Ok further to a comment I made in the ride out section, I have been toying with the idea of changing my bike, I really hate the brakes and after my SV400 is seems to take an age to slow down.

Therefore I tend not to go too fast as have learnt to my cost that im not used to the brakes.

Not sure whether to bear with it and get used to it or trade it in for something similar to what I had before.

Any thoughts?

Hey rach if you liked the 400 try the SV650. or maybe upgrade /change brakes. different calipers and mastercylinder if money isn't a worry how about a cbr600. I'm assuming of course you dont ride on a restricted licence

Unrestricted now, did you see the Triumph Street Triple 675 in bike mag, loving that

Yes lass tis a cracker. if nekkid is yo thang,. have you thought about a few test rides, on various machines?. [of course you have!] do you have any particular style of bike you like. apart from nekkid Trumpets. are you looking to get sporty, or a bit more laid back. or is it..."No sniff...I want the red one cos it goes with my shoes, and this one is just soooooooooo last year.sniff.!
..or do what i do. pop along to a showroom. walk around and have a good sniff.find one that smells good. go outside.press yourself up against the window, opposite the good smelling bike and give the window a good licking, this will indicate to the sales staff that you are interested, in a particular bike. and they will then be better able to steer you in the direction you desire. or like me you end up commited with a headfull of LEGAL phsychotropic drugs. rocking back and forth. making up scentences out of words that ryme with Gixxer..

All the wonderful stuff you get to sample in the HEAD ward. [under the clinical supervision of a doctor of course] things like LSD.. mescalin,psilocybin dirivitives... seconal...mandrax....tuinal...thorazine....ditryptometho-whatever
and good ol fashioned ECT...Electro-convulsive therapy....
Bzzzzzzzzzz..Bzzzzzzzzzz.... twitch twitch..evacuate! "my god the stench,what do people in here not understand about NIL BY MOUTH."

you interested in a Ducati?

know of one in good condition that may be for sale and a very good price!

Not wanting to get shot down in flames with the next comment, but have you considered changing your riding style rach??

If you are happy enough with the bike, but it is just the brakes you are a bit dissapointed with.

Could it be you are relying on the brakes to much, where as if you were in the correct gear for the speed you were doing, a quick close of the throttle will kill a lot of speed for you.

I ride a zr7 kawa, which isn't known to have great brakes, but after I changed my riding style, using the rev range in each gear, acording to the speed I was travelling, I found out I don't use the brakes that much now, as I am constantly keeping the engine spinning about the middle of the rev range.
A quick adjustment of the throttle, or a drop of a gear matching the engine speed, kills most of the speed I need to take the corners at the right speed, hence no brakes needed.

I find I only really use the brakes now in town coming to halt at junctions.

just a suggestion, but one worth considering.

G

have to say big red told me same thing and it did make it better for me
tened to stay in top gear and use the brakes a lot to slow for bends
take's a bit to get use too but must say it works

ooooooooh BIG RED you riding I.A.M. god you. more of those riding pearls of wisdom please o obi-wan. maybe we can start a list..here's mine..[yours is a good tip m8 btw]

The Closer to the edge you ride, the sooner you'll fall off it,!

more of a truism than a riding tip

I do try to use the gears, but maybe I need more practice, I was lucky with my last bike SV400 as the engine braking was amazing. Will stick with it for now, have a friend who is going to check out the brakes and give his opinion, and see if he can do anything to improve them.

However at the end of the year I will come into a bit of money and will have the opportunity to go shopping

F4 m8 after my off on the ninja i'll be lucky to get insurance for a C90 nevermind a Dud sorry Duc lost two years off my no claims, and god knows if i'll get fully comp on a decent sized bike. 1000cc-ish for under £500..thanks for thinking of me m8 but i have my eye on another darker italian model.