Should I get an sv650?

[idleidolidyll]

Be smarter, go buy a Cagiva 650 Raptor.

Same motor with better fuel injection, better suspension and a better frame with room for better exhaust system.

The Cagiva can be found new for about $12500 and is way better bang for your dollar

[Magua]

What is to happen with the Bandit?

[Ivan]

Do it the SV is a great bike I dotn have any regrets getting one

[erik]

What is to happen with the Bandit?

At the moment I'm planning to keep it, there's just enough room in the garage. I'm thinking I might use the bandit for commuting and save the sv for weekend rides and track days. But I think I'd like to do at least one more trackday on the bandit when I've changed the tyres to sport demons to see if I can scrape the pegs.

[El Dopa]

Nice purchase, Erik.

If suzuki had made the EFI model curvy, I would probably have bought one of these a year or two ago.

Let the mods begin! I reckon you can start with USD forks and a race tail, and take it from there.

[breakaway]

Thanks breakaway, I hope you don't miss her too much.

Didn't think I would, but I miss that V-Twin sound

I've changed my mind about the yellow

I was the same also

[nallac]

shit the sv650 go and handle well. i tried chasing one today thru a ultra twisty bit of road about 30 oddk's long.
gave up in the end as i didn't know the road, the guys i was riding with
also commented on it.

[MidnightMike]

(and I think the old sv looks better.)

YER DAMN RIGHT IT DOES!!!!

Gone and done it, I'm now the proud owner of a yellow 1999 SV650S!

Thanks breakaway, I hope you don't miss her too much.

It must've been dropped at standstill on both sides because both front indicators have been pushed through the fairings. I'll probably try fixing that with some fibreglass. I'll also check the valve clearances soonish because I don't know when it was last done. Plus check and set the laden sag on the forks and rear. I only went for a short ride, but the suspension didn't feel too bad to me.

I've changed my mind about the yellow, I think it looks quite good now.

Yellow is the best colour for these beasties!!!

I guess it grew on me. Given the perfect weather outside right now and the new bike sitting in the garage, I should be out riding. But after riding to and from Taupo yesterday for the trackday on the Bandit (and then not sleeping well last night) I'm a bit knackered, so I think I'll leave the riding and tinkering till tomorrow.

From my short ride on it today, I gotta say my god the exhaust is loud! (it's got a Two Brother's exhaust). And also it seems to pull a lot stronger than the old bandit (and have more engine braking). It's going to be fun getting to know it.

Good for you - those earlier ones look better than the later style - more organic. Plus they look like a TL FAP FAP FAP!

If the Two Brothers is too loud

Too loud? Nevarr.. supposedly, erik, if you open up the airbox a bit (something along those lines) it can be even louder and barkier!!

any decent muffler shop will be able to make a cheap insert that will shut it up a bit without any noticeable power loss - just a smaller diameter perforated insert that disturbs the flow a bit to shut it up.

Pffft

Let the mods Begin - get onto e-bay there is lots of goodies for the SV

Will be good too see you at the Suzuki trackday in December Erik, I was at the April one too(saw you bin lol)

I'll be on the other yella SV with the scorpion pipe. Roaring round.

Just as Alan says let the mods begin!!!

[Number One]

Good for you - those earlier ones look better than the later style - more organic. Plus they look like a TL

OH I hears ya!!!! They have character and look less robotic to me.

If the Two Brothers is too loud any decent muffler shop will be able to make a cheap insert that will shut it up a bit without any noticeable power loss - just a smaller diameter perforated insert that disturbs the flow a bit to shut it up.

Let the mods Begin - get onto e-bay there is lots of goodies for the SV

NOOOOoooo! Don't take away it's growil! You'll regret it I assure you, without its two bros snarl life just seems empty Hubby put his Yoshi pipe on mine for a while and I hated it...felt like I was back riding a little bike again...I could hear myself think..didn't need the earplugs and car drivers stopped moving over for me well in advance...they just couldn't hear me coming anymore.

I have a 1999 Silver SV. These bikes have to be one of the most underrated machines around I think - I farken love it!

Funny you mention about the indicators pushed through the fairing..mine the same and I've seen heaps in the same state.

As for Mods - kewl fun! If there is one mod that will make your bike FANTASTIC and handle heaps and heaps and heaps betterer do something about the forks and rear suspension. I did an the bike is so much quicker steering and better handling.

Here's what was done to it:

The stock SV front forks have heavier springs, Traxxion Dynamics damper roads and Racetech cartridge emulators.
We run the forks with 15mm of protusion through the top triple clamp, combined with the rear shock being set on it’s longest setting this gives us the geometry that makes the bike turn much quicker and hold tighter lines than the stock set up.
The rear shock is the basic remote resevoir Ohlins unit for the SV.

[HungusMaximist]

Good job on the SV, they make a pretty sweet tourer and commuter.

Nearly ended up getting one... haha...