SV650 2018 Review

[yokohama]

A nice, sensible video review on the Missenden Flyer's youtube channel and it's pretty positive overall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9wZfVtUzDw
He's got the bike on loan from Suzuki so will be doing more in depth user reviews in the coming weeks.

[garynortheast]

Mmm, dunno what's going on with the sound on that. Can't hear it properly. All the other sounds on my pc are ok.

Seems to be youtube stuff generally.

[yokohama]

Strange, Sound is absolutely fine for me.

[garynortheast]

It was my headphones!! :-(

Good review too.

[SV650rules]

At 2 minutes in he calls it a parallel twin - WTF does he know what he is riding........

Also I find my SV pretty nimble and never have the feeling I have to 'muscle it around' as he describes.

[SV650rules]

I noticed that, he also says it has slipper clutch technology. I don't think mine does (nor does it need it).

I use a dolly to turn my SV around in the driveway and I noticed that this SV model seems long compared to the Street Triple that I had before - it seems to take up more of the dolly - I've never looked at wheelbase figures to check that out.

The only thing I've found "odd" about my SV handling is at a slow walking pace it seems to want to "hunt", by which I mean it seems to need a lot of input to keep it straight. Initially, I thought it was tyres but after 3 sets of different brands, I just assume it's steering geometry.

I disagreed on seat comfort but I think that's due to the individual's size/shape since we don't have a consensus on here.

Never had the low speed handling problem you describe, maybe headstock bearings a bit tight ? I am pretty happy with the SV straight line stability, considering the state of some of the roads around here.....

Seat is OK for me up to a couple of hours (and it is a naked not a faired touring / motorway tool) but couldn't describe seat as comfortable, but I am happy to get both feet firmly down and maybe a thicker seat would spoil that.

[Red ones]

It feels narrow if you think it's a parallel twin.
There's a reason for that.

[garynortheast]

He did correctly state that it's a v twin later in the review I believe. I expect it was just a slip of the tongue. I think if he is able to give the type of lucid commentary he was in that video and ride safely and sensibly he's doing well. Better than I'd manage anyway.

[yokohama]

He did correctly state that it's a v twin later in the review I believe. I expect it was just a slip of the tongue. I think if he is able to give the type of lucid commentary he was in that video and ride safely and sensibly he's doing well. Better than I'd manage anyway.

Yeah, just a slip I think. Good point though. It must be hard to ride a new and unfamiliar bike, concentrate on the road and give a coherent commentary at the same time, while still being aware of potential dangers like the idiot who almost pulls out in front of him at the mini roundabout.

For anyone who's interested in this type of vlog, there's a slightly bonkers Portuguese guy called cager on 2 wheels who gives very idiosyncratic and quite amusing bike review commentaries in very good English. He was also impressed by the new SV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIcLGrm2C0M

[Artstu]

How about TMF's comment about the 130 mile range of the SV

[Bibio]

how to sum up the SV650 in any guise. its a budget 650cc V-twin that is fun and easy to ride. its not great but its good for the money.

[SV650rules]

How about TMF's comment about the 130 mile range of the SV

You would have to ride everywhere in 1st and 2nd gear to only get 130 miles, you can add 40 to 80 miles to that (depending on urban / rural and riding style). You have to be seriously pushing on to get less than 60mpg with the new (2016 --> engine).

Don't know where he got the vibration bit from either, SV engine is pretty much one of the smoothest all the way through the range, being a 90 deg V twin it is naturally very well balanced. Unlike the Harley 45 deg engine which moves the front wheel back and forth 2 inches at tickover and vibrates all the way to its red line at 6000 revs ( L O L and most never get revved past 3500 because there is no point).

[Bibio]

just filled up...219 miles on a tank with a predicted 35 miles remaining (put in 11.75 litres).

84mpg is bloody good. suppose if i were to ride like a granny on smack i would get those figures from my k7 but i like to have fun.

[shiftin_gear98]

I get 130 ish on my K6 - but I'm an idiot most of the time.
Out of interest how slow are you going to get 219 miles on a tank? Do you ever go over 5000 rpm?
Or is the new bike really economical compared to mine.

[Artstu]

I get 130 ish on my K6 - but I'm an idiot most of the time.
Out of interest how slow are you going to get 219 miles on a tank? Do you ever go over 5000 rpm?
Or is the new bike really economical compared to mine.

Wow. I'm now wondering how accurate my comment below is

'3.83 gallon tank, official mpg 72.43, so a potential 277 miles to a tank. A slight error there TMF I fear.'

I hear mpg figures from around 50 mpg to 90 mpg from owners, so worse case range 190 miles, and a staggering 340 ish miles if you're easy on the gas.

[SV650rules]

I get 130 ish on my K6 - but I'm an idiot most of the time.
Out of interest how slow are you going to get 219 miles on a tank? Do you ever go over 5000 rpm?
Or is the new bike really economical compared to mine.

I wouldn't call myself a slow rider, as I love the acceleration on the SV but I do tend to short shift on the flat and use the highest gear for the situation. I can get over 70 pretty much without trying, and 80 with a wee bit of consideration - but most of my miles are A and B roads, no motorway or large towns.

Yes I think the SV650AL7 engine is more economical anyway, because you cannot get down to Euro4 emissions without seriously looking at fuel injection timing and volume, and lowering friction like the SCEMbore coating and different piston rings etc ( (unless you are a German car maker with cheat software :mad: ) and a dram of molyslip in the oil ( 2% or 60ml )

[R1ffR4ff]

I enjoyed both videos.I think they confirm what most of us know that ride an SV for more than a demo.Easily enough power,light and nimble and secure cornering and loads of smiles-per-miles :)

I was out for a nice long ride Yesterday and again I noticed there seems to be a sort of small power boost once I hit past 7,000 rpm on my 99 when doing fast overtaking maneuvers?


I have to watch my speed when I do these as I've found that little extra kick and I'm well past the legal limit and the cars I've overtaken are way back in my Mirrors so have to throttle down,pull in and get back to normality.All this without getting even close to taxing the engine.

I too run a little MSo2(Moly) in my oil(Smith&Allen 10w40) and even though my engine is in it's 19th year it's still as smooth-as-silk :D

[Bibio]

you also have to take weight and height of the rider into consideration. i'm 5ft fekall and weigh 11-12st. no matter if i ride like a loon or sensible like Seeker i still avg 60mpg on my k7. i have fuel records going back 7 years and never dropped below 55mpg but never above 69mpg.

i would class myself as a steady paced, smooth rider with suicidal tendencies.

[shiftin_gear98]

I tried once to stay below 70 for a tank full. It lasted for about 5 mins of my 30 mins commute. I ride two wheels so I don't get stuck in the traffic with the cagers. I also seem to have less patience for ****wits the older I get. Hopefully my next bike isn't as thirsty. And I mellow a lot.

[yokohama]

Update ….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsL7auzdCpQ

[R1ffR4ff]

I have a feeling that in 10 or 15 years time and with whatever possible iterations of SVs are around people will look back at these versions with the same fondness I have for my,"Curvy" :)

They is what they is and damn good for it :D

The only thing I would really like is Twin exhausts.

This guy posted on the US forum a while ago.I think he's in Italy and I think the work he's done is fantastic,


jJaPY0My4KU

[Bibio]

twin zorts are just for looks. why add the extra weight when one will do.

if the OEM zort was not so heavy i would still have it on.

[R1ffR4ff]

twin zorts are just for looks. why add the extra weight when one will do.

if the OEM zort was not so heavy i would still have it on.

Personal taste.I like the sound of twin exhausts.Don't care about the weight and with the cheap Chinaprovich slip-on I have one I could have two and still weight less than the stock exhaust I reckon or close to :)

[Bibio]

yup each to their own and i'm a firm believer of personal choice. personally if i wanted twin zorts i would have bought a ducati, which i nearly did before the SV.

two chinaprovic's is still way lighter than the OEM. they really do weigh fekall.

[R1ffR4ff]

yup each to their own and i'm a firm believer of personal choice. personally if i wanted twin zorts i would have bought a ducati, which i nearly did before the SV.

two chinaprovic's is still way lighter than the OEM. they really do weigh fekall.

They don't sound bad either.Mine was £29.95.It's browning a bit on top and the little strap things around the case vibrated a bit but I cured that with the same Exhaust sealant I used to seal the 30 Deg joint I had to use and the other joints.

Get yourself some of this for the future.It's the Dog's danglies and ultra cheap,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRANVILLE-EXHAUST-ASSEMBLY-PASTE-SEALANT-SEALER-140g-LEAK-PROOF-JOINTS/252832535344?hash=item3addfe5330%3Ag%3AjLIAAOSwuxF Y2Sme&_nkw=exhaust+sealant&_sacat=0&_from=R40&rt=nc&_blrs=spell_check

Best stuff I've used in over forty years on cars/bikes.Easy to apply and sets damn quick.Zero gas leaks.Also Water-based so easy clean the joins with a damp rag if quick.

[hardhat_harry]

I noticed that, he also says it has slipper clutch technology. I don't think mine does (nor does it need it).

.

Ride it vigorously on the track and you will find it needs it.

When I start pushing on I get the back end skipping down shifting from a high speed straight into a slow corner, it can be quite disconcerting.

I know Spike Edwards suggested setting idle to 2K which helps a bit but doesnt eradicate it

Blipping on down shifts would help but I'm too busy with the rest of my riding to remember to do that

[yamrdtez]

after watching the review i have booked a test ride on the x model :cool:

[Talking Heads]

When I test rode an AL7 I had decided within a half a mile that I would definitely be buying one.


There are areas for improvement, the tank should have been made to fit the frame without the afterthought plastic trims, proper functional mudguards would be nice as would a gel/comfort seat option.