advice wanted

[crusty]

hello all, im crusty :)

im thinking of buying an sv but am a bit unsure as i dont know much about them?

ive talked to peeps with differing results, the pros sound right up my street but am unsure bout the downsides, ive heard they can have motor probs quite early & ive seen a few for sale that have had new engines?
Also conflicting reports about handeling (front ends?) and engines being underpowered?
What things should i look for weak spots and essential mods etc

any advice is gratefull cheers crusty :)

[BILLY]

Hi crusty welcome to the forum :D

The engines if looked after are pretty built proof, ie regular oil change.
The front end is a bit soggy but what do you expect for a bike built to a budget, It can be cured with after market springs and a heavier weight oil or a GSXR front end coversion.
The rear shocks get a bit tired after a while, But it can be fixed with an after market shock or a GSXR or ZXR one!

As standard they are a great beginner to experienced bike, just look at me I've had my bike license for 20 years and love it 8)

[BILLY]

As for power there's more than enough to get you into trouble and they will show up most sports bike riders in the right hands 8)

[crusty]

thats exactly why i was thinking of one, ive bin riding 10 odd years on lots of different bikes, i loved my sporty but needed more poke (& brakes!) and also had a firestorm which was fun but unusable power in the real world where i use my bike for everything all year! so i thought the sv could be a happy medium!

[BILLY]

thats exactly why i was thinking of one, ive bin riding 10 odd years on lots of different bikes, i loved my sporty but needed more poke (& brakes!) and also had a firestorm which was fun but unusable power in the real world where i use my bike for everything all year! so i thought the sv could be a happy medium!

My mate has a Firestorm and on the twisties he can't keep up but sadly on the straights I'm left for dead :cry: But anyone can go fast in a straight line even my Granny :lol:

[Blue_SV650S]

Hiya, what's your budget Crusty?

BILL covered most of it. Basically engines are actually really strong, engine problems are rare, high mileage bikes are common and not even something to stay clear of. Just avoid ones that have been owned by wheelie merchants as the engines can be starved of oil in wheelies.

The front ends are a bit horrid as standard, but there are plenty of cures out there. If the front end hasn't been sorted and you intend to get a bit frisky when riding, then factor in £200 to upgrade the fork internals.

How long have you been riding? What bikes have you ridden?? edit: you have just posted some new info ;) If you didn't dig the firestorm, you will hate the SV ;)

[northwind]

Yep, most of the time new engine means it's been destroyed by incompetence or abuse, though not always... Also, SV engines are cheap to buy and easy to fit so people will sometimes fit them even though the old engine's repairable- it quickly becomes uneconomic when a new engine's £250 and you can fit it without any drama.

[crusty]

i did like the firestorm, just not its honda blandness! and loved the sporty but i like to ride aggressive, the sporty didnt & the firestorm just went faster with no input or feedback!
i like to feel the bike, i had an xjr 400 for a while an it was great cos even when you were thrashing it it didnt put you out too much!

ive got a budget of about 1500

[crusty]

feel a bit more reassured about the engines now too, other suzukis ive had have been bulletproof an fun to ride too

[Quiff Wichard]

note:


best not to use the line

"Hi I am crusty "

as an opner!! :D

[Blue_SV650S]

i did like the firestorm, just not its honda blandness! and loved the sporty but i like to ride aggressive, the sporty didnt & the firestorm just went faster with no input or feedback!
i like to feel the bike, i had an xjr 400 for a while an it was great cos even when you were thrashing it it didnt put you out too much!

ive got a budget of about 1500

"Sporty"?

[BILLY]

You'll get a decent CURVEY for that!! have a look in the for sale section.

[crusty]

"Sporty"?[/quote]


harley sportster, had a tuned 4 speed for a few years loved it but woulda cost alot to get what i wanted from it!

ive been lookin in the sale section some good bikes in there!
crusty is a club name thats just stuck, its best not asking for an explination lol :D

[Beenz]

The SV is a cracking bike, yes they are built to a budget but for road use they are fantastic, even standard. You can pep up the spenders but to be honest a well ridden SV will easilly give ANY bike a run for the money.

I had a pointy that was standard apart from the zorst ans a tail tidy, absolutely fantastic on the road. I've had lots of bike over the years and for an A road blat they are simply superb.

Engines are near bullet proof if looked after as well. Keep an eye on the cycle parts during winter salt and they'l look great as well.

I'd get another (or my old one back) if I could afford or justify another bike.

To sum up, the SV is an honest bike that punches well above its weight (well mine did anyway) The engine is a real gem.

Oh and welcome to the mad house :smt026

[hovis]

:smt006

go for a curvey sport......in yellow (they are faster)

i did & i love it :wink:

[BILLY]

:smt006

go for a curvey sport......in yellow (they are faster)

i did & i love it :wink:

I was wondering how long it would take you :lol:

[Blue_SV650S]

harley sportster

Please don't swear on a public forum like that!! ;) :D

[hovis]

:smt006

go for a curvey sport......in yellow (they are faster)

i did & i love it :wink:

I was wondering how long it would take you :lol:

i was waiting for sombody else to tell him.......

i was going to post a picy :roll:

[kwak zzr]

hi crusty and welcome to the forum, ive ridden lots of bikes in the 9 years ive been riding but i didnt keep any of them long i got abit bored :roll: until i found the sv650s this bike ticked all the boxes and i kept it longer than any other bike ive owned until white van man dicided to kill my beautiful bike :( so then having a choice of bikes to choose from next i got another sv :wink:

[Blue_SV650S]

hi crusty and welcome to the forum, ive ridden lots of bikes in the 9 years ive been riding but i didnt keep any of them long i got abit bored :roll: until i found the sv650s this bike ticked all the boxes and i kept it longer than any other bike ive owned until white van man dicided to kill my beautiful bike :( so then having a choice of bikes to choose from next i got another sv :wink:

I have been around the houses and ended up at the SV too coz as kwak put it, it currently 'ticked all the boxes' for me too. 8)

As you have been riding a few years, and had a variety of bikes, I think an SV is one you need to cross off the list ... so get one; enjoy it for what it is, for as long as it continues to float ya boat, then move on :)

Job done.

Four your budget you are looking at an A1 Curvy {up to and including 2002} or bottom end pointy {2003 on}.

The earlier and later bikes are essentially the same (in any way that is important), so just go on which ever ones 'look' takes your fancy, pointy or curvy beauty is in the eye of the beholder :)

[crusty]

ive liked the curvy since it came out, to me the pionty looks too modern
nicely said, its one to tick off your on your list :wink:

[lukemillar]

hi crusty and welcome to the forum, ive ridden lots of bikes in the 9 years ive been riding but i didnt keep any of them long i got abit bored :roll: until i found the sv650s this bike ticked all the boxes and i kept it longer than any other bike ive owned until white van man dicided to kill my beautiful bike :( so then having a choice of bikes to choose from next i got another sv :wink:

I have been around the houses and ended up at the SV too coz as kwak put it, it currently 'ticked all the boxes' for me too. 8)

Just out of curiousity, what boxes where those?

Has 2 wheels - Check
has an engine - Check
Is a girls bike - Check

:lol: (I'm just joking!)

[kwak zzr]

cheap to insure,
handles well,
good price (3770 otr)
easy home maintanance,
its a "V" twin,
sounds better than any IL4,
looks great,
looks better with mods,
quick for a 650 twin,
decent brakes,
oh and its silver the best colour :wink:

[crusty]

cheap to insure,
handles well,
good price (3770 otr)
easy home maintanance,
its a "V" twin,
sounds better than any IL4,
looks great,
looks better with mods,
quick for a 650 twin,
decent brakes,
oh and its silver the best colour

thats all ticks in my boxes too, except bikes look best in black! :D

[kwak zzr]

black shows up the dirt too quickly :oops:

[Blue_SV650S]

Just out of curiousity, what boxes where those?

Has 2 wheels - Check
has an engine - Check
Is a girls bike - Check

:lol: (I'm just joking!)

Ok, (talking my initial road bike here)

Bear in mind my usage is commuting, I don't really 'do' blats any more.

- I had had enough of riding old nails for commuting, I wanted something a bit more modern/desirable.

- I had ridden a few, but never owned a V-Twin.

- It had to be reasonable cheap to buy as I didn't want to fret over it getting all mucky or stolen as soon as I parked it up anywhere.

- Reasonable on fuel

- reasonable on insurance

- Have readily available supply of cheap 2nd hand tyres as a popular size (minitwins and 400cc castoffs)

- Promise to be a 'bit of a giggle' if I wanted.

- capable of doing 'miles' in some form of comfort if I needed

- Not fast enough that without even trying my license is history.

Probably a few more boxes that I rationalised, but you get the idea ;)

[crusty]

black shows up the dirt too quickly

but black is stealthy :twisted:
heres a pic o my dream black bike.

http://upload5.postimage.org/379973/yoshikat.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/379973/photo_hosting.html)

now theres something you could loose ya licence on, Raahh :twisted: :twisted:

[BILLY]

thats all ticks in my boxes too, except bikes look best in black! :D


Sooooooooooo true


http://upload5.postimage.org/384844/svmods2.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/384844/photo_hosting.html)

[andyaikido]

black shows up the dirt too quickly :oops:

As if that would ever be an issue with you, kwak. :lol:

[kwak zzr]

silver is the best colour for hiding the dirt, black and white are worst.