Bendy's SV reviews

[Bendy]

Cos I was bored and the opportunity presented itself, I decided to do a little comparison between the SV650 and the SV1000.

First up: SV650. G's T plate curvey with a fair bit on the clock.

The 650 is often recommended as a good 'first big bike' and a lot of people recommend it for the ladies as it's supposedly very low.

Now, I could actually flatfoot this one (just) but it's a long way from being 'low' in the CBR400 sense of the word. But I did find it very easy to paddle backwards down a slope, and that's not something I'm usually keen on doing when riding an unfamilar bike.

In town, I love this bike. In the 30 limits and below, it's happy to pootle around in first or second without me having to resort to any clutch slipping, and with the standard can on I can actually use the full rev range in the lower gears without sounding like a complete asshole. There's a satisfying grunt when pulling away, and it's nice to sit at the lights with both feet on the deck. The seating position is fairly upright which suits me in town, I like to be able to see what's around me.

Having tooled through Reading, I nip out onto the M4 for a motorway test. It's got a decent amount of grunt for getting up to speed on the sliproad, but once on the motorway the seating position starts to take its toll a little... if this were my bike I'd get a double bubble on it as it all seems to take a bit more 'effort' than I'm used to, though the feeling that you're going faster than you are is never a bad thing. Its natural cruising speed seems to be in the high 80s (I find vehicles generally have a speed at which you find yourself if you're not particularly trying to go quickly or slowly). Basically, it's a perfectly servicable motorway bike, no real complaints.

Stage three, off the motorway and onto some twisties. I've ridden G's SV650 racebike on track before and really enjoyed it, but on the road I kinda missed the top end kick that I get from my IL4. I wasn't anywhere near pushing the limits of the handling, but it was 'okay'. This particular bike has standard suspension but I wondered if it had been set up a little hard as it felt fairly solid. Another 'no complaints' ride really.

Bad points... the adjustability of the mirrors is laughable - elbows or sky. The brakes were appauling but that's specific to the bike rather than being an SV 'thing' - this one was in need of some brake fettling.

In conculsion, I'd say that folk are right and the 650 is an ideal 'first big bike'. They're a reasonable price to buy and when you're starting out, it'll do everything you could possibly need from a bike - it goes well enough, handles well enough and most of them will stop well enough. And while they're not small, they are a definite option for the shorter rider. Or even a middle sized one who wants that flatfoot security that's nice to have when you're new to bikes.


Secondly: Luke's new SV1000, 03 reg with about 10k on the clock.

While the 650 is marketed as one of Suzuki's beginner bikes, I'm not terribly sure who the 1000 is actually pitched at. But my flatmate's just bought one so I nabbed it on Saturday and took it on a similar route.

The thou is a fair bit taller than the 650 (though a comparison with a 'pointy' 650 would be fairer) - I think I've got about the same ground reach on this as I do on my CBR (tiptoes or one foot flat and the other dangling) but because I'm not used to it and it's my friend's new shiny bike, I'm less confident paddling this one about. Perfectly manageable for a 28 inch inside leg once you'd got used to it though.

The race can baffles are out 'cos it's the weekend' and this beastie is loud. The kind of loud that has you slightly embarassed when pootling along your quiet cul-de-sac but has you grinning once you're away from your neighbours. The power delivery is really very like the 650, just there's more of it, about 40bhp more if it. It has the same placid nature in town - I rather likened it to driving a diesel car in that you can let the revs drop really low and it still just chugs along quite happily and picks up smoothly if you give the throttle a twist.

The obnoxious loudness does rather entertain me and I keep giving it big revs when there's no real need. Notably when pulling up outside Hein Gericke, cos it would be rude not to. Somehow, revving a 4 in town always makes me feel like a bit of a twat, but revving the twin makes me feel like a rotter. I'm sure it would wear off though...

On the motorway, this one needs a bubble too, but as the riding position is a little more sporty, it didn't feel as alien to duck down a bit. Lane changes are accompanied with a big wodge of grunt and I keep slowing down and doing roll-ons as I like the noises it makes. The thou's natural crusing point seems to be just above the ton, but annoyingly around 70 the pegs seemed quite vibey. Without anything to distract me on the motorway the uncomfortableness of the seat made itself apparent, there's a definite edge that digs into your bottom - could be a bit of a drag on a long trip.

Onto the twisties and this is a pretty confidence inspiring bike, I found myself glancing at the speedo in corners and usually finding I was going a bit faster than I thought I was... probably cos I use sound a lot as a judge of speed (earplugs do my head in) and the SV doesn't need to be revving high to be going fairly quick. It was nice and planted though and quite flickable enough to keep me happy on the roads. Grunt (and noise) out of corners made me smile and I considered doubling back on myself before deciding I should get it home before Luke got worried that I'd stacked his new baby.

Conclusions... I had fun riding this bike. It didn't make me want to rush out and buy a big twin, but it made me glad that there will be one in the garage this summer that I can nab now and then. SV thous seem pretty cheap on the second hand market so I'd certainly say they're worth a look if you want a good all-rounder.


Now that I've spent some time riding v twins, I feel more qualified to lob my oar into the regular IL4 vs. Vtwin slanging matches. The problem being that I can see the appeal of both. I like the loud obnoxious grunt of the vtwin just as I like the high pitched screaming of the 4. The 4 has that gorgeous kick at the top of the rev range, rewarding you for keeping it up the top end of the rev counter... the twin has that wonderful chuggability for when you're taking things easy and just want to lazily turn the throttle...

Who cares what the magazines say, which engine the specs and graphs say is better - it's all down to personal preference in the end.


(For the record, if anyone's wondering what I'm used to, it's an ageing CBR600 with 32k on the clock, stiffened suspension and silly gearing. I ride like a puff 75% of the time, enjoy a pootle and object to making silly revvy noises in town. The other 25% I spend on trackdays un-gunking my engine by thrashing the merry bollocks off it and being as loud and objectionable as possible. )

[instigator]

Good, unbiased review

[Bendy]

[G]

Need to ride a modern thousand cc four to get a proper comparison - as you get both the kick and the low down go.

My brakes are a bit squidgy, but do have power if you try - was doing a few rolling stoppies earlier.

Incidentally, think my front wheel bearings are on their way out, I didn't have too much confidence in it today, especially with the D207 front.

[instigator]

[extreme3d]

Interesting review

Want to borrow my SV to do the ultimate review - pointy SV650 vs SV1000

Don't think you will find to much differs though as the curvy and pointy are about the same in real life terms. Having riden both, the only thing I can think off that made any real difference to me was the pointy's longer wheelbase and longer reach to the bars helped make the pointy seem a little more 'planted' at higher speeds, just like you found the sv1000.

[colin1]

[extreme3d]

[colin1]

[numark1]

Are you saying dodsi's a fat cunt??

My j2 used to pull away from a standstill in 3rd but would need quite a bit of clutch slippage.

[Bendy]

[colin1]

I seem to remember that an inline 4 1litre bike has better fuel economy than a v twin 1 litre bike. Does anyone know if this is right or not ?
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[Kickstart]

[extreme3d]

[Kickstart]

More likely the ZX has a heavier crank and / or flywheel to damp out the power pulses.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[MarJay]

Bendy, you should try the Buell. My guess is its the SV with the volume turned up!
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Fazerkev]

Marjay, nice choice of bike I tested a 12ss tother day.. only ever ridden my fazer and a z750 (at the nec though) what a bike..but yes it's a tractor sound and vibration at low revs anyway!. great fun.
They never had any firebolt s to test as ppl bin em.. I am on my 1st big bike.. had it since oct.
I really wanted the firebolt 9 but they dont make em anymroe as I was told they dont pass emissions.. Also was told a 2nd hand one woul dcost laods to have it pass emissions . But i've been tol dbe mates that used bikes dont have to pass emissions tests???

Anyway if touring is possible with a Buell (once or twice a year yorks-soutcoast or 2 weeks in europe) then I'd trade. But I'm not seeing them as very practical
-can't fir any decent panniers on
-can't fit autocom under seat?
-wind protection? even the firebolt!
tank range- erm feck all!! LOL

So atm i was thinking about getting a fireblt as well as fazer but not too sure... just tried EX3D's sv650 in carpark.. it also meets want I'm after though not as extreme as the 12ss..

-a fun bike with clip ons (just to not have high bars like now)
-1/2 faired
-v twin.. i loved that grunt. no need to look at revs and instant power (belt prbably helps)
-unique

what else is there? Buells cost a fortune.

Thanks, Kev
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Kev

[JonT]

When pootling arround I tend to keep my SV650 between 3 and 4k revs because it pulls so easily at low revs.

I can even pull away in second with minimal clutch slippage but saying that I only weigh about 10 stone. As for having to slip the clutch to do 16mph that just rubbish, I can hold about 12mph in first just using the throttle, infact I only need the clutch for speeds under 10mph.

I found that on inline 4's in the country side I was keeping at about 9k revs yet on the sv I tend to stay arround 6k-7k revs as it lets me speed up and slow down really easily without any gear changes.

[jay12329]

[Wave2k]

i really enjoyed G's race SV, will have to have a go on a standard SV soon.
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[extreme3d]

[Bendy]

Two things I forgot to mention in my review...

- I would like Luke's bike in a G's bike sized package please.

- 'Loud cans save lives' my ass. Had more people do something mildly stupid beside/in front of me when riding the subtle silver bike than the bright red one or my usual lurid yellow.

[Harold_Shand]

Cool.

Anyone want to do a review of this years Fazer 600 vs this years SV650???

( Bearing in mind I've been offered a new fazer for £4899 not the RRP £5299? )
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

[colin1]

on the subject of test rides, before xmas i did test rides on about 10 bikes that i wrote up. They are from the point of view of someone who has had an rs125 for a year and just done his DAS so nothing was ridden faster than 80mph.
includes sv650,r1, r6, gsxf600, several tt600s, thundercat vfr750

click here to read my test rides thread

I found out that on a big bike, mid range was more important to me that high rev power. I also found that there was a big difference between different bikes which were the same model.

I tried a wide range of bikes but didnt try supermotos, big twins,400s, or detuned sportbike based bikes like the fazer and hornet. Any of which I might have preferred.
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colin1 is officially faster than god