First Track Bike: sv vs SS

[RndHoleSqPeg]

So I am getting ready to finally pull the trigger on a track mule. I am looking for something to take once a month next year and do track days on. I have kind of narrowed it down to getting one of two bikes. I am not looking at really being the fastest on the track this year for sure and just want a dependable low power bike to get better as a rider on, without having the pressure of binning my S4R when I am out on a track.

At the moment there is a well sorted out SS750 that has been set up for the track and the shop I take my bike to, has been the one doing all of the work on it so I know I feel safe with the bike not being well sorted out. I know it doesnt have adjustable forks, but I really don't think besides having them set up initially I will be fooling with them too much.

My other choice is a yet to be found SV650. There are for sure a ton of track SV's out there and I know they are a great bike, but just curious if the money was equal, which bike would you get.

[desmoquattro]

I'd get the SV. Water-cooled, two-valves-per-cylinder, and many of the club-leagues have classes where they're legal...so there are a lot of track-prepped SVs out there. And you can always swap out for a GSXR front end if you need better suspension.

I love my Supersport at the track...but I don't think I'd want to maintain it with monthly track duty under its belt.

Oh, and I completely understand not wanting to bin an S4R at the track. I did a track day in '07 where my primary bike broke down. I have DESMO Q with me, prepped and teched but I just didn't have the heart to take it out there...

[Speeddog]

I'd get the SV. Water-cooled, four-valves-per-cylinder,
-------------snip-----------------

SV is going to have more steam.

As long as the motor is mildly worked-on, they're quite reliable from what I hear.
Also I hear that the early models are less likely to have crank problems, but not sure whether that's for a hotted-up motor or near-stock.

SV is for sure not as sexy, but parts are cheap so it's a lot less stressful to bin it.

[ducpainter]

I really liked my SS for the track.

If the SS you're looking at has an adjustable length rear shock and the forks worked...I'd go with that.

[zooom]

I am on the fence because I feel with a well sorted out suspension on a lower horsepower bike, you are going to get more learning and skill out of it. The end result of what you are looking to gain it seems is to be a better rider on the street while mounted on your S4R, or am I wrong?. So the quandry is this, push your skill set to the limit of track rat duty and end up riding hotter and faster on the street, or riding a steed to solidify your skillset for your current street bike. If the latter, then get an SV and set it up so that the ergo's and all are as close to your Duc as possible. You feel out your limits and push things and if you bin it, parts are readily available all over the place for not as much. There is less parity between your S4R and the SV in terms of power in comparo to the SS and the direct translation of what you pick up when applied will show that.

I chose a track bike that was as close to my street bike as I could find for exactly that purpose, and while I push my limits on the track with it, what I pick up and learn translates well in all of my riding. I have done a couple different schools and learned where and how I can push my limits and comfort zone and how to recover from situations where I might have previously panicked and/or done the wrong thing.

just my initial .02 FWIW.

[fasterblkduc]

You said price being equal, right? If so, I would get the SS. I've won a couple of championships racing my 2-valve Duc, and never had an issue. You can really beat on the 2-valve motors and they just keep delivering the fun. I've seen a lot of 2-valve Ducs racing with no issues at all. If you do the valves, and belts once a season, the reliability is better than the new gen. SVs for sure. If it's an old gen. SV, that has NOT been built, then the reliability would be comparable to a 2-valve Duc.
I am going by your statements, in which you say that you are doing trackdays. If you plan to race, don't race the 750. You will not have a chance in any of the classes that it's legal in. If you race, think about the SV so that you can be competitive.
Either bike will be fine for learning the track. The SV will have more power and cheaper, more plentiful spares. But the SS750 is a heck of a great platform to start with. (great chassis with great components) But it all comes down to comparing two actual machines, so without knowing how the SS is set up, and what SV you are comparing it to...all of this matters very little.

[gm2]

SV.

[Statler]

SS.    if you aren't racing for a check the bike is not a tool but a luxury and a hobby.  Buy with your heart for what makes you sweat when thinking about it.

[zooom]

SS.    if you aren't racing for a check the bike is not a tool but a luxury and a hobby.  Buy with your heart for what makes you sweat when thinking about it.

and that is being said by a man who has put his nicely modded S4RS on the track more than once...

[tufty]

Buy the SS, they sound waaayyy cooler than an SV..... 

[ducpainter]

Buy the SS, they sound waaayyy cooler than an SV..... 

Of course they do....

[RndHoleSqPeg]

So, I the bike had been set up at the place where I get all my work done anyway. Anyway his point is that the 750 is so overbuilt for what it is, its hard to break them.

Again, I'm not looking for anything fast, I actually for the first year or two would rather try to get everything I can out of corner instead of messing around chasing other people. Just looking for something I don't have to mess with too much and can mainly focus on my skills as a rider.

When I get to the point that I feel like I have made the bike as fast as it can go from a riding perspective, it might be time to  get an 4v Duc, but I don't really think I need to rush.

Thanks for all the opinions!

[El Matador]

I bought a 996 for the track. Smart? Hell no. Fun as hell? hell yeah!

If you really want the duc, get it, you'll have more fun on it. Yes, it'll be more expensive if you go down, but if you really want it, and buy the SV, you'll regret not being on the bike you really want to be on.

You said price being equal, right? If so, I would get the SS. I've won a couple of championships racing my 2-valve Duc, and never had an issue. You can really beat on the 2-valve motors and they just keep delivering the fun. I've seen a lot of 2-valve Ducs racing with no issues at all. If you do the valves, and belts once a season, the reliability is better than the new gen. SVs for sure. If it's an old gen. SV, that has NOT been built, then the reliability would be comparable to a 2-valve Duc.
I am going by your statements, in which you say that you are doing trackdays. If you plan to race, don't race the 750. You will not have a chance in any of the classes that it's legal in. If you race, think about the SV so that you can be competitive.
Either bike will be fine for learning the track. The SV will have more power and cheaper, more plentiful spares. But the SS750 is a heck of a great platform to start with. (great chassis with great components) But it all comes down to comparing two actual machines, so without knowing how the SS is set up, and what SV you are comparing it to...all of this matters very little.

+1. Listen to the man, he knows what he's talking about.

Another point to consider is that you already have experience working on ducs, and it will be easier for you to do all the maintenance and work on it since you already do it on your bike.

[cm]

I went the SV route.  Lots of people have them, parts are readily available and happen to run into one that already has suspension (penske triple clickers/cartridge emulators) race fairings, clipons, rearsets, sliders, and fairings. I probably need to lose 10 lbs for the suspension to work optimally but that's my incentive to get in shape for next year.

Also, resale of a 2nd gen SV (I have a 2004) is fairly easy for a track bike.  They are also fairly forgiving with setup.

[gage]

i actually have a similar question... I am a trackday noob.

I've seen a 2001 750ss with a couple things wrong and 19k miles on the odo. The stuff wrong is an easy fix for me and I am not worried about my ability to perform maintenance so lets leave that aside.

Reliability would be a factor.

The duc is under 2k with a chance for some more negotiation. It is the full fairing version with a clean title and could be sold as streetbike provided I didn't wad it up before I was ready to sell.

Is it practical to think that i could find an SV with a clean title for the same amount of scratch and similar resale value?

Thanks in advance