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Picked up an '08 Suzuki SV650 yesterday

JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
I rode a friend's bike a couple weekends ago and really enjoyed it so I decided to get one for myself. My riding is mostly weekend rides with friends in the hills and countryside around North County San Diego so something sporty is what I wanted but I didn't want a full on sport bike. I also commute on it occassionally, maybe more with gas prices as high as they are-although, I can always ride my bicycle and not use any gas. 😉

Honestly, the Triumph Street Triple was the bike I really wanted but there are virtually none to be had anywhere around here except for a couple in this neon green color that I just couldn't live with. Anyway, I'll wait a couple years for the dollar to strengthen and Triumph to get their act together and start building enough of these bikes to supply the demand.

A couple things about the SV, it's a nice light bike with a great little 650cc V-Twin engine. Clutch is light and the transmission shifts easily between gears with a positive snick with each flick of your left foot. Throttle is a bit on/off and it is a tad touchy...probably just need to get the bike broken in and/or get used to it. Power is very linear and not peaky like some sport bikes. The bike is perfectly happy cuising along at anything over 3k rpms and so far I'm pretty much staying between 3-6krpms during break-in.

The brakes are very good. They will haul you down quickly with just a mild squeeze on the levers. Although I think the stock tires are mediocre at best, I'll probably keep them until they are worn and then put some Pirelli Diablo Corsas or Michelin Pilot Powers on it.

The riding position is a bit more aggressive than I'm used to and the stock seat sucks, I was uncomfortable on it after only 20 miles yesterday (I'm going to get a Corbin to replace this one). Otherwise the bike is fairly comfortable, again, coming from an old Honda CB750 there is definitely a night/day difference.

The stock exhaust is quiet...too quiet. I don't want an annoyingly loud exhaust but I would like to hear that sweet burble of the engine when I ride. I like the looks of the M4 carbon high mount exhaust. Either that or I'll just stick a Yoshimura RS-3 slip-on on there like my friend has.

Other than that I love the bike. I've taken it out on a couple rides now just to get myself familiar with it and used to it's capabilities. I've found it difficult to keep it under 5,500 rpms though during the break-in period. After 600 miles I can open it up to 8,750rpms and then after 1,000 miles I can go to 11,000rpms (I bet it wails at 11,000 rpms with that aftermarket exhaust).

I'd love to keep my old Honda but the wife doesn't want me to keep two bikes in the garage so one of them has to go...🙁
 
I considered getting a bike to drive the 6 miles to work and back ... but with the idiot drivers on the road all I see when I look at a bike is "death trap".


 
I really like the updates to the 2008 SV650 and the SV650/SF ABS is a very, very nice looking/riding/performing touring/sport bike but it though it's the leader in it's class, that has also made it relatively expensive.
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I really like the updates to the 2008 SV650 and the SV650/SF ABS is a very, very nice looking/riding/performing touring/sport bike but it though it's the leader in it's class, that has also made it relatively expensive.
Click to expand...

Expensive? I paid $6200 OTD for mine. I thought it was a relative bargain actually.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I really like the updates to the 2008 SV650 and the SV650/SF ABS is a very, very nice looking/riding/performing touring/sport bike but it though it's the leader in it's class, that has also made it relatively expensive.
Click to expand...

Expensive? I paid $6200 OTD for mine. I thought it was a relative bargain actually.
Click to expand...

Well I was looking at SV650SF ABS and those were $7400 MSRP which was part of the reason i went with a Ninja 650R. It's be nice if I could afford a SV since it looks better, performs slightly better and has ABS but that's a large difference from the 650R's $6500msrp and used models costing around $4k.
 
Nice bike. I'm jealous.

Regarding the break in, don't baby the dang thing! Those rings need some pressure to seat. There is a large contingent of people that believe in hammering their engines from mile one, and after reading about how aircraft engines are broke in, it's hard to argue - basically 3/4 power from the start. Motorcycle engine break is overly conservative to the point of possibly being damaging.
 
Originally posted by: Nessism
Nice bike. I'm jealous.

Regarding the break in, don't baby the dang thing! Those rings need some pressure to seat. There is a large contingent of people that believe in hammering their engines from mile one, and after reading about how aircraft engines are broke in, it's hard to argue - basically 3/4 power from the start. Motorcycle engine break is overly conservative to the point of possibly being damaging.
Click to expand...

Airplane engines are also rebuilt far more frequently than motorcycles or car engines and have very different life cycles and demands. Honestly, I don't think you can really compare the two.

I'll just stick with the manufacturer's recommendations. I've already hit 6k rpms a few times and I've only put 82 miles on the bike so far. It's amazing how fast it hits 6k...I feel like I'm shifting waaaay too early...which I am of course. Can't wait to really open it up.

I've been varying the throttle and giving it some juice from time to time doing short blasts at about 1/2 throttle and the brakes are wearing in perfectly.
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I really like the updates to the 2008 SV650 and the SV650/SF ABS is a very, very nice looking/riding/performing touring/sport bike but it though it's the leader in it's class, that has also made it relatively expensive.
Click to expand...

Expensive? I paid $6200 OTD for mine. I thought it was a relative bargain actually.
Click to expand...

Well I was looking at SV650SF ABS and those were $7400 MSRP which was part of the reason i went with a Ninja 650R. It's be nice if I could afford a SV since it looks better, performs slightly better and has ABS but that's a large difference from the 650R's $6500msrp and used models costing around $4k.
Click to expand...

I kind of wanted ABS but they seem to be in high demand so I just bought this one. I think the ABS naked is only $500 more so I'd be looking at $6700 OTD...if they had one that is.

Actually, the S model is cheaper than the naked if you can believe that.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: Nessism
Nice bike. I'm jealous.

Regarding the break in, don't baby the dang thing! Those rings need some pressure to seat. There is a large contingent of people that believe in hammering their engines from mile one, and after reading about how aircraft engines are broke in, it's hard to argue - basically 3/4 power from the start. Motorcycle engine break is overly conservative to the point of possibly being damaging.
Click to expand...

Airplane engines are also rebuilt far more frequently than motorcycles or car engines and have very different life cycles and demands. Honestly, I don't think you can really compare the two.

I'll just stick with the manufacturer's recommendations. I've already hit 6k rpms a few times and I've only put 82 miles on the bike so far. It's amazing how fast it hits 6k...I feel like I'm shifting waaaay too early...which I am of course. Can't wait to really open it up.

I've been varying the throttle and giving it some juice from time to time doing short blasts at about 1/2 throttle and the brakes are wearing in perfectly.
Click to expand...

I'd go with Jules on this one, while I do agree the recommended breakin period is probably overly conservative, in no way do I think it's damaging in the least.

Nice looking bike! I got my FZ6 ready for riding season this weekend, oil change, lubed the chain, etc. and took it out for a little while. Hopefully the weather around where continues to get a little warmer.
 
Originally posted by: dud
I considered getting a bike to drive the 6 miles to work and back ... but with the idiot drivers on the road all I see when I look at a bike is "death trap".
Click to expand...

ditto, except I have a nearly 30 mile commute mostly in rush hour.
 
Originally posted by: Nessism
Nice bike. I'm jealous.

Regarding the break in, don't baby the dang thing! Those rings need some pressure to seat. There is a large contingent of people that believe in hammering their engines from mile one, and after reading about how aircraft engines are broke in, it's hard to argue - basically 3/4 power from the start. Motorcycle engine break is overly conservative to the point of possibly being damaging.
Click to expand...

I didn't do the full Motoman breakin on mine, but I certainly did do a "hard" breakin. I'm of the opinion that modern bike engines are pretty hard to screw up, so whether you baby it for the first few miles or redline it, as long as you don't EVER drone at a constant RPM, you should be fine. Varying loads, RPMs, and throttle settings are key, whether you go WOT or not.

If you do a "hard" breakin, though, you have to watch your temperature management much more. You can't just ride around like a madman for hours on a brand-new engine--you need to give it a cool-down period after a short work-out period.

That 650 is a great little engine, but the Triumph 1050 is better.🙂
 
Yea, I'm not a huge proponent of the Motoman method either but I do think there is some real value here. http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

For my last new car (first one I actually purchased, and plan on keeping long term), I loaded the rings pretty aggressively - although not like Motoman suggests. The rings need pressure to seal so that's what I gave them. Keeping the rpm under xxxx like the OE break-in manual suggests does not provide the proper loadings, nore is rpm the proper gauge to determine engine load. They just put that silliness in the manual do dumb down the process.
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I really like the updates to the 2008 SV650 and the SV650/SF ABS is a very, very nice looking/riding/performing touring/sport bike but it though it's the leader in it's class, that has also made it relatively expensive.
Click to expand...

Expensive? I paid $6200 OTD for mine. I thought it was a relative bargain actually.
Click to expand...

Well I was looking at SV650SF ABS and those were $7400 MSRP which was part of the reason i went with a Ninja 650R. It's be nice if I could afford a SV since it looks better, performs slightly better and has ABS but that's a large difference from the 650R's $6500msrp and used models costing around $4k.
Click to expand...

I kind of wanted ABS but they seem to be in high demand so I just bought this one. I think the ABS naked is only $500 more so I'd be looking at $6700 OTD...if they had one that is.

Actually, the S model is cheaper than the naked if you can believe that.
Click to expand...

The S is the old model with half fairings, the SF is the new one with full and starts at $6900 for the Non ABS and $7400 for the ABS. I got my 2007 Ninja 650R for mid $5K OTD which is a better deal imo than a 2007 SV650 sine the full fairing and more upright position are important for touring and freeway riding and iclement weather since in the midwest we don't get the best riding conditions all year.
 
fender mod, yosh slips...enjoy your ride. nice little bike. I like the 1000 as it has much more grunt.

be careful....
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mwmorph
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I really like the updates to the 2008 SV650 and the SV650/SF ABS is a very, very nice looking/riding/performing touring/sport bike but it though it's the leader in it's class, that has also made it relatively expensive.
Click to expand...

Expensive? I paid $6200 OTD for mine. I thought it was a relative bargain actually.
Click to expand...

Well I was looking at SV650SF ABS and those were $7400 MSRP which was part of the reason i went with a Ninja 650R. It's be nice if I could afford a SV since it looks better, performs slightly better and has ABS but that's a large difference from the 650R's $6500msrp and used models costing around $4k.
Click to expand...

I kind of wanted ABS but they seem to be in high demand so I just bought this one. I think the ABS naked is only $500 more so I'd be looking at $6700 OTD...if they had one that is.

Actually, the S model is cheaper than the naked if you can believe that.
Click to expand...

The S is the old model with half fairings, the SF is the new one with full and starts at $6900 for the Non ABS and $7400 for the ABS. I got my 2007 Ninja 650R for mid $5K OTD which is a better deal imo than a 2007 SV650 sine the full fairing and more upright position are important for touring and freeway riding and iclement weather since in the midwest we don't get the best riding conditions all year.
Click to expand...

How's the power delivery on that engine? Is it pretty peaky? Meaning do you have to really get those revs up to get in the powerband?

That's one thing I like about the SV, it has a pretty linear torque curve so it's not like suddenly it wakes up above a certain rpm range. Although, you have to be above 4k rpms to really get into the powerband of this engine.
 
Enjoy the bike!
I own that thing's older brother...a 2005 model DL650. The engine is nice, I'd love to have the 1K's power but its hard to argue with 50mpg.
 
Great choice of bike!! I had an '04 and regret selling it.

Everything you want to know about SV650s can be found here...
http://forum.svrider.com/forums.php

and here...
http://www.socalsvriders.org/


Here are some mods I HIGHLY recommend...

"Mufflerectomy" Remove the baffle on the stock muffer. Extremely cheap, easy, and can save you the cost of an after market pipe. Sounds great too. Plenty of V-Twin thunder but MUCH quieter than an after market pipe.
http://forum.svrider.com/showt...ighlight=mufflerectomy

If you weigh more than 150lbs, look into getting stiffer springs for the front and Racetech Gold Valve emulators and dampening rods (along with the correct springs/oil) if you want to do it right.

For the rear suspension, find a ZX-6R shock of the correct year to replace the stock unit. This will require modifying the batter box and rear fender, but it is worth it. You end up with a fully adjustable rear suspension.

Getting the front and rear suspension dialed in makes a great bike, into a FANTASTIC! one.

Enjoy your SV. It is one of the best bikes out there.


 
I want that bike! The naked look is really starting to grow on me, I'd probably take it over the fairing model.
 
Originally posted by: Harabec
Enjoy the bike!
I own that thing's older brother...a 2005 model DL650. The engine is nice, I'd love to have the 1K's power but its hard to argue with 50mpg.
Click to expand...

I can argue with it, the 07+ DL650s get 4-7MPG better across the board.😉
 
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