Wrong Choice. New '18 SV650.

[StredonSB]

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[Talking Heads]

Very little specifically to keep an eye on, worst corrosion that ever appeared on mine was on the oil filter.


I don't ride mine all year but it lives outside year round within a few hundred yards from the north sea.
Looks pretty good at 14 months old but I don't ride in rain much (the mudguards are absolutely non-existent) and clean it regularly with waterless wash and wax.


If you ride in rain regularly your gear is going to get absolutely clarted.


If I was going to ride my SV in winter it would be getting a visit from AllYearBiker.
A colleaugue who has a 15reg MT-07 has hers done by them and it looks better than new.

[StredonSB]

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[Talking Heads]

My starter motor was never that shiny.

[Talking Heads]

Yep, have checked the photos I took before collecting it and the finish on the centre bit looks like the ends.

[SV650rules]

Congratulations and good choice - testers say the SV looks a bit dated but if it ain't broke why fix it, the twin spark SV engine from Gladius onwards is a beautiful thing, with good mpg and so slim (good news for us who are compromised / challenged in the leg department.

Get a front fender extender (Pyramid) just to stop stones hitting radiator (standard front mudguard is a joke, like many these days), and preferably a 'Seeker' front mudflap ( I want one) !

Hugger is optional as there is a flap covering rear linkages but I fitted one anyway (Pyramid Plastics carbon fibre look) because I like the look.

Also fitted an MRA screen but wind noise in helmet was horrendous as it shoved all the turbulent air up to helmet level, chopped 70mm of the upturned top of screen off and noise was better but still not as good as pre-screen level, to be honest the shaped headlamp cowl does a good job of deflecting wind anyway, and I still got as many kamikazie insects hitting helmet visor as there were before the screen, so off it came much quieter....

The first thing I added to my 2016 AL7 was a couple of 10watt LED spotlights from Alchemy motorcycle parts - they are more like Daytime running lights and are excellent for stopping cagers pulling out on you as they are very hard to ignore, just a couple of straight brackets held by mirror hold down bolts - I think they have probably saved me from dozy cagers a few times, but of course I will never really know....

There are some pictures of my AL7 just past halfway down on page 5 of this thread (after I chopped top off the MRA screen) can see fender extender, hugger and spotlights and some handguards, also sprayed the silencer heatshield black and also blackened the exhaust pipes to make them disappear (high temp black paint).

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=224333&highlight=spotlights&page=5

[Grant66]

I thought the MT-07 was a good bike (I've not had one) but other than suspension issues and stalling in the early versions, they were supposed to be reliable. They usually beat the SV in road tests.

It is, I have one and in most respects it's better than the SV.

The one area where it fails is the finish. I thought Suzuki had used cheese instead of aluminium for screw heads, but Yamaha take crap metal to a whole new level.
Three warranty corrosion claims in two years. The water pipes last a month in winter before turning black paint into a novel written in braille, the swing arm rusts along the welds (at least that survived one winter). Bolts, screws or pretty much any exposed metal will turn white in less that 18 months and don't get me started on the radiator finish, it looks like stevie wonder painted it with a 4ft brush.

If you ever want to remove any of the plastics make sure you have a sturdy set of allen keys, they are tightened and locktited in the factory to ensure they never come out. Unless it's the foot peg hero bolt , one scrape on the floor and it's gone for good, which isn't that much of a problem as they are far too long they hit the ground with half an inch of tread left on the rear wheel.

The MT07 is a great bike, but it seems Yamaha made some cost choices and lack of all year use is the result.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[StredonSB]

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[Talking Heads]

Nice, a real 90° v-twin instead of a fake 270° crank parallel.
Canny beat the real thing ;)

[StredonSB]

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[Bibio]

i've been hankering after an MT-09 but every time i ride my SV i think why.

[StredonSB]

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[SV650rules]

Can't believe how free from vibration my AL7 is, all the way up the range - it really is peach of an engine, and of course that V twin exhaust sound................

[Talking Heads]

The 90° v is the reason its so smooth.
It has perfect primary balance, all the forces on the pistons and crank balance each other out.
A 20p coin will balance on its edge on the engine casing while you start and rev it.
Ive had singles, twins, triples, fours and a six, but the 90° v-twins are the best.

[StredonSB]

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[SV650rules]

Picked the SV up earlier today. Suzuki really know how to put a gearbox together, very very smooth compared to the Yamaha. After owning the 07 for a year, I would say the SV is the better bike of the two. Once I've run the engine in I'm sure the SV will surprise me all over again!

My gearbox (2016 AL7 ) was great right from the word go and has only got better. I have used Castrol Power 1 4T 10W/40 oil in mine since first change after running in at 1000 miles, as I am a big fan of Castrol (other oils are available :) )

The AL7 gearbox is an absolute gem, you hardly know you have changed gear (maybe that is why they fit a gear indicator LOL), let us know what you think of the feature that raises the revs slightly as you release the clutch ( anti-stall feature ) - I find it is not intrusive at all and you would not know it was there unless they had told you :o

[Talking Heads]

Throttle raising gadget is a bit of a gimmick imo, hasn't prevented me from stalling a number of times.

[StredonSB]

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[SV650rules]

Throttle raising gadget is a bit of a gimmick imo, hasn't prevented me from stalling a number of times.

Maybe you would have stalled a lot more times if it had not been there :rolleyes:

Don't know how many times I would have stalled without it, but will probably never know.

As StredonSB says, it is probably more useful in traffic where you can get a bit fed up and maybe a bit slack on clutch control.

[yokohama]

Not sure about this. I can see some benefits but it doesn't encourage or teach good clutch control and throttle coordination. If a rider has that, there's no need to rely on this gimmick.

[Bibio]

never hit a false neutral on my K7, knocked it into neutral a few times from second.

dont know what the new SV box is like but my k8 and K7 both had/have a nice reassuring click when it goes into gears.

as for throttle assist.. yes please. ok so you dont need it but hey if its there then good as long as its not too intrusive. same goes for ABS, stability control, traction control etc.etc

[gazzamikes]

I bought a brand new MT07 too, worst choice I had ever made. I couldn't wait for it sell

[Ljay]

I have a confession to make I too am guilty of this sin but on road to redemption now. I hope to be the owner of new SV 650 in next few weeks, I'm hiding behind brother in law though. He wanted a MT09 which he has but loathes too. I was just going to lead way. I traded my GSR 750 which had felt was better than SV 650 forgetting it's heavy and tall and I'm short so we didn't work out. The 07 was a moment of madness felt good on demo ride but was outgoing model I got all new spangly one and regretted this of first ride.
Back in mid 00's had the big butted Megane 225 first time I showed it a roundabout and it was a brown trouser moment. The 07 similar experience is too light at front, build quality aint best too well looked after but looks like it's had 10 Russian winters. All year biker then me with ACF 50 but seemed to no avail. Then I'm now getting close to 50 and 07 is for kids who want to wheelie all day.
Apologies for Lazarus revival but can't wait. Back to 1st big bike the Sv 650 forgot how much i loved this. I looked at others including Ducati Scrambler but too much for too little, F800r was too BMW and not much else I really liked. Also sorry for epic blubbering too but have some plans for new bike.

[Bike27]

Used to love my 350LC and TDM850 in my youth, but never considered an MT07 for a moment. The styling is a bit too 'Mad Max' for my tastes (maybe just a camo paint job and some Jerry cans away from a starring role in Fury Road?) and as has already been said why settle for a fake V twin when you can have the real thing? One characteristic of a V twin I love that is perhaps less talked about is just the actual look of it, such a classic engine configuration. I'm sure the MT is great if that's what you want, but having owned both parallel and V twins in the past then for me it was an easy win for the AL8 (had to be black with the red frame)

[SV650rules]

The red frame not available when I bought my AL7 in 2016, but that would have been the one I would have chosen, could not even get red tank ( although it was shown in brochure ) colours limited to blue, white and black..

No regrets at all about buying SV, although looked at MT and striple before..

[R1ffR4ff]

Yeh.I love the look of the Red Frames/black engine etc,

https://i.imgur.com/TzjAsWW.jpg

[Bike27]

Well I at least am grateful to Ljay for reviving this thread, which makes for interesting reading.

Might be swimming against the tide a little here, but thought I'd try spending a bit more time writing in defence of the SV.

(Clearly swimming WITH the tide would more likely involve defending a Yam or Triumph on facebook :rolleyes:)

So (with my possibly delusional "SVs are still ace" mindset fully intact) a couple of things leapt out at me here:

Originally Posted by Seeker
I thought the MT-07 was a good bike (I've not had one) but other than suspension issues and stalling in the early versions, they were supposed to be reliable. They usually beat the SV in road tests.

It is, I have one and in most respects it's better than the SV.


So firstly - Road Tests - can't argue with Seeker's assessment that this is one area where the MT07 generally comes out ahead.

Ever since Performance Bikes raved about the TDM850 at launch then gave it a minor slagging in '93 I've always taken road tests with a pinch of salt. I can still remember when I awaited P.B. each month with all the reverence of a peasant receiving a stone tablet passed down from the heavens above. After reading that second road test I realised that far from being gods of infinite wisdom, road testers are just flawed humans like the rest of us and with very different goals to someone looking to own a bike long term.

Most of the road testers seem to go on about the MT being more fun - which can probably be translated as more fun for 3 days when the bike is nearly new and not yours and when the other road testers you are riding with have already declared it more fun and you (consciously) don't want to feel left out as well as you (sub consciously) have been subtly influenced by "groupthink" ;)

Maybe an MT really IS more fun, but I don't exactly die of boredom commuting on my AL8......first admiring its sure footed poise and balance as I scythe through two 90 degree bends, then surging past a dawdling cager or two on a rapidly building wave of torque accompanied by a fabulous Delkevic enhanced V twin burble.

....And Secondly

Grant66, I couldn't help wondering whether the SV you say that your MT is in most respects better than was the SV in your sig?

Previous Bike: Red Sk1 Curvy.
Current Bike: Red MT-07.

I also once owned a MK1 carburetted SV and despite the 9 year gap between owning them, I'm confident my AL8 is also significantly better ;)

Was VERY pleasantly surprised the first time I opened my AL8 up on the test ride, compared to how I remembered my curvy the acceleration and throttle response felt like a "full race tune" - which I suppose is pretty much what adding twin plug cylinder heads and fuel injection could amount to :cool:

Having owned that unfaired 2001 SV650 a decade ago was another factor why I never considered an MT, sadly I had to sell it on too soon, but had been hugely impressed by its character, poise and balance (with that wonderful planted feel of the mass of the engine over the front tyre) at a bargain price. (By contrast in my experience Kawa's ER5 500 twin barely made it as a proper motorcycle. )

So I had unfinished business with the SV, once Suzuki added ABS and dropped the experimental Gladius styling, it was a foregone conclusion I'd be having another.

[Seeker]

I think the road tests have successfully convinced people to buy the MT-07. I've had my AL7 since 2016 and still haven't spoken to another owner face to face and have only seen 1 at my local haunt. The closest I got was to an SV650X owner. On the other hand I could have spoken to 15 or 20 MT-07 owners.
No matter, ignoring the painful seat and the ridiculously short mudguards, it suits me better than any previous bike I've owned. I'm now at 25200 miles (oh, and the gear position indicator has started behaving itself).

[SV650rules]

Call me cynical but I believe that the road test results often reflect the bias of the tester(s) and who buys most advertising space in magazines ( I have seen tests on US magazine websites that put SV ahead of MT ).

The only way to check is a test ride..

Nothing actually wrong with Gladius, it is to all intents and purposes an AL7 engine and frame - just the styling not to some peoples taste but a nice bike...

[Ljay]

I am with you Bike 27 in sense some marques have a steady stream of backers I have had many cars and bikes. Some marques have very prolific product gurus with increased online backing/ influencers or something like that.
I currently own a Suzuki car based on years of different cars all supposedly darlings of the media, had BMW which was worst car I have ever owned in my younger years a Polo GTi second worse car so never will have German car again.
I looked at BMW F800r many suggest a superior bike to the SV but experience is my influence not someone telling me it is must have. My Swift Sport engine is better engineered than the M3 I had may not be as fast or flash but best handling car I have had in standard form it makes me smile.
I went with MT 07 as could get demo ride but not SV at time and was impulse buy really, it's for me not the bike it promised to be. Yeah can wheelie for fun decent power/ spread of power but handling never felt right. Could argue about whats better all day but you pay your money and takes your choice.
Am thinking most of us realise beauty of SV though. Had considered the Ducati Scrambler but belts/ servicing soon costs and many reckon suspension is not better than SV so I'm happy to have seat re-worked by custom seat maker then over time exhaust and suspension maybe even GSXR front end swap but all in good time.

[Adam Ef]

I went for an SV as I couldn't afford a Ducati and wanted a V-Twin. I didn't realsie at the time how much bike I'd got for the money and how I would love it's character. They're not for everyone (luckily) but great bikes for what they are and the money. I had great fun working and learning on mine too.



I'm realising now with my MT09 Tracer that some bikes are sold on promises and others stand the test of time. When the marketing and media buzz is gone certain bikes remain popular through merit. The SV appears to be one of those. Sometimes in a niche way, but that's no bad thing.

[Talking Heads]

Comparison tests between the SV and MT-07 generally go like this...

Engine:
SV old, been on the go for ages, MT young, new and funky
Young = cool, old = pipe and slippers
Win to MT

Styling:
SV old looking circular headlamp, MT new modern style icon
New = cool, old = pipe and slippers

etc etc.

Its all bull****, both are basic built down to a bargain basement price and there's really nothing to pick between them.

The SV AL7 has but two things going for it, its cheap and its a real v-twin.

[Bike27]

It suits me better than any previous bike I've owned. I'm now at 25200 miles (oh, and the gear position indicator has started behaving itself).

That's good to hear. Wasn't totally sure whether you'd actually replaced it with an H1 :)


I like your MT vs. SV road test parody T.H. but...........


The SV AL7 has but two things going for it, its cheap and its a real v-twin.

If that were really true, then I'd surely be regretting not having bought a Hyosung GT650 instead :smt088 .

As I fancied a middleweight V twin, but also neither fancied the weight and bulk of a V-strom, nor the maintenance headache of a Ducati, then it's clear to me at least that up against other V twins an SV has alot more than mere price going for it - although they are definitely great value !

[R1ffR4ff]

I went for an SV as I couldn't afford a Ducati and wanted a V-Twin. I didn't realsie at the time how much bike I'd got for the money and how I would love it's character. They're not for everyone (luckily) but great bikes for what they are and the money. I had great fun working and learning on mine too.



I'm realising now with my MT09 Tracer that some bikes are sold on promises and others stand the test of time. When the marketing and media buzz is gone certain bikes remain popular through merit. The SV appears to be one of those. Sometimes in a niche way, but that's no bad thing.

I'm in my 3rd year with my 99 Curvy and still get,"Smiles for Miles" :)

If they stop I'll consider a different bike :smt028

[Ljay]

Well today I intended to collect my shiny new SV650. Last week dealer agreed today and all I was waiting on was reg number which had been promised. Before setting off wanted to get insurer up to date so emailed then called to get this.
Reply left me :mad::mad::mad:, what you talkin bout fool? We registered it as 69 plate.
Eh no we never we agreed today, well we meant 1st September, remind salesman of what we'd agreed. Look I gotta get to a meeting will call back.
Boss man then calls later today, go over issues "yeah salesman cocked up" and "over promised". Offers a sweetener to keep deal alive tell him doesn't work as off to Canada on 1st for 5 weeks. So boss man replies well you wouldn't be using bike so can deliver on your return if you want to go ahead.If I do go ahead need to do 120 mile round trip just to sign paperwork.
Have thought about this and decided to withdraw from deal as felt this was a little to little too late.

[R1ffR4ff]

Well today I intended to collect my shiny new SV650. Last week dealer agreed today and all I was waiting on was reg number which had been promised. Before setting off wanted to get insurer up to date so emailed then called to get this.
Reply left me :mad::mad::mad:, what you talkin bout fool? We registered it as 69 plate.
Eh no we never we agreed today, well we meant 1st September, remind salesman of what we'd agreed. Look I gotta get to a meeting will call back.
Boss man then calls later today, go over issues "yeah salesman cocked up" and "over promised". Offers a sweetener to keep deal alive tell him doesn't work as off to Canada on 1st for 5 weeks. So boss man replies well you wouldn't be using bike so can deliver on your return if you want to go ahead.If I do go ahead need to do 120 mile round trip just to sign paperwork.
Have thought about this and decided to withdraw from deal as felt this was a little to little too late.

Don't blame you.The Dealer I got my Curvy off( M&S Newcastle) normally would have charged over £100 to deliver to my City.As I explained it was my Birthday present to myself(and it was) he said he would deliver it free,which they did.Now that's service :smt038


Praise where it's due,

http://mandsmotorcycles.co.uk


http://mandsmotorcycles.co.uk/product-category/bikes/used-bikes/suzuki/


:)

[Grant66]

If I do go ahead need to do 120 mile round trip just to sign paperwork.

Used to be able to do that by fax in the last century. [emoji90]

When I bought my last bike it was done by electronic signature. So I could have done it from home.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Ljay]

Grant 66 I was with you and can remember when grainy fax copies were deemed legally binding documents too, I even have access to high resolution copier which produces a copied signature most people were unable to discern it was a copy.
I took time out last night re-read emails from dealer who despite asking me to return V5 had offered to re-register bike for collection yesterday. This alarmed me as looked like I may be riding a cloned bike as V5 relates to VIN number too as well as reg number so wasn't sure how they would achieve this. Though may well be proved wrong but thought once registered there was no way of simple just re-registering and sticking on new plate at dealer,

[SV650rules]

Another victim of the twice yearly registration change in UK ( used to be once a year ) where dealers assume ( rightly 99% of the time ) that buyers want the latest possible date on their new vehicle to impress the neighbours. Manufacturers and dealers must hate this as it compresses sales into two short periods rather than a more steady flow through the year...

[Talking Heads]

As I fancied a middleweight V twin, but also neither fancied the weight and bulk of a V-strom, nor the maintenance headache of a Ducati, then it's clear to me at least that up against other V twins an SV has alot more than mere price going for it - although they are definitely great value !

Yes I'll give you that, the SV is reliable and reasonable on maintenance.

I've reached the end with mine, bought it as commuting transport but it hasn't worked out for me.
It gets traded on Saturday.

[Bike27]

Love commuting on mine - when I'm not in the car - but it's a great commute (16 mile round trip, largely rural).

Also the last owner added some great mods - Nitron shock / Renthal bars / Delkevic Carbon end can, so haven't actually ridden a stock AL.

What are you trading yours for T.H. ?

[Talking Heads]

What are you trading yours for T.H. ?

Xmax 300

[Bike27]

Xmax 300

At a guess your commute has more of an urban flavour - horses for courses.

My 390 Duke was fab in town, untill it ****ed it's coolant everywhere :(

[Talking Heads]

At a guess your commute has more of an urban flavour - horses for courses

Nope its on A roads, 12 miles rural 60mph with two short village speed restrictions, one 30mph, second one 40mph, then 11 miles 70mph dual carriageway then 3 miles city.
A 300 scooter will happily sit above the national speed limit.
When I last had one I used it far more often than I've used the SV, purely through practicality.
If you take a simple task like nipping to the shops, on the scooter you can put your helmet under the seat when you go in the shop, on a bike you have to carry the helmet as well as a basket, when you return to scooter with bag of groceries you put them under the seat.
It makes commuting easier because I can store my work gear inside the scooter on the way to work and at work my riding gear goes under the seat.
Its just a far better transport solution, cheaper too, burns much less fuel and tyres are less than £50 each.
When it gets dirty it takes ten minutes to clean, the SV takes me around two hours to do properly.
And it doesn't have a chain final drive. :cool:

As you say, horses for courses. :)

[Bike27]

Would definitely agree that :

Chain maintenance
Carrying Stuff
Cleaning

Can all be a massive P.I.T.A. on a regular motorcycle, but IMHO a decent chain oiler and topbox can go a fair way towards addressing the first two - I also hate carrying a lid around - and as for the last one - it'll get a proper clean about once a year :)

(always gets a healthy squirt of cheapo WD40 substitute after a wet ride though)

[Talking Heads]

Agree about chain oilers, first thing I bought for the SV was a Tutoro auto, done about 10,500 miles since fitting, chain was last checked at service 7000ish miles ago, its never been looked at again.
Canny stand topboxes, what's the point of designing a good looking bike and then sticking ugly boxes on it?
I bought the very neat looking official Suzuki rack to carry a bag on, but you need to cut holes in the bodywork to fit it. So never did.
I live by the sea, with a motorbike I can't be so cavalier with the cleaning regime because it would turn to shyte in no time flat.
Have to keep on top of it at all times so if there's going to be rain I haven't been riding it.
Scooter is much easier to keep on top of in that respect, they don't get as dirty because of proper mudguards and are easier to clean.
SV definitely been a fun bike, but let down by, what are for me at least, niggly wee annoyances.
I'm easy annoyed :D

[Bike27]

I couldn't stand topboxes either until about 20 years ago, but then I bought a BMW R1100GS that came with one.....

Like every other 1100cc + GS, the BM was so huge and unusual looking, the Topbox simply wasn't an issue, so I came to love the convenience.

Would never have dreamed of putting one on my KTM 640 Supermoto or Fireblade :smt042 but they're a bit more acceptable on an all rounder (had one on my little KTM 390). Plus at least you can quick detach them these days :)

[Seeker]

I'm easy annoyed :D

I think you have some valid points and have every right to be annoyed, we live in a damp climate, for a good portion of the year if it's not drizzling/raining then the roads are wet from condensation, we should have decent mudguards.

Canny stand topboxes, what's the point of designing a good looking bike and then sticking ugly boxes on it?

I agree, but it's a subjective point.

I bought the very neat looking official Suzuki rack to carry a bag on, but you need to cut holes in the bodywork to fit it.

Reports of that stopped me buying one. The Givi rack system 3111FZ doesn't require cutting so it can be done.


Now that I've finalised my Worlds-Largest-Mudflap™ design for the front I need to figure out why my massive RedFox hugger isn't keeping my rear end clean (so to speak).

[Heorot]

I looked at topboxes but it would have meant drilling into the bike's frame. Then I discovered the two tabs under the pillion seat that are for hanging a helmet (or two) on. Just release the seat, hang the helmet by its strap and replace the seat. Quick and simple. I stuff my gloves inside the helmet so I don't have to carry them either.

[shiftin_gear98]

That helmet tab came in handy when I had to push it 10 miles.

[Ljay]

Sorry I keep butting in here and there but had too many things to do to get off on holiday.
I had melt down due to delivery date being mixed up with dealer which I have chronicled. I then had some night shifts before holiday, a good time for reflection and felt this is bike I want. Took into consideration bike was registered to me and decided to email the dealer to work new deal which is significantly better.
A few emails and call day before I leave 30th August agree new deal over phone, credit to Paul at Cupar took ownership despite me going a bit Tonto with him and he agreed rightly so in places not just to make a sale but could see errors in their side.
So when I get back hope to collect in first few days as had taken extra week to allow recovery from flights.Am going to be a :)owner I reckon.

[SV650rules]

Well, welcome back - you won't regret it...

[Bike27]

What he said.

If you think you want a SV AL then you're probably right, don't see how anyone could be disappointed at five and a bit grand new.

I've had plenty of bikes with more impressive 'stats' but (riding solo) none of them blended real world performance with ease of use any better than the current era SV.

[Talking Heads]

I've found the customer service at Cupar MC's to be first rate.
Got a good deal when I bought the SV from them and got a good deal when I traded it.
Staff are always helpful every time I've been there.
When the SV went in for an ECU re-call the job was done within a matter of minutes of me arriving.
Best MC dealer I've ever been a customer of.

[Ljay]

Well I collected my new SV today and right away felt better than my outgoing MT in every way, well except for seat which is a tad stiff and unforgiving.
I'm happy to say least just the 50+ mile to get back home. I am tired mainly due to long way round home due to Thomas Cook but happy now. Took advantage of sun today collecting a few days earlier, all good and looking forwards to getting some miles in before winter fully sets in here in Scotland. Well it's almost permanent winter here.
Cupar MC's were really good the deal is better than expected and makes everything better.

[Bike27]

Nice to have another Gen 3 owner on board - I get the impression there aren't that many of us on here, although clearly the older bikes are going to generate the lion's share of the maintenance queries.......

[Ljay]

Thanks Bike 27 am glad to have moved. Today was first challenge as went to buy set of paddock stand bobbins, seems they don't exists according to first shop I went to locally. Second one had a little more idea and ordered them for me will collect next week.
Despite some parts being shared over generations seems bike is a mystery to some, best of it is second shop had a staffer with 2020 colour bike already he just shrugged when I asked if he knew pitch of thread on bolts for bobbins.
Some changes seem subtle however love that V-Twin sounds real compared to the MT 07 copy which was lame in comparison.

[SV650rules]

When I bought an ABBA stand for my AL7 seems that ABBA did not even know that the bike has a couple of M8 bosses welded onto underside of rear swinging arms for paddock stand, they supplied the swing arm adapters and front lift kit with just the strap and no bobbin, I emailed them and they said they weren't aware that AL had any bosses and could I send a photo and thread size, but still wanted extra for the bobbin to take front lift ratchet strap, in the end I just found a suitable bog standard M8 allen bolt ( 1.25mm pitch ) and use that to attach into rear swing arm for strap to fit round.

[Ljay]

Hi SV650rules I got there in the end. Think I showed my age when poor kid offered me a set and said they might fit, asked about thread pitch he just shrugged. Store manager came over we have discussion and he does the check computer to double check well it is M8 but whats the difference between 1.0 and 1.25? I refrained from obvious comment which was good for me.
Only want bobbins to make chain cleaning / lubing simpler and in future may go to Abba stand too.
Oh the 2020 Sv650 was the kids so asked who fitted his new end can-it was my dad mate :).

[Bike27]

Would not have the patience to deal with the average Muppet likely to be found lurking in a bike shop these days unless I REALLY had to.

My golden rule is: always look on eBay first :)

[SV650rules]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5S5qNVkzZw

Found this video that may interest you, from a tester that had never ridden a Suzuki before ( can you believe it ? ).

I noticed the lack of wind at speed as well on my 2016 AL7, but decided to fit a screen ( MRA ) thinking it would make it better or at least keep some of the kamikaze bugs off my visor and jacket - thing is it made it made my helmet a lot noisier and made the wind worse ( moved it to the 'wrong' place ) - so I took it off again.

[Kpr1969]

good evening all..
I'd just like to introduce myself to the group..I'm Kieran and I'm a new SV650 AL9 owner..
well not yet but I travelled upto Preston yesterday to sign up for a deal on an ex-demo with 45 miles on the clock..bit of a no brainer for the money to be honest..went for the white with blue frame/wheels combination..my local had the grey (Suzuki call it silver) with red frame and wheels but I just wasn't taken with the colours..took my 15 year old daughter into the shop last week to have a look and to say her enthusiasm for the colour matched mine is an understatement...
So due to Suzuki apparently changing the rules on Friday..I have to wait until the bike is 120 days old from registration before it can be sold so I can pick it up on the 26th..which works well for me actually as I have an old XJ600 that I have to shift to make way for the new arrival..
Anyway..just saying hello to you all..
I'll try not to be the new annoying person who asks all the questions that have been asked a million times before.

[Ljay]

Hi Kpr1969 you have chosen same as me I had choice of all colours and something about White took me. A quirk by Suzuki is V5 calls bike Black which threw me and insurer for a few days:o
The review above from SV650 rules is good to watch, checked out TMF too.
I got cracking deal on new AL9 and found ride home better than outgoing MT07 just bonded right away. The clutch assist is a bit different but OK.
Hope you have many happy miles together, am same might seek a deal of advice too at times.

[SV650rules]

I got cracking deal on new AL9 and found ride home better than outgoing MT07 just bonded right away. The clutch assist is a bit different but OK.
Hope you have many happy miles together, am same might seek a deal of advice too at times.

To be honest if I didn't know the low revs clutch assist was there from reading about it I would never have guessed it was there, to me it is so unobtrusive as to be invisible.

I would have had the red frame in a heartbeat if it had been available in 2016 - I got blue tank and black frame and wheels ( could not even get red tank in 2016, the only colours
were ( all with black frame ) blue tank and blue wheels, white tank black wheels and blue tank with black wheels ( and maybe black tank as well ), they showed a red tank in brochure
but not available in UK at that time ( I had to wait almost 2 months for delivery as I pre-ordered before the AL7 was available in UK ). .

I don't like the way that the tester in video holds in the clutch at traffic lights though, rather than put it into neutral, then he complained towards the end of video that his hand
was getting tired. But maybe in London traffic you learn that you have to hold in the clutch to get a super fast getaway when the lights change ? I am often in neutral before I stop
and only really use clutch for changing down and pulling away ( in the habit of changing up without using clutch ).

[Bike27]

good evening all..
I'd just like to introduce myself to the group..I'm Kieran and I'm a new SV650 AL9 owner..
well not yet but I travelled upto Preston yesterday to sign up for a deal on an ex-demo with 45 miles on the clock..bit of a no brainer for the money to be honest..went for the white with blue frame/wheels combination..my local had the grey (Suzuki call it silver) with red frame and wheels but I just wasn't taken with the colours..took my 15 year old daughter into the shop last week to have a look and to say her enthusiasm for the colour matched mine is an understatement...


Hi Kieran, welcome to the forum - it will be nice to have another Gen3 owner on board.

The white with blue frame was my favourite of the 2019 options when I was checking them out around Feb/March, but having spent quite some time before hand looking online I knew I would have to see the black tank /red frame colour scheme from 2018 before reaching a decision.

Having seen all the 2019 colour schemes in dealers first, I was even mentally trying to picture the black tank of the one, with the red frame of the other.

No prizes for guessing which one I ended up with :D