Right, picked up my SV1000 a few days ago, rode it the short distance of around 10 miles to home. Frankly I was shocked at how poor this thing handled compared to my 650 race bike.
Now, I know I'm not comparing like for like at all, different (but similar) bikes, totally different weight, crap roads compared to silky smooth race track, quality suspension set up as stiff as you like compared to bog standard but even so.
So, I got thinking through why this is. Surely I dont need to spend a grand on suspension just to make it handle reasonably well on the road.
The bike has 5000 miles on it and has been stood unused for 9 months or so. First thing I checked was tyre pressure...OMG. Pumped the front up from about 18 psi to standard
, surely that wouldnt have helped. I did once experience very similar feeling from my race bike when I had a faulty tyre valve. Low pressure made the front feel like it wanted to tuck and turn in without any bar input. Both tyres now set properly.
Next was preload, each fork has been set differently ??? by quite some margin. Doh. Reset to standard. Damping was at least fairly similar on each fork, reset these to standard to start with. To set these the manual gives steps to wind fully in to maximum damping, than back one full turn for standard. Funny thing is the right fork rebound damper keeps winding in, seems like there is no stop. One to investigate. I doubt the fork oil has ever been changed and so I might just whip the forks out and give them a full service. Anybody done SV1000 forks before? They are cartridge rather then dampers and the manual suggests a Suzuki tool
'09940-30250 : Front fork assembling tool' for removal of the cartridge, interested to know wether I really need one or if it can be done fairly easily without.
Chain adjustment....OMG. The rear axle nut has a 36mm nut, not common in home toolkits. That might explain why the chain had about 70mm free play rather than the 20/30mm necessary. Had to bodge together a 'device' to get the nut undone until I can pop to Halfrauds, using a bench drill vice and a long steel tube
, Bobs your uncle.
The brakes feel like they are made of wood. I know I'm comparing them with EBC pro-lite race pads/discs but even so, they are totally crap. Time for some braided hoses (it still has originals), fresh fluid and a caliper rebuild.
I havent had a look at the headrace bearings or freeplay yet, there may be some problem there.
The rear shock appears to be original item, no idea how good or bad these are for the SV1000, certainly it isnt up to the capabilities of a £700 Elka race shock thats for sure. Anybody know of alternatives for the 1000 without spending silly money? There is a company called Brook suspension offering £100 refurbs on ebay
here. Anybody used them before?
No idea what condition the rear shock linkages or swingarm bearings are in yet. Will take a look at the weekend.
So, its riding slightly better already but far from ideal.
One other thought....wheelbearings. But it had an MOT and has only done a couple of hundred miles since so I would assume these are ok, will check though.