New bike...

Passed my test about a month ago and yesterday I picked up my new K9 SV650S in blue with the white stripe.. I think she's stunning ..and even better to ride - so pleased!

Just one question from my limited experience - on the ride home yesterday I found it quite difficult to make smooth gear changes, I know it's new to me but on the GS500 I trained on my changing was much better.

The revs on the SV seem to die very quickly when I pull the clutch in making it hard (for me) to blend in the next gear.
Any tips would be much appreciated... thanks.

Tom

Welcome - should be fine once you get used to it, you'll find your gearchanges quicker and slicker. Also, with a new bike it will take a few miles for the box and engine to run in properly.

i had the same thing gs500 (actually loved it, was great fun) to sv650. the sv it a lot more harsh and it takes a while to get the throttle right i found. just tine it a week or so and youll be fine

[Luckypants]

Ditto Simesb. You right about the revs dying quicker than the GS500, due to the increased engine braking on the SV. When you are used to it, up changes will be smooth. Be a little more careful on down changes, as the increased engine braking on the SV may catch you out, causing the wheel to slip a bit.

On down changes try to 'blip' the throttle to raise the engine revs to match the gearbox speed in the lower gear. A blip is a quick twist / close of the throttle while changing gear (i.e. clutch pulled in). The blipping takes a bit of practice, but makes down changes much smoother and sounds really cool to.

[the_lone_wolf]

new bike, gearbox and engine will still be a bit tight - they'll loosen up over time

Originally Posted by Luckypants

The blipping takes a bit of practice, but makes down changes much smoother and sounds really cool to.

That's the only thing that matters.

My K7 is only 440 miles in and i find it the same compared to the GS500.

Found the suspension very harsh the second week every bump in the road showed up and the throttle is very sensitive. The GS feels like a comfy old arm chair and a throttle that is glued to the bars.

Now i am getting use to the suspension and throttle and the gear box is much more slicker than the GS and the lever is positioned at a better angle.

As said before it takes a while to get use to a different bike.

Originally Posted by AmigaNut

My K7 is only 440 miles in and i find it the same compared to the GS500.

Found the suspension very harsh the second week every bump in the road showed up and the throttle is very sensitive. The GS feels like a comfy old arm chair and a throttle that is glued to the bars.

Now i am getting use to the suspension and throttle and the gear box is much more slicker than the GS and the lever is positioned at a better angle.

As said before it takes a while to get use to a different bike.

I like this post, its the first time I've seen the SV suspension praised...

...probably shows how pants GS suspendies are

Welcome Biscut. Gear changing is an art form...thankfully, with suzuki you get really nice gear boxes. Put a bit of pressure on the lever before disengaging the clutch to shift up, and on downshifts just before you re-engage the clutch, blip the throttle (this is a little more difficult to do, but it is well worth learning!)

Happy riding

Yay well done!!!!!!!!!!

When i started riding my bike it had 600ish miles on and the gear changes were difficult, starting to get easy now its getting more miles!

Hello, welcome to the site and to the SV...

Don't worry about the gear change, it will come with experience.