Custom SV650/Adventure, advice sought

Custom SV650/Adventure Project Plan

For a long list of reasons that will go unstated (so please don’t ask) there are NO OEM bikes fitting this author/builder’s needs. The DL is close but too ugly, too heavy, & too ugly. He desires to build one custom SV650 for Adventure & occasional SuperMotard use.

Author seeks advice in the design & construction for a bike w/ the features & specs listed below. If the design goals seem impossible author welcomes your input too. If necessary the author is willing to pay for advice from builders w/ reliable hands-on experience. Please forward referrals for anyone suitable to supply advice for the project.

Features/Specifications

Increased rear-suspension travel desired: How difficult to achieve? Can/should DL suspension parts be retrofitted?

Fuel range: Are fuel tanks steel or plastic? I’d assume a steel tank could be cut & modified to achieve better fuel range. Anyone ever hear of this or seen pics?

Center-stand: Has anyone seen a center stand adapted to an SV?

Rack, Hard Bags: Does a rear luggage rack exist or must this be fabricated/modified from another bike? Anyone seen hard bags installed? (Builder has an unused set of Givi bags.)

Brakes: Upgrades desired but obviously dependant on the forks employed. An aftermarket master cylinder is a possibility.

Frame: How’s the SV frame for light off-road duty solo rider? Is Gen 2 better than Gen 1? Specifically is the steering head sturdy enough? Motor Cycle Consumer News (USA) wrote that Ducati made the Multi-Strada 1000 steering head “47% longer” than its Monster/Sport-Touring forebears, making it “stiffer…to resist the forces of rough roads”. 47% is substantial. All ST & late model Monsters have exceptional handling, implying rigid steering heads in their pavement venue.

Riding position: Builder has 34” inseam requiring large seat-to-peg space. Taller seat padding appears mandatory, as may bar risers & possibly extended control cables, hoses & harnesses. A classic SM riding position is preferred, w/ pegs directly below rider’s body mass for easy stand-up. Cornering clearance must be monitored regarding foot-peg position. Grips tall enough for a 6-3 rider to stand for off-road use yet low enough for aggressive pavement cornering. Yes, builder knows he’s asking for the world; that’s why there's no OEM bike he wants!

Front Wheel: A 19” front wheel is preferred. The author prefers a cast wheel for its tubeless tire capability but spokes are acceptable; the spoke’s cosmetic mismatch w/ the cast rear wheel is OK. For SM use the OEM 17” front wheel will be employed if possible.

Front Suspension: A mid-to long-travel fork seems appropriate. USD & full adjustments are preferred but the fitment & handling requirements limit choices. The list of known potential donor bikes w/ longer travel & 19” cast wheel is short: V-Strom & ’04-’06 Triumph Tiger. A Triumph tech mentioned the KTM 640 Adventure forks for a similar application.
Do any specs/features stated above favor one generation SV650 motor, frame, rolling chassis vs. the other generation? Why? Are both generation motors & frames completely interchangeable for mixing/matching? If no, are the problems in swapping so great that it is virtually never done?

Thanks for your time.

Best regards,
Bimjo

Buy a KTM.

A Buell Ulysses would be the sort of thing you are looking for.


I've done the bar risers, centre stand and luggage etc for the SV650 K6.

See
http://www.bykebitz.co.uk/acatalog/S...ck_System.html

[northwind]

I'd work from a DL chassis instead, fi I were you, much more is along the lines that you want. There's pictures out there somewhere of a naked DL, and it actually looks pretty fantastic- still massive, but it carries it much better without the conservatory on the front. The weight can be attacked aggressively once you get into that, and I'm sure I've seen one with KTM WP forks fitted. Luggage racks are available as OE, as they are for the SV, tail and pannier.

Alternatively... We have at least one SV on supermoto running gear on the forum, though he's not been too active of late. There was also a kit available to build an off-road SV a while back, though I've no idea if that's still an option- SV Rider was obsessed with it though

The SV frame's extremely strong in both variants, though the headstock's short. I'd be surprised if it'd cause damage but it might go through head bearings. Randy O might be a good person to speak to, he's offroaded his almost-standard carbed SV.

Why an SV? I would think it would be much easier to get an adventure bike and strip it of excess weight. That way there would be panniers available, a centrestand and the brakes should work really well due to less weight. It will also have plenty of space for tall riders and lots of suspension travel.

I own a V-strom 1k as well as my SV650 and would never take the big strom the off road places I have taken my SV

strom is just too freekin heavy, added fuel gives it more range, but makes it top heavy

19" hoop is nicer for off road and rough road, but complete nekidness of the SV allows you to pick your way thru rough stuff easier than trying to look thur the gas tank & faring of the strom

strom has more clearance and travel ..... I scrape hardware a lot more with the strom than the SV, effectivley, the SV has just as much clearance due to shorter wheelbase and less suspension travel

I would prefer wire spoked wheels, alloy wheels bend too easy, wire wheels can be tightened and realigned much easier

MY SV is in pieces right now needing an engine rebuild and new suspension,

my plans are to install a WP 4014 rear shock , haven't decided on what to do with the front yet.... maybe try and graft a fork from a DRZ or a KTM

IMHO the strom makes a better sport tourer than adventure bike and I think the SV is a good platform for customizing into an adventure bike