Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

I am thinking of getting another SV650 as my 99 was written off in an accident... now I am wondering how much difference there is between 99 and the latest models...

I test drove a 2008 with ABS and the whole body kit... it's a good deal but when I was riding it, the thing felt gutless down low... my 99, while it didn't want to easily lift the tire the way I rode it, it had waaay more kick to it.. I would crack the throttle in the lower gears and it would launch forward... it always felt it had power, even though on the dyno at my altitude of 3500ft it only hit 65hp or so... I thought the new ones had more power...

I am going to test drive some more gen2 bikes but that one felt like someone put the sv650 engine in the bigger sv1000 frame and it felt like it had to be overly reved to gain any power... and with the stock tire and bridgestone front it felt like it wanted to stand up in the corners

So I have to ask anyone who has made the transition... did they find that the 99-2002 SV650s bikes to be way more flickable and more sling shot type than the 2004-2008 ones?

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

other way round for me the old curvy i had wouldnt tip nearly as quickly as this one does probably more to do with this pointy being a nekkid and the old one a s.

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

I dunno.. my SV650s felt like it would fall into corners but once you got into it, it would hold real well... regardless of the tires.. granted when they squared off they would stand up a bit more but not like this one...

and the power is what gets me.... on my 99 every time I cracked the throttle, it would go... right now... this 2008 feels like it will go.. eventually...

I didn't get to hit the twisty roads like I would have liked.. but I know my 99 handled waaaay better and had more lower end power even on stock jets/mains etc..

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

summats wrong with that pointy then that or this nekkids got a rocket shoved up it's ****.

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

is/was your gearing standard on both bikes?

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

I'm thinking so... as I thought the new ones slightly edged out the 1st gen bikes in most areas... Perhaps I felt like I was going more as my full hindle exhaust was a lot louder... but it had a lot of pull on the arms when I cracked the throttle.. this didn't... perhaps it didn't break in well... or perhaps my Hindle exhaust gave me a more abrupt torque curve even though it still didn't give me more than 65hp on the dyno... they say they are giving us SVrider.com guys a deal at 5500 rather than the 7000 they had it for in the local classifieds... but I am thinking they just want to get rid of it... I did notice it smoking in their youtube video... but they say that was when they put the new exhaust pipe on it... and I didn't see any extra carbon or smoking when I rode it today... but who knows

I guess I have a few more to test out before I make my decision... I did kind of like the ABS brakes though

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

The 2008 is standard gearing... but when my SV650s had the original sprockets on , it still felt like it hauled ass... then I put 15f/46r on mine and it didn't feel too much different a little better but not huge... even when I compare this one to how mine was at with 15f/44R it still isn't close.. Did they change the 2008 to have a 16f or something?

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

dont know mate was just a thought sorry

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

maybe yellow is just that much faster than the new purplish-blue ones :D

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

you might be on to something there.. have you had a go of any other bikes maybe it is just your perception?

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

It's possible... but it sure felt weak down low... I'd have to put a 14f/47 rear on this 2008 to make it feel anything close to what my 99 had with 15f and 46r on the sprockets...

It felt like it was closer in power to my dad's 83 maxim/seca 650 than my 99 sv650s.

The engine sounded OK though... but all I know is given how much I gave it gas I should have been at a higher speed when I looked down...

On the main 80km road it was a bit better.. but not by much...

I am really going to have to try some more 2nd generation SV650s, I can't believe they all feel like this.

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

We all know yellow is the fastest colour.... ;)

I also found the Pointy a little less responsive, but then I am more used to Curvy's. A few people have said similar things about the K8 and K9's. A back to back ride with two standard bikes is the only way to tell.

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

I would think the best way is to ride more gen 2's and remember that you're used to riding a gen 1 with diff gearing. I have an 06 pointy - when I rode a friends curvy I found it quite a bit heavier. It seemed slightly slower to get going, but a bit more planted.

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

The two bikes are actually very similar, your just used to one type of bike because that is where your riding experience has come from. For many the SV is there first big bike, they have learnt to ride a bigger capacity bike with experience on the SV. The problem is, like cars, not all are the same.

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

From my understanding the 08 bikes have been strangled by emmision regulations and produce slightly less power than pre 08 bikes. Its been noted in several reviews that the 08 bike of feeling gutless compared to last years bike. There is no official change from suzuki but then i wouldnt go around shouting "hey guys... buy a new bike which goes slower"

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

That is very possible... too... I'd definitely have to put a full system on one if I got a newer one... but I'm going to try some other gen2 bikes fefore I say screw it and get the other yellow 99 with 7000km on it the only thing different than my old 99 is my 99 had the hindle full system on it... I wanted to get away from carbs.. but who knows what will turn up... it certainly isn't that granny bike 08 :roll:

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

Look around, theres plenty of people desperate to offload bikes at the mo. I got my absolutely immaculate 99 650s, with full m4 system - £700!

Just haggle... alot haha

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

Can't get them for that price in canada.. $3200 is about as low as I've seen them cheapest in my city is about $3700 but usually they are stock.. or have lame assed mods done to them that ruin the bike... or have some crappy slip-on on the bike... I'd rather it have the stock pipe so I can replace it with what I want although I'd take one with a full m4 if they could tell me they had it jetted properly when they put it on...

Re: Question about gen1 to gen2 transition
 

Not in the UK, possibly in the US or Canada.