New '06 650S - Adjustments Needed

I think the adjustments I need are probably on my end...

I just bought it this past weekend, I use it for commuting.

I'm totally in love with my SV. My last (my first bike) was a Burgman 650, great for storage, terrible on suspension, braking and tire wear. This is a BIT different

The questions I've got:

1) clutch angle. On the front break lever, you can dial in how close it is to the bar, so you don't have to reach out to grab it. I don't see how you can do it with the clutch? I'm 6'4", and I've got issues grabbing the lever. Maybe I'll just get used to it... but after 300 miles, my hand is getting tendonitis. I pushed the lever down, towards the road more, and that's helped... but really, bringing it closer is really the fix I need.

2) rear view mirrors. I can see the passing lanes around me, but not the cars directly behind me. Had anyone fixed this issue? I see bar end mirrors, but... eww... ugly.

That's about it - shockingly. I've gotten used to the position in the saddle, love the feel of it in general. Even with a backpack, not doing bad. But the angle of my left wrist - oww.

Thanks!
Rob.

Welcome to the mad house!

Originally Posted by chuckjones

1) clutch angle. On the front break lever, you can dial in how close it is to the bar, so you don't have to reach out to grab it. I don't see how you can do it with the clutch? I'm 6'4", and I've got issues grabbing the lever. Maybe I'll just get used to it... but after 300 miles, my hand is getting tendonitis. I pushed the lever down, towards the road more, and that's helped... but really, bringing it closer is really the fix I need.

Aftermarket clutch levers or possibly adjust the cable so it's naturally resting further back, but you loose some pull by doing this.

Originally Posted by chuckjones

2) rear view mirrors. I can see the passing lanes around me, but not the cars directly behind me. Had anyone fixed this issue? I see bar end mirrors, but... eww... ugly.

Google for Chewy's mirror extenders. I fitted them to my '06 & they help a lot. About a 1-1½cm extension outwards. They don't really allow me to see behind me, but if I move my head I can see a corner of the car behind me etc (I also have a habit of checking mirrors half way around a bend, which helps awareness IMO).

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by chuckjones

1) clutch angle. On the front break lever, you can dial in how close it is to the bar, so you don't have to reach out to grab it. I don't see how you can do it with the clutch? I'm 6'4", and I've got issues grabbing the lever. Maybe I'll just get used to it... but after 300 miles, my hand is getting tendonitis. I pushed the lever down, towards the road more, and that's helped... but really, bringing it closer is really the fix I need.

No you cant adjust it for span, you could try adjusting where the bite point of the clutch is so that its closer to the bar, unbolting it and moving the lever round like you've done made my SV and my GSXR much more comfy. What you want is a straight line from your elbow through your wrist onto the bar, try adjusting the lever some more, you oughta be able to get it comfortable enough for you.

You can buy after market levers I think that you can adjust for span.

Originally Posted by chuckjones

2) rear view mirrors. I can see the passing lanes around me, but not the cars directly behind me. Had anyone fixed this issue? I see bar end mirrors, but... eww... ugly.

I've never managed to fix that, I've just gotten used to it. What I did do was push the stem of the mirror out as far as it would go and then angle the mirror bit itself back so that I now have a reasonable view of whats behind me as long as the cars dont sit up my chuff I can see them reasonably well enough, if I doubt I just do a life saver look behind me when I go to pull out / overtake etc etc

HTH

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Baph

Google for Chewy's mirror extenders. I fitted them to my '06 & they help a lot. About a 1-1½cm extension outwards. They don't really allow me to see behind me, but if I move my head I can see a corner of the car behind me etc (I also have a habit of checking mirrors half way around a bend, which helps awareness IMO).

Seconded Chewy's mirror extenders.

Go to the main site and look for 'Fitting an adjustable clutch lever to the SV650 by Paul Baxendale', the clutch lever off a GPz 500 can be fitted (but that might be curveys) to give span adjustment.

If you've got a faired bike, then chewy#s mirror extenders are great.

1) clutch angle. On the front break lever, you can dial in how close it is to the bar, so you don't have to reach out to grab it. I don't see how you can do it with the clutch? I'm 6'4", and I've got issues grabbing the lever. Maybe I'll just get used to it... but after 300 miles, my hand is getting tendonitis. I pushed the lever down, towards the road more, and that's helped... but really, bringing it closer is really the fix I need.

2)
Thanks!
Rob.[/quote]

Ooooops......anyway, I had the problem with tendonitis or whatever, I tried everything to solve it but it still nagged away, once it started I couldn't shift it, sorry, hopefully just me. But I have to say I think it's a pretty poor riding position, the bars are too far away, not too low, and I think the reach caused the problem. Poor ergonomics. Changed bikes and I have had no problem since
Good luck with it, it's a bu**eronce it sets in....

Great! Thanks for the Chewy's link. NICE. Will order them for sure, hopefully ships to the US.

I will play with the angle more, and see if I need some after market lever eventually. I'm starting to think I won't.

I went out tonight, and did some testing. I may have been trying to pull the clutch lever unnecessarily far. Keep in mind this is my first shifting bike. I was over zealous in my pulls. Squeezing it all the way to the bar, as quickly as possible.

So tonight I was giving it a light tug, and I think that may be my problem. I don't think that it's the fit of the bike, or that I'm too far away. There are no other muscular issues. ZERO, and that's a surprise. The Burgman had more issues really, and people assumed it was so comfy. I'm stunned at how comfortable I am on the SV. Even the saddle seems plush to me, though I see a lot of complaints on it.

I'll reserve judgment after I take a few days of rest and go back on it and pound the road. It's supposed to be crappy weather for a couple of days here.

Again, I cannot describe how much I love the ride. I can see that with time the experience should be even better... get a full feel for it's mannerisms...

I let a car pass me on a back road tonight, and gave him some room so I could get catch up on the twisties... and then ease up, and get ready for the next set of turns and repeat over and over........ love it.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

What you want is a straight line from your elbow through your wrist onto the bar, try adjusting the lever some more, you oughta be able to get it comfortable enough for you.

Thank you, that visual is clear to understand now.