I miss my SV

[Alpinestarhero]

Its been 5 weeks since I last rode my SV. For those that don't know, a guy in a C5 did a U-turn from the opposite side of the road into my side. However, he forgot to look for me.

Whilst I marvelled at how it looked like a new fireblade from some angles, I had to give it to my dad for a strip-down, inspection and to get it put back together with parts sourced from both here and ebay.

Well, its nearly back together. One panel to repair and prime, then the whole thing will get painted, the electrics tidied up, everything put back on, the bike servied then its back in between my legs.

I've been riding a bandit while I've been waiting. Its been an ok bike, its quick over 8000 rpm, its lame bellow 7500 rpm and usless below 5000. It has high-frequency vibes that make my hands go numb. Its quite comfy, has alot of steering lock. The brakes are good. The rear end is nice...but only because its a 6000 mile bike and my SV is 37,000 miles, so a fresh shock does wonders. The exhaust is huge and the bike sounds like a hairdryer, except at 5000 rpm when the engine noise is similar to a ford transit. The FI makes for a snatchy throttle, but its not so bad once in second gear. Its not great riding over 60 mph cos its a neked.

I miss my SV. I miss the low-down pull. I miss the noise. I miss the 3000 rpm cold starts. I miss the engine braking. I miss the stability of the front end. I miss the comfort. The good fuel ecnomy. I miss my topbox, I miss the vibrations that are lower in frequency...they are part of the experiance, not an annoyance.

Rictus warned me not to be attched to my bike. Since riding the bandit, im not as attached as I once was, i realise that other bikes are usefull too.

But its not my SV.

Just had to share :)

Matt

[speedplay]

I dont miss my pointy and I miss my old curvy even less.

[Jackie_Black]

I miss my pointy and I miss V-Twins. Thats why on thursday I pick up a massive V-Twin V-Strom 1000.
I've already ordered noisy exhausts for it in anticipation!!

[sv-robo]

I sometimes miss my sv(fun bike),but in saying that i've owned a lot of bikes which were far better,obviously including my rr.

[mister c]

Matt I'm with you on that that one matey, had my 1st ride on the SV today since coming off my FZR at Wigan 2 weeks ago. I know why I love motorcycling so much now :):):):):):):)

[Lozzo]

Of all the bikes I've ever owned, the one I miss the most is a 45K mile old 1997, lightly accident damaged Yamaha Thunderace that I bought for 1200 quid in 2002, and then rebuilt to immaculate. I don't know what it was about that bike, but it just made me smile every time I rode it and I should never have sold it in favour of a mint low mileage ZX-9R C2.

[Rai86]

Of all the bikes I've ever owned, the one I miss the most is a 45K mile old 1997, lightly accident damaged Yamaha Thunderace that I bought for 1200 quid in 2002, and then rebuilt to immaculate. I don't know what it was about that bike, but it just made me smile every time I rode it and I should never have sold it in favour of a mint low mileage ZX-9R C2.

you dont miss your sv loz hun? :( gutted was hoping you were guna come and visit it :cool:

[Lozzo]

you dont miss your sv loz hun? :( gutted was hoping you were guna come and visit it :cool:


I miss it, but not in the same way, because I see photos of it being put to good use round race circuits by yourself. Not seen my T/ace since the day I delivered it to a squaddie with 21 Sigs at Colerne in Wiltshire, but I'm informed by him that it lives on in Scotland now and has got over 100K miles on the clock.

Rai, I'll come visit your SV soon ;)

[Alpinestarhero]

Strange, isn't it, how you can get attached to something that anyone else would have down as a crap bike, outdated bike, something like that.

I think what I miss the most is the big-bike sound from the SV. It's a very humbling little bike and I think most motorcyclists respect them.

[Amanda M]

I will always love the red bandit I had, and I miss my raptor sometimes despite the problems it gave. The bike I miss the least is the SV. We didn't get on, and I regretted selling the bandit to get it.

[Alpinestarhero]

my SV is almost ready for road action :smt040

[Viney]

Strange, isn't it, how you can get attached to something that anyone else would have down as a crap bike, outdated bike, something like that.

I think what I miss the most is the big-bike sound from the SV. It's a very humbling little bike and I think most motorcyclists respect them.i still love my SV. Ok, in reality im to big for it and i cant do over 200 miles in a single stint as it hurts my knees, but after 61000 miles, it still makes me smile, its still reliable (touches wood) and still does what i need it to do on a daily basis. Yes i have rideen other bikes, and some are better, some are not, and some, well, they just dont seem any different than the SV overall (BMW R1100S and the Firestorm being 2 of them). Next bike, a Tiger, i want some comfort for once, the fact it also has a cracking engine also helps. The SV is still a great bike no matter what people think, yes it has its shortcomings, but its a 'budget' bike.

[dawn07]

Miss my sv big time. Er6f is okay, but not in it's league.
Just saving for the Triumph Sprint ST now.......:smt012

[Bri w]

I don't miss my first bike, Honda CB125 (JEC 681N), but i remember the fun i had on it - 30 odd yrs back. I miss my 2nd bike, Honda 440-4. I upped the suspension, fitted a Yoshi 460cc kit and was a real wild child. The Guzzi 850 was just a pig round town but what a noise! The Suz GT380, yuk, didn't like 2 stks. The two big Kawa's were, er big and boring, never put a foot wrong. Never let me down but boring. I guess any noisy middleweight to throw around the twisty's and i'm a happy bunny

[GeneticBubble]

i've been without me sv for less than a week and im struggling to cope :thumbdown:

[dawn07]

i've been without me sv for less than a week and im struggling to cope :thumbdown:
:smt056

[SoulKiss]

Just had a text from Alpinestarhero, he'll be along soon with an update :)

[Alpinestarhero]

Just had a text from Alpinestarhero, he'll be along soon with an update :)

Here is the update:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

oooooooooooo

settlement made - £800. Thats what I needed to fix the bike up, I'm very happy with this settlement...the bike isnt worth much more! I can fix a few other things aswell (clutch worm drive being one part that needs re-newing) and it means I can now spend some money on a new rear shock, as I don;t have to spend more of my money fixing the bike

Yaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooo

SV back on the road sooooon, goodbye bandit, so long you gas-guzzler!!!

[Alpinestarhero]

exciting news!

My SV is back together. the new panels dont fit together as nicely as the old panels, but my dad will co-erce everything together in the way that mechanics know how. MoT is due. I was gonna fire it up and take it for a quick spin to check it was ok buuut battery is flat

yaaay

[Jackie_Black]

Nice one, glad it's fixed.

I no longer miss my SV as my Strom is like an SV for big people. It's getting treated to new pipes and some other old man mods tommorrow. Woo

[GeneticBubble]

glad yours is back...mine however is still broken, they got it to run for a few minutes before it broke again :( bad times

[hovis]

I miss my SV

me too............. in a weird type of way, i cant quite put my finger on it, but am and have been thinking of getting another.

:smt110

[BanannaMan]

Well, its nearly back together. One panel to repair and prime, then the whole thing will get painted



Glad to hear you have it sorted. :cool:
Hope you're riding again soon.

Any exciting colour change or do we have to wait and see???

[-Ralph-]

Strange, isn't it, how you can get attached to something that anyone else would have down as a crap bike, outdated bike, something like that

I dunno, loads of folk on here love thier curvy SV's :mrgreen: ;)

RUNS........:smt040

Glad you'll have the bike back soon Matt, I couldn't give mine up for a Bandit, a 1250 yes, but a 650 no.

[petevtwin650]

I was up at 5.30 this morning cos we are going to collect the Duke. It's only been gone a week but I'm as excited as if I was going to collect it for the 1st time.

Having said that, I miss our curvy too. Nothing can beat them fun per pound IMO.

Glad it's all worked out well for you Matt.:)

[Alpinestarhero]

Thanks for the replies guys :D

Hovis - do ittttttt

Bannanaman...nooo, no exciting paint scheme. although, the new paint is a slightly lighter shade of yellow than the tank and seat unit yellow, despite being the same paint. I suspect this has something to do with the tank and seat unit being 10 years old :lol:

Battery should be charged today, wooooo then i can hear that engine for the first time in almost 2 months :smt041

I have made a desicion that this SV will be used for at least until next april...then I may sell it on, and get myself an FI 650 or go for the thou'. I fancy something alot newer, less miles, less hassle (choke) and not suffering old bike syndrome (i.e. everything is about to break). If only I had room for two bikes, I'd retire this SV from everyday road duties and turn it into a track beast...

...by removing the topbox rack :lol:

[Lozzo]

After 3 1/2 months of living with my Versys I don't miss my old SVs at all. Great bikes, but the Versys suits me better.

[Alpinestarhero]

So, today was The Day.

Full chooke, thumb the button. Lots of turning over. No firing. Dad takes over (magic mechanics touch) and 5 turns later it splutters into life.

Wooo!!!!

I let the bike warm for a bit, checking over the bolts on the fairing and subframe. Helment on, jackt done up, gloves over hands and i sit on the bike. Into gear (light clutch!) and I pull away. Stall!!! My SV has a bit of a grabbier clutch than the Bandit, but thats not suprising...the clutch on the bandit looks like it might be bigger. Fire it back up, pull away this time.

Tentative first steps. I'm not used to this, my hands are on the floor and my bum is in the air. Gently i wobble around my little town until the temp gauge shows a bit more heat. I head towards a road which is steep...and give it the beans uphill

Yeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

I'm back :D:smt066:smt077 AR09, here I come!!

[caz650s]

This site doesn't really seem to be an SV site, nor even a Suzuki owners site, but it's none the worse for it! ;)

I agree ... so I deleted my post incase it was taken the wrong way :cool:

Well done Matt ....

I cant wait for the AR ... & am looking forward to seeing you both again :D

[hovis]

... & am looking forward to seeing you both again :D

what about me?:smt019

[caz650s]

Oh yeh .... and you too Hovis .... sorry ! :D

[Alpinestarhero]

what about me?:smt019

its MY thread :tongue:

[Svsmokey]

Yunno you can't have enough bikes. I can think of at least a dozen i'd like to have. But i can't think of one i'd trade my sv for !

[Bibio]

i can:

http://www.moto-net.com/images/triumph-daytona-675-2007.jpg

if i could get on one, i would have one. i hate being short sometimes.

[Svsmokey]

Yes the 675 would be on my short list , the speed triple too , but i'm never giving up my sv !

[Alpinestarhero]

Put 55 more miles on my SV today :D first proper ride since my accident

my god, i love my SV. I love the sound, I love the volume, I love the nice throttle response

Thankyou bandit, you served your purpose, your efforts are saluted

welcome back SV :makelurve:

[Spiderman]

Yay! the SV is ressurecteth :)

[SoulKiss]

Yay! the SV is ressurecteth :)

Pah old news, I heard it hours ago :)

[Alpinestarhero]

Pah old news, I heard it hours ago :)

and that, is the power of being on MSN

[Spiderman]

erm, i'm now on MSN dont you know. Just have no friends :(

[Alpinestarhero]

erm, i'm now on MSN dont you know. Just have no friends :(

well this is news, spidey catching up with techmologony :smt038

add me on then (pm'd)

[Sosha]

Spectacular... when we seeing the 400? I mean you've seen mine - it's only fair... :rolleyes:

[Alpinestarhero]

Well, my dad changed his insurance round the other day, took off his scooter and put on the viffer. That means he can tax it soon.

I think it might be unfair to make my dad ride alllll the way to the ace or to soho, so...if anyone fancies it...it'd be cool to meet him at boxhill. Then you can all marvel at eh magic of the Gear-Driven Cam'd one.

Im gonna see how much it would cost to add it onto my insurance for the remainder of the year