performance shortfall?

Originally Posted by Dan

There's no ecu on a 2001 SV.

didnt read that was just a generic sv restriction comment anyway.

No worries – the key thing is that you think it sounds like it's restricted, too. I really appreciate the advice, thanks!

Also (for any other numpties who post...) I've just managed to work out for myself that revs and power aren't the same thing, so even a restricted bike still revs right to the line.

Originally Posted by the red devil

Also (for any other numpties who post...) I've just managed to work out for myself that revs and power aren't the same thing, so even a restricted bike still revs right to the line.

Indeed!

[Biker Biggles]

Stuck choke plungers.Clogged air filter.Stale fuel in carbs.Check the things associated with lack of use.

[yorkie_chris]

Yup.

But while you're in there, check for restrictor kit because this would explain it (since he's not said it's missing and farting, just gutless)

2 types. Either washers under the carbs, or the OEM kit which is carb slides (the black things you can see in carbs) with a hole in them. You cannot see the hole with the slider fitted.

Just get them to check for you when it's serviced.

Originally Posted by thefallenangel

Just get them to check for you when it's serviced.

Stealer's in my experience are useless. Id much rather do the work myself if I can. Not hard to do tbh.

Thanks again for the advice, everyone who's posted.

I've uncovered a bit more of the bike's history, and I'm 90% sure it was restricted from new – which probably means it was the official (and more expensive to undo...) Suzuki carb slider kit.

(Anyone got a take on whether it's a good thing, bad thing, or who-cares thing for the bike to have been on 33bhp since the day it rolled off the dealer's forecourt?)

On which – dealers. Lord, yes, I've had some bad experiences with them too. Mostly bad experiences, if I'm honest. But this job looks a bit beyond me, judging from the guide somebody helpfully posted on how to check/derestrict your bike. So, I'll roll the dice at JW Groombridge in Sussex, and let you know how I get on...

trd,

A bike of that age could probably use a carb rebuild anyway. Replace the slides or remove the restrictors while in there. It is not hard if you are prepared to get your hands dirty, but does require a little patience and an area where you can work. ie Not the kitchen table if you have a missus.

As to the 33hp thing, I rode an Oz restricted bike (power might be different as it is a 150kW/tonne rule) for a day and to be perfectly honest it would be fine most of the time for riders that are not really inclined to give it a good twist. It would also be fairly hard to give the bike a flogging. I don't see the bad.
It has been a while since I bought a SH bike, but when I have, I tried to get an idea of how the rider is likely to have treated it as much as the bikes condition.

Cheers

Thanks for the advice. I figure the same: it can be revved right through, but it's still not going to have put the same strain on the engine as generating 70bhp would have done. I'm going to look at it as a 2300-mile running-in period!

For interest, the previous owner was an airline pilot who managed to cover about 150 miles in 18 months; last night he told me he didn't think he'd ever ridden it above 70mph. The only owner before that, a lady who bought it new after passing her test, and sold it 6 years later having done 2000 miles, saying she found it a bit too powerful.

I get the feeling the bike's been looked at more than it's been ridden, and not ridden hard when it was on the road. It runs really well, which is why I feel pretty sure it's restricted rather than suffering from some other problem.