrived in the mail today. I only did a five minute jaunt around town on it, so I can't really say too much about it yet, but first impressions of it are phenomenal!

Here it is next to the shitty stock seat:



And installed:

Wow, nice. Curious as to how it feels long term. I had mine Spencer modded a couple months ago. TONS better than stock, but on long rides it still could use a little help. Thinking of getting a sheepskin pad for it also.

I'll definitely update the thread with my thoughts on the seat as I put miles on it. I almost went the Spencer route, but after going to the rally, I was 100% settled on Rick Mayer. The overwhelming majority of the BMW long distance guys I talked to recommended his seat. After getting a chance to talk with Rick in person and seeing how much care he and his team put into making the seats just right, I was really impressed.

I used a sheepskin pad on a 6,000 mile trip I did last year, and I came away very unimpressed. It just didn't do much at all for me... At all. Hell, if you want to give a sheepskin pad a try, I'll give you mine for just the cost of shipping. It literally only takes up space in my closet, and I know I'll never use it again. It's not a top quality one, like Alaska leathers, but if you want it, send me a pm.

It's amazing much better going from a convex to concave seat shape feels. Bike manufacturers still don't get it.

Been a member of this forum for a couple of years but haven't been very active. I've been enjoying this thread so I thought I'd add something.


Riding the gravel in Alberta, Canada

Well I haven't been in this thread in a bit...


I thought about selling her...still considering it, actually.
But crap, this thing is all setup for commutering, and all it needs is numbers to be lwss ready. Besides grip heaters and a tank bag with a 12v outlet, and possibly some bar risers, what would you do to this thing?

Ride the hell out of it. The SV650 is one of the most fun bikes I have even ridden. Feels like a bicycle compared to my SV1K.

Hah, well it feels like a tank compared to my race motard.
I like the sv just fine, I just wish it was a little more comfy for longer distance stuff.

ha ha..when I want my Yami WR250R to feel light, I'll ride the SV1K the day before. When my 300 EXC is actually up and running, it makes the WRR feel heavy...cause it is.

I made my SV1K more comfy by installing bars a couple years ago when gas was pushing $5/gal. For longer stuff, sport touring, I'l wear bike shorts under my pants...all the comfort I need.

Good looking bars there, Doug.

What brand?

Edit...
Ha ha ha, I as just looking at the bars and missed the whole tail end.
I like the neat look

I have a pair of pro tapers on mine, same type of style. There's this multistrada that's got my nuts in a vice too...
But I'd need to then get a track bike too...likely another sv. Perhaps a 1g former race bike or something...
That sv does almost everything flawlessly. I was at nyst for this past weekend and really got my boingers dialed in. So there's the whole teething process to go through again if I let it go.

how is the mount for the top case attached? my wife wants get a top box on her '01, but finding a mount is proving to be a challenge.