Street Triple or SV650S - First "Big" bike

[Sycamore]

Afternoon all

Passed my DAS recently, and just awaiting delivery of one of the Armadillo secure storage boxes.

That being said, I'm looking into what to get for my first "big" bike following having 50/125cc sports style bikes when I was younger (I'm 28 now) and would welcome some thoughts.

I'll be using the bike to commute ~10 miles to work when the weather is decent, through a town centre and a few dual carriageways, and also for fun and rides out on weekends. I'm not really interested in having the absolute fastest thing, I can happily bumble around so bikes of this sort of area seem ideal.

I'm essentially between a round-headlight Street Triple, or an SV650S (Pointy half-faired version), for reasons below.

SV650S
+ Cheaper
+ More reliable (?)
+ Insurance is cheaper
+ Better for long journeys (I wont really ever be using motorways mind you)
- Am I going to want to chop it in sooner?

Street Triple
+ Easier to ride and filter on (more upright)
+ Sexier, so less likely to want to change it soon
-More expensive to run

Budget isn't huge, so I'd inevitably be picking up a Street Triple at the lower end of the market, whereas more SV650S are available so I have more of a choice.
I've sat on both and had no issues with either.

Ultimately I "like" the triple more, so maybe I should stop over complicating it and just get that

Cheers

Edited by Sycamore on Wednesday 29th June 13:29

[fastbikes76]

I know it’s the standard answer here but it’s gotta be a street triple ! My wife bought one as her first bike and got the 675R, it’s an amazing little thing for what it is and packs a decent punch at around 106hp. It’s not heavy at all, pretty nimble , and not a wrist breaker which is a big plus.

A similar era SV650 is around the 72hp mark and a bit heavier on the wrists. Equally a great first bike and one a lot of riding schools use for the DAS which must speak volumes for them as a bike.

Try and have a test ride on both and see how you get on. I believe the SV is a bit more of a pain at real slow speed stuff.

[Jazoli]

Street Triple all the way, the SV650 is a good bike but the Triumph is significantly better in all areas.

[Roboticarm]

Had an sv650 as my first big bike and couldn't fault it, then moved to a newer 650s and didn't get on with the riding position.
Would have another sv650 naked but not the s.
Swapped the s for a hornet 600 and the performance was in another league but still had a soft spot for my original sv

[DickP]

I went from two years on an early SV650S doing about 8k miles on it before getting an early Street Triple 675. Street Triple is leagues ahead in every way barring underseat storage and does similar mpg (roughly 50, though bear in mind my SV was on carbs!). However, the Street Triple is also a lot faster and I learnt a lot riding the SV650S and thought the SV650S provided a good basis for general riding experience.

I am also more conscious of the Street Triple being damaged or nicked, when the SV650S felt more of a workhorse type of bike which I liked but didn't worry so much about.

[Krikkit]

Sycamore said:

Ultimately I "like" the triple more, so maybe I should stop over complicating it and just get that

There's your answer, get the one you want, not the one that makes more sense!

The SV650 is a great bike, and ubiquitous for a reason, but life's too short to ride bikes that don't tickle your fancy.

[KTMsm]

The SV650"S" is IMO quite uncomfortable, I'd look at the Non S (with bars)

The Triple is obviously a far better bike in every way if you're happy to rev it

If you fancy something cheaper then I'd look at the ER6N or F

[SteveKTMer]

Even though it's a Triumph, I'd say the street triple. Just make sure you get it inspected and a good service done.

I don't know what budget or year you're looking at but the Honda Hornet 600 might be worth a look, also a 900cc version. Well respected bikes.

[Brett748]

Definitely the Street Triple, they are superb. I had an 08 plate in Roulette Green (best colour!) from 2018-20 as my first bike and it was great. The only issue I had with it was a micro switch on the front brake lever, a £10 fix.

[Sycamore]

I suspected it'd go the way of the Triumph

How do they handle their mileage?

I'd be looking at the round headlight version out of preference, but with a budget of £4k maybe, so the mileage on some is a bit high.

Happy and capable to do most maintenance jobs myself mind you.

[KTMsm]

I wouldn't buy any of these type of bikes with more than 30k - not because they won't handle it but because they are hard to sell on unless they are very cheap

Equally £4k should be enough to get a good one - I've just sold a 14 plate with 8k for £5k

[trickywoo]

£4k will get you a lightly used latest gen SV650 which are a great bike.

[hiccy18]

trickywoo said:

£4k will get you a lightly used latest gen SV650 which are a great bike.

With the commuting requirement, this was the first thought in my mind. You wont get less than 60mpg and it can easily get 80+mpg.

[trickywoo]

hiccy18 said:

With the commuting requirement, this was the first thought in my mind. You wont get less than 60mpg and it can easily get 80+mpg.

Agreed. Buzzing it to the redline a lot mine doesn’t go below 60.

It’s also not a slow bike. 0-60 in the 3s and low 12 standing 1/4. It only feels relatively slow at 80+ which is one of the reasons I bought mine. Being into three figures regularly, which is so easy on a bike with more power, wasn’t for me anymore.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I'd not get a SV650. I don't rate them at all.


Especially if you are 6ft+.

Kept mine 4 weeks and it felt like a little scooter and st on motorways. Albeit being a naked bike.

Very agricultural.

I'd personally get something with a decent screen or fairing.

[slapstickk]

For all the reasons you've listed, the SV650s is the better bike for you. They're all true.

+ Cheaper £1.5k - £3k compared to triple £3k -5k
+ More reliable - Japanese build quality vs Triumph. Need I say more?
+ Insurance is cheaper - Yes.
+ Better for long journeys - No. Triple has upright handle bars. Much more comfortable for longer journeys.


If budget is no factor, I would choose the Street triple. It's noticeably more powerful than the SV650s. Especially at 70mph-100mph.

Upright handle bars for comfortability seem to be an important factor for a lot of people. I went from an MT07 to a sports bike, so I'm not one of those people. But the Triple wins here too.

However, it's more likely to have problems (compared to the Japanese built machine) and more likely to get nicked.

SV650s is the favourite of the 'first big bike' and for very good reasons. It's incredible. Regardless of the negatives it's receiving in this thread.

[trickywoo]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

I'd not get a SV650. I don't rate them at all.

Very agricultural.

The suspension is on the budget side no doubt, although it does a job.

Everything else is super smooth, especially for a v twin. Throttle and gear change are as far from agricultural as you can get.

I suspect yours was broken or maybe you just aren’t a v twin person.

[wide1]

I did my DAS on an SV650 and bought a Triple as my 1st bike (as I didn't want to get too bored too soon).

The Triple is night and day a better bike! If you're into going fast it's not even worth comparing.

But not great on fuel economy if that matters to you for your commute, also, pretty much zero storage so you'll need a bag if you need to carry anything.

Great fun though!

Enjoy.

Edited by wide1 on Friday 1st July 19:28

[patchb]

Ridden both and both good bikes but I'd go for the street triple, not too much for a first bike but likely to keep you entertained for a lot longer - those 675s are proper fun little bikes

[Nick928]

You’ve summed the pros & cons up pretty well.
I’ve got an SV650 track bike and they are cracking bits of kit but the Street Triple is higher up the ladder as the new prices show.
If you’re happy with a slightly older bike then go Street Triple, if you want reliable fun then SV650 is your man.

Neither are bad bikes.