What should I look out for when buying an 02 SV

Hi All,

This is my first post in this great forum. Loads of useful information on this site!
I am looking at buying a red unfaired 2002 (51 reg) SV650 from a local dealer.
I tested the bike last week and it rides very well. The bike has had one owner from new, all service history, and has 10K miles on it. It is all stock, no modifications and it is sold by a suzuki dealer which will service it and MOT it before I get it. The bike is on sale for £1995 which I will try to get down as much as possible.

What I want to know is, what should I look at when going to inspect the bike closely? What should have been done in the services which is really necessary on these bikes? Fork's oilchanges, Cam belt adjusters, etc?

Finally what do you guys think I should expect to pay for it realisticly?

Cheers,
I hope to join the community soon!
Ed.

[Binky]

I doubt you'll get that price much lower than £1995. Especially from a dealer that is servicing it beforehand. Sounds like a nice condition bike with low miles for its age.

If it were to be sold privately on Ebay for example i think it'd go for between 1400-1600. But then i haven't seen the bike.

Does it have any paint work blemishes or cracks to fairing panels???

the usual stuff to check would be consumable items like chain and sprockets, brake pads & tyres. If all of these were to need replacement shortly after you buy the bike it could cost you anything from £300 upwards on top of what you just paid for the bike (figuring 50 for pads front & rear, 100 chain & sprockets, 150 for tyres). When is the next service due, is that going to fall just after you buy the bike? How much will that cost? Will the garage offer any warranty on it & for how long?

How does the price the dealer has offered compare to others on autotrader? Is there anything in the for sale section on this forum of similar age & mileage that you could look at? Have you had a look at any other bikes, they always say don't buy the first thing you see. Is there a biker mate you can take along with you for a second objective opinion?

Also have a look at Visordown.com http://www.visordown.com/articles/vi...flat/1631.html

and autotrader
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/BIKES/bu...ing_a_bike.jsp

Originally Posted by Binky

Does it have any paint work blemishes or cracks to fairing panels???

Nah, paintwork is all clean, no signs of it being dropped. I will do an HPI check on it later to find out if it has a hidden past.

Originally Posted by charlie13

the usual stuff to check would be consumable items like chain and sprockets, brake pads & tyres. If all of these were to need replacement shortly after you buy the bike it could cost you anything from £300 upwards on top of what you just paid for the bike (figuring 50 for pads front & rear, 100 chain & sprockets, 150 for tyres). When is the next service due, is that going to fall just after you buy the bike? How much will that cost? Will the garage offer any warranty on it & for how long?

How does the price the dealer has offered compare to others on autotrader? Is there anything in the for sale section on this forum of similar age & mileage that you could look at? Have you had a look at any other bikes, they always say don't buy the first thing you see. Is there a biker mate you can take along with you for a second objective opinion?

Also have a look at Visordown.com http://www.visordown.com/articles/vi...flat/1631.html

and autotrader
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/BIKES/bu...ing_a_bike.jsp

thanks for the precious advices. I am quite sold on the SV I have liked it for quite a few years and it does do exactly what I want. I test rode it last friday as I said and I really liked it. I may just have to get lowered/adjustable footpegs for it to be perfect, because of my long legs! The bike will be serviced and MOTed before it goes out the door from the dealer.

Cheers
Ed.

[Mr Speirs]

I agree with Binky. Price sounds reasonable for a sound bike.

As Charlie said tyres are probably the biggest cost so make sure they are within limits. Also if they are the stock tyres this will mean they will be 7 years old so will probably need replacing.

Has the bike got crash bungs??? If not factor in the costs for those too.

[Binky]

Originally Posted by metareal

I may just have to get lowered/adjustable footpegs for it to be perfect, because of my long legs!

Cheers
Ed.

I wouldn't recomend that. I have quite long legs, am 6"3. The pegs are low enough as it is. The pegs touch down on the ground to easilly on the SV. Unless you are only planning on motorway miles/and or mild slow cornering i'd leave them how they are.

I've done thousands on the stock pegs and i don't ache afterwards really.

How tall are you out of interest???

Originally Posted by Binky

I wouldn't recomend that. I have quite long legs, am 6"3. The pegs are low enough as it is. The pegs touch down on the ground to easilly on the SV. Unless you are only planning on motorway miles/and or mild slow cornering i'd leave them how they are.

I've done thousands on the stock pegs and i don't ache afterwards really.

How tall are you out of interest???

Wow! I am actually shorter than you! I am 6"2, what I found a bit annoying is that my legs go above the recesses in the tank, which means that I end up with my legs spread open when I brake or move forwards. Maybe it is just getting used to it. It is something that I may consider after getting acquainted properly with the bike.

Cheers for the suggestion!

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

I agree with Binky. Price sounds reasonable for a sound bike.

As Charlie said tyres are probably the biggest cost so make sure they are within limits. Also if they are the stock tyres this will mean they will be 7 years old so will probably need replacing.

Has the bike got crash bungs??? If not factor in the costs for those too.

What are the stock tyres on SVs? Make and model?

[Binky]

Originally Posted by metareal

Wow! I am actually shorter than you! I am 6"2, what I found a bit annoying is that my legs go above the recesses in the tank, which means that I end up with my legs spread open when I brake or move forwards. Maybe it is just getting used to it. It is something that I may consider after getting acquainted properly with the bike.

Cheers for the suggestion!

I'm sure if you've only had test ride miles on the SV that this will change. Try moving your feet about on the pegs and **** around on the seat to get a comfy position. Sure you'll be fine.

But regarding the bike, it sounds a fair price, especially considering the extra servicing and possible warranty on the bike. But do consider tyre life, chain life and brake pads etc and factor this into bargaining them down on price. Also it's a curvy so you must by it.

[Binky]

Originally Posted by metareal

What are the stock tyres on SVs? Make and model?

Metzeler MZE4 i think. With only 10,000 on the clock there is a small chance that they could be the original tyres, although there won't me much tread left.