What if Suzuki made a SV800...?

Two changes I would like Suzuki to make:

1. Adjustable suspension - to make the bike more appealing to more experienced riders.

2. Delete all chrome finishes - just so it doesn't look like it was made by Chevy in 1985.

Personally I think the power output is fine. I used to ride Palomar Mountain in San Diego County California just about every weekend (barring winter) some years back. Palomar Mountain is the best bit of bike road I have experienced - very tight on one side of the mountain, very fast on the other, the road tends to be dry and clean, low traffic, very few driveways, generally pretty good visibility, few animals, and seldom a law enforcement presence. On a Saturday or Sunday there would be maybe 100-200 bikes on the mountain.

The fastest guy I can remember that was a weekly regular rode on a SV650 - his bike was not special, but his skill level was extrodinary. I considered my self a pretty decent rider at the time, probably in the top 10% or so speed wise while not riding over my head. I rode a Ducati 750SS and later a R6. But he would still hand me my ass when he went by in the turns - uphill or downhill.

I bought a SV650 about two weeks ago. I have learned that for me, real satisfaction on a motorcycle comes from developing and displaying riding skill. I think the SV is about perfect for that pursuit.

BTW, I don't know who these guys are, but here is a decent clip of the tight side of the mountain :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtWx0...elated&search=

[northwind]

Originally Posted by RandyO

what a lot of peeps forget is that the SV650 is just a bored & stroked SV400, the crank is already at it's limits, to lighten it any more and add cc's would be building a grenade

But it's not at all. The SV project was designed from the ground up to be dual size, 400 for the home market and 650 for ROW. The engine isn't a built-up 400, it was just designed to be viable in 2 sizes. True that you can't overbuild it like people think, but that's just because it's not an immensely strong bottom end, not because of its origins.

It wouldn't take an awful lot to upsize the SV engine though, really, it's not viable for tuning purposes but changes to the cases allow for longer stroke, and the crank could easily be re-engineered. Perfectly viable for Suzuki, but just not something they're ever likely to do as there's not much point in going that big. An 800cc SV would lose it the beginner market, without gaining much elsewhere, if you ask me.

I just think it needs something to give it its competitive edge back, it's stood still for 8 years really and even when it's still a great package people do overlook that in favour of the latest thing. Suzuki don't really seem to know what to do with the SV just now, it seems like they're letting it fall behind.

Slightly better suspension, same as on the GSR perhaps... Or a power kick (a soft 700cc tune would make sense, I feel) and while it would need the bottom end redesigned it wouldn't be a back-to-blackboard job, just an evolution. Neither thing would add much at all to the cost.

If you ask me, they should bring the SV400(S) to the other markets as their new entry-level bike:



Surely, the tooling must be paid off by now, so they should be able to sell it globably at a relatively low price. The SV400 could easily replace the aged GS500 in America.

With that said, base a midsize V-Twin off of the SV/TL architecture and peg it at 750 cc, ~ 90 hp (67 kW). It doesn't have to have be GSX-R level suspension, but at least give it a slightly more modern cartridge style fork and a rear shock with adjustable rebound. A more powerful SV would be a nice replacement to again bandit.

[northwind]

The thing about the SV400 though, is that's an SV650 with less power and brakes, still just as heavy- none of the advantages of a small cap bike and all of the disadavantages of the SV really. I'm not at all convinced it'd be a market sector worth actively attacking, since the 650's already considered a beginner/girl's bike by so many.

The 400 class is one I'd love to see return, imagine a 2008 CBR400RR using the modern technology that's made the 600 class lighter than the old 4s...

Yeah me too, I may be out of date now, but I vaguely recall reading that the whole 400 class only really exists because of two stage licencing laws in Japan (ie. you can get an "easy" 400 cc licence or a tougher "unlimited" licence).

Thing is, 400/4 screamers are such fun, and they suit my typical japanese build as well A 400 twin, or more specifically, an SV400 would, like you say, just neuter what is already a fairly tame bike to begin with.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by MiniMatt

Yeah me too, I may be out of date now, but I vaguely recall reading that the whole 400 class only really exists because of two stage licencing laws in Japan (ie. you can get an "easy" 400 cc licence or a tougher "unlimited" licence).

Zackly. But damn, they were great bikes. Even now they're alright despite usually being older than most of the people riding them, and absolutely wrecked to boot. I turned to the SV as a second choice after a good quality gullarm, ninja 400 or RVF turned out to be too elusive. Not sorry I did, in the end, but I do still want one some day, and it'd be nice if they'd make me a new one

Originally Posted by northwind

The 400 class is one I'd love to see return, imagine a 2008 CBR400RR using the modern technology that's made the 600 class lighter than the old 4s...

Could potentially be Britten's dream finally realised. 100Bhp on a 100Kg roadbike anyone?

*wakes up*

Sorry, I was dreaming there for a second!

A sv800 may take sales away from other suzukis..such as the GSXR...sell the top stuff.

A modern sports 400 with all the bells and whistles would be awesome...a rev happy bantomweight which would be a corner monster.

But it would cost the same as a 600...

Originally Posted by The Basket

A modern sports 400 with all the bells and whistles would be awesome...a rev happy bantomweight which would be a corner monster.

But it would cost the same as a 600...

If it did all that I'd still buy one over a 600 in a heartbeat Trouble is, I doubt any new 400 would be anything other than a sleeved down 600. To make a 400 notably lighter than a 600 would require it's own frame, and there'd be too much temptation just to use the 600 frame. Unless, like Northy says, the whole class comes back with gusto and manufacturers are tempted to start trying to out-do eachother again.

My happiest biking days were undoubtedly on an RG250 (when it worked, rarely as it turned out) and on an NC30 - mounted upon which I WAS A GOD!! Well, I thought I was

Originally Posted by northwind

The thing about the SV400 though, is that's an SV650 with less power and brakes, still just as heavy- none of the advantages of a small cap bike and all of the disadavantages of the SV really. I'm not at all convinced it'd be a market sector worth actively attacking, since the 650's already considered a beginner/girl's bike by so many.

The 400 class is one I'd love to see return, imagine a 2008 CBR400RR using the modern technology that's made the 600 class lighter than the old 4s...

That's all true, but the way I see it is that the SV400 is the perfect replacement for the aged GS500(F). The SV400 may be an SV650 with more disadvantages, but it's still far better than the GS500F.

If the SV gets a high displacement, it'll be moved slightly upmarket. If Suzuki wants to do that, the bottom rung of the line has to be massaged and positioned to showcase the upper level bikes.