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Well,
I've been searching for a bike and I ran into a 2006 Hyosung 650R.
It's a brand new never been started floor model.They want $5500 plus all the taxes, freight, PDI.Still comes with the 2 year warranty. Sounds like a great deal but I've heard mixed reviews on this bike.
all told.... with a Jordan jacket and matching Jordan gloves,Zox spectra helmet,a pair of riding boots(yet to be determined) and a fender eliminator kit with cool LED lights.(installed) I would be paying $7800 tax in.
It will be my first ever bike and since it's a sport touring I should be ok with insurance.At this point I'm not to interested in power and speed but am more interested in learing to ride on a "safer" bike.
Should I go for it?
any owners out there?
I need to act quickly on this.
Ryan
Re: 2006 Hyosung 650R
Not an owner but a used Kawi 650R or SV 650 will serve you 10000X better. If you're worrying about reliability, modern jap sportbike engines are pretty bullitproof, so picking up a used one with reasonable milege is your best bet, remember it is your first bike. There WILL be more.Originally Posted by Kimo62
Also it may not hold it's value for ***
Get jap, get used.
Last edited by infernobuster; 10-18-2007 at 11:05 AM. Reason: language
"If you can't find em, grind em"
have fun owning a bike with little or no aftermarket support. and the best part
random person: hyowhat bike?
you: hyosung!
random person: hahahahahhaha
get what you want, if a hyosung is what you want than get it!
I would personally be wary of this bike. I dont know enough about them or there reputation/reliability. My first bike was a peice of junk, always breaking down, made riding a horrible experience because I never new if the thing was going to start or break down on me at a light. From then I decided only to buy a bike I was sure of when it came to reliability. Read reviews of the bike from riders, not company adverts. Also I would never rush to buy a bike, there are plenty of good bikes you can get for that kind of money. I will be selling my 02 Honda CB919 in the spring for $5500, and this is a rock solid dependable bike with a reputation that follows it.
Thanks for the input so far guys. I'm feeling you guys on the "REP" aspect but at the same time(playing devil's advocate) as I recall Honda's rep wasn't very good when they brought the Civic to north america and look where it is now.Can I assume it's the same with Hyosung?
As for buying used It's tough for me because I know so little about bikes so I don't know who I can and cannot trust.I don't know if I'm buying a lemon or a gem.
I did consider a used R6 50th anniversary(first choice) but the insurance would kill me before the bike would.Love the R6 though. and it would have cost me 3000 more.
Thanks again and keep the info coming
Ryan
FROM www.motorcycle.com
Hyosung GT650 vs. Suzuki SV650
Story by Gabe Ets-Hokin, July 2005
Are you considering the purchase of a Korean motorcycle?
Just being asked that question is significant in a motorcycle world that's been dominated by products from Japan, America and Europe for the last 50 years. But Hyosung, the giant Korean industrial combine, is finally offering a 650cc V-Twin sportbike to the US market. It's $950 less than the comparable Japanese model, the Suzuki SV650S, but how does it work? Are Korean motorcycles ready for prime time?
We here at MO spent a lot of time discussing the Hyosung. Maven Ashley had read it was just a rebadged SV650, as Hyosung is rumored to manufacture engines and other components for Suzuki.
An angry face-off between two feisty middleweights.
I maintained it was just the motor that was similar. We tried to get a test unit from the distributor, but no luck.
Suddenly, we got an email from Curtis Fisher, co-owner of MidAmerica PowerSports Plus (MAPSP) in Independence, Missouri. Not only did he have a brace of Hyosung GT650s in stock for us to paw over, he also had a Factory Pro dynamometer and a local friend with a stock 2003 fuel-injected SV650S for us to compare. Soon after that, MO expense account card in hand, I was on MO's private jet, (okay, a 6:00 AM Sunday morning Southwest Airlines flight) headed for Kansas City, MO.
Hyosung is an interesting company, and you might even be riding a one now. They've been building motorcycles since 1978 and have the production capacity to build 200,000 units a year. Their lineup includes dirtbikes, cruisers, standards and sportbikes, in addition to ATVs and other vehicles. Their components are used in many other major brands, and they build motorcycles for one or more Japanese manufacturers that are exported worldwide. Is it the SV? Hyosung and Suzuki won't say.
Introduced in other markets last year, the GT650R is a modern sportbike that shares no components with any other bike I've seen. It uses a steel frame and swingarm to contain a 650cc, dual-overhead-camshaft, eight-valve, liquid-cooled V-Twin engine. There is a monoshock with preload adjuster connected to the frame via a linkage in back, and a burly-looking top triple clamp and upside-down fork in front. Triple disc brakes slow the whole thing down. Factory claimed dry weight is 401 pounds, compared to the Suzuki's claimed 379.
When I arrived at MidAmerica PowerSports Plus, the GT650R was parked right in front of the service entrance. It's a very good looking motorcycle, with styling derivative of Suzuki's GSX-Rs and SV650: the tailsection looks similar to the SV, while the stacked headlights say "GSX-R". The GT650 "R" model with the full fairing looks great, with smoother and more finished styling than the SV's. The GT650 "S" model, with a half fairing, also has a more finished and sleeker look than the Suzuki.
The Hyosung has a lot of nice touches for a bike priced at $5,999. There is some good attention to detail, as it seems to have been assembled properly, with no unseemly gaps or poorly routed cables. There is a strap to secure the passenger seat, adjustable rearsets, and though the Bridgestone BT56 tires are an older model, they are known to be grippy and long-wearing. The front end is very good, with easy-to-adjust damping (but no preload adjuster), stiff looking, upside-down fork assemblies and beefy triple clamps. Brakes are two-piston, sliding-pin calipers in the front grabbing floating rotors, similar to the Suzuki's.
The component quality of was a little poorer than I expected. The plastic is that brittle, older-style ABS, and the paint has a fair amount of orange peel. The clutch lever rattles, and the brake lever isn't adjustable.
The Hyosung compared very well to the SV on the road.
The switchgear seems flimsy and lacks a sharp, positive feel. The warning stickers are badly translated; "DO NOT MAKE ILLEGAL MODIFICATIONS FOR THE SAFE RIDING" is my favorite example of Korenglish, although I am sure the owner's manual could amuse me for hours.
Our SV riding friend, Amy Eckhoff has arrived, so we're ready to roll. We'll head out to a local park with some nice scenic spots and cover a few twisty roads, so I switch the ignition on. The instrument panel dimly lights up with LCD instrumentation that looks like it was lifted from a 1987 Cadillac. It's very hard to read in daylight, although it does have a dimming function, the first time I've ever seen that feature on a motorcycle.
The motor fires up quickly and easily, with a raspy sound and noticeable vibration. The clutch has a smooth, easy pull, and the gearbox has short throws and shifts easily, although finding neutral from a stop in first gear is difficult. Pulling up to a stop, I notice that the brakes have a wooden feel and require a strong pull. Once I'm stopped, getting my feet down flat is easy, thanks to a seat that is noticeably lower than the SV's. The Hyosung's footpegs look cheap, but the adjustable bracket is a touch only expected on $16,000 bikes.
We get on the highway for 10 miles to ride to a local park where we can get some photos and a riding impression. The GT has a long reach to the bars, which puts an ache in your lower back after 20 minutes, but the seat is soft and supportive. The adjustable footpegs are in a nice position, and the seat height is just right for me.
The motor is buzzy above 6,000 rpm, but it is geared fairly tall and cruising at 80 (indicated- I think there's an 8-12% speedometer error) is fairly comfortable. There's plenty of torque for passing if you click down a gear or two, but the buzzing at high rpms is hard to take: your fingers practically vibrate right off the grips! It pulls hard in the midrange, but it isn't as sharp and satisfying as the SV's motor, which feels refined and silky smooth by comparison.
Once on a curving road, the GT is very good. With the steel frame and swingarm, it feels noticeably heavier than the SV, but it turns in nicely and holds its line well. Steering is very linear and progressive; that's a hallmark of those BT56's! The front suspension is pretty good, tracking over bumps and not mushy at all, but the rear shock is cheap-feeling and under damped. I think the handling and ground clearance are good enough that the GT would make a decent track bike and Hyosung should consider sponsoring a spec racing class.
Swapping to the SV, I remember why I loved mine so much and why it's such a popular choice for beginning and advanced riders alike. It has a refined, sophisticated and friendly feel that is un-intimidating and fun at the same time. The motor is much smoother than the Hyosung's, and the entire machine has a refined, finished feel that the Korean bike just can't duplicate. However, the Hyosung feels more composed over bumps and is just a bit more sporty, overall.
Amy agreed with me about how the Hyosung compared to her SV. "It felt totally different from my SV. It felt about 20 pounds heavier, but it also felt easy to ride. It was balanced, and not top-heavy." Amy liked the way her SV "flicks" around corners, where the Hyosung needs more effort to turn; but once it is turned, it "held its line well." She guessed the Hyosung had a longer wheelbase, and she was correct: 1435mm versus 1430mm for the SV. "I doubt that a 5mm wheelbase increase would be noticeable," comments Sean Alexander, " compared to the numerous differences in geometry and tires between the two bikes. I'd look at the amount of trail and tire profile first as indicators of 'quick' steering." Hyosung doesn't list trail in the specs, howerver.
Amy definitely didn't like the lower bars, but she also noted the GT650R felt bigger, too. "I didn't like the wider midsection, and if you had too much gut, you'd have a hard time with the gas tank." Still, Amy was impressed with the Hyosung's overall feel and performance.
The next morning, I got up early to take the GT on a blast down Blue River Road, a short but fun piece of pavement to the south, with a few nice turns and even less traffic. I was able to stretch the bike's legs a bit, so I grew to like this raw and simple roadburner. The throttle response is not as crisp or responsive as that delivered by the SV's more sophisticated fuel injection, but the bike still lunges forward at 6,000 rpm and easily gets into triple-digits on the speedometer without much effort. It turns so nicely and holds its line so well that I'm disappointed the exit comes up so quickly, since I'm having so much fun darting in and out of what passes for heavy traffic in suburban Kansas City.
Once on the stretch of smooth pavement, freshly washed by an early morning rainstorm that also brought temperatures down to tolerable levels, I get more confidence in the GT's chassis, brakes and tires. With 58HP on a FactoryPro dyno compared to the SV's 60 on that same dyno (this translates to 65.5 and 68 on a Dynojet), the motor is more than adequate to have a good time, and I'm again impressed by the stout front suspension. The rear shock is pretty cheap, but luckily the bike is light enough to not tax it too much.
How good a value is the GT650? With the full fairing, the GT650R is priced at $5,999, $5,499 for the half fairing GT650S. The SV650S with half fairing is $6,449: $950 more! That will buy you an exhaust system, jetting and whatever other add-ons you could want. But the SV does give you a smoother motor, better throttle response and the luxury of fuel injection. Plus, the build quality is superior. Another consideration could be resale value and warranty service, a pitfall for new brands.
A better comparison would be to Suzuki's venerable GS500F, which is priced at $5,199 with a full fairing. But that bike has an anemic, ancient air-cooled motor that barely puts out 40 HP, squishy suspension, a single disc brake and skinny, bias-ply tires. If you opt for a Hyosung, the extra $300 ($800 if you want the lower fairings) buys you another 30 HP, a better chassis, radial tires, beefy front suspension, dual disc brakes, and similar build quality, too.
The Hyosung GT650R has a lot of flaws. But it surprised me with how much it had to offer. It's a stylish, well-designed motorcycle that need make no apologies for its suspension, motor or handling: the stuff that matters. The overall build quality is cheaper than what I'm accustomed to, but it's acceptable and looks like it will hold together with proper maintenance. Is it worth $5,500 to $6,000? I think compared to other new bikes in this price range, it's a pretty good value and you might have some luck bargaining with the dealer -- although, as Curtis points out, this is a low-volumne business for now, and with the de-pegging of the Chinese Yuan against the dollar and it's subsequent controlled rise in currency value, expectations are it'll have a ripple effect all through SE Asia, with a generally higher prices from goods shipped out of that region.
Hyosung has other models on the way as well. Look for a power cruiser with the 650 engine in it, as well as a 1,000 CC version of the GT. There are 250 CC standard and cruiser models, too. With ATV's and dirtbikes, Hyosung has a complete product line that seems to be a clear step above the shoddy mainland Chinese brands that crowd the internet and floors of many rural motorcycle shops.
The motorcycle marketplace now offers more choices than it has for many years. This can only be good for the consumer. For a first effort at a mid-sized sportbike for the US market, Hyosung has produced an interesting product that is worth taking a look at. If you want a new bike for a used price, or want full-sized sportbike looks with a softer, more beginner-friendly motor, or if you just like the racy, aggressive styling, the GT650R might work well for you
Suzuki and Hyoetc. use interchangeable parts, including a lot (all?) of the engine between the SV and the Hyo. So reliability, coupled with a 2 year warranty shouldn't be that big of a deal.
Agree on the value front though. No reputation means these things will depreciate much faster than a Jap bike.
As for aftermarket support, pretty sure it's an SV engine, so you can have a lot of fun messing around with the TONS of aftermarket stuff built for that thing.
But you can't beat new either!
'05 Z1000
Hyosung uses the old sv650 engine - the carburated one from 2003 prior that they licensed out.
From a resale perspective $ for $ you might consider an sv650 instead.
_/\_/\ . ÷ z z z Z ZZ
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Bring everything you need and nothing you don't.
I agree with this statement for the time being. If you are going Hyosung wait maybe 2-3 years until they are more established. Most people will goff at this bike as it is like a Hyundai when they first came out. But over time like the Hyundai they will make a better product. I wouldn't advise a 600+ CC bike for a first bike either as it might be a bit too much for you. Start small and work yourself up. GS500's & Ninja 500's are great starter bikes and both are reasonably priced. Hyosung bikes are not easy to find parts for and resale on one is terrible. I would say go with something you can resell once you outgrow it for a decent price. You can't go wrong with Japanes bikes with resale value.
A coward dies a thousand deaths, a soldier dies but once.
'08 Yamaha WR250X (SuperRetard)
'03 Suzuki SV1000S Current (Silver Surfer)
'07 Aprilia SXV 5.5 Teefed (Redstar)
'04 Honda 1000RR Previous (Red1.2)
'05 Yamaha R6 Previous (Red1)
'89 Suzuki GS500E Previous (SuziQ)
the one thing you have to remember is that most of the people searching for a bike are stuck on the 4 top jap brands. It might be harder to sell and yo might get a lot less if you decide to sell it.
that's a plus in my books... who wants a bike like everyone else?
Get what YOU want and not what everyone else wants.
"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
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