suspension question - what and why

Correct me if I'm wrong but I suspect that being a 90 degree V twin would make the SV overall length longer than the gsxr and hence not as flickable.

Originally Posted by lukemillar

See, I would disagree. I think suspension is designed around a whole number of things - the amount of power the engine is putting through the rear wheel, swingarm angle, suspension linkages and (as you say) rake and trail, weight distribution, frame design etc. Given enough time, you could mod any suspension component to fit the SV i.e at the extreme end of the scale, shoe-horning some SBK forks onto an RS125, is not going to make it handle like a superbike!

Handle better? probably - just not the same

Well kinda. Im working with properly sprung suspension in mind. Thats all it really takes. The stock dampening should be close enough to not matter a great deal. You are right it wouldn't be a straight forward job but it should be doable. N' I think done properly the two bikes wont be a million miles away. Even the SS600's arnt as good at handling as they could be... The 675 seems to be the closest to a track monster stock as they come. Of course im going off of reviews there... So I cant say.

Originally Posted by Zen Beetle

Correct me if I'm wrong but I suspect that being a 90 degree V twin would make the SV overall length longer than the gsxr and hence not as flickable.

1420mm on the SV vs 1400mm on the GSXR, I dont think it will be an issue.

[Bibio]

ok my view, having done a gixer swap front and rear, all i can say is its miles better than stock.. with the original front end i always felt that my teeth were getting rattled out and the original shokky felt horrid and squashy and was forever throwing me out the seat. and also the breaks on the SV are not the best.. i have never regretted doing the swap even though it was expensive.

as to it handling like a GSXR.. simple answer ... NO

and the SV650 K8 is almost exactly the same dry weight as a GSXR1000 k8.

Have you got the rear jacked up and front lowered though? That will make a MASSIVE difference.

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

Well kinda. Im working with properly sprung suspension in mind. Thats all it really takes. The stock dampening should be close enough to not matter a great deal. You are right it wouldn't be a straight forward job but it should be doable. N' I think done properly the two bikes wont be a million miles away. Even the SS600's arnt as good at handling as they could be... The 675 seems to be the closest to a track monster stock as they come. Of course im going off of reviews there... So I cant say.

I found my 06 R6 better out the crate for the track than the 675 and both of them better than the k7 GXSR-600! 675 is quite a different bike though to the 600's, it has similar geomtery to a 250GP bike -trail is around 89mm.

Originally Posted by lukemillar

I found my 06 R6 better out the crate for the track than the 675 and both of them better than the k7 GXSR-600! 675 is quite a different bike though to the 600's, it has similar geomtery to a 250GP bike -trail is around 89mm.

Aye it is pretty extreme

What is exactly wrong with SV (pointy) original rear shock? Is it the same problem as with forks? Not much low speed compression damping and too much high speed damping?

Originally Posted by Domas

What is exactly wrong with SV (pointy) original rear shock? Is it the same problem as with forks? Not much low speed compression damping and too much high speed damping?

Cheap, doesn't handle the road as well as a more expensive option. The difference between a good after market and any stocker is massive tbh. My Penske is AMAZING on the falco... Wouldn't dare go back.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

As to weight distribution if anything the SV should benefit from having the weight up high as it will help it fall into corners!

Er... no. Think inertia rather than gravity.

Originally Posted by ophic

Er... no. Think inertia rather than gravity.

Well then thats wheels and discs.

Though im still fairly confident having more weight up top makes a difference, I can tell the difference between a full and empty tank.