Welcome! This site was created to provide an "unoffical" source of information regarding Suzuki SV650 and SV650S motorcycles. My primary objective is to make available views, comments and findings from actual, and potential, owners. Please feel free to contribute any information, images or personal views you have. With your input this site will continue to evolve and provide a source of non-bias information. I would hope that as the bike is made available and begins to hit the road (not literally!!) that the value of this web will increase correspondingly. Please send all email to: sv650@hotmail.com ** I will endeavour to reply to, or post, all emails but please be patient ** Info about me |
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Home | Information | Help Required | Images | Links | |
COMMENTS AND INFO | |||
17/03/99 Update to requests for information posted to Help Required here | |||
17/03/99
Thank you Mark (jeepster1220@hotmail.com) for your comments,
what distance does the manual recommend for movement in chain at mid-point? "My initial impressions are that the bike is really comfortable, the mirrors are vibration free, the left one has a clear view, and the right has a hell of a view of my shoulder! That's OK though. There seems to be a little slop in the driveline but it might just be at matter of getting used to the feel of it. I can sense the power waiting to be used but I can't wind her up for 500 miles and it's killing me. I had it up to 70 (which is about the limit staying under 5000 rpm) and it was very smooth. It only felt like I was doing around 50. I rode a friend's 1982 Suzuki gs550 and just doing 60 felt way to fast. He's giving me some grief because he's now a Harley man, but I'm very happy with what I bought. The blue is fantastic. It has some metallic in the paint, which looks very nice. The red is just solid. I'll update you when I get some more riding time under my belt". |
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17/03/99
Jock (jock.addison@dial.pipex.com) is again
querying the tyres, especially when cold. Anyone else found them to be less than grippy?
If you've changed tyres already let us know to what and how they are performing... "I managed to get out on mine on a WARM DRY day
for a change, I suppose that was summer! I've Just increased the preload on the back end
as I found it was pogoing when I was right over in 70ish corners, The engine is still improving and the top-end (RPM) tightness is starting to go now it has done 1200 miles. The tyres are the only real complaint I have - I don't know if anyone else has changed theirs for something sticker - if they have found something that suits the bike it would be good to know". |
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15/03/99
Anyone confirm Mikes ( MFAVILLE01@aol.com ) comments regarding the
difference between USA and Canadian/Euro models? Thanks Mike for this.. "I have sold my VTR1000 to get started into
road racing. I have purchased a Yellow Canadian model SV650SX from a dealer in Ontario,
Canada. I friend from Buffalo,NY USA will be road racing a US model and we began to talk.
He works at a Suzuki dealer and the technicians have just come back from training on the
SV and were told the US model has a higher output engine than the Canadian model. I wonder
if there is some truth to this rumor?? I would have thought the motors were identical. I
have heard the Canadian SX model will have a 1) TL1000 style front fairing |
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15/03/99
Thanks to Tony (ynotfix@wgn.ne) for his initial views....... "Put 250 miles on the SV today. The fuel milage averaged 41+ MPG, with equal amounts of city and canyon riding. The brakes have bedded in and work superbly. The motor is freeing up a little but is still tight and it will be awhile before it's ready to run hard. This bike handles! I'm able to carry a lot of corner speed without feeling like I am pushing the chassis. All in all I'm very happy with my SV". |
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12/03/99
Some interesting info from James (jaymz@cheshdatasys.co.uk) on the fuel range and
light... "Just thought I'd let everyone know that the fuel light appears to be quite acurate. I ran mine from a full tank and after doing about 155 miles the light came on solid, I filled up and it took just over 14.5 litres to fill up. So that means that it had just under 1.5 litres left. I don't think 48mpg is too bad." James - you got 155 miles before the light came on, I take it this is running in milage because I wouldn't have thought you'd get that many miles during 'normal' riding once past the run-in period? Let me know if you can...thanks. |
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12/03/99
An update on her SV650 from Sharon (Sharon_Kerick@tivoli.com) - Thanks, keep 'em
coming.. "I was just
checking your site for updates. Saw some of the questions (here) and
thought I'd answer a few: |
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12/03/99
Thanks to Michael (michael.killingback@virgin.net) for these
snippets from the March issue of Top Gear magazine: "It may not have the groin-grabbing get-up-and-go of the four-cylinder multis, but it wins hands down when it comes to handling and looks" "While the SV is not as fast as the Fazer or Hornet, its turn of speed is still more than adequate on the road and the 90-degree Vee's low-rev thud is an enticing alternative" "The Suzuki's handling scores high
marks. It turns and tracks through corners with the agility of a race replica...On the
twisting roads of Tenerife, where the SV was launched, it was light and flickable" I wouldn't be too bothered about vibration at 125mph - concentrating on not hitting anything would be higher up my list of priorities!! |
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10/03/99 New link added here | |||
09/03/99 Update to requests for information posted to Help Required here | |||
09/03/99
Mark (jeepster1220@hotmail.com) has kindly sent these
snippets from the April issue of Motorcyclist magazine... "I just picked up the newest (April) issue of Motorcyclist magazine and they did a small review of the SV650. I'll give you a couple of quotes the writer had on the bike. Basically, in a test ride, the author (Gregory V. Mcquide) said "I flicked Suzuki's new for 99 v-twin SV650 up a tight mountain road and watched its big brother- a TL 1000R - fall farther and farther behind in my mirrors. Where the big bike tiptoed cautiously, the sv650 screamed away at 10,000 rpm and never looked back". As far as the mirrors go, the author thought they were slightly cheesy looking but well placed and buzz free. Overall, the magazine review had nothing but good to say about the bike. In another paragraph the author states, "Midrange is not this v-twin's strong point; cracking the throttle open below 7000 rpm produces usable but less than exciting acceleration. Keep it spinning between 7000 and the 10,500 rpm red-limiter, however, and the SV leaps forward like a rabid terrier, snapping up cars, cruisers, and bits of road like ratty rubber chew toys" Cool... I'll keep you posted when I pick mine up. Mark" Thanks for that Mark. |
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08/03/99 More requests for information posted to Request & Help here | |||
08/03/99
Jock (jock.addison@dial.pipex.com) has supplied
another update...thanks very much! This is the 'real world' information that we all want
to know....o "Hi Kev, Managed to make the trip (528 miles there and back) on Thursday / Friday - still chipping off the ice!!!! The bike went well on the Thursday cruising at 80 (ish) into a strong headwind with no problems. I fitted a Scottoiler just before I set off - I couldn't find anywhere decent to put it as I was a bit pushed for time so it has ended up under the pillion seat, if anyone knows a better place to put it (keep it clean!) then let me know. The trip back on the Friday was a bit of a
nightmare as it rained, snowed or hailed for the first 170 odd miles and managed to freeze
bits I didn't know I had! The SV had it's first problem with carb-icing (or at least I
think it was that - it may have been salt/crap & water in the electric's) after about
100 miles of grief. This wasn't a The symptoms disappeared once it had dried out / warmed up a bit. The fairing was a godsend as once above 75 it manages to keep the wind off your hands and at least some of the worst of the wet stuff away from the rest of you (feet excluded). The radiator pipe is also a good hand warmer! Running in is now out of the way and the
engine seems to have enough go in it for loads of laughs once things dry out. I have only
managed to get out on it a couple of times when it's been dry and it certainly goes round
the twisties with no trouble. The finish on the rest of the bike is holding up at the
moment although Jock." |
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08/03/99
Received this email from Nick....take a look
at his idea for an underseat exhaust system..I want one, it looks great!!!
(In fact I'd like a bike to put it on first....I'm still
waiting...aarrgghh) "My
name is Nick Walther from Holland and just started riding my new motorcycle I'm thinking of some small modifications on the bike, like a race muffler (hope i don't get trouble with my neighbours), a cover on the duo seat, placing smaller turnlights and removing the grabend. I would like to ask if anyone knows if
there exist a muffler for under the seat (Ducati like) A digital design I've made will i send with
this mail, hope you like it, but i will understand that some people See that design here (177K)!! |
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04/03/99 Can anyone answer Stians questions about removing the fairing from an Norwegian S model? See the requests page for further details. | |||
04/03/99
SV650S spares prices (pounds
sterling) figures taken from MotorCycle News, 24 February 1999:
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FUEL TANK: LOWER FAIRING (right hand): FRONT INDICATOR (right hand): FRONT BRAKE LEVER: MIROR (right hand): SILENCER: |
£237.09 £92.94 £24.71 £30.34 £41.21 £543.26 |
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04/03/99
SV650S performance figures taken from
MotorCycle News, 24 February 1999:
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TOP SPEED: STANDING 1/4 MILE: FUEL CONSUMPTION - AVERAGE: FUEL CONSUMPTION - BEST: FUEL CONSUMPTION - RIDDEN HARD: TANK RANGE: |
125mph 13.2s @ 109mph 38mpg 44mpg 32mpg 133miles |
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04/03/99 Can anyone answer Dwaynes questions about importing from Canada into the USA and valve adjustment periods? See the requests page for more info. | |||
01/03/99 Two new links to riders homepages have been added here. | |||
23/02/99
Jock is keeping the updates coming as he puts
on the miles. Has anyone else experienced these problems yet? Let us know..... "Just thought I would let you have my latest findings: The MEZ4's are completely useless when cold! I have dropped 3psi out of the front tyre in the hope that the extra movement would generate extra heat and it has helped a bit but you have to be VERY careful with them until they are warm as they don't give much feedback. I will probably change the front for a MEZ3 shortly (unless the weather improves!) as the 4 is more a sports touring tyre than a sports and I don't think the SV has enough weight to work it hard when the ambient temp is low. The back is fine as it does manage to get some heat during normal running. The general finish is fine but a couple of areas are suffering on mine: The starter motor case, The finish on these is very thin and seems to disappear in about 30 secs! I have covered them in grease for now but will look around for a better solution. The engine is just getting better and better as the miles add up and the gearchange problems have almost gone altogether, this only happens now when the engine is hot (i.e. if you have to wait at roadwork's etc.) and as soon as it is back to normal it is fine. I am planning on doing a 600 mile trip next
Thursday so I'll let you know how it goes (that should finish off the running in -
HOOORAAAAAAAY!!!!) and how comfy it is over longish trips. |
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22/02/99
NOTICE TO ALL -- My ISP has moved this web space to a "Resource
Limited Server" as it is now serving more than 25Mb per day. What this means in
practice is that you may see a degredation of response times. Demon Internet quote: "It is necessary for the site to generate less than 25Mbytes of data transfer to non-Demon hosts every day during the last 7 days of a calendar month. If your site was moved during the last 7 days of this month, then next month will be used for this calculation. When your usage does drop in this way, your site will be automatically moved back on the first day of the next month". I do not pay for dedicated web space with Demon and can not offord to do so. I will try to resolve this situation and will keep you updated. I also plan to redesign the web when I have some spare time so that it appears more professional and slightly less "home-brew" (which it is!!). If you have any ideas or suggestions for the revised web please let me know. Thanks, Kevin. |
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22/02/99
Thanks to ML (mikaline@netcom.com) for this. Why Suzuki can
not just simply offer the faired model in the USA is still not clear to me.... "I complained to Suzuki that we ain't got the SV650 in
California ... They do say "Most Suzuki dealers
across the United States have already received the allocated shipments of the
SV650X," so the X is not just California, or they're really SNAFU'd. |
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22/02/99
Peter (peten@pacpac.com)
has supplied more information regarding import of Canadian SV's into the USA: "Here is some more info that I have been sending out
to interested parties: |
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22/02/99
Thanks to Maarten (maarten@hekkelman.com) for this update on his new
bike: "You asked several
questions about the sv650s on your website. Here is some It's a pity to hear the mirrors are not much use. I'm 6' 1" and have trouble with my CB500S mirrors at the moment, seems like I can expect worse to come..... |
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22/02/99
Thanks to RRoman111@aol.com
for this information: "Thanks
for your site. It helped me quite a bit with my decision to buy an
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18/02/99 Request for information posted to Request & Help here | |||
17/02/99 I have a new email account, please use sv650@hotmail.com in future - thanks. | |||
17/02/99 Request for information posted to Request & Help here | |||
17/02/99
Here's a few comments from readers giving
initial reactions and other information. Thanks to 'Jock' for this... " I hope your dealer manages to get
hold of one for you soon, it drove me I have only managed to clock up a hundred
or so miles since I picked it up - skidding The bike starts fine in cold weather and
doesn't seem to ice the carbs (seems to be a normal first recall job to fit heaters on
most new designs of bike!) but the firing If you do manage to get the tyres even
slightly warm then you can certainly I'll let you know more after I have managed
to bed it in a bit. "Picked up my SV650S today, and I must
say this bike is awesome. Great |
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15/02/99
It seems that quite a few of you are now
taking delivery of your new machines (even if in the UK they won't be registered until
March 1st). An email describing what you think of the bike after spending your hard earned cash would be welcomed. Does it meet your expectations? Does it meet other peoples? What about those 'little' things that matter i.e. do the mirrors work, is the side-stand easy to use, could you fit more than a box of matches in the storage compartment? You know the sorts of things...... Also, what's the official line with regard to running-in period (& max revs) and service intervals? Thanks NB..All emails received will be liable for posting on this page unless specifically stated otherwise. |
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15/02/99 New link to SV650 registry located here. This could be a useful source of contacts and data if enough people record their details. I've not used this facility before although it appears to be free for the SV650. So far there's only one entry recorded. | |||
10/02/99 New images located at page START here | |||
10/02/99
SUPERBIKE (MARCH issue) magazine. The reviews are coming thick and fast now. The main points from the Superbike review are posted below: ".......But let's introduce something that isn't awful: Suzuki's little SV650. Its a bang-up-for-it toylike middleweight which (like it's Bandit cousin) makes more sense in its naked guides than with a fairing. This is because Suzuki have stuck an extra tooth on the rear sprocket of the nudie version so the bike feels more alert and alive everywhere across it's 9,500prm rev range, and although the spex say the half-dress version only carries 4kg more, it feels a good deal greater than that". "Handling on the SV is excellent for a budget superbike (superbike??), very freindly and forgiving with no surprises anywhere". "It's dead stable on the lean and you can scrape the pegs away through the Metzeler MEZ4 tyres with absolute confidence". Of the suspension...."Front and rear are competely unadjustable save for rear preload, which is a bit of a swine since the forks (under heavy braking and - probably - track action) are pretty soft, although the trade-off for this is that it takes a bump the size of Mt Vesuvius to upset the steering midlean". Riding the twisty roads of Tenerife....."showed the SV650S up to be really neutral and where you needed to just chuck it in that extra 5 degree's to make the turn, she'd do it. This is an inherently good trait for a bike which will - after all - be bought and ridden by birds and newcomers in equal measure". Of the engine...."Suzuki have achieved an excellent balance between lumpy V-twin throttle response and overrev, so while the SV is most happy lugging things around between 5-7000rpm it'll also keep spinning all the way to the top if you're in hurtle mode. You can pop her down three through the gearbox and really make it howl or hold a gear for longer through a corner. Useable, useable. As with the chassis, so with the motor". In conclusion...."...and certainly the Monster 600 - which is the SV's immediate competitor - is dead in the water next to the Suzuki. Although having said that, it is a Ducati and you can never underestimate the power of Italian Lust over prospective buyers. The SV is ever such a friendly bike which will be a huge part of its appeal with the people who are its intended market. With a top speed of around 130mph it's also got enough performance for those very same riders when they start winding it on. Cheap, good looking, loadsa colour schemes and faired or maked versions. So long as you're not expecting a smaller version of the firey TL1000S, you can't go too wrong. Go for the naked version and work on your wheelies, that's my advice". The article also confirmed that Suzuki have a one make race series for the SV650S running in France and Italy for 1999. |
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09/02/99
'Rob' is the first I've heard of in the UK to
get hold of an SV: "I
had my SV650S delivered on Friday (5th), another yellow one. I wish! |
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08/02/99
Thanks to 'Bill' for this snippet - I'm not up
on mechanics so I'm not going to argue.. "You quoted the following from BIKER magazine, February 1999: So am I Bill. |
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08/02/99 Thanks to 'Peter Neilson' for the information posted in the Request & Help section here - is Peter the first to get hold of an SV? | |||
08/02/99 Thanks to 'Mark', 'Robert' and 'Mani' for the link to the 2WF review here (although why is the bike called a SV650X - anyone know?) | |||
08/02/99 Thanks to 'S E Young' for the link to exhaust and end can info here | |||
04/02/99 New section added for Request & Help here | |||
03/02/99 New images located at page end here | |||
03/02/99
BIKER (FEB issue) magazine. I spotted this 4 page review in the UK 'Biker' magazine. The article was quite technical and talked on engine and frame specifications but it also had comments worth mentioning below. The main points and quotes from the article, are: "The 90 degree V-twin engine is small enough to run smoothly without a balance shaft, enabling Suzuki to keep the engine light and compact. It also means no horsepower loss to a balance shaft". "The engine is too small to provide that thumping V-twin feel, it's more of a buzz than a series of big bangs. there is no vibration to speak of". With regard to the gearbox the tester had written in his notes "just one word - sweet". Riding position - "The S, or sport model, has a sportier feel when first climbing aboard. The riding position is halfway between sportsbike and standard, with clip-on bars just like any modern sports bike but with footpegs set in a more conservative 'standard' position. The result is a good balance between sporty and comfortable, with enough weight on the bars to feel what's going on at the front end without folding the rider into a crouch. The half fairing provides a surprising degree of protection from wind-blast". While the article stated that the bars on the unfaired model have a "classic curve, much like an old UK spec Bonneville" and provided extra leverage around the twisty Tenerife roads the S model "feels just that little bit more secure at the front, especially when hard on the brakes downhill". Commenting on the SV650 the tester rider claims "My last ride, on the unfaired model, was a 50 mile up and down a very tight hair-pin strewn mountain road. By the time I had ridden up and down the road I had a grin so wide it barely fitted inside my Suomi helmet". The test rider also claimed that only one other test rider at the launch complained of brake fade during the test but that "even after reapeated downhill runs where the brakes worked hard they didn't let me down for a minute". Comments regarding the overall finish were encouraging - "the finished article is very pleasing to the eye, in any of the four colourways we were shown - black, red, blue or yellow. The bike looks compact but stylish, it also looks well put together - it doesn't have a budget feel about it that afflicts some other 'budget' bikes. To sum up - "The SV is the correct displacement, the right physical size and looks just right for the market it's aimed at. It's no hyper-sprts-bike but who needs it when they have limited 'flying' time under their belt? Instead it provides usable performance combined with user-freindly handling". "It would be unfair to look at it as merely a stepping stone to better things, a transitional stage in a riders career. Many riders might find they enjoy the bike so much that they won't feel the need to make that step up to a bigger bike". "I think Suzuki are onto a winner; the March registration figures will confirm this". |
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21/01/99
RiDE (FEB issue) magazine. RiDE this months gives over 5 pages to the lanch of the SV. The main points and quotes from the article, are: The engine is "whisper-quiet without a hint of the famous V-twin boom to be found in the outpourings of Italian equivalents". This is a pity, hopefully some after market end cans and systems may appear on the market. I read last week that Suzuki Italy are preparing a race version of the 650S - interesting. The power delivery is "more of a purr than a growl, but aside from some very low-speed lumpiness, it revs cleanly right through to the redline - not bad for a carburated V-twin". The power starts at 4000rpm, kicks in at 6000rpm and carries on until 11,500rpm. You don't have to cane the bike to get the best from it. "There's enough midrange to cruise happily and it seldon needs more than a single downchange for brisk overtaking". Top speed is 125mph and it will cruise at 90mph. "The SV650 doesn't ride a massive torque wave like the TL1000S but it's no puny weakling either". The chassis is good enough to leave a Bandit for dead down a twisty road and the alloy frame is "beautifully made". Again, comments are made about the very good handling and the ease of cornering. Ground clearance is good with nothing touching down, even around the twisty Tenerife roads. Brakes. The brakes "may look basic but work well, pulling the bike up pretty sharpish and without fuss. There isn't tons of feel but at this price you can't have everything". The SV650S's steering lock "makes U-turns a minor nightmare, especially as sub-2000rpm the power delivery is lumpy". When a pillion is carried the handling "goes to pot". "Finish isn't bad for a budget bike. The exhaust is stainless steel, most of the chassis is alloy and only some cheap-looking fasteners and a rough finish on the inside of the fairing let it down". On the question of the unprotected engine it was said that although most of the cooling pipes had been hidden within the engine casing there were still bits of wiring dangling in the way of flying crud. I'm sure there was dangling wiring from the starter motor on the bike they had to sit on at the NEC bike show last November. VERDICT: "Excellent budget performance. Let's hope the finish will survive winter". |
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20/01/99 New link added - see below | |||
15/01/99 Another new image here | |||
15/01/99 One more new image here | |||
13/01/99 New images here | |||
12/01/99
BIKE (FEB issue) magazine. A 4 page review (2 pages of photo's) of the SV performed at the bike launch in Tenerife last month. BIKE rate the SV highly and give an overall summing up as, "plus points for braking, weight and looks (faired)", while assigning minus points for "power and looks (unfaired)". It is strange that BIKE say the brakes are "excellent for a bike of this type, too. They are plenty powerful without an initial bite that could catch out a novice or panic braker. These are the brakes I reckon Honda were aiming for with the Hornet, but missed. Use them hard and the back will skip into corners as the v-twin engine braking unsettles the rear, but otherwise it's as composed as the Hornet". Compare this with the slating the brakes got by the test rider of MCN - odd. The SV stands for Suzuki Vee whereas TL, as in TL1000, stands for Suzuki L-shape v-twin (or so they say). The articles does state that the SV will not be in the same power league as the in-line fours but then again it is 30kg lighter than a Bandit so the power comparisons don't reveal all at first glance. Keep the engine in the 8000 - 9000rpm range and apparently it makes decent progress but "would not satisfy a craving for arm-stretching surge". Praise was directed towards the way the SV pulls strongly from low in the rev range, making relaxed riding easy. Cornering is a doddle and all articles I have read so far agree that the handling is very good with the unfaired model being slightly better at tipping in and accelerating slighty faster due to an extra tooth on the rear sprocket. Suzuki wil be introducing an initial batch of 180 bikes in the UK, many of which were ordered at the NEC show in November 1998 so getting hold of an early bike may prove difficult (guess who's going to call his friendly dealer in the morning?? I placed an order before Christmas but wouldn't be surprised if I have to wait - not too long I hope). In summary the bikes cost £4274 (unfaired) and £4574 (faired), they weigh in at 164kg and 169kg and push out 70bhp @ 9000rpm, equalling torque of 45lb-ft @ 7400rpm. Kevin. |
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05/01/99
FASTBIKES magazine "The redline`s marked at 13,000rpm but no chance of getting there as the limiter cuts in at 11,500rpm. Major service intervals every 15,000 miles, Insurance in the CB500 bracket and a unique bike thats fun to ride, easy to use and incredibly competently built". Thanks to Nelly for this info. |
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30/12/98
Motor Cycle News MCN featured the first road test of the SV650/S and the main points reported by them were:
The report concluded that the handling was very good but that the engine lacked power and the brakes were lacking. In my experience MCN reporting leaves a lot to be desired and often I find that they will review a bike at one point in time and then later on report about it with almost completely differing views. I await test reports from BIKE and RIDE magazines for a more balanced review. |
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Visit these sites for other SV650 related information: | |||
http://www.suzuki.is/1999/images/sv650pictures.htm | |||
http://chappell.ca/sv650 | Rob Chappells slick site | ||
The Stratten site |
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(SV racing) |
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(SV650 registry) |
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http://www.2wf.com/html/bikes/latesttest/SV650/sv650.shtml | |||
http://www.twobros.com/sv650/sv650.html | (Exhaust & end cans) |
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http://userdata.acd.net/stratten/sv650.html | |||
http://www.jsb.co.jp/suzuki/99munich/SV650SX/ | |||
http://www.suzukicycles.com/sr_99/sportstreet/crsv650.htm | |||
http://www.suzuki.is/1999/sv650.htm | |||