What ages second hand to go for / avoid?

[Adam Ef]

Hi. New forum member. Looking for a secondhand Sv650 as first bigger bike.

Just wondering if anyone could give me an idea of what ages of second hand SV650 I should be wary of / checking for big services that are due or to see if they've been done recently? Looking at a few at the moment and they vary from 2006 through to 2012 with mileages from 2400 through to 22000. Are there certain mileages / ages to avoid due to imminent big service costs? Of ones to look for if they're good prices and the big services have been done (not quite sure how a seller would prove some of the servicing had been done though?)

I'm on a fairly tight budget with a small-ish overdraft to use and a basic but tidy 125 I'm trading in or selling to fund it, so won't have loads left to sink into further costs straight away.

Also, apart from the 2003-ish frame change were there any big jumps in design / tech spec that are worth staying with newer bikes for?

Thanks in advance for any advice / input.

[yokohama]

The 15,000 and 30,000 are the services to look out for as they involve a valve clearance check and can be fairly expensive, especially if shims need doing. If you are buying a bike around those mileages, check the valves have been done or factor the cost in. Best way to check is looking for a fully stamped service book or an itemised service invoice.
2006-2012 models should all be fine. The dual spark models from 2008 on (I think but someone may correct me) might give slightly better fuel performance and economy.
The engine is solid and as long as it's been looked after and oil changed regularly, mileage shouldn't be an issue.
Another thing to look for when buying is mods. Aftermarket exhausts, tail tidies, huggers etc are all something to consider when comparing prices.
There are plenty to choose from at this time of year so take your time and don't rush.

Welcome to the forum too.

[Nutsinatin]

2007 bikes onwards got twin spark plugs per cylinder which is noticeably better on fuel economy, so if your budget stretches this far it would be the option I would choose, the K3 has a few unique parts as it's the crossover between designs so post 2004 would be my preference but K3s aren't super rare. 99-02 bikes are carbed and can be dirt cheap.

15,000 is the major service (valve clearances) (£400-£500 at a dealer and it takes them a day). Service work can be 'proved' through the receipts and stamps in the handbook, but it's not everything. A shed of a bike can have a full service history and something with no dealer history can be the best looked after bike on the planet, so talk to the owner about it and pay attention to things like the chain condition and fastener condition etc. to get an idea of how the bike has been looked after. You can get a service stamp just for an oil change without completing the recommended work so bear this in mind.

If you get a clean bike you shouldn't need to spend a load on it. Suspension is soft, but not unusable especially if you're not bombing about on it. Buy a fender extender, well worth the £20 as it helps stop water kicked up by the front wheel getting into the front cylinder especially on the pre 2007 bikes. Heated grips are good if it gets cold. A battery charger and connector are good if you won't be riding regularly. Otherwise you don't need to drop a lot of money on it if it stops and goes as it should. A Scottoiler will extend chain life and reduce chain maintenance if you're doing enough miles, especially at this time of year.

Mods don't add much in the way of sale price so if you can find a bike with bits you want already this will save money - this is the time of year to be buying cheaper.

[Adam Ef]

Thanks for the advice guys. Really appreciated. Useful knowing those mileages are the ones to ask questions around.

Was also looking to keep price down by looking for stock bikes without mods (thinking they'd be cheaper), but interesting to hear that mods don't add much to sale value, so will widen my search to include the mods I'm interested in too.

Thanks again. Adam

[Craig380]

Nothing to add to the above, really, apart from emphasising regular oil changes. From here and SVRider.com, valve clearances don't seem to need actually adjusting too often unless the engine is really thrashed, or oil changes are neglected.

The good news is there are LOADS around so you can afford to be choosey. For what it's worth, I bought my own K6 650S in June from a Suzi dealer, 7500 miles and one owner for £2000 with a full service thrown in. Bog standard apart from a hugger and crash bungs.

Good luck with the search.