Brilliant photo. Thanks

Progress of my winter servicing is here.

Hi John,

I've been using the forum for several months now, just thought I'd e-mail a pic of my SV in today's snow. I've had the bike for almost 2 years now and haven't grown bored of riding it or making small cosmetic modifications to it.

Thanks for the great site.

Gary

As older readers may already know, I take my SV's off the road during Jan and Feb. This is mainly to avoid riding in dreadful conditions but also to give the bike some downtime so I can do a proper service and catch up on those maintenance jobs that I'd rather not do in the summer when I could be out riding.

It's a testament to the new SV that not a lot needs doing this year, so I've only just got around to this annual task. The other reason is that the weather has been so mild, so I carried on riding.

Well I had to start the servicing at some point, so a recent cold snap forced the SV into the workshop. There's a couple of major jobs that demanded attention but I'll probably find others as I work. Job number 1 is the front brakes. They've started to feel wooden, so I guess there's a partially sticking piston causing the problem. Also the top yoke needs to be re-sprayed as the paint I used last year is flaking away. The paint on the heel guards is also worn. I'd prefer to replace them with something fancy, but as they're moulded into the footrests, that could be tricky. I'll probably just remove the paint entirely and polish them. Can't see the point in a repaint, as it will just wear off again.

I'll post updates on progress into the MK2 restorers diary in the next couple of weeks.

John

Hi john,

My boyfriends band project Valkyrie are playing at the Builth Wells motorcycle show which is from the 25th-28th May 2007. Just wandered if any of the SV lot were up for going to it or if anyone already is, Dad (Dad is DarylB) is thinking of coming for it. I found a website with some info on it www.welshmotorcycleshows.co.uk  the dates are there but it hasn't been updated for 2007 yet, there is however info on last years show.

I have a list of the bands playing.....

FRIDAY NIGHT

"SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES FARMYARD", "LIAM BAND TOTALLY OBSCENE"

SATURDAY NIGHT

"GONE TOMORROW" "PROJECT VALKYRIE" "PHD"

SUNDAY NIGHT

"BATTLE OF THE BANDS WINNERS" "SOUND OF THE BLUES BROTHERS"

Apparently PHD are a well known band from before I was even born but I don't know if any others will have heard of them (I haven't), I wasn't sure where to post and what to put really so if you could make a thread if you think it'd be worth it, id be very grateful. (I may post on the forum too, but this is a bit more permanent)

Thank you Nic

The Welsh motorcycle show is new to me, so I might investigate further....A date for you diary.

John,

Thought these words might be interesting to read. Have already seen some of them but all. You have a great day and keep up the good work...........Larry..........

"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul".

"Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle."

"Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 110.."

"You start the game of life with a full pot o' luck and an empty pot o' experience... The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty the pot of luck".

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older."

"Midnight bugs taste best".

"Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.

John,

I'm an attorney in Raleigh, NC USA and I'm currently representing a guy who got a ridiculous speeding ticket on a 2000 SV650. Since you're the site admin of this SV650 site, I was hoping you might could point me to a place that might have "top speed" information on the sv650. My client is looking at losing his license for a year and thus his job. It is extremely important that I find something that says the "top speed" of a factory US SV650 (2000 model) is lower than 138mph. I've googled the hell out of the internet and found nothing.

Thanks,

Jayme James K. Jackson

I was quite taken aback to get this email. I dug up a load of old test reports and forwarded that on to Jayme. Got this reply.

John,

Thanks for your help. The trooper that allegedly clocked my client has a reputation for "exagerating" when it suits him. My client is a good young man with an otherwise spotless driving record. Your help is much appreciated considering my experience with two-wheeled motorvehicles is limited to my girlfriend and I renting a 50cc scooter on holiday in Bermuda. We ripped that island to pieces... Beep beep.

I went to Oxford for a year during law school as well. That was the best summer of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the nice folks in rural England. London was a bit New York-like for this country boy but the folks out outside of the city were fantastic!

Thanks again for your help, and please let me know if I can ever return the favor.

Take care, Jayme

Dear All,

I have put together this email to all biking communities, and I would appreciate your support in fighting back against the introduction of parking fees for bikes, which the following petition is against:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/FreeBikeParking/ 

Signing this petition will mean letting the government know that charging bikers for parking is unacceptable. And if 'successful' in london (at raising more tax revenue) they will inevitably roll this out across the UK!

Please join me in the fight against the latest assault on the biking community.

Thanks for your support.

Hi John,

Been a fan of the site and forum for a while now so thought I'd send you this pic of my SV outside the main Stella brewery in Leuven , Belgium, where I used to live. Hopefully it may make your news page?

I'm back in the UK now and converting the SV to RHD spec! So hopefully see some of you guys out on the road. Sterling job with the forum and site.

Cheers,

Tim

If only this had been a Carlsberg brewery, I could have made a joke about 'If Carlsberg made motorcycles, then.....' you know the rest ;-)

Hi John,

I'm hoping you could put a link to my new website on sv650, my site is www.onbikescotland.com. I've been going to Scotland for ten years every Summer for a tour and I decided to film all the great roads I had found in that time- I don't go slow its pretty quick so I'm hoping it makes good viewing. I've also put a permanent discreet title on all footage e.g. starting point/destination/road no/mileage so anyone viewing the DVD's will always know where the road is located. My bike on this trip was a Honda Fireblade( right off now, i crashed!) but I still think your audience might like to see my roads. I had a sv650s( crashed eventually) in 2003 and was a daily poster on your site for a while you can see two pictures i sent in catalogue 33 lower right corner going around a Donegal roundabout! Anyway I've put a link to sv650 on my site and I hope you can put a link to my site on yours.

all the best,
CJ
 

Link added to the links section

Hi John,

I've been a user of the forums for quite a while now. Thought I'd email some pics of my SV. Its a 99 model, and its my first bike (its also fitted with 33bhp restrictor kit). The belly pan, remus end can and crash bungs where all fited by a previous owner. I think i got a good deal!

Originally the forks where in a bad state (you know how they go, all the laquer etc peels off). They where repainted by my dad, and look great now!

Great website, it's helping me out alot. Keep it up!

Matt

I think painting the forks is probably the best option on the mk1 SV. Re-lacquering doesn't seem to last long and leaving them bare means you have to keep them polished. The paint finish on the mk2 looks okay, so it should be just as good for the mk1.

Hi - I'm from Italy and this my SV with the body of Daytona Triumph and a tail from Ducati 916 - engine 700 cc.  The front fork coming from TL1000s with Brembo caliper,disk and radial pomp- -the instruments/computer  coming from Aprilia RSv 1000 -2 little radiator more then the first and all parts are handmade- and ... I'm very happy for your interesting about my bike- P.S. it's very light- 140 kg with oil and water

Thanks Pescogeo

 I forget the wheels - are magnesium Marchesini- I live near the Marchesini factory - front 3.50 x 17 rear 5.50 x 17 - bye

Quite and interesting bike. From the text above it sounds like to small side mounted rads have been installed. I bet it goes well.

Hi John. I'm following a few years your SV-site. Very nice and pleasures to look on.

I send you a few pictures of my SV, maybe you want to place theme.

Good luck with your site J. Kusterman

Interesting looking exhaust, it won't keep the rain out ;-)

Well that's Christmas out of the way.  I had a great time playing with my 9 year old Son's presents, that is a Hornby train set and a Playstation 2. My wife even bought me a copy of Gran Turismo 4 to use with it.  Might look out for a couple of bike games too.

Back at work yesterday. Can't say I'm delighted. Still using the bike as the weather is quite mild and there's a big lack of parking spaces at my work premises due to some inconsiderate thinking by same nameless senior management in London somewhere.

New year was good. A belting party at the local village hall, organised by my wife and some of her friends. They ordered far too much food and now I have 200 pork pies in the fridge to get through.

I wish you all a happy new year.  John

Just a quick note to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Hope you all have a great time with your loved ones and Santa brings you something nice.

Best Wishes

John

HI John, I visit your site on a daily basis and I must congratulate you on your work.

I find it a great source of information and has really helped me along. So thank you.

I am new to the world of bikes bigger than 125......and I bought a sv on the back of the reviews and info on the site and of course advice from the guy in the shop.....!

I love it. Its a massive learning curve but what a rush...!

I have attached some images of my bike. I am constantly tinkering and love the way it looks.

I will continue to use your site and I will be contributing in the future.

cheers

mark

Glad you made the right choice. Cut your teeth on the SV and maybe move on later, although you'll want an SV, they do get under you're skin.

Hi John

Here are some snaps of my ride today. Started at Whitby, went via Blakey Ridge to Helmsley for a coffee and flapjack. After chatting with some bikers in Helmsley square, headed off to Leyburn then took the Buttertubs Pass (photos 618 &620) to Hawes (the one without the 'W'). Then came my real reason for the rideout, the Hawes to Settle roads taking in Ribblehead Viaduct. Had seen this in the Jan2007 issue of Superbike and fancied a look. These are the B6255 & B6479 and they're great roads, even with the wet december slime. Also the Hawes A684 to Leyburn was a good ride, although by this time my toes were numb and visor covered in salt.

I knew it was time to get myself home when my feet felt like stumps and every other vehicle I passed was a gritter.

Regards

Ben

Looks very wintery to me, beautiful light and beautiful scenery. I guess it took a few hours to get the bike clean again afterwards.

10th December - A Roman Holiday

Just buy a Suzuki 650 SV & just for the first time drive it to from Rosolina - to Pomposa in ITALY - It's surprise me a lot about handling and performance - I have self a Suzuki 750 GL 1981 - & now I must sell it (Suzuki 750 GL 1981 ) depend on the great ride I have to Rosolina in ITALY...

" I now NOT give it back to my soon Sebastian - I by it to him - )

I hope you not mind I write to you... your web site help us a lot!

Ciao,

/ Roman in ITALY

Nice to hear from you. Another convert to the faith.

5th December - A convert from the Dark Side

Hi,

I just found your web site and wow, just full of great information. I sold my R6 and bought a 2004 sv650s. The R6 was a hell of a bike but the SV is a better bang for the buck. I live in east Tennessee and the twisties here are very tight. Too tight for high horse power rockets. Most end up off the edge. Had a fellow on a GSXR1000 trying to catch up to me and I watched him highside in my mirror. He ended up 10 days in intensive care. He's ok now. I thought I'd send a picture of me on the famous Hwy 129 (Deals Gap, the Dragon).

Gary

Yep there's power and there's usable power. The punch from a V-Twin never fails to make me grin. Glad you enjoy the site. Good photo too.

5th December - French Fly

How are you? I send to you some pictures from my SV 650 she was prepared by FLY DESIGN. this is a designer who makes some tunings and racing parts he's very cool but don't speak English, take one minute and see his new web site www.fly-design.com you'll see very beautiful parts

thanks and best regards. FLO

I do have a link to Fly designs in the links section, but they may be new to recent readers.

1st December - SV650 Racing Parts

Hi John, I manufacture, or rather have machined for me, certain race and track day parts for the SV650. How can I go about getting a pointer or listing on your site to let your readers, like myself, know where to get these CNC machined parts? I make up first rate Rear Sets, Tank Risers, Captured Spacer and Bearing Kits, for front and rear wheels for the various SV650, as well as Captured Bearing conversion kits to mount F3 rear rims on the SV, both early and late models, and a special Captured Spacer and Bearing Kit to convert early year SV rims to mount directly to late model SV's.

I currently sell the products out of my EBay store under SV Racing Parts as my store name. Periodically I have been inquiries form England, Europe and Australia for these parts. The link to my EBay Store, SV650 Racing Parts is: http://stores.ebay.com/SV650-Racing-Parts

I will send you a photo as well of my SV650 Superbike, with a mod description. (photo's seemed to get corrupted on there way to me, will try and post later)

My mods include Race-Tech front Springs with Gold Emulators, and top adjustable fork caps, Elka Suspension, 3 way rear shock, Front rim with Quick Change, Captured Bearing Spacers, Rear F-3 Rim (180 rear tire) with Quick Change, Captured Bearing Spacers, CNC Machined, SV Tank Risers, CNC Machined Rear Sets, Woodcraft racing clip on bars, GSXR Clutch Perch, Pazzo Racing, Clutch and Brake Levers, 1/5 turn Throttle, Keihin FCR 41mm Carbs, Uni pod filters, Sigma Slipper Clutch, Racing Cam with adjustable sprockets, Manual Cam Chain tensioners, head work, M4 Titanium full system, Custom paint from LGM Graphics.

I am in the process of producing high mount racing exhaust brackets for both early and late model SV650, as we speak, should be out by Christmas. I expect I will also be adding Pazzo racing levers on the list of parts in the very near future, the owner is a race buddy and a personal supplier of mine.

Thank you, and best regards,

W. Blair Layton

202 -8725 Cartier Street

Vancouver BC V6P4V3

Tel: 604-261-4654 Fax: 604-261-4055

b.layton@shaw.ca