Special Edition. Sometimes it's just cosmetics, unique paint offering, decals, etc. The SV1000S is a nice bike, I owned a SV650S. But, that and the GSXR have low clipon bars. Not very comfortable unless you want the racer crouch. Not very good for a first bike either. A lot of instant power. Don't know about your experience except that you haven't owned a bike. Depending upon your physical size, might want to stay away from heavier bikes until you have some time on the road.

 

Historically, SE meant Special Edition, but the alphabet soup used on motor vehicles is now close to meaningless. R in a name had implied racing spec, not sure if that is true these days, think most have just a slightly upgraded suspension.

If this is really your first bike and you are inexperienced, you should not start with a liter-class bike. A lighter bike with a smaller motor is a good place to continue honing skills until you are comfortable with counter-steering and good braking by habit without having to think about it. Try to avoid getting a full fairing on your learner, as it will likely go down and fairings are pricey to replace.

Your sig does not indicate which country you are in; some have graduated licensing requirements that would prevent you from riding a liter-class bike before you have experience. AFAIK, no USA states have graduated motorcycle licensing; a complete Noob can buy a Panigale V4 which is challenging for an experienced rider.

 

I assume the OP lives in the UK. Should add location to his profile as you suggested.

 

With the GT I believe the SE is the gigantic top case and heated grips, maybe the seat.

 

Gel seat and a nice little gold SE badge!:smile2:

 

I go w/ SpaceDave. Starting w/ a big engine is a very bad idea.

Last I heard about such a thing on this forum, the bike lasted one single week.


SV650 is a good bike to start w/. Good, solid engine. Not expensive. Good torque for this size. Possibly a second hand because most of people drop their first bike and damage them.


PS: the GT is an heavy bike that requires some skills.



Fred

 

Thanks for all of the input, I live in the UK - have updated my profile.

I'm 6' 1" & regularly have a bad lower back so would prefer not to be hunched over.
I tend to go straight into things & learn quickly. I don't really want to buy a bike just to practice on to then have to buy another. I will go slow & careful until I'm more experienced.
I had a little 50CC Gilera DNA moped about 15 years ago so have next to no experience.
Am going to have a ride on my friends Honda VFR (in my profile pic) tomorrow to get some practice in the boots & helmet I've bought before my training begins ?

 

The torque curve of the vfr 750 and 800 is completly different from the triple one. The low end torque is low as compared to the sprints that pull strongly right from low rpm.


Fred

 

Oomph, with the others here. Bikes have moved ahead so much over the years, with weight and power.

Incidentally, the SV1000 was a good bike, but a lot of folks came to grief on them in the UK and the frame/suspension/steering set up was a bit twitchy

If you can afford it, a Tiger 800 or such like is plenty powerful enough, lighter and very comfy.

 

I agree with Speed4Boy a Tiger 800 seems a safe bet taking into account your size and back problems, don't let your eyes rule your head. If a bike is uncomfortable, or too heavy, or cumbersome, when you ride it, then it's going to knock your confidence (which you need to build).

 

Easy on the throttle then? I think I can manage that.

Thanks.

 

SE = Super Expensive

 

when you do your licence they'll start you off doing CBT on a 125, will feel pretty powerful compared to how you'll remember your old gillera.
next to do your lessons and test they'll put you on something bigger, 600 most likely and you will be literally shocked by the amount of power compared to the 125.
Double that again and you're looking at a 1000cc sportsbike

Ive owned a 500cc bike and a 1200cc bike and honestly the 500 was plenty powerful, more than enough for a beginner. i put over 40k on that bike before i "upgraded" and went to the 1200 and actually i only had the 1200 for a few months before i sold it and went back down in size and am now on my second street triple.
I found the big bike to be great setting off from the lights and great for motorway overtakes. but so is a 600
honestly depending on your budget, for a first bike a Fazer, Bandit, Street 675 ,BMW F800R, CB600, MT07 and so on are all phenomenal. comfortable, quick reliable, loads of room to grow and much more forgiving if you f*ck up and not too expensive to get fixed if you drop them.
its worth avoiding fully faired for your first because most people drop their bike in the first year and fairings are expensive to replace. a 1000 will be heavier and therefore more likely to go down in a carpark or be so powerful it could catapult you into a tree if you forget clutch control going over a speedbump.

just my two pence though. While i would never advise it, there are many people who pass their test and go straight to a 1000cc and have many years happy riding.

 

Suckers Everywhere....

 

Sorry for the late reply, for some reason I didn't get any email notifications about these messages.
All decent advice.
I did my CBT last month, the instructor gave me a go on his 600CC Gladius: https://youtu.be/mz_CtiftC_I

I told him I was planning on booking a 4 or 5 day intensive course & he said I should pass after 3 days so that's what I booked.

I will have a look at the Tiger 800.
I should point out that I do a lot of heavy lifting for my job so can manage heavier bikes. My back tends to hurt more in cold / damp weather but is fine on other days.

I'm not overly bothered about looks so don't mind fairing getting cracked or broken as long as it doesn't cause an MOT failure.
I do like the look of Naked bikes but don't fancy having no windscreen.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

 

If you go for a tiger, you may consider adding crash tubing like that for instance.
Or that.


Fred

 

Thanks, that's helpful.

I've been looking at the Tiger & other suggested bikes. I must admit, I still prefer the Sprint.
I'm on holiday from work now so will have some time to visit shops & sit on a few to test the comfort.

Don't they do crash tubing for the Sprint?

 

Not really.
They have frame sliders which may or may not do more damage than good depending upon what happens.

I own a GT and just love it but you're talking first real bike and that ain't it.
Take your lumps on something cheap and cruddy before you move up.

 

I have/am considered/considering getting a cheap piece of crap to start with. I'm just struggling to see the point.
I don't want to waste £700ish on a bike (excluding insurance) just to practice. They only go as fast as you tell them to so I will be going very slow & careful until my confidence builds.
I'm not going to be slipping between cars or yanking the throttle back as soon as I get on it.
My commute to work is about 14 miles & can include 2 junctions of motorway or a stretch down the A463. I'm not taking that task lightly as a mistake would probably be my last.

I'm seeing the clutch as my kill switch, if anything unexpected happens, I'm grabbing it quick so am not expecting to fly off anywhere unexpectedly.

I have mild Aspergers Syndrome so see things logically & learn quickly when I'm interested in a subject. I would rather have a cracked bike which can be fixed for a couple of hundred than a test bike which cost me over double that.

I do understand they point you're making though.

 

Hi mate for the record grabbing the clutch is not going to get you out of any sort of trouble by itself most problems require either maintenance throttle, power or brakes.

just saying.

 

My first motorcycle ended up submerged in water up to the handlebars.
This is not good...

A GT would have killed me.

 

? Water up to the handlebars doesn't sound too healthy.

I'm still considering starting on a cheaper bike.
The Sprints I like are 3 - 6 grand so I wouldn't like to wreck it.
There's actually a limited edition Gold & Black one on Autotrader at the moment. One of 25 in the world. It's a 13 plate though & the same price as a 16 plate with fewer miles on the clock.

 

Why not buy the GT and a cheap beater?
When you're ready to move up you'll have the GT for you.

 

My plan is to get a loan. HSBC do 3.1%apr on loans between 7 & 30K.
I can pay back 7 grand at £250 per month in a few years & it only costs around £350 in interest.
I only have a few grand saved & want to get a new car as my Volvo is pushing 260K miles.

 

I just had my first day of training.
Practiced mod 1 for a while & then got put me through a mock test, I got 1 minor for not doing observations before the manual handling exercise.
Feeling a lot more confident I'm going to pass now.
He took me up to the test site & their lane for a U-Turn is much wider than the one he had me doing it on.
I was worried about the avoidance exercise but did it 5 - 10mph faster than I needed to & it was easy.
Nearly popped a wheelie going up the main road when he told me to pull off quickly but the instructor just laughed his head off & said he would have put me all over YouTube.

Can't wait to do the test now. I think if I pass with 2 minors or less I'm going to go for the Sprint (probably GT).
Any more than that & I will consider a smaller, cheaper bike to start on.

Thanks for all of the advice guys, I'll keep you posted ?

 

The above bikes make a great first bike. The twin does have a lot of engine braking, but that can be an advantage when first riding and letting off the throttle a bit gives you good decel vs "keeps on going". Slightly older models are quite cheap. Easy to resell as well.

 

I quite like the bike I'm learning on but it's far too small & the seat isn't all that comfortable.
I've had a sit on Tigers & Versys but none of them make me smile like the Sprint does.