SV650 do they all ride like sh*t, also what alternatives?

[Danny4494]

Did my DAS on a 2019 Z650 then bought at 55 plate SV650 but think I bought abit of a nail or maybe that’s what they are like ?

I just have no confidence in it, the front suspension is too soft even adjusted up fork seals have been done, and the rear is rock hard adjusted on side softest rebound I’m not light either 14st, everyone raves about how good the SV handles but the z650 I learnt on was so much better maybe because it’s a newer bike ?, brakes much worse too I understand it’s just a commuter bike at end of the day maybe I was expecting too much ?

I have took a deposit on it now and looking for the next bike just not sure what bike to go for the z650 I learnt on was a good bike decent suspension and brakes but my knees were really high on the tank I have long legs 6ft1 so was really uncomfortable after a hour or so.

Only thing I have in mind is a street triple need to get a test ride worried that might be too small I found the mt07 small too might try a tracer, my dads got a fazer 1000 lovely but a bit extreme for what is essentially my first bike really, what would you recommend ?

Cheers guys sorry for long winded post

[Random84]

I had an '09 FZ6N S2 as my first bike and considered the SV650 at the time but I'm sure I saw reviews saying the suspension was a bit budget even back then, the FZ6 wasn't much better but I wasn't expecting Ohlins level kit!

Would it not be cheaper to get the suspension set up professionally to you're weight etc.? Saying that the SV650 has been around for years and compared to anything modern it's going to show it's age.

[Biker9090]

You're moaning about an 18 year old bike which didn't have the best suspension when it was brand new....

[Fastdruid]

Short answer is, no they don't all ride like st.

They ride pretty well as stock although the suspension is a bit basic. They handle *really* well if the suspension is sorted but like even the best handling bike in the world can be fked up by an idiot messing up the suspension!

Biker9090 said:

You're moaning about an 18 year old bike which didn't have the best suspension when it was brand new....

^Pretty much this. It's 18 years old and who knows what mods have been done in that 18 years!

Like most non-sports bikes (and even a fair few sports bikes) they *are* a bit soft when new but not super soft one end and super stiff the other. My suspicion would be someone has stuck in a s/h shock off a different bike (it's a common "cheap" upgrade) without uprating the front to match...or just used the wrong shock and the spring/damping rate is totally wrong.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I had a 17 plate SV650 bike. It was a great first bike but tiny for me sadly.


It all depends what you want, I'd say a higher seat/bigger physically but do you necessarily need more Cc?

[trickywoo]

A properly setup SV is a joy to ride especially throwing it through corners.

To be properly setup you would need springs matched to your weight and also ideally an aftermarket rear damper.

I found mine small at 5’10”.

What’s your budget as at 6ft+ you need a bigger bike ideally.

A FZ-1 would be worth a look.

[hiccy18]

I found the SV one of the bigger middleweight bikes thanks to the length of the engine, the Street Trip felt too small when I sat on one. I suspect "18yo bike" is the problem rather than budget suspension.

But, perhaps more to the point, any bike will handle like st if you have zero confidence in it. New rider, old & possibly tired bike: sounds like getting the bike checked over, setup for the rider, possibly tyres, and then getting some miles on will be the best route.

Edited by hiccy18 on Thursday 23 March 08:04

[-Cappo-]

They race (or at least used to) SV650s in Mini Twins so the handling can't be that bad, or, must be able to be sorted fairly cheaply.

[stu67]

Well I think I'm qualified to have an opinion as I'm on my 3rd SV now as a commuter tool and can safely say they don't all ride like Sh**.

As some have said you may have had a mistreated one and may find them a little cramped, not an issue for myself as I'm a short arse but as regards suspension set up etc they are pretty good straight out of the box to be honest. Don't get me wrong like everything they are designed down to a price so you can chuck money at them to improve but I've ridden far worse. Having rode this one through 2 hard winters I'm now up to 20k and it's starting to show a bit of wear and tear all around but I really don't much look after my daily (sorry all!)

Your 05 one was a Gen 2 I think like my first one and to be fair the newer ones are a general improvement. On my last renewal 3 bikes came close MT07, Trident and another SV. The SV won out on cost and the 3 year warranty Suzuki were offering at the time. I did like the MT07 however and thought it had a bit of character like the SV, the Trident was just too expensive as it was new out and the one I rode had a horrible gearbox but it may have just been that demo bike.

[ntoskrnl]

Sounds like you need to change the front suspension a bit, at the very least you could try changing the fork oil to something a bit more viscous. You could consider changing the fork springs as well.

[rodericb]

Ducati 848.

[Tam_Mullen]

Im about 18st so was much much too heavy for the standard suspension on the SV when i got it (i bought an SVs) and it didnt give me any confidence at all.

Couldn't really afford to chop and change bike so decided I'd see what could be done with the SV. Shoved a pair of KTech fork springs (I think they were .95kg/mm) and a ZZR1400 shock in, ~£250 worth of bits? Absolute and total transformation, more confidence on the brakes and turn in, managed to completely get rid of my chicken strips too.

I'll never underestimate getting suspension set up for your weight again, and i didnt even do it properly, just stiffened the thing up a heap!

[Wildfire]

rodericb said:

Ducati 848.

Surely the PH answer is R1?


A well set up SV is really good. But a decent refresh and rebuild will do it wonders, especially if it's 18 years old.

[the cueball]

Wildfire said:

rodericb said:

Ducati 848.

Surely the PH answer is R1?

Turbo 'Busa.. and don't call me shirley

[airsafari87]

My 22 year old, gen 1 doesn’t ride sh*t.

[KTMsm]

I'm not a fan of them either - I think there's a lot of rose tinted nostalgia around them

Everything can be made better if you throw money at it

What's your budget and do you want another sports tourer ?

[trickywoo]

KTMsm said:

I'm not a fan of them either - I think there's a lot of rose tinted nostalgia around them

You know you can buy a brand new one which is much the same as the original and nobody has a bad word to say about them.

Just one of many similar reviews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvRg-TuiKME

[Condi]

Suspension is a bit of black art. Is there "a man" who you can take it to? Someone who understands suspension, not a general mechanic.

[fred bloggs]

There is quite a bit of 'best bike ever made ,coz I've got one ' going on in this thread.

They were never a particularly nice bike, and they don't get better with age.

[fred bloggs]

Condi said:

Suspension is a bit of black art. Is there "a man" who you can take it to? Someone who understands suspension, not a general mechanic.

Its not a black art. unless you have a suspension 'set up ' business.