Newbie here, SV advice need please..

Hi all,

Newbie biker here. Passed my DAS a fair few weeks back and now on the search for an SV650 as a first "big(ish)" bike. Had a 50cc Peugeot Speedfight 2 for 18 months when i was 16/17 and a few pillion rides on the gf's Dad's VFR800 VTEC, oh and a few rides offroad on a mates DT125R, but other than that I'm a beginner. Did DAS on a CBF500 which was great but made me realise the need for some sort of a fairing!

Anyway, just really after some SV650 info. I understand there's "curvy" and "pointy" models, and its a pointy model i'm after...is this a K3 (2003) onwards? Whats the major differences between the different models years?

Also, i love the look when they have the full lower fairings - how common are these? Same goes for the tail tidy's, rear huggers, etc?

And finally, what sort of price should I be looking at for a good bike? I'm reckoning on between £2k-£2.5k for a sub 10,000 mile bike, up to about 3 years old; sound about right?

Cheers for any help and info! Oh, and pics welcome!

Welcome to the forum.

Curvy == pre-K3, carb'd machines, round frame.
Pointy == K3+, fuel injected, square frame.

There are little differences here & there between the two, but on the whole, their pretty much the same. The electrics is pretty much identical, but the dash looks different. From what I remember of luckypant's curvy, they have 2 dials on the dash (speed & revs) and no clock. My pointy has a rev counter and an LCD display including clock. [ Note to all those forum members with curvy's and a digital watch strapped to the bars! :P ]

Full fairings aren't that common (in my limited experience) in SVs, but not unheard of at all.

Tail tidy's are pretty common, and it's one mod I want to make to my bike, when I have the cash to do it.

Rear hugger, I personally don't see the point, other than keeping the rear shock nice & clean.

As for price, I'm sure someone else can tell you, I bought a brand new machine from a stealership. But that's because I do silly milage, and I'm prepared to fight the warranty claims issues on my nice "unlimited milage 2 year warranty"

I'll just add something to that list of what you might want to fit:

Crash Bungs. In a slow speed crash, or a no-speed drop, they'll save alot of damage.

Good choice of machine to go for though - they are comfy (even the sportier 's' model is better than other sports bikes, like gsxr's etc), light, user freindly and all the rest. Price wise, around 2500 is good. I dont think you'll find a low-milage K3 easily for under 2500.

Full fairings can be obtained from (i think) suzuki, or other manufactures (eg powerbronze, although there are others). I also recommend a front mudgard extension, to keep any water (when/if you ride in the rain) from the front cylender, and also off the downpipes (to an extent).

Happy hunting!

Matt

Have a look in the for sale section,
I may be naive here but I'd like to think no one that's been on here would sell a dog under false pretences. There's usually 2 or 3 for sale
for example or
alternatively
as for the lower fairings, £380apx from Suzuki or you can get an aftermarket full front fairing (rather than the split Suzuki ones) from about £180 which will then need painted etc £100apx, some people go for belly pans rather than lowers, personal choice really.
Alternatively the sv1000 comes with full fairings as standard, depends what you are looking for.

The S model screen makes a huge difference to wind blast and there is also a difference in riding position and hence style compared to the naked, i don't know what diff the lowers make as i haven't ridden a bike with them.

For the ponties it goes like this:

K3 - available in Silver, blue and ginger. with silver frame and wheels First model after the curvy. Big redesign in shape and style. Similar motor but replaced carbs with fuel injection. Also has a digital speedo which features a clock!

K4 - available in black, blue and yellow - altered subframe, relocated toolbox from under the seat to under the battery. Seat changed shape slightly. gear shift pivot moved slightly.

K5 - available in Blue, Black and Red - switched to black wheels and frames. Radiator changed shape - didn't they alter the cam chains/adjusters?

K6 - available in bluey/silver, red and turquoise (worst colousr ever!)- Not sure what else is different.

Please feel free to add amend changes

Thanks
Luke

Buy a Curvey they look better and there faster but only the BLACK ones

Adding to what lukemillar said about pointies

07 - Naked or S comes in red or blue. ABS an option (blue only). Engine change: now two spark plugs per cylinder.

Funny you said turquoise on 06's. I have an 06 (bought new, 1 mile on speedo) and it came in a nice deep blue like the 07's, not the horrid color the 06's have on Suzuki's site. But it's definitely an 06, not an 05 or 07. Weird.

Originally Posted by vulcan666

Engine change: now two spark plugs per cylinder.

Really?

Why?

I assume it has something to do with reducing unburned hydrocarbons, cleaning up emissions a bit.

Originally Posted by BILLY

Buy a Curvey they look better and there faster but only the BLACK ones

You mean the yellow ones, surely!

Matt