CURRENT POSTINGS  FOR  OCTOBER  2000 

My name is Souchan.  I have a SUZUKI SV400('98).  I want to link to your web site from Kochi, Japan.

http://www2.inforyoma.or.jp/~souchan/index.htm 

Yes, a 400 version of the SV was released in Japan a year earlier than elsewhere. I first read a one page review in Bike magazine on the SV and it was a 400. It was along wait for the 650 to appear in Feb/Mar 1999 but, as you all know, well worth it....

I'm interested in the Technical Drawings gifs which you have in catalog 7 (disengo_XX.gif). I think they would be great as part of a montage for my PC  wallpaper. The resolution is a bit low. Do you have the originals of know where they were from? I imagine they were originally vector files which were rastered into GIF format.

I've included a picture of me SVS. Absolutely bog standard so not very for the web site.       Never mind, let's post P8260009_Bike.jpg

If anyone knows the source of the files in question please let me know......

I'm Back With some news from the BT010, K&N filter and very useful cheaper front brake lever.

The BT010 are holding out very well, I did 1000Km and the rear lost 1 mm and the front lost 0,8 mm. The handling still is like in the beginning, they stick to the ground like I told you in the previous mail.

I asked my dealer for some information for the K&N filter for the UK.  It should be available. There is one small problem , I could take up to 4 weeks for delivery, I have to wait some 3 more weeks.

Last thursday I had to lay my bike on it's side, I slipped with the font wheel during braking on some stones on the road. I was able to stop the bike, but  it was leaning over to much. The only thing that is damaged on the bike is the font brake lever and some very small scratches on the lower fearing. The BOS exhaust has no damage at all. The front brake lever has broken, so it is time for a new one. I asked my SUZUKI dealer for the price and is was 2500BEF (1£=67BEF). I also asked a KAWASAKI Dealer ( a friend of mine) and the new ZX9R got the same and it only costs 1950 BEF. That is 1/5 less.

The last item could be useful to you all if you need parts , try to find some other bikes and dealers that are cheaper.

If you are interested and the readers to we could gather information on parts from other brands or bikes that are cheaper. Yep, if I get enough I'll post a list...

I had a standard 99 sv650 that I just traded in on a red 01 sv650s (being that the S is available over here now). I really liked the old sv but I love the S. 

One of the biggest differences that i have noticed is the handling. The new bike just gives you so much more confidence. I  relate this to the clipons versus the handle bars, but it makes all the difference in the world. Just tonite I was riding at one of my favorite spots and there was a 929 and a zx7r there. They would get me in the straits of course, but I could carey more speed in the corners (peg scrapin all the way trough one of the turns ON THE MeZ4's). Don't get  me wrong, the unfaired sv was a blast, but the S is what I really had wanted all along.

(PS..thanks for the complements)

Just wanted you to know that, Two Brothers Racing, has handlebar risers that will work great for the SVS. You can see them at www.twobros.com 

My name Is Dale Walker. I own Holeshot Performance products. 

I have started on a few new items for the SV and I did not want to just jump on your web site and fire away with info. I have a new trick fly screen at this time, and am about to come out with a really nice fork brace that will be black anodized. I will be working on exhaust systems, fender eliminator and some body parts this winter. The SV is just a wonderful bike and like everyone just have a blast riding it.

I have yet to start production of the new fork brace and wanted to let a few owners know about it first. I will have photos on my web site of the prototype in the next 2 weeks. I will have photos up of the ZRX 1100 brace by Friday and its really close to the SV design so they could also take a peak at that one.

If I get some interest from SV owners I'd be glad to go into production on the brace at this time.

Any way I found your neat site so I thought I would contact you. thanks...

If you're interested in what's on offer get in touch with Dale...

Thought you might like to see my 00 SV in Daytona amongst all the Harleys last weekend for Biketoberfest. The SV did just fine, numerous compliments, outperformed them all on the highways going there (from ft. Lauderdale)  and on A1A coming back, lost out big time when it came to roaring noise and loud pipes though. The bike was perfectly comfortable for the 4 hours on the interstate (70 to 100 mph) and on the 9 hour leisurely ride home on A1A.

Luggage system was a matching blue backpack bungee netted to the back seat LOL, worked perfectly, cost $16. The wind on the highway is barely a factor to me, contrary to what most people seem to report. I can go all out for as long as desired, no feeling of getting blown off at all. Of course it's not as calm as a fully faired bike at high speed though. It's probably because of my heavy weightlifting regimen and weighing 220 lbs. In fact, here in south Florida where its almost always hot and humid, the wind is a positive factor for enjoying the bike, sort of like makeshift air conditioning. Don't need a fairing or windshield here (except maybe for the bug deflection). Keep up the great website and thanks for all your efforts.

Steve_on_Main_Street.jpg      Steve_in_Daytona.jpg      Steve_and_Girl.jpg      pic4_2.jpg (nice...)     pic5_2.jpg

We don't know if you heard about us. Wild Hair Accessories offers a wide variety of accessories for the SV 650. We are specialized in accessories from Germany.

We offer Belly Pans, Fairings, Rear Sets, Seats, Seat Cowlings, Exhaust Systems, Rear Huggers, Under Seat Trays, Chain Guards and other Cool Stuff. Check out our web page www.whaccessories.com or go direct to the SV 650 page www.whaccessories.com/SV%20650%20Accessories.htm

We offer a 10% discount for motorcycle club members. If you could give us a link that would be greatly appreciated.   will do...

Irfan Berk, Wild Hair Accessories

This is Wayne I have a blue 1999 sv650 with the Powerbronze fairing.

A few weeks ago I figured out a great way to eliminate my fender for free. After that I decided to make a website so that everyone would know. I took pictures as I eliminated my dads fender. Well to get to the point this morning I made the website. I haven't added all of the bells and whistles but I think that it has everything you need to know.

Please take a look at it and added a link to your site if you can. The address is www.geocities.com/fenderbegone 

here are some photos of my SV.  Thanx for the site.

p0002679.jpg      p0002680.jpg      p0002681.jpg

I just wanted to send a pic of my bicycle meter. Great thing to have to measure the exact speed, average speed, clock etc etc. It's a SigmaSport BC800.  Thanks for a great site.

hojmatare_1.jpg

Just wanted to let you know in case you didn't already, that the SVS is now in the US. 

A local dealer has a red and a blue and i was told that these were the only two colors offered here. I ride an rf600rr now but love V-twins. I really wanted a Honda hawk (nt650) but all the ones i looked at were trashed. I will be thinking about selling the rf600  this spring in order to buy a SVS. Love the site,  you'll love the SV too..

It's me again, with some excellent news, I just visited my dealer and ordered a K&N replacement filter. Do you know if they're available in the UK too?

I should have it by the end of next week he told me. I'll let you know what  it costs and if I have to change something on the carbs.

I did change the rear tire too, I can lean more and faster than with the metz or the BT56. If you need to have fun and want to stick to the road, you 'll have to get a BT010. I did a front wheelie on wet roads, this shows that they are the best and they are the same price as the BT56. I asked a friend of mine to see how deep I got and he told me that I almost touched the ground with the pegs. That time the ground was cold and a little bit slippery, I got just half a centimeter left that I didn't use on the left side, the right side has more, I was afraid that I would damage the BOS exhaust system.

I'll keep my promise to report to you from every 1000km an I'll let you know haw the K&N Filter does. OK..I'll be here...

I read the instructions for changing the fork oil in the FAQ section of this site, which seem to be - ahem - a bit overcomplicated (removing the fork legs and stuff). 

I just undid the 8 mm hex bolts on the bottom of the fork (you´ll have to remove front wheel and axle) and drained the oil by pumping the legs after removing the fork caps. Sounds a bit easier to me. Are there differences in the fork of the UK models (I shouldn´t think so)? 

One thing I noticed: If you unscrew the front fender, you don´t have to remove the brake calipers (are they called so?) from the fork legs to extract the wheel. You just twist the fork legs slightly and the wheel comes free. I personally feel more confident messing with the fender than with the brakes. Just make sure they are aligned properly after reinstalling the fender. 

BTW: I´m trying lighter oil than the new 15W20 as the bike seems to get a bit jumpy on high-speed bumps (overdamped I guess). 

I read the piece on the site about 6'2" 1st time rider and felt he had it spot on.

I'm 6'3" and I find it really quite comfortable. If the weight on your hands gets a bit much sit up a bit and a bit of the wind blast takes some of the weight. I wouldn't try it over c. 90 mph if you're this size because it gives the poor girl a bit of a gentle wobble to the front as the front lightens up - nothing much to worry about but it might get worse the faster you go.

I just did a blast from the Wirral (near Liverpool for the unenlightened) to Brands and back for the world superbikes. I've never seen the M1 so quiet as midnight on a Saturday. I found if you stick your bum right to the back of the seat and lean on the trusty Oxford tank bag then over 1** thingamies per hour is quite stable and comfortable. There's only about 115 miles to the light, doing that though - so be warned!

I also discovered the joys of a pillion for the first time. Taking my brother (he ain't heavy...) down to the racing was a little intimidating at first through the London traffic, but it quickly got better. Any squirming (yes bro' - I noticed!) instantly had big results as he's 13 stones+ and its a small bike. By the time I'd done the trickling down to the circuit and out again I thought I'd cracked it. I may have even got him to consider an svs for himself.

No pictures I'm afraid as we remembered the camera but not the film...........!

There are a couple of a trip onto Wales + Llangollen.    llangollen1.jpg      llangollen2.jpg           

Ah...the Ponderosa on the Horseshoe Pass at Llangollen, about 10 minutes from me and about two minutes from one of my favourite roads, the A5104 towards Corwen - see Multimap for the road and lots of Welsh place names!

Bike: svs 2000, scottoiler under the seat, NWS hugger. Bridgestone BT020's(just gone on). I want a fender extender, a double bubble screen and someone to tell me where I can get a decent belly pan in the U.K. (powerbronze one looks poop).

Thanks for all the useful stuff and pics coming out of the site. Nice to have met you down in Birmingham at the meet. (I'm the one who's wife bought him the bike...) we'll do it all again in 2001....

Just thought I'd e-mail you to let you know of a problem I have just had on my UK '99 SV-S. Previously I have had big problems with the main 30A fuse blowing. This was
eventually traced to a short in my heated grips. Once disconnected the problem was solved....and I now get cold hands! Then I had a problem with the 15A fuse for the
dashboard blowing. It blew twice in a row and then seemed to correct itself.

That was until I took the bike in for its 11K service. Then it subsequently blew the same fuse 4 or 5 times. This was traced back to the main wiring loom that runs under the main seat had been rubbed by the seat bolt and had worn straight through the insulation. Luckily this was fixed after a one and a half hour delay.

Anyone else had a similar problem? yes...see the 19th June for similar comments..  make sure you protect the wiring loom there and behind the rear quarter panel as it can rub there too..good solution is to enclose wiring inside a piece of cut bicycle inner tube

I have also heard that the latest SV-S model has had a mod on the front cylinder spark plug cap to stop the problem of rain causing the bike to go onto one cylinder. Is this correct, as I have had serious water problems on my SV? (I intend to get Suzuki to change it under warrantee.) I don't know if it's been modified but quite a few have had water/mud fouling the front spark plug and many , including me, have fitted a fenda extenda to the from mudguard to try to ease the problem (I haven't experienced it...yet...)

I asked my dealer and they told me that the K&N filter is in development at the moment. It could be that the K&N filters be developed and be able to buy them from a dealer from january. I sure hope that it would be so.

I got my new front tyre last Saturday, a BT010. It is a hell of an improvement than the standard MEZ4, they are TOOOOOOOOOOO hard. I did do 14500KM with the MEZ4's. The rear tyre will be changed next Saturday, it will be a BT010 to. Hopefully it will be dry that day to so that I could ride it in. I'll let you know how much rubber comes off eatch 1000KM okelidoky. This way everybody will be able to read and know how it handles.

See ya next time and keep up the GOOD work.

Wanted: 1999 or 2000 SV650 tank. I don't care what color it is, going to ave it painted anyway. Minor dent's maybe ok.

ALSO WANTED....ANY PARTS WANTED IN UK - Contact David (Stubbs@vcable.co.uk) if you can help out...

I need various parts for a blue SVS. Please E-Mail me if you have any bits for sale.

I took my SVS in for its service today and they have the new 2001 SVs in. It is being labeled as SV650S K1. The rims are back to the grey/silver colour and the
only other significant changes are to the colours. They are now the same as the rest of the Suzuki colour range. Yellow is like GSXR yellow, and red and blue
are richer, exactly the same as the Bandit colours. Priced at £4945.

According to official Suzuki figures, not released to the public, the old 99 red is still the fastest though. what? fastest selling? it's can't be the fastest in performance terms...why would it be any different to any other colour?

http://sv650.de/images/seitere_2.JPG
http://sv650.de/images/lenkerli_2.JPG
http://sv650.de/images/sv650s_close.jpg

all gleaned off  http://www.sv650.de/

I like the sv650x which ive had from new for a few months and find the web site good in general but Im really discouraged at the moment as my bike is in at a Suzuki dealer being looked at under warranty . Ive looked around at various sites and have found so many possible causes of this problem (backfire/ignitionprob/missfiring....usually under load whilst on the go and often when opening up on accelerator.). The possible causes I've found cover everything from water in fuel to ignitor ,battery, battery leads and various switches. What is really worrying is that the dealer has replaced the ignition coil and adjusted a fuel pipe (possible kink) and the problem is persisting. The mechanic happened to "let-out" that mine is the 4th. bike at the moment with this problem (...that he is dealing with). I know its a budget bike but it has been on the market for long enough now for solutions to be made.

Is there any advice you can give cos quite frankly I far i'm not going to have the patience to go through a lenghly action on this having had a lot of trouble with a kwak er500 as my last bike .(IT took me 4-5 months to get some cracks in the engine casing sorted under warranty). 

I had put 15,900 miles on my SV so it was time to check the valves and change the coolant. One of the things on my list was to modify the front carb vacuum nipple per the "how to" posted by Bruce Brodnax on Aug. 9. This was accomplished easily and made synchronizing a snap. The manual has you remove the carbs, attach the carb stix, remount the carbs, balance the carbs, reremove the carbs to take the carb stix off, and then remount the carbs! This fix eliminated that process. Hats off to Bruce again. (I e-mailed him already to thank him).

What I found during valve clearance inspection: intakes were all at .006in. - right in the middle of the range. (.004-.008), and the exhaust valves were all at .008in. - at the tight end of the range. (.008-.012). I'm anxious to hear if anyone has similar or different results at their 1st check. (I'm really curious if the exhausts were always at the tight end of the adjustment range).

If you have the figure for your engine at 15000 miles please let Mike know...

I saw your post in the FAQ section of www.sv650.org...

I'm also 6ft 2in and I passed my DAS only 3 weeks ago (the first time I ever sat on a bike was 2 weeks before that for my CBT) - and I've been riding my sv650s to work and back everyday since then, (and I don't feel like doing much work today so If I send you my advice, it'll look like I'm typing a lengthy report or something!)...

It's been great as a beginners bike for me: although it's not as highly powered as a straight sports bike, or even it's trad bike rivals (Fazer, Hornet, Bandit) in horsepower terms, but being a V Twin it has loads of  low down torque so is very forgiving when pulling away, going through town etc. This also is good news in insurance terms...

It's true that you have to work the gears a bit, particularly when slowing down as being a twin rather than a four it can be a bit clunky at low revs, so it's not perfect, but the extra torque when pulling away I find far more useful as a new rider. (fewer embarassing stalls etc.!)

it's also recognised as being one of the finest handling bikes around (from magazine tests and many people in the sv650org forum). I've found it very forgiving especially as I'm still learning about cornering, braking,  low speed filtering in traffic etc... So although I've had a few scary moments (locking both wheels when a car changed lanes in front of me in the wet, braking and locking the back brake in a slippery underpass mid corner at about 30mph, sliding the front on a drain cover etc.) I've recovered 
each time and felt much more confident afterwards now that I know what these things feel like and that these things aren't always terminal! (Touch wood). I think this is down to the bike's forgiving handling.

My SV is the faired "S" model which has lower "clip on" bars (and several other mods such as firmer suspension, different gearing etc. to the unfaired model) and I did suffer a little with aching shoulders, neck and wrists  at first. From what people tell me this is completely normal for any bike that has a more sporty position. As I've got stronger and more used to it, it's not a problem anymore. And a lot of it was due to being tense as I wasn't so confident at first. If you do find you suffer at first, relax your grip on the bars and be conscious of not leaning your weight on your arms too often (it's great for those stomach muscles!).

If you go for the unfaired SV, I think the position is more upright so  you should be fine. Seat height, peg position etc. have all been fine and very comfortable even with my long legs. Only major thing is if I wear big boots with thick soles (i.e. Cat boots with a fat toecap) using the brakes and gears can be harder work, as my toes
point more vertically down than someone with shorter legs and the toecap and sole get in the way when reaching for the pedals.... But as long as I wear proper bike boots or thinner soled/toed boots it's no problem at all (I'd reccommend spending a £100 quid on some decent hard boots - I've got some comfy Sidi Vertabraes - as feeling safe does wonders for your riding. I went "to the shops" at the weekend in trainers and felt so exposed after commuting all week in proper boots that I turned around and went back home to change!)

Basically I've had a great time as a new tall rider on an SV650S. If you're not sure, I heard great things about the Yamaha Fazer, the Honda Hornet (but only this year's model as last year's was a bit dodgy steering wise apparently) and the Suzuki Bandit. But he SV's looks and lower insurance were the clincher for me. Call me shallow for buying for looks, but I've been completely chuffed with the bike ever since. 

...And the guy who nearly sold me the Fazer talked me out of his own deal by telling me about when he bough a sensible bike rather than the Fireblade he really wanted, and he felt so gutted everytime a 'Blade went by he  lasted about three months before trading up. His Blade's completely unsuited to his daily ride through London traffic and his weekend job (as a CBT instructor!), he lost a grand in depreciation on the bike he sold after three months and his insurance is huge - but he's happy!

So the Fazer salesman advised me to get the SV if that's what I really wanted, as I could get a sensible commuting bike when I get too old and boring to care!

enjoy your riding...

PS look in the forum section of SV650.org for answers to questions you haven't even asked yet, and if you post your question in there, you'll get loads more replies from SV fans.  here, here!!

Here are pics from two Dutch SV riders. My girlfriend Frea and I were at Assen, on a race course. Our lap times were lousy, but the pics are great (we think). These are our own bikes, model 2000, no modifications.

We've done about 5,000 miles since March, including a tour around Scotland. Oh yes, Frea is on the red one, I'm on the yellow one.

Sander_circuit.jpg      Frea_circuit.jpg

If you have pics from tours you'd done on your SV (with the SV in the picture!) then make sure they're under 100K and send them in...nothing like an SV framed by mountains and lakes.......I need a holiday! 

After much research, here is the 'good oil' on fixing the only real problem with the SV (beside the original exhaust note) - the soggy forks. 
This information comes courtesy of Race Tech (www.racetech.com). 

The problem with the SV forks is that the springs are too soft. The damping is fine and will handle heavier springs no problem. The original springs are rated app. .70kg/mm - throw them away.

Race Tech provide an excellent graph which shows which springs to use depending on your weight (combined bike and rider weight) and how hard you ride. I am 80kg and have fitted the .85kg/mm springs (recommended for hard riding - .80kg/mm for general road riding) and find a dramatic improvement at all road speeds. The forks are still compliant over bumps, but much more controlled under brakes and especially when charging down mountain roads (no more bottoming out and understeering in downhill corners).

Anyhow, here are the the details - but please folks, consult a mechanic if you are not confident doing this sort of work yourself -

Fork springs - .85kg/mm - Race Tech part no. 353085
Oil - 20wt
Oil level - 130mm (from top of fork with springs removed and fork fully compressed)
Pre-load - 20mm (thickness of fork cap)
Static sag - 25-35mm (cutting the spacer 5mm below top of fork will give app. 30mm static sag)

The Race Tech kit comes with detailed instructions, 2 springs, spacer material (aluminium tube which you must cut yourself) and washers to use above and
below the spacer.

For the rear suspension back the pre-load off to the lowest setting.
E-mail me if anyone requires further information.

Glenn - how much did it cost for the Race Tech solution?

UPDATE 14/10/00  - Thanks Glenn...

The Race Tech spring kit cost $175 Australian dollars (which probably equals 10 pounds sterling - given current exchange rates !!! ). 

I should also give a free plug to Terry Hay at Shock Treatment in Sydney (racetech@pnc.com.au) for sharing his knowledge and good advice (although this is probably only relevant to Oz riders). I found it reassuring to find someone who is prepared to explain the problem and then sell you only what you need to solve the problem.

If you wish to see an image of the official SV seat cowl click here. Shaun apologises for the image quality...

Are you interested in indexing this site in yours:

www.fly-design.com

concerning poly concept for motorcycle...

yes...and it's now in the links section

A fairing with mounts, lights, mirrors, and instruments; front forks; front rim; handlebars; and a front fender. Color unimportant!

Good luck..

I must thank you for running for such a superb site. I was tired of riding UJM's but was used to their reliability, finish, etc. One day last year I saw an SVS outside a local shop and was amazed by the looks / engine configuration (for a jap bike) and decided to search the net for info. I came across your site and after a couple of hours reading (it's O.K., wife pays phone bill) went out and PX'ed my FZR400RRSP for a brand new SVS in yellow. I've had it 3 months now and am indebted to you and your site readers for advice and showing that there is a proper alternative to a buzzy four that doesn't have to be italian.

A UJM? a something Jap machine? someone enlighten me please.....   Oh, and thanks for the thanks...

UPDATE 06/10/00 - And what is a UJM I asked.....our survey said......

Martin (m.a.dickens@open.ac.uk) suggested:

UJM - Universal Japanese Motorcycle.

Implies that all Jap bikes look the same (in-line 4 sports bikes) that Joe Public can't tell the difference between.

It's a fair point. If we weren't bike nuts, I doubt we could.

David (david.pitts@cwcom.net) suggested:

does it mean 'usual jap machinery'  - it looks like

David (david.leopold@merton.oxford.ac.uk) said:

A million people have probably already written, (not quite...) but a UJM is a universal Japanese motorcycle - an efficient but boring across the frame four. I couldn't say L.J.K.Setright invented the phrase, but I seem to remember he used it a lot when he wrote in BIKE back in 1800 and frozen to death.

Thanks chaps...

Love your site. A great resource. thanks...

I've enclosed a couple images of my sv650 with adjustable Tommaselli clubman handlebars that I found on www.ebay.com   Post them if you'd like. I will.

tommaselli_sv650.jpg      tommaselli_sv6502.jpg      tommaselli_sv6503.jpg

I got my Renegades in the mail last week and can't seem to get off the bike ever since. It rolls on harder (as I noticed quite by surprise as I had to put my front wheel back down!), sounds amazing and the looks... well you'll see the pictures.

I took a couple quick pics (excuse the sun flare in one of them) of how the bike looks today. Details are:

MPS tinted screen (OEM shape)
Kimpex flush mounted front signal lights
Tech-Line (TCP) lower fairing
Suzuki tank bra
Suzuki gel seat
Renegade dual hi-mount titanium ovals cans (UNBELIEVABLE!)
Removal of fender, reflectors, grab bar, stickers
Turned mixture screws to 2½ turns
For those that are interested Bridestone BattleAxe BT010's (very happy with!)

Renegades_right_02.jpg      Renegades_right_rear.jpg      Renegades_left.jpg

Here are four of images of Chucks SV with cafe racer type clip on bars....looks good.

SV_103.jpg      SV_104.jpg      SV_105.jpg       SV_106.jpg

Postings from September now placed in the Archive Section....postings for this month will be placed here.

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