MCN help required.

[admin]

Just had this from James Keen of MCN.

Hi John,

We have an idea for a series of articles on the MCN website and it made me think of your sv650 forum, so I wondered if you would be interested in getting involved. What we'd like to do is articles that list the top 10/15 accessories for various major models of bikes... so one of the first ones, if you're interested, would be the top 10 sv650 add-ons.

We've just launched the MCN shop, which has 39,000 products so far and its growing, so we'd like to use products that are available on there:
http://shop.motorcyclenews.com/ (http://shop.motorcyclenews.com/)

If you'd be willing to have a look and suggest the best sv650 products that are on there, ideally with help from your forum members, we could return the favour by crediting you in the article... something like "the best products for the sv650, as recommended by sv650.org" together with a link back to your site.

What do you think? Is this something you would be interested in?

thanks alot,
followed up with

let me know how it goes or if there's anything I can do... if your forum members could also post links to the products they recommend then that would make it easier later on!

Not sure of the best way to do this, we'll all have differing opinions, so it could end up being a long protracted debate ;-)

Probably best if each individual listed his/her top ten, with 1 being the highest priority and 10 the least.

James of can then collate the returns into a league table. The more time a certain item appears the more points it gets. James can then skim off the top 10.

Hope that makes sense.

John

[admin]

My list to start the ball rolling

1- Conti Road Attack tyres. Massive improvement on the OE Dunlops. http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/default.asp?spid=3
2- A decent replacement end can, mines a Scorpion and it sounds brill. http://www.scorpion-exhausts.com/Bikes/index.php
3- Scottoiler. Who needs shaft drive. Fit and forget. http://www.scottoiler.com/
4- Fender extender for the front mudguard. Keep the rain off that front sparky plug. Mines a Pyramid. http://www.pyramid-plastics.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_95_155&products_id=98
5- Seat cowl. Improves the looks no end. Standard Suzuki accessory
6- Rear Hugger. Keeps the crap off the subframe which in turn keeps the rust at bay. http://skidmarx.co.uk/section/mudguards/rear_huggers/suzuki.html
7- Fender eliminator for the rear (tail tidy). Again to just improve looks. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/EVOTECH-PERFORMANCE_W0QQsspagenameZSTOREQ3aHTMLBUILDERQ3aS IMPLEPAGEQQtZkm
8- K&N air filter. Safe price as Suzuki item but washable. http://www.knfilters.co.uk/
9- Braided Brake lines. No particular make, but maybe HEL. http://www.h-e-l.co.uk/

John

[Scoobs]

Fender extender
New fork springs / heavier oil
Braided hoses
Nice can

[5tu]

1-Braided Hoses
2-Exhaust system
3 - Upgraded filter
4 - Improved tyres - currently Pirelli
5- Rear sets
6- full fairing
7 - single seat unit
8 - upgraded fork internals
9 - Wavey discs
10 - hugger

[K]

Fender Extender (Pyramid)
Uprated headlight bulbs (Phillips Blue-Star I think :oops:)
Rear Hugger (Pyramid)
Fairing Lowers (for the 'S' obviously ;)) (Suzuki OEM)
Exhaust (mine was G-Force and reeeeaaaally loud :twisted:)
Solo Seat Cowl (Suzuki OEM - fits the best and you can still use the pillion seat lock rather than it being screwed in place.)
Braided Brake Lines
Uprated Front Suspension
Uprated Rear Suspension
Better Tyres

[riktherider]

tail tidy
end can
soft gel seat
K @ N air filter
bridgestone tyres
rearsets
braided hoses
fork springs
rear shock
hugger

[Grinch]

A sexy pillion...

[Gazza77]

No one thought of R&Gs yet? :confused:

[Viney]

Cake

[Alpinestarhero]

My top ten mods:

1. Loud exhaust.

2. Crash bungs.

3. Heated grips.

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10

topbox

I bid you all a pleasent afternoon.

Actuialy, on a serious note, the number one top modification, must have bolt on, is the fender extender. Unless you like 33 bhp singles which also have a cylinder doing nothing.

[Nobbylad]

1. R&G Crash protectors
2. Fender Extender (Pyramid)
3. Double bubble screen (Powerbronze)
4. Scottoiler
5. Chewies mirror spacers
6. Stebel Nautlius air horn
7. R&G Tail Tidy
8. Hugger
9. Aftermarket can (Fuel)
10. SV650.org decal

[dizzyblonde]

1. Motosliders...far superior to R&G and much cheaper (import from U.S)
2. Good end can..I have scorpion and Art
3. Fender Extender
4. Roca Belly pan....the best one for a curvy IMO..just very expensive
5. AVON STORMS....the best tyres I've had on my SV's so far
6. Hugger..can't remember who made mine (got it from Banditmania)
7. Hagon suspension..(progressive fork springs + shock) 15w oil
8. GSXR torque...it don't rot
9. Corbin seat...Suzuki OEM gel seat...either or, got both.
10.Double bubble...both mine Powerbronze Airflow

oooo and cheating but

11. OEM seat cowls

[sam anon]

In no particular order:

fenda extender

motosliders crash bungs

heavier fork oil

Um, that only three, and I haven't even changed my fork oil yet!

[freddy_sv]

Scottoiler has got to be number one! so long as u don't leave the flow rate up too high as it drips on the rear tyre....scary stuff!!!

[Biker Biggles]

On a new bike,
Crash bungs
Fender Extenda

After running in and doing a few miles
Decent tyres
Fork oil

As and when
Hugger
Rear shock upgrade
End can
Heated grips
Better lights
Rack and topbox.(I lied about this last one)

[chakraist]

1 - Front springs + oil
2 - Bungs
3 - Exhaust
4 - Tail Tidy
5 - Rear Shock
6 - Fenda Extenda
7 - Seat Cowl
8 - Hugger
9 - Brake Lines
10 - F. Fabbri DB Screen

[BILLY]

SRAD750 front end swap and 1200 Bandit rear wheel conversion to fit 180 section rear tyre:cool:

[Tim in Belgium]

MCN, here are the things that you can put in your shop to subsidise your amazing advert, I mean publication:

1. Decent journalism
2. Decent journalism
3. You get the picture

Did anyone actually read the wording of their email??

[glade]

loud can
Tail tidy
R&g's
Gearing change
Different tyres
Suspension mods

Cosmetic bits to taste

[ThEGr33k]

Man I cant find braided hoses :(

Or am I spoon and cant find them?

1.Exhaust
2.tail tidy
3.scottoiler
4.hugger
5.Falco
6.Tyres's - PR2
7.:scratch:

[instigator]

MCN, here are the things that you can put in your shop to subsidise your amazing advert, I mean publication:

1. Decent journalism
2. Decent journalism
3. You get the picture

Did anyone actually read the wording of their email??

Exactly why I won't try and help them sell stuff when they are known for spouting the biggest pile of cr*p printed on newspaper (okay, behind the daily mail).

But hey, go on you lot....:rolleyes:

[Lozzo]

Exactly why I won't try and help them sell stuff when they are known for spouting the biggest pile of cr*p printed on newspaper (okay, behind the daily mail).

But hey, go on you lot....:rolleyes:

The paper they print their rag on plays havoc with my chalfonts. I remember sometime back in the 80s when it was written by serious journos who had a clue how to find, chase and put together viable copy.

[ThEGr33k]

The sports arnt too bad to be fair. :rolleyes: Though even that could be better. Common speedway and crosser cover and well more sports! :D

[Dangerous Dave]

MCN help required.
I have known that for a long time, no more gossip please. They are terrible for printing gossip and not fact! :^o

Don't get me started about their six year long V5 article which changes bike every year!!! :smt093 :smt092

[lukemillar]

1. Motosliders...far superior to R&G and much cheaper (import from U.S)


This would be based on your extensive crash testing on both products, right? :smt017

[Endellion]

I have known that for a long time, no more gossip please. They are terrible for printing gossip and not fact! :^o

Don't get me started about their six year long V5 article which changes bike every year!!! :smt093 :smt092

Is that the V5 that honda UK claim is NOT going to be built, and has no plans to, yet MCN claimed was going to to be in production next year?

Is it not the SUN of the motorcycle world

' Aliens stole my SV ' Comon MCN theres a story there

[dizzyblonde]

This would be based on your extensive crash testing on both products, right? :smt017

nope. pleny of other crashhheeees on here use them, the mighty northwind one of them, and I bought a set off Luckypants from his crashed SV, not a spot of damage to them........and believe me his crash was spectacular!
And i believe Dangerous Dave uses them too, and half the U.S SVers rave about them
So I bought another set after I rebuilt my other SV. Then YC fell off and his swingarm bobbins by them did the job of saving his rear end, so that should make me get off my bum and order them off the company too.

OH and they are really good for getting you leg onto for those stretch moments on a mothorway....lol.....cruise control 'Hardly Driveable' style;)

[Dangerous Dave]

Is that the V5 that honda UK claim is NOT going to be built, and has no plans to, yet MCN claimed was going to to be in production next year?
Thats the one, it has been a RC211V replica, the new Fireblade, the new VFR800, the new Blackbird, the new VFR1000.

In all fairness to Honda UK, just like Suzuki GB and the so called new SV, they know as much as we and the press do.

[Dangerous Dave]

i believe Dangerous Dave uses them too
I sure do, they are the only crash protector on the market worth having on the SV650. I use, I've tested them, and my customers use them and we all rate them.

R&G have already proven to be a design failure on the SV650, speak to right person at R&G and they will tell you the same.

[lukemillar]

nope. pleny of other crashhheeees on here use them, the mighty northwind one of them, and I bought a set off Luckypants from his crashed SV, not a spot of damage to them........and believe me his crash was spectacular!
And i believe Dangerous Dave uses them too, and half the U.S SVers rave about them
So I bought another set after I rebuilt my other SV. Then YC fell off and his swingarm bobbins by them did the job of saving his rear end, so that should make me get off my bum and order them off the company too.

OH and they are really good for getting you leg onto for those stretch moments on a mothorway....lol.....cruise control 'Hardly Driveable' style;)

I don't doubt that they are good - There is just no need to criticise/put down R&G. There many people on here who have had equally good experiences with R&G - doesn't mean they are rubbish

[dizzyblonde]

1. Motosliders...far superior to R&G and much cheaper (import from U.S)


I don't doubt that they are good - There is just no need to criticise/put down R&G. There many people on here who have had equally good experiences with R&G - doesn't mean they are rubbish

I didn't say they were rubbish. Its a personal preference. I only happened on them by accident, and its my personal preference. Being of the female variety..I like value for money and something that does the job with not so many flaws....IMHO and many others they are superior....but then again whoever uses R&G swear by them or indeed others that use other manufacturers....horses for courses I'm afraid!

I can buy a set of motosliders from the U.S and a set of swingarm bobbins together, that come in cheaper than a set of r&Gs alone....

[Lozzo]

I love my R+Gs, because they came with the bike and I didn't have to pay extra for them. The bracket that goes behind fairing lowers on a pointy is massive. When I threw my K5S under a car the bungs would have saved the whole right side of the fairing, had it not wedged itself under the bumper and forced the panels into the tarmac. My bike went down on the right and got a little scraped, but there was more severe fairing damage done to the left by the car's bumper.

[lukemillar]

I didn't say they were rubbish. Its a personal preference. I only happened on them by accident, and its my personal preference. Being of the female variety..I like value for money and something that does the job with not so many flaws....IMHO and many others they are superior....but then again whoever uses R&G swear by them or indeed others that use other manufacturers....horses for courses I'm afraid!

I can buy a set of motosliders from the U.S and a set of swingarm bobbins together, that come in cheaper than a set of r&Gs alone....

You missing my point. You are welcome to use whatever manufacturer of bungs you wish and the amount you spend is none of my business! You just shouldn't have singled out R&G.

"Far superior to other bungs on the market"Would have been a better statement. ;)

[northwind]

There is just no need to criticise/put down R&G.

Yes there is, they're too expensive and they don't work well enough, but they're being recommended despite that. Particularily annoying from a company that absolutely does know how to make good crash protection. Motosliders and GSG Moko both do the job massively better, and Motosliders do it for much less money. There's nothing to recommend R&G other than the fitment allowing them to work with lowers without cutting.

Dizzy was highlighting them because people were recommending them, not just at random. But if it's any consolation, they're miles better than DHMs and the old Motrax Topblocks.

[Dangerous Dave]

There's nothing to recommend R&G other than the fitment allowing them to work with lowers without cutting.
+ 1

But if it's any consolation, they're miles better than DHMs and the old Motrax Topblocks.
+ 1

The R&G's are a terrible design, speak to right person at R&G and they will say the same. R&G do make great products, there main crash protectors are excellent on anything other than a SV650. They are way overpriced and offer little protection when compared to other products on the market. I have tested R&G's for many years, the design is terrible, the bolt is to weak and the bung is the wrong shape to start with and when you address these first two issues you will start to notice the other design flaws.

For R&G to redesign the crash protector to work on the SV they will have to admit defeat and admit what everybody has been telling them was right.

I am not saying R&G's products are terrible, I will promote their products just not the main crash protectors for the SV650.

[dizzyblonde]

Aren't motosliders SV specific anyway??

[Dangerous Dave]

Aren't motosliders SV specific anyway??
Yeap

[dizzyblonde]

Yeap


So for the point of the original post....what do we want for our SV??

A specific crash bung for our SV...that is cheap, does what it says on the tin, and that can be obtainable on English soil
i.e motosliders:smt077( but we should twist their arm to export them on mass over here...lol

[Dangerous Dave]

So for the point of the original post....what do we want for our SV??

A specific crash bung for our SV...that is cheap, does what it says on the tin, and that can be obtainable on English soil
i.e motosliders:smt077( but we should twist their arm to export them on mass over here...lol
+ 1 !

I'm sure someone could be set up as a dealer here in the UK, I'm surprised JHS hasn't started to as they no longer make there own ones. But then in the modern world we live in, it one takes 5 days to get them here from the US and we all know that UK mail order is terrible.

I used to have a few complete sets laying around, sold them all to customers and as such never needed to get anymore. Got one guy that has tested them twice and is still using the same bungs!

[charlie13]

i tested my R&G's at standstill in the car park at work this morning and they may not work as well in a dynamic situation but I'm sure glad they were there today.

and as for my 10 things
1. EBC HH brake pads
2. Hel Braided stainless steel brake hoses all round
3. WP progressive fork springs 9932.0261.A (not listed in the MCN shop)
4. 20W fork oil
5. fender extender
6. double bubble screen
7. hugger
8. heated grips for all year round comfort
9. Avon storm AV55/AV56 tyres
10. A new rear shock

And if you’ve any spare change. . . . . . . . . .
11. A full exhaust system, but make sure it’s quiet enough for trackdays
12. Racetech gold valve cartridge emulators
13. GSXR600K2 front calliper conversion
14. Lightweight dymag wheels

[admin]

Just had this in. Thanks from James at MCN


Hi John,

Sorry for the delay! It's been a bit hectic. I just wanted to let you know that I finally got around to sorting this out and the sv article is up on our site now:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/september/22-28/sep2208-top-ten-sv650-parts/

Thanks alot for your help with it, as you can see there's a couple of links back to your forum so hopefully you should get a bit of traffic from it,

cheers,

James Keen
MCN Community Web Producer

[xXBADGERXx]

Nobody mentioned Tech 7 Screens or Skidmarx Huggers , just goes to show how it was edited to their own taste , or is that , what they can stock in their store :( Bad show MCN for that but fair play on the rest of the kit .

[Wideboy]

linky no worky for me

[dizzyblonde]

Nobody mentioned Tech 7 Screens or Skidmarx Huggers , just goes to show how it was edited to their own taste , or is that , what they can stock in their store :( Bad show MCN for that but fair play on the rest of the kit .

neither did they listen to the fact that a lot of us prefer motosliders to R&G:rolleyes:.

[Miles]

I read the article before seeing this thread. Its so cringeworthy advertising bull**** its untrue. Quite sad really as bike specific info should be valuable, but in reality the review gives no info that you could pull out of the M&P catalogue.

As for motosliders; as far as I'm concerned they are completely worthless as there is no way I'd cut my fairing to fit them. So, even with the alleged failings of the R&Gs I think they are excellent, as its would either be the R&Gs or none.

As for R&G's being expensive, from what I understand the Motosliders dont use a bracket, just a long bolt and the bungs. If this is the case then I reckon that, give the cost and quality of the R&G mount, that the motosliders are much more overpriced for what you get.

[dizzyblonde]

I read the article before seeing this thread. Its so cringeworthy advertising bull**** its untrue. Quite sad really as bike specific info should be valuable, but in reality the review gives no info that you could pull out of the M&P catalogue.

As for motosliders; as far as I'm concerned they are completely worthless as there is no way I'd cut my fairing to fit them. So, even with the alleged failings of the R&Gs I think they are excellent, as its would either be the R&Gs or none.

As for R&G's being expensive, from what I understand the Motosliders dont use a bracket, just a long bolt and the bungs. If this is the case then I reckon that, give the cost and quality of the R&G mount, that the motosliders are much more overpriced for what you get.

You have a full set of lowers(from your avatar) so motosliders perhaps aren't suitable, but for all the nakids, and bikini faired pointy and curvy SVs they fit ...plus after crashing down the road with em, I could bet if i had R&G there would be more damage to my bike(they are shorter than moto's and on a bracket), plus one less R&G bung...the motoslider is still in tact, and the rest of my bike..I can't fault em, and I still think they are value for money...well after a slide, because it don't need replacing......its just a little more ground down than it should be

I do agree with the comment from you about 'advertising bull' that MCN has attempted to provide

[SoulKiss]

Thats rubbish

Most of the parts pictured are not on SV's for a start

And when talking about a fender extender on an SV you really NEED to mention soggy front plug syndrome

As mentioned, and advertising puff-piece

[Dangerous Dave]

Yet another waste of time from MCN, what was the point in asking us what we thought?

I would agree with the following; Pyramid Fender Extender, HEL Brake lines, Progressive Fork Springs, and EBC HH brake pads. As for the Scottoiler that is universal to all bikes, not SV specific.

As for R&G's being expensive, from what I understand the Motosliders dont use a bracket, just a long bolt and the bungs. If this is the case then I reckon that, give the cost and quality of the R&G mount, that the motosliders are much more overpriced for what you get.
They are expensive because you are buying a product which R&G know is flawed and know you will have to pay for more spare parts (if used) than Motosliders.

The Motosliders are a very good deal, not only are they good value but they actually help protect the bike!

[northwind]

Yeah, in terms of manufacturing cost you're right Miles, but then R&G have the economies of scale while Motosliders is a tiny operation so their parts cost them more. The real difference is just effectiveness, I'd sooner pay £60 for a simple part that works brilliantly, than £80 for a brilliantly made, clever part that doesn't work as well

I noticed that you said "alleged" about the weakness of R&G, don't want to turn this into another R&G thread but you can easily find a lot of stories of R&G failures on this forum. But I've looked, and never found a single GSG Moko, JHS or Motosliders failure story. And this is the internet, everything has its critics usually.

[MCN JamesK]

Hi,
James from MCN here, just wanted to log in and reply to everyone's feedback...

Nobody mentioned Tech 7 Screens or Skidmarx Huggers

sorry mate that's not true, visit page one of this thread, skidmarx huggers were mentioned, so were double bubble screens (by more than one owner).

neither did they listen to the fact that a lot of us prefer motosliders to R&G.

To be honest, I wasn't sure about that one, I didn't mean to ignore your comments. You guys seemed split over the issue, but convinced crash bungs were a good mod, so in the end I went with R&G because I know that brand myself, I've never used motosliders so I was more reluctant to recommend them to our readers. I'm going to edit the article now though to mention them as well...

Most of the parts pictured are not on SV's for a start And when talking about a fender extender on an SV you really NEED to mention soggy front plug syndrome

Yeah I know, the images aren't perfect. But there are legal issues involved with image copyrights and such, obviously its not practical for me to get hold of all these parts (and an sv!) to shoot specific photos, so I used the best I had. If you have better relevant pics of these parts on an sv and you don't mind me using them, please send them through! I can credit you for the image at the bottom of the article as well if you want? my email is james.keen@motorcyclenews.com

As for the soggy plug syndrome... I've never had an sv, so I didn't know about it! I'll add it to the article too! Thanks, that is a useful point/tip.

I would agree with the following; Pyramid Fender Extender, HEL Brake lines, Progressive Fork Springs, and EBC HH brake pads. As for the Scottoiler that is universal to all bikes, not SV specific.

Yeah agreed, it is universal, but still the fact is they are incredibly useful and alot of you mentioned it, which is the main point right?


Sorry if there were some details you weren't happy with, sincerely. This is the first story like this we've done, so please excuse some teething problems and thanks for the feedback.
If you have any more suggestions for making it better, please let me know.

cheers,
james