SV650 suspension improvements?

Hi All,

I have started to do track days on my sv and can feel that the bike is not turning as well as my r6(quite obvious) but still feels very divy . I am not new to the concept of suspension rebound/compression etc but need time to play with mine and get it sorted

Of course my sv does not have rebound/compression but only preload setting .

In the front, I have adjusted the preload to max and I get a 9mm of static sag and 43mm of loaded sag

in rear again the tension on the max preload and get 10mm of static sag and 48mm of loaded sag ( me sitting on it).

Looking around the rear should be around 35-40 and front around 25-35 which mine is way off it . does that mean I should change my front fork springs and oil ?

I am 110 Kg so heavier than 60-70kg which the SV has been designed to carry .

I have had a look at gsxr front swap but that seems very expensive so If I was to do that I might as well get a gsxr . the cheaper option was progressive spring and oil change which was around £90.


Thanks

You've answered your own question there. What you need to realise with the Gixxer swap is that it could be both a good thing and a not so good thing. The reason the swap is a big improvement is it gives you better springs straight away. So your range of adjustment has immediately improved x fold.

Forget rebound and compression for the moment, the stock springs are way too soft for you (and most heavier riders). So the minimum is new springs. As you are doing trackdays and possibly looking to do more you will then notice the need for further fine tuning with compression dampning. So the GSXR front end route is an easy long term fix.

The not so good thing? Well depending on the front end you choose you may still require springs. Not really a problem to be honest. The bigger issue is it will absolutely show up the soggy REAR end so if you are considering doing a front end or even spring swap, the least you can do is get an aftermarket new or used shock to go with it (see the gazillion threads on here about that).

There's almost no point setting the front end with out a reasonable back end. They'll just end up fighting each other when you ride. You know how the bike feels so good when you put on brand new tyres? Well that's the immediate difference you'll feel when you get the front and back working right.

And, no, getting the front end swap is not reason to go for a gixxer. If your original parts are good then the proceeds from selling them should cost about the same as getting a front end, or at the very least not much more. Its an easy enough swap to do it yourself or with a hand from a mate, and the geometry change is minimal without damaging the sweet handling of the SV. Also, the braking stability improves a great deal imo. This alone will give much more confidence on the track if you're a heavy braker.

Also, the cost of replacement parts are cheaper and your insurance bracket doesn't change. The cost of a gixxer should of course be considered alongside these things. When I first got a bike, the difference in me getting a Gixxer and an SV was the cost of insurance alone, so for some its not a reason not to do a front end swap.

A better reason not to do it is if you're going to have problems selling the bike with mods or if your insurers won't allow the mod without hiking your premium (should be fine though). So some return to standard. As I have no intention to sell though, it's not an issue for me. So if you are the same, and serious about doing more trackdays, then the swap is well worth it.

thanks for this so I guess if I am going to keep it long term then it is worth swapping than doing oil and spring , right ?

is rebound and compression very important or let me put it another way, can they help very fine tune the handling for cornering which is not possible without them ?

what is the cost I am looking at and what parts do I need?

is there a shock from another bike which fits my sv ?

been watching prices as looking to do this conversion myself have seen k7 forks,, yokes,,clip ons and calipers for 450 and complete front ends 750,, zx10 rear or gixr just fitted a k6 to mine straight in about two hours just 10mm longer bottom bolt,,,,,gord

when we say front end we are talking about , the fork, yoke, clip on, disc, caliper, pads and wheel right ? I have seen it on ebay for £250 to £600ish

does above sound right ?

what model of gixxer will fit mine and does it need any cutting etc ?

All your answers are here (many times over) if you use the search function. Believe me, I've done the mods, there's more info on here and SV rider than you can possibly need. There are a number of build threads too with good pictures. All the components you listed are needed, plus a solution for the speedo (as the pickup is in the original SV wheel, which would obviously be swapped out).

Cost depends on where its from, what condition its in and what model you choose. The only downside of selling your front end is it may take time so if you're not patient you might not see your money back for a while. However, it WILL sell. Which just leaves fitting the thing.

Yes, if keeping it long term I would say consider it, but also consider how it will be used. For example, there's no point doing it if its a commuter primarily. There's little point doing it if you're an occasional rider - even on track - because you'll never get the best out of stock. There is considerable benefit if you're a regular fast road rider. There is a lot of benefit if you do regular trackdays.

Yes, rebound compression will help to control the bike when taking it to its limits. Because the power is relatively low, the bike will demand more handling to get the best out of it (i.e. in the corners) so better handling components mean faster bike, if you know how to use it. Be aware that people will say it handles fine in stock form for trackdays but, frankly, if you're not catching people in the corners you might as well go out and get a faster machine.

[aesmith]

Out of interest, who did you insure with and did they really not up the premium to cover the front end change?

Originally Posted by aesmith

Out of interest, who did you insure with and did they really not up the premium to cover the front end change?

Is that one for me? I guess you have to ask around, and I have two bikes with no intention of selling the SV so its TPFT only. Wasn't a problem (on renewal - not update of policy).

[aesmith]

Yes it was, sorry. Reason I asked is that when I renewed my SV insurance, I don't think any of the companies would give an online quote with any form of suspension modification, it was always "give us a call, we might still be able to cover you". Since calling is much more time consuming, I would have preferred only to call insurers known to be cooperative.

[Nobbylad]

I got mine insured with Wicked Quotes, that's with a Gixer front end, Penske rear shock and an aftermarket exhaust. I've been insured with other companies as well in the past, most weren't bothered about the front end swap as it counts as uprated brakes/suspension, so is a good thing

If anyone is thinking of doing the swap, I have a Hall effect sensor for sale, which you'll need for the speedo conversion. It's brand new.