well if you havent already learned this..the bandit is heavier, has an inline 4 cylinder engine and handles differently that an sv..a 4 cyl engine makes its power with higher RPM;s while a V-twin like the SV makes its power lower in the RPM range..soo..the sv is funner and easier to take to curvy roads on while the bandit will probably go a little faster in a straight line..like said, id sit on them and see which one is more comfortable,,, i have an SV and i can tell you that they are fantastic bikes and very customizable.i cant say that for the bandit because i dont have one..the sv was my first bike and it is very forgiving to learn to ride as long as you respect it...if you are going to be doing a lot of highway riding, i would strongly consider the bandit though, because it has a windshield and an upright riding position.The S model sv also has a windshield unlike the naked model sv, but the S model has more of a "leaned over" aggresive riding position that wont be quite as comfortable for the longer rides, so its a trade off..you may also want to check out the fz6 made by yamaha..