Problems

Sorry if this has been asked and answered to before, but i've had a couple of problems with my 2001 SV650S lately.

1. Speedo don't work no more since riding in the rain for the first time. It worked again after i pulled a wheelie but has stopped working again. So more wheelies the solution?

2. Rode 16km to work this morning in pouring rain. Nearly there and suddenly it only runs on 1 cyl ! Holy crap!

3. Not a problem, but just curious to know how much oil an 'average' SV consumes. I bought it with 18'000km on the clock, changed oil and filter then. Oil level in 'the middle' between lines. Now today (about 5000km later) i just noticed that the oil level is slightly below the lower line. Whoops!
Does how i ride it influence consumption?

Thanks for any answers. I'm a bit of an idiot when it comes to mechanical things so keep it simple please

[BillyC]

Hi Jezza,

Let me do my best to answer your questions:

1. It sounds like you've either got a loose connection that powers your speedo, in which case, it's unlikely that any of your panel lights will work either. However, if it's just the speedo, and you've been doing a few wheelies, you've probably broken the speedo sensor in the front wheel axle. You'll need to replace it ... they're not hugely expensive, but they are very fragile. Hard landing wheelies could well weaken or break it.

2. Yes, this happens, get a fenda extenda.

3. I guess an average SV burns little to no oil at all. My pointy has 35,000Km's on the clock, and doesn't lose a drop. I'm sure it does have a lot to do with the way you ride it... and indeed the kind of oil you put in. I think Suzuki recommend semi-synthetic, 10w40... which I guess is what everyone uses. Fully synthetic is probably less prone to loss through burning, but does cost nearly half as much again.

[TSM]

My K2 used lots of oil on the trip to portugal, i still dont know why but still worreys me.

Some bikes use more than others, it has also been mentioned that they sometimes burn more then stop. Diffrent makes of oil could be an influence.

[embee]

As BillyC says.

5k kms on half a window doesn't sound unreasonable judging from your riding style description

Oil consumption depends to a large extent on how well the engine was broken in from new. For the "mototuneusa" school of break in, a couple of thou to the litre might well be on the cards, for a proper break in the oil consumption will be negligible for the first 100k miles at least.

Blue touch paper is lit, retires to a safe distance

Thanks for the replies guys

Nr. 2 was my main worry. 'Should i keep on riding or...IS IT GONNA BLOW?!!!?'

I do crappy wheelies pretty often (i get bored in city traffic), don't land them hard though. But i guess hard enough to fark the sensor It's only the speedo that doesn't work. Idiot lights etc AOK.

I guess the oil consumption could have something to do with open sweepers and red mist

Thanks again. Muchly appreciated. Topped up the oil and she's running sweet as again. I loves my SV

Originally Posted by BillyC

Hi Jezza,
I think Suzuki recommend semi-synthetic, 10w40... which I guess is what everyone uses. Fully synthetic is probably less prone to loss through burning, but does cost nearly half as much again.

I have had this discussion on another forum.
I couldn't get info on which type of oil Suzuki recommends for the SV. I didn't want to use fully synth as it was explained to me like this...

Apparently twins don't get the benefits of it that IL4s do. The oil shears in big twins, basically it breaks down as it's worked too hard, and loses the lubing properties. It's for this reason Aprillia point out that fully synth must not be used in their engines.

In the end I used semi and have had no problems.

Interesting. I've been using fully synth 10w40 Motul stuff.

Nice Termignoni you've got there! Sound any good? Do i like beer?

[BillyC]

Haggis,

The sheering will happen in any engine, with any oil. It's the main reason why you have to replace oil - not so much because it gets dirty and contaminated, but because it loses its lubricating ability, especially at the higher temperatures.

At the end of the day, and to quote a well known member of this forum, the best oil, is new oil. If you really care about it, change it more often. Doesn't really matter what kind, as long as it's fresh.

I'm gonna change my (fully synth) oil very soon. I'll have a good look at it.