MutualBill said:

Dl 1000 isn't available in Europe anymore (Euro3/5 emissions)

FYI, the 650 does just fine on the freeway. We've cruised at 80 indicated all day on that thing with a full pack, and if you've ever seen how my wife packs, I mean full, and it didn't flinch. Andrea and I trade bikes occasionally, and if because of the shorty wind screen on the 650, I actually prefer it to the 1000. (both are the naked models.) Yes it spins higher than the 1k, but because its such a smooth engine, it doesn't buzz.

extraparts said:

That is nice to know. Found a 06 SV650N for a reasonable price I am going to check out when I am back at the folks for the weekend.

extraparts said:

Didn't realize they made a naked SV1000.

How big of a guy are you? I weigh 195lbs and 6'2" will I be cramped on the bike or feel like it is under powered? Didn't work out to look at the 06 SV this weekend so we have set up a time for next weekend instead.

I get a test ride on my bros CB919 tomorrow, will see how that goes. My first impression sitting on it the other night is it felt pretty good other then alot heavier then my nibble DRZ400SM.

I actually JUST traded an 06 SV650n for a new 09 DRZ-SM. Although the SM is still stock, i can see the need for another bike for longer days or highway commuting. The SV does pretty well on the highway, but the 1000 would be better with more power and torque. If you are ok with clip-ons, then get the SV-S model with the half fairing, much more wind protection. I had a M4 slip-on on my SV and always got compliments on the sound. Power Commander is a great idea too... Keep in mind that the 03 model sv650 is kind of an oddball, it was the first year for new body style and fuel injection and some exhaust systems and other things dont fit it, even though 04+ are basically the same bike. Good luck with the search!

Mtsmith said:

What made you decide to trade in the SV for a DRZ-SM? What type of riding do you do?

I am not a big fan of the SV-S due to the clip-ons or care for the riding position. Never have gotten used to laying down like that, upright just feels better.

I just love my bike

Not much 470 info in here... >_>

Well, they only imported the naked 1k for one year, 03, so they're rather hard to come by. As for my size, I'm 5'8", 170 lbs, so I don't have a lot of trouble fitting bikes. You can do a naked conversion on the 1k, and get the correct triples to hold a bar, or you can only do the triple and put a bar on with the windscreen. It will fit depending on which bar you get. A word of warning, the 1k is a completely different bike than the 650. Everybody thinks that it will just be a more powerful 650, but its not. It is heavier, and isn't as telepathic as the 650. You can do some easy fixes, like lowering the triple on the forks 5mm, which will help, but it will never be as flickable as the 650. The engine has a lot of torque, which is a good thing, but it also means that it torque brakes like crazy. It takes some getting used to to get smooth on that bike. Now that said, I've got 38,000 on my 1k and haven't had a lick of trouble.

For my commuting bike I own a V-strom dl1000. 66 miles/day, what a way to start your day. The 1k is the way to go with these bikes, the 650 is only a few pounds lighter. More HP is always a good thing to have, just regulate with your right hand. Like Eddie said, a power commander, and a set of Dale Walker Holeshots and your set. I also removed my secondary butterflies. Run a custom map that averages 47-49 mpg,when its dusty in the dirt the Strom is really fun on the tarmac. :thumbsup:

khromosone said:

My take on all this is, if you want to make the DRZ into a full up freeway bike it can't be done. A 470 will get you the extra power, but the DRZ just wasn't made to run at high speeds for extended amounts of time. It is a great for the short hooligan runs across town and back trail adventure. I like my Z, but it looks like it can't be the only BIKE I have in the stable, even if I sink another $1600-2000 in it to put the stroker kit that includes crank, RHC cams, fcr41 and porting. At this point I can't justify sinking that kind of money into my Z, besides I would never get that money back out of it if I ever decided to sell. I think in the meantime I will keep riding it as is with the BB kit, MRD exhast, RHC valves/springs and FCR39 that it currently has until that right freeway bike comes along or I decide I don't need one.

screechingdemon said:

I did ride my bros CB919 the other day and the quiet power was great. Handles good at high speed, but is weird in slow speed turns, guess it is something you would have to get used to. Would love to have that extra power when running along at 80 with the Z, just twist the throttle a little and it easily goes into the triple digits. :thumbsup: It had no windscreen at all on it and for any extended length of time of riding, it would wear you out. Fun bike, but probably not for me. I would just get in trouble on it all the time.

screechingdemon said:

Ive been quite curious about the supermoto bikes for a long time, but as a college student never had the opportunity to get one. I have had two SV's now, they are great bikes and my last one was a nice one, but the curiousity won out and i traded it in. I was trying to sell it, but with the market saturated with used bikes around here, just didnt have any inquiries at all... I was also thinking of a hypermotard 796 when they come out, but with the extra weight, you loose alot of the nimble dirt bike appeal of the DRZ. I guess mainly i just wanted something different.

The slow speed handling of a 4cylinder sport bike with clip-ons is just something you have to get used to. There's no doubt i would get into alot of trouble with a typical sport bike, and having ridden other's bikes such as a newer GSXR1000 and a Ducati 748, definitely confirmed... I can definitely see the need for something other than an SM for highway or longer riding though, if you do a good bit of that.

As I recall, the 919 has a bar, doesn't it? One of my riding buddies, Eric from Canyon Chasers, had one, and he used to sport tour the hell out of that thing. Two up with a full camping pack and he used to blow my doors off in the twisties with his wife on the back reading a book. But he traded it in on one of the new Ducati classics. Gotta love the v-twin torque. If you don't mind the price tag and increased maintenance, the Ducs are great. Any street bike will handle totally differently than the DRZ at slow speeds. The DRZ is way more confidence inspiring when slow.

Boy did this thread ever turn into a train wreck...
How does a 470 relate to an SV????

There is no universal bike anymore. The market is fragmented and the uses are so varied. There are so many good bikes out there buy something that fits your needs. I have owned a pretty good sample of the spectrum barring land yachts.

I have fiddled my DRZ to where it will do a respectable job on the highway. Full up 470, SM wheels, tall gearing, the windscreen and now an aftermarket seat. TAT or Continental divide in a heartbeat. Slab to where ever not so much but maybe. How fast do you need to go?

I also have a Z1000. Bar risers, PCIII, tall windscreen, and pipes. Hi speed hooligan commuter extra-ordinair!

If you are looking for a commuter short highway. There are lots of cheap Z1000's out there right now. There's 4 here for less than a 470

http://www.riderforu...isplay.php?f=23

I dunno about the whole stability issues at freeway speeds you guys are having. Uncomfortable maybe. sketchy or unstable @ freeway speeds? Not mine. After every mod my normal shake down run is ip I70 from denver to the eisenhower tunnel and back. It is rock solid rollin up the freeway @ 80mph. With the 15/39 its not working too hard even going up the passes on I70.

HIX said:

what's your top end with the motor mods and 15/39 gearing?

For those interested I picked up an 06 SV650N to take care of those higher/longer pavement runs I like to make. Would love to take that power and dump it into the Z. :banana: Still riding the Z but it is doing a whole lot more adventure riding now that it is no longer stuck on the pavement taking me to work every day.