yes i know this is a super-duper-newbie-type post worthy of flaming but oh well.

the guy at the dealership said the sv650 handles better, but the 599 has a better motor with more top-end, even though the sv is torquey. the sv is actually about $1000 cheaper and there's a shitload of them out there, which means tons of aftermarket support as well tons of parts if i crash (knock on wood) the sv in stock is an 05, the 599 is an 04, so i can get a screaming deal on either. in all honesty, the sv is probably the better bike for me but that 599 is just so damn COOL!!!! the fact that nobody has one rocks, except for the lack of aftermarket support as well as lack of parts if/when i crash. the sv650, while a great bike, is kind of generic. everybody and their mom has one. granted, there are reasons that everyone has one, but it would be nice to have something kind of wow cool. what are everyone's thoughts?

yes the guy is on commission but the owner of the honda dealer (cars) i work for, and the sales guy as well as his owner go waaaaay back, so i'm gonna get hooked up and i know i can trust his advice. plus, the fact that the 599 is so old means there's a spiff for him on it, so i give him props for not pushing toward it any harder than the sv. both bikes were brand new by the way.

 

If you want aftermarket for the 599 check overseas. Its one of the biggest selling bikes in europe except its called a "Hornet".

I love the 599 too except its quite outdated. The sv is newer design and has more modern parts on it. The 599 has a F3 engine designed in the middle 90s and is still carbed.

 

yeah...plus it's more expensive and the 04 i looked at is yellow. i think i know that the sv is the better buy, but that 599 is just so freakin' cool i can't get over it

 

It was to my understanding the the 599 had a detuned F4i engine which is fuel injected...?

I would still take the SV though.

 

that's what i'm hearing. actually i think the 599 is an f3 engine (waaay old skoool) what about the sv do you like better sup gurl?

 

yeah the 599 has basically recycled f3 technology. Reason you don't see any is cause well imo they suck. The motor isn't better then the sv. it just has more top end cause it's an i4 and not a twin. if it was me I'd get the sv. but it's up to you. there's market out there for both bikes so don't base it off of that.

 

what about handling and overall personality/character of the two bikes?

 

599 is gonna handle like an f3. not bad but not great. sv650 is real light and nimble. you're gonna be able to throw it around a lot more

 

right on, i kinda thought the f3 might handle better due to more suspension adjustment?

 

the sv does have a cheaper suspsension. but it has insane aftermarket support as far as suspension and changing springs with heavier fork oil will go a long way to improving the handling. its a bit of a tuners bike in that sense. i didnt own mine long enough to mod it.

i say go with the bike you like best. if the 599 flicks your switch, i think it would be a good first bike as long as you go thru the proper new rider prep.

 

i've had an fzr for 3 years. after the last laydown i'm sick of it and don't feel like putting it back together again.

 

yikes

 

lol, well i got it used for $2000 with gear from the original owner. it had 45k on it and had minor scuffs from tip-overs. it now has 59k on it and it's been dropped by me a couple times (learning) and by my friends a couple times, and by me twice, bad. anyway, the fairings are toast, the fork is bent, case covers are broken and i'm just sick of the damn thing.

 

its a hard-knock life

 

I <3 599

Everyone and their mothers have sv's. I love sv's too, though.

 

I was looking at 599's too before I got my SV. I wanted to like the 599 more, but its just a bad deal. The technology is old, the price is high. Thing i do love about it though is I love the look, i think i looks a little better than the SV. But the SV beats it on too many fronts so i can't help but side with the sv. If the 599 was 1500 cheaper it would be an awesome bike, but honda has to ask a premium price for old recycled technolgy. The 599 is slightly faster at full tilt but 95% of riding time the SV will feel faster because of its torque and powerband. I must say i love the pull of the SV's twin, at highway speed in top gear, I can just lunge it forward with the beating v-twin.

599: It's a honda It's got the sportbike feel and sound The looks The technology The price Heavier

SV: Pounding V-twin pull Very Lightweight Technology Price Looks Ultimate acceleration Sometimes you want that F1 like I-4 yowl

 

well said rjay. that's pretty much how my train of thought went. i LOVE the way the 599 looks and feels (sitting on it at least) but compared to the sv's superior technology and price, i can't jusitfy it over the sv.

 

I'm not too keen on the sound of a V-Twin, so if it were up to me, I'd have to go with a 599. Yeah, yeah, call me a ricer, but I like hearing the high-wailing of an I4.

Also, I LOVE the look, it's more rare, and who cares if it's an older technology? Are F3's and F4's not fun to ride anymore because they're older? Even in stock form, I doubt you'll reach the limits of either bikes in the near future.

In the end, just get what you like. I'd rather spend the extra cash to get what I really like, than wishing-and-a-wanting later down the road.

 

get a good exhaust on the sv and it'll sound heavenly. stock sounds like a lawn mower

 

lawn-mower, lol

 

Here is a vid of my SV with exhaust to give you an idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSVwFxIpZPQ

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rjay8604 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here is a vid of my SV with exhaust to give you an idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSVwFxIpZPQ</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds great!

 

sounds great. although after riding my buddy's TLR with yosh carbon cans and no exhaust packing whatsoever, not much sounds impressive by comparison. but i think i'll like owning an sv

 

just to confuse things - what do people think about F3/F4, F4i, old R6, or even a gixxer if i can find one new enough in my price range?


Modified by phateless at 1:38 PM 6/7/2006

 

I can't really compare any as I have only owned a F4 but I will tell you I won't ever sell this bike.

Its going to be a classic and day in and out it puts a smile on my face.