Total suspension Change

Wow, just wanted to say thanks for all the advice and information it's been very helpful, especially SV650Racer, Northwind and Blue SV650S, much appreciated.
I'm currently stuck in Afghanistan doing a 2 month tour with the RAF, can't wait to get started when i get back. I can see myself having to do a few more tours though if i want to go for that ohlins!

Thanks again,

Si

P.S i'll get some pictures up and soon as i start.

Watch out for the Americans Mate!
Sods Law by the time you get back it'll be winter and manky weather (BUT we will all still be enjoying biking)

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

+1

Perhaps it is just a fluke that although reports say it is pants for the intended fitment, the 636 shock rates and size seem pretty good for the SV and - certainly far better than stock and as norty says, the Ohlins isn't 10 times better that the price demands it should be!!!

The Ohlins is 10 x better as it was built and intended for use on the bike its made for.

And cost for cost it isnt 10 x more expensive as when you sell it on when selling the bike you get at least £350 back for it used. Making it only 3 times more expensive!

Experts only recommend these shocks for one main reason:

To advise a customer when he requires advice you have to ensure you give the right advice. Advising him to fit a shock intended for another bike is not good advice.

[northwind]

Like I say I don't think for a second that the Ohlins is 10 times better than a 636 in good working order, having tried both. Blue, also having used both, obviously agrees. Nobody disagrees that the Ohlins is better though, that would be daft.

If you're going to include resale, the 636 shocks don't lose value at all on resale so that would make them free by that logic, so the Ohlins would have to be infinitely better

Originally Posted by northwind & SV650Racer

....

We always get to this point don't we!!

And yes, by SJs logic the 636 conversion is free (that is exactly what I though too when I was reading her post)

It is a good point though, a race shock WILL retain its value, so if/when you sell it on you should get a large part of your initial wedge back.

But who wants to put their hand ~£500 deep in their pocket to start with -for - lets face it - an SV650 that only costs what ~£4.?k NEW?!?!??!!?

To me an Ohlins (etc) is just overkill for a an SV ... it is still an SV chassis ... if you are that worried about handling then it is probably going to be more efficient and better results if you change bike (you are already admitting defeat putting a GSXR front on it!! ) ... if you like the SV but want it to stay on the road a bit better, a bit of work on the front and a 636/GIXER shock in the rear and bobs ya uncle ... everyone is happy and it didn't break the bank!!

The only places I see for a race shock being purchased is for:- racers - 'bling kings' - and people like Northy who just like to fiddle/experiment!!

Oh and SJ - in the real world - how can you say an Ohlins IS 10 times better?!!?? Are you trying to fool us or yourself?!!?

[northwind]

Ah, but blue, there's nothing actually wrong with the SV chassis... THe frame's as good as it needs to be, it's just the suspension that holds it back. DItch the bendy coathanger forks as well and there's no chassis limitation, sort the geometry and it really goes above and beyond what a budget bike should do, in fact, puts some recent supersports to shame in stock guise. Course, it's still just an SV motor

Originally Posted by northwind

Ah, but blue, there's nothing actually wrong with the SV chassis... THe frame's as good as it needs to be, it's just the suspension that holds it back. DItch the bendy coathanger forks as well and there's no chassis limitation, sort the geometry and it really goes above and beyond what a budget bike should do, in fact, puts some recent supersports to shame in stock guise. Course, it's still just an SV motor

Sure replace half the bike and it is significantly better ... but at the end of the day the headstock is set at a certain angle ... the swingarm is positioned/bolted to the frame where it is ... the swingarm is a certain length ... the engine is where it is etc etc ... there is only so much you can do without cutting it up

At the end of the day, you are going to put stupid money and stupid effort making an SV into something it is/was not! Unless you like doing that sort of thing, it just doesn't make sense!!!

[northwind]

Headstock angle's not an issue since you can shift the whole bike... WIth a little effort, the SV ends up with essentially the same geometry as a GSXR. It does take work, but hte front end swap's cheap/free if you do it right. Height adjustable shock means you can give it the rear end kick it needs without mucking up the linkage rates too horribly. Swingarm's the right length really, though with the curvies you have a choice, the 2 models are slightly different. Again, GSXR comparison, the SRAD swingarm is hte same length as the SV. Well, slightly shorter but the axle positions overlap.

So, we're talkign £450. Frame doesn't need modified at all, it's better than it should be. Swingarm's fine too, maybe a wee bit flexy but that's not going to hurt too much.

Still not going to outrun a GSXR, but you can make it turn and bounce better than a standard one.

It should go without saying that you can do the exact same thing to a GSXR, then it'll be better than an SV, of course. But I like the SV engine

Originally Posted by northwind

...

Its a labor of love for you, I know (appreciate) why you do it, but it doesn't make any 'sense'

It makes me laugh ... 'change this - change that - swap this - swap that - make it more gixer like by putting gixer bits on it' ... what do you end up with??? Something where the chassis is almost as good as a gixer, perhaps comparable, yet has a motor in it that only produces 50% of the power and something that you would need to seek special insurance for as it is so highly modified!!

So you put all that effort in to have something that can be out classed by anyone with 2-3k in their pocket (Gixer K1-K3 price bracket) and something that is a bit tricky (expensive?!?!) to insure properly. Its just silly!!! ... If you care about handling, sell ya SV curvy for £1,500-£2,000, put the £500 for the ohlins in the pot too and you got yaself a Gixer 6!! - now that I can sign up too!!!

Personally I don't care if my bike 'handles' .... I think the SV is a lot of fun, I can live with its warts and it is actually some of them that make it fun ... why make something into something it is not?!?!? ... you are better off getting something that does what it says on the tin to start with, especially when it costs no more!!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

It makes me laugh ... 'change this - change that - swap this - swap that - make it more gixer like by putting gixer bits on it' ... what do you end up with??? Something where the chassis is almost as good as a gixer, perhaps comparable, yet has a motor in it that only produces 50% of the power and something that you would need to seek special insurance for as it is so highly modified!!

If my forks weren't worn out mine'd outhandle the current crop of race reps tbh. Though the rear has an easy job of it as it doesn't have to deal with such big inputs to be fair. Also, my objectivity is obviously nonexistant

Thing is, you can achieve this dead easily, that was what I was getting at- front end swap can actually make you money, shock's a big investment but it's a one-off. Few hours of your time. Job jobbed. It's much easier when you're not mucking about with standard forks, cheaper too. Cheaper than a set of lowers, a double bubble and a single seat cowl.

The goal isn't to make it like a GSXR, far from it. It's to make it like an SV that works better than an SV To be fair, if the Street Triple or Shiver had been out back when I started, I'd've probably got one of those but then, nobody made what I wanted.