Pwalo
19th June 2007, 11:57
Well that's how it feels to me anyway.
I've been riding the SV for a few months now, and thought it was time to give it a quick review.
Background:
Alrighty, I'm sure eveyone know the story, but in 1999, in response to a question no one had asked Suzuki released the SV650. It looked a lot like a mini TL, but was altogether a more convential machine. Standard rear suspension; no rotary dampers here thank you very much.
To most people's surprise the SV was a great hit, in a similar way to the initial Bandit.
In 2003 the SV650 was given a new frame, bodywork, and EFI, to match the newly released SV1000.
The only major update seems to have been a redesign of the rear subframe in '04 to reduce seat height.
Review proper:
In my opinion the SV was never designed as a full on sportsbike (although it has done rather well in F3). It's much more of a sporty standard. The SVS may have clip ons, rear sets, and a half fairing, but it's still more of an all rounder.
Power wise the SV is pretty good for a VTwin. Ok it's not in the league of the 600 IL4's but that's not it's game. The SV is supposed to be good for 79 odd ponies, and pushing along something like 185 kilos it can see off pretty well anything on four wheels. The great thing about the SV is that it's power band is pretty wide (4k to 7.5k seems best), and being a VTwin it seems to transmit power to the ground in a very controlled fashion. Riding in the rain is a doddle. I can see whay the VTwins seem to do so well in SBK (ok, apart from the shitloads of money spent).
Considering it hasn't got the most expensive suspension the SV handles really well. Again it's a bit slower handling than you're going to get on a supersport machine but much easier going on the road. I've had no problems with the standard suspension, but I might look at backing off the rear preload as it's a bit stiff for my muscular frame.
Basically the SV goes where you point it, just requiring a bit more input than a CBR/GSXR etc.
The brakes brake. Very well compared to my old GS500! Nothing too sharpish, but you can haul the bike up pretty quickly.
Comfort wise the SV has surprised me. I find it more comfortable that my GS500. On the S model you are definitely in the 'sports crouch', but the clip ons are above the top triple clamp, and the rear sets aren't very. I guess it's more in the sports touring mode. I like it, and it suits my lofty 5'6". Might not be too flash if you're over 5'10" or so.
I mainly use the SV for commuting, and if I'm really lucky a blast in the wekends. The longest trip that I've done has only been a couple of hours long, but the only problem was a bit of a numb right thumb.
As I said at the beginning I reckon that the SV is the VTwin equivalent of the older CBR600Fs. Not partcilarly flash, but good looking, happy to commute, tour, and do the odd bit of track work if required.
Not too bad for the price. Actually not too bad full stop.
I've been riding the SV for a few months now, and thought it was time to give it a quick review.
Background:
Alrighty, I'm sure eveyone know the story, but in 1999, in response to a question no one had asked Suzuki released the SV650. It looked a lot like a mini TL, but was altogether a more convential machine. Standard rear suspension; no rotary dampers here thank you very much.
To most people's surprise the SV was a great hit, in a similar way to the initial Bandit.
In 2003 the SV650 was given a new frame, bodywork, and EFI, to match the newly released SV1000.
The only major update seems to have been a redesign of the rear subframe in '04 to reduce seat height.
Review proper:
In my opinion the SV was never designed as a full on sportsbike (although it has done rather well in F3). It's much more of a sporty standard. The SVS may have clip ons, rear sets, and a half fairing, but it's still more of an all rounder.
Power wise the SV is pretty good for a VTwin. Ok it's not in the league of the 600 IL4's but that's not it's game. The SV is supposed to be good for 79 odd ponies, and pushing along something like 185 kilos it can see off pretty well anything on four wheels. The great thing about the SV is that it's power band is pretty wide (4k to 7.5k seems best), and being a VTwin it seems to transmit power to the ground in a very controlled fashion. Riding in the rain is a doddle. I can see whay the VTwins seem to do so well in SBK (ok, apart from the shitloads of money spent).
Considering it hasn't got the most expensive suspension the SV handles really well. Again it's a bit slower handling than you're going to get on a supersport machine but much easier going on the road. I've had no problems with the standard suspension, but I might look at backing off the rear preload as it's a bit stiff for my muscular frame.
Basically the SV goes where you point it, just requiring a bit more input than a CBR/GSXR etc.
The brakes brake. Very well compared to my old GS500! Nothing too sharpish, but you can haul the bike up pretty quickly.
Comfort wise the SV has surprised me. I find it more comfortable that my GS500. On the S model you are definitely in the 'sports crouch', but the clip ons are above the top triple clamp, and the rear sets aren't very. I guess it's more in the sports touring mode. I like it, and it suits my lofty 5'6". Might not be too flash if you're over 5'10" or so.
I mainly use the SV for commuting, and if I'm really lucky a blast in the wekends. The longest trip that I've done has only been a couple of hours long, but the only problem was a bit of a numb right thumb.
As I said at the beginning I reckon that the SV is the VTwin equivalent of the older CBR600Fs. Not partcilarly flash, but good looking, happy to commute, tour, and do the odd bit of track work if required.
Not too bad for the price. Actually not too bad full stop.