2004 Suzuki SV650 Naked -Dr jeckle and mr hyde
I must say my introduction to the sv650 was pretty fast.I had 30 seconds to figure it out before a mad dash from Whangaparoa to Autobahn Papakura.
Keeping in mind this bike was being run in so I was restricted to bursts up to 9000 rpm.
My initial impression was of lightning quick steering superb stiff chasis and an awsome spread of power.This bike for sure will make a fantastic commuter.The instruments were easy to read with a normal tacho and a digital speedo.Mirrors were perfectly positioned and fuzz free
Arriving at the Autobahn I discovered Id missed the group of riders I was going to hook up with for a decent test ride.
Luckily 2 of the more radical riders were also late and knew where everybody was heading.
The following half hour ride will go down in my books as one of the most frustrating and downright frightening I have ever had on a motorcycle.
The pace came up as we left the main highway and the deficiencies of the setup became screamingly clear (that was me doing the screaming)
First it would snap into a corner faster and harder than I anticipated then it would bottom out and throw us wide.Sometimes it would bump steer off of small bumps and others it would shake its head like it wanted rid of me.
Ariving at Kaiawa I had a chance to look the bike over.
There were some um glaring set up problems that with a lot of help I managed to fix with the bikes toolkitand a 12mm ratchet.I t seems some brightspark haddnt checked the tyre pressures in the predelivery and had the bright idea that sliding the forks 75mm through the tripple clamps wont affect handling one iota.That in combination with an over preloaded rear shock made things a tadd interesting.
With the arrival of the main group we all set out at a reasonable pace up the coast and what a different bike.A complete transformation.
I instantly felt at home as soon as we headed off.
The motor was responsive and punchy right up to my running in imposed redline of 9500 rpm (the real redline is a few thousand rpm higher)
Aiming at a set of bumps I discovered that the front forks are still very soft but managable.
Chasing the faster group of riders I found that I could simply point and shoot with the lovely spread of power pulling the bike back upright.
If I overcooked a corner no problemo-just squeeze on those lovely 4 piston front brakes and she came to a total stop well short of where i thought i'd end up.
The riding position was neutral but I found I almost adopted a supermoto type riding style -Elbow out and knee well forward and out.
Throttle response was instant and caught me out a few times with me hobby horsing in some of the corners i wasn't so familiar with.
The tyres never gave me reason to doubt them. Never once even hinting they would let go.
After a break to cool the bike down a bit we headed down one of my favorite roads.I headed off last thinking-lets see what she can do.
What she did was put a huge silly grin on my face.
This bike for sure rewards spirited but smooth riding.Catching and passing other riders I found myself able to apply power at almost any angle of lean and she would leap forward. One or two headshakes on some of the nastier bumps reminded me she still had a soft front end. I ended up following the fastest rider in our group and the bike indicated with a bit more setup that on that road she would have no problems keeping up.-Just a not so good rider holding her back.
I finished the day grinning like a cheshire cat Having had a barrel of fun.
Not a hint of the dreaded numb bum showed how good the seat was.
The ride to return the bike to the by now slightly worried owner was a touch on the cold and windy side but again the bike performed faultlessly and the 7" round headlight was superb
Would I own one -No but only because Ive got a buggered neck and can't handle the wind.
But would I own its almost identical brother with a fairing -
Hell Yea -In an instant.
Pros --well there are so many
Fantastic spread of power from very low down
Superb tight chasis.
Modern brakes that stop on a dime.
narrow in the beam
easy OHH so easy to ride.
well padded seat
The deepest blue paint job
Cons
those horrible soft forks -tsk tsk mr suzuki what were you thinking
No fairing--A personal thing but my back and shoulders ached after riding the sv
Possibly once the forks are sorted the back shock might seem over soft and fade away then again Maybee not
Anyways a nice bike and I can see why theyre winning races in F3 and giving the 600 multi's a good run for their money in F2.
Im at the moment trying to figure out a way to grease a ride on this bike once its fully run in -if its this good only able to go to 9500 what will she be like able to rev to redline
To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?
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Originally Posted by XJ/FROSTY
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