Suzuki SV1000

[dipshit]

The front is soft on the initial travel and the back is softly sprung as well

That depends on the weigh of the rider though.

i.e... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PK1NmJPoFY

[Fatjim]

If you wiegh under 100kgs wet, and you are not interested in hitting 240kph, then get the SV650. Its a much better bike, just lacks the top end.

And Ixion, it says a lot when you say that the only thing the SV1000 does well is "go seriously fast". I would have said the complete opposite. It is designed, and hits the sport touring market well. A good commuter bike ,except for the millage, a reasonable tourer if you find the riding poition comfortable, weekend? fine. But go seriously fast? Every other 1000 of its generation was better at that. The brakes, suspension, chassis, and motor are all pretty average, the engine a good average mind

I'm tempted to think your are comparing it to the BSA, but your sentence seems to stand alone.

[marty]

I had a well sorted TL1000 (both ends of suspension = Ohlins, full Yoshi kit etc). Test rode SV's but settled on the TL. It was fast - not seriously fast though. I then had the Hayabusa at the same time I had the TL. I rode the TL occasionally to keep the battery charged. Found myself at full throttle all the time - wondering where my extra 50hp had gone

Wish I still had the TL though....

[Berries]

he only cons appear to be:

1 - below standard braking.
2 - slightly thirsty.

Is there anything else ?

No character or soul. Nearly all my previous bikes had something, I don't know how to describe it. Traded a CBR 600FX for an SV1000S in late 05 and it still hasn't grown on me. Brakes are fine, no complaints there apart from new discs at 30k which shouldn't happen. It's a long bike so handling is a bit lardy compared to the CBR, you can't throw it in to corners like a smaller bike. The SV engine in the CBR chassis would be great to try. It can certainly shift when you want it to and you don't have to dance around with the gear lever, but for me there is something missing. Although used nearly every day it gets parked in the garage and I walk away from it without a second glance. It shouldn't be like that.

I'd disagree with Ixion, I think the SV is a perfect bike for multi-tasking. I commute 15km each way every day, it does the job. Do the odd trip over to Qtown or Invervegas and again, it does the job. Back of my legs are a bit sore after a couple of hours but then they all do that to me so that's not a complaint. I get about 15km/litre in commuter mode, less than that obviously if I am being a twat.

Apart from the front discs and a leaking clutch cover fixed under warranty I have had no reliabilty problems. I can't say it's a bad bike, but to me it's just a bike. I bought it on a cc per $$ basis as they were much cheaper than the GSXR 750 I had always hankered after. In the back of my mind I knew I would kill myself on the Gixer so luckily Suzuki have turned them all ugly over the last few years. I do find it is way too easy to go too fast on it. I was going to trade it for a Street Triple when they came out, more fun at lower speeds etc, but then I got married and suddenly found I couldn't even afford my daily ration of beer and fags, let alone a new bike.

[retro asian]

My friend has a nice black naked SV1000 which he keeps saying he wants to sell...not sure how serious he is, but let me know if you're interested.

[Elysium]

Now now what's all this anti VTR talk I see here? At least the VTR is aestheticly appealing then the SV

[imdying]

No character or soul. Nearly all my previous bikes had something, I don't know how to describe it.

Don't necessarily disagree, but the solution is quite easy. 1 down on the front, 2 up on the back, fit a set of aftermarket GSXR solid peg rearsets, a 1/6th turn throttle, and a set of loud mufflers. Lovely personality adjustment and cheap as you like

[Berries]

And Santa has only just been............

[imdying]

And Santa has only just been............

Never fear, the sprockets are cheap, you'll get a front for under $40... the 1/16th throttle is free if you modify your stock one, your pipes can be modified for free, but you'd be better off with lighter aftermarket ones so you can go to the stock ones for a warrant. Only place you really need to spend is the rearsets... but they're worth it... the SV is such a nice bike, the solid pegs give the bike a 'nastier' feel.

[Berries]

It's a K3 and I've had it for longer than any other bike so it's about time to trade it anyway.

Is there anything else ?

How tall are you ? I'm 6' 1 and a bit and on longer high speed trips I do suffer from the noddies occasionally. The blast over the screen hits me right in the visor. My current helmet has a spoiler on the back and although it looks gay I like to think it improves the air flow. An aftermarket screen might be an idea, not sure what other lanky streaks of piss think.

[98tls]

Now now what's all this anti VTR talk I see here? At least the VTR is aestheticly appealing then the SV

Yea right,as good a bike as the VTR is its just plain fugly.SVs,TLs,VTR etc are all good bikes and like every other bike the only degree of seperation between them is the riders ability,simple really.As i get older and see the steadily growing ranges of motorcycles growing i sometimes wonder if my old ticker can stand anymore mirth,theres bikes for this and bikes for that jesus theres bikes built even for the bits in between this and that and according to those that compile the evidence you just have to have one of them/all of them/anyone will do just have something so that the sellers of such things will continue to advertise in our magazine,not so bad i guess,least its something to muse whilst on the shitter.

[sugilite:Me]

I did ride a SV1000 in the Paraparas once. It did seem a little souless (since addressed by I'm dying) and it seemed to be a bit top heavy in the handling department, though this could be down to the tyres/tyre wear it was running. Anyways, the bike did not make me yearn to own one.