SV Questions

I've been riding a 2005 Honda Rebel and recently took a 1530 mile 5 day trip. Had a blast and the Rebel scored some big points for long distance touring with just me on it. my girlfriend wants to start going with me and I'm afraid the Rebel meets its match with 2-up riding. i've been searching the net and looking at specs for my next bike which has brought me here. Until this morning i couldn't decide on a BMW F 650 CS or the Suzuki SV 650. Obvioulsy the Suzuki has won out. I've owned Hondas, kawaski's, yamaha's, triumph and a few others, but never a suzuki so i'm kinda looking forward to that.

I'm a 5'7" 140 lb rider with a 32" inseam (girlfriend weighs about 120lbs). I'll be using this bike mainly for 2-up long distance touring (could be as much as 3 to 4000mile trips). I'm actually wanting to turn this into a mini-GoldWing. I don't like alot of weight which is why i have chosen the SV 650. I'll probably try to lower it a bit with the corbin seat and any aftermarket lowering gadgets i can find. Whatever fabrication is needed to make it the bike i want i'll do. I'm also interested in hard luggage and a rear trunk with a back rest and some type of fairing (not to obtrusive). should i consider regearing to make it a bit more sedate? i understand this bike has good power and i don't want it to "torguey" plus i figure lowering the rpm's a bit at highway speed will be better for the engine over the long haul.. Considering the difference in price between the beamer and the SV I should still come out money ahead. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated. thanks

Lowering it is not a problem. Change the dog bones for longer ones. You have already mentioned the seat. You could also lower the forks through the yolks.

There is a hard luggage option for the bike.

If you are looking at cruising more than hanging off the bike round corners I would suggest you get the naked version as they have high up bars where as the "s" has dropped bars.

The naked version has a tooth more on the rear sprocket making it a bit more powerfully, but you can always change for a sprocket with less teeth.

There are also after market fly screens that you can get to protect you from wind blast.

[Sir Trev]

I'm only two inches taller than you and have a shorter inside leg and the SV fits me fine. Try one for a few hundred miles before laying out for the lowering kit(s) as you may not need one.

The SVS (faired) has higher gearing (less revs for the same speed) so sounds like it might be better for you, although I'm sure the SVS rear sprocket will slot straight on to a naked if you want to avoid the pastic.

I have a fly screen on mine and although it's only a small one it moves a surprising amount of wind blast out of the way. Depends if you like fairings or not.

If its long distance cruising, the naked version is a far more upright riding position.

Have you thought about the SV1000

thanks for the quick responses guys. Actually i hadn't thought about the SV 1000, but the weight isn't bad on that either. Naked is what i'm looking for. i don't want the dropped bars. What type of flyscreen do you recommend. I have a National Cycle LS flyscreen on my Rebel and it works well for its size, but i think i'd like a bit bigger on this bike. I'm going to the dealer this week end. Are most of the things i'm looking for suzuki options (as far as luggage and trunk) or are we talking aftermarket? Thanks again for your replies.

Well I have to say. Luggage on a naked SV Screen on a naked SV

Not my idea of style

There are plenty of companies that do hard luggage for the SV. Don't think Suzuki is one of them though, so it's going to be after market stuff. I'm sure if you do a search on the internet you will find what you are looking for though.

I thought as you are going to use the bike more for cruising than anything else that the 1000 might be more of a better option than the 650

Originally Posted by scott58

I've been riding a 2005 Honda Rebel

A what

Originally Posted by scott58

i understand this bike has good power and i don't want it to "torguey"

Torquay's in Devon

Sorry - Don't mean to be funny... The SV is a great bike, but a mini-Goldwing it deffinately isn't... There are a lot of bikes on the market would suit you better than an SV IMHO...

How about a Honda Deauville



Dunno if its called the same in the US & Canada, but its a great bike for what you describe... Plus its a 650cc twin

And shaft drive too, zero maintenance

Originally Posted by BigApe

And shaft drive too, zero maintenance

True

It's not available in the states. We have very limited options for what i'm looking for. that picture is exactly what I'm looking for, but if you can't get it you can't get it.However I did see a moto-guzzi 750 that may work also.