Common Problems with SV's

Hi I just bought a 2nd hand SV and took it in for its first service since I had it.

I was told that i need my choke cable replaced as it is a common problem with these bikes and that it was rusted in its sheeve.

I was also told today that i need my back caliper replaced because that is also a common problem with these bikes as all the water gets splashed up fro the back wheels onto it and that it is totally siezed now.

I would have thought that all bike would have these problems then??

All help would be appreciated. It is currrently being serviced by Banjax and they a new garage i am trying so dont even know if i can trust them.

the bike is a 2000 model with 25000m on the clock

Thx

Shaun

I can't quote on if these are common faults on the SV or not, due to only owning one for a few short months.

However:

Originally Posted by kotzes

...I was also told today that i need my back caliper replaced because that is also a common problem with these bikes as all the water gets splashed up fro the back wheels onto it and that it is totally siezed now.
...

Surely you'd of noticed this whilst riding it?

[timwilky]

No need to replace the caliper, it would cost a fortune. simply overhaul it.

New pins, cost a couple of quid. pump out the pistons, give em a polish and a new seal kit. even if the pistons are totally fecked and need replacing you are then looking at £50 for a pair of pistons and seals. Otherwise £17 for new seals, a choke cable costs no more than £14. So work out how much the mechanic is charging for his labour.

[northwind]

The rear caliper thing's a common problem only if neglected... But proper servicing keeps them quite happy. It's an easy thing to neglect though, so quite a lot end up with seized rear caliper pins. Same thing happens to GSXRs and Busas of the same era, among others. It's not just the location, the caliper design's a little susceptible to it. A brand new caliper's likely to be pricey though, there's loads out there in crashed bike land though a lot will be knackered too

Rusty cables isn't really an SV thing, again it's just a neglect thing... Pretty much all cables need lubing from time to time, don't do it and they'll seize. The SV's chokes are in 2 parts with a y-split, and sometimes people lube the easy to get at top bit and think that's the whole think, I reckon.

What the others said.

RE: Disc rear brakes. An old, very experienced motorcycle mechanic (who doesn't do work for me and hence had no vested interest), advised me that rear disc brakes were a bad idea for everything apart from track bikes and that drum brakes were perfectly adequate for road use and didn't need servicing every 1000 miles.

Probably some sense in it; mine were absolutely hanging when they were done 2K miles back and they're already starting to squeek again.

[jambo]

There are both issues that can crop up with curveys, but to say you need a new caliper is unusual, someone who knows what they are doing can usually get the thing stripped and cleaned out to fight on. I helped sort a choke cable out at the weekend but sometimes new ones are needed, depends on the effort the garrage are putting in and the condition of the parts.

I thought the rusty choke cable to the rear carb was relatively common. Certainly happened to me soon after I got mine but a little attention sorted it.

[northwind]

If the pins are rusted in, you can fix it... But then, you can usually get a whole working caliper for under a tenner on Ebay So I just replaced mine with one in better shape and fitted stainless pins (£3) I actually bought too, one had a seized bleed nipple, but it still worked out cheaper than buying new and I got 2 sets of decent pads out of it

Many Thax for everybody that responded and gave advice.

Gone to see the mechanic and he showed me everything.

It seems all this was cause due to neglect, but you cannot tell untill such time as you need to take it apart.

Next time I'll know.

All is being replaced so will be fine.

Just the bill for the time to unseaze the caliper etc is gonna hurt.

Rgds

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

What the others said.

RE: Disc rear brakes. An old, very experienced motorcycle mechanic (who doesn't do work for me and hence had no vested interest), advised me that rear disc brakes were a bad idea for everything apart from track bikes and that drum brakes were perfectly adequate for road use and didn't need servicing every 1000 miles.

Probably some sense in it; mine were absolutely hanging when they were done 2K miles back and they're already starting to squeek again.

A drum brake probably is powerful enough but it would look pants.

I took my rear caliper off at 12k, having only washed the outside when doing the rest of the bike, ans was plesantly surprised. No corrosion at all on the piston and only a little on the pin. And I ride all year round.