Easy suspension question

As i said in a previous post, "each to their own". I don't have a problem with other people modding their bikes....i dont mind what they do...its their money! I personally decided that it was waste of cash to mod my curvy, when for the money i could buy a sports bike. The crux of the matter is whilst i enjoyed my curvy, i always hankered after a ss600.

I never inferred that anyone who mods their SV is a fool...i merely said it doesn't make sense to me. I don't recycle my bikes on an annual basis....but as i have a sports bike, that cliche must ring true.

21 Quest/Ben....the napoleon complex comment was said in a tongue in cheek fashion, hence the smiley.

As for the mods to my R6, yep they are mostly unashamedly cosmetic. I was actually genuinely surprised how good its stock suspension is. It seems great and i dont currently have any plans to mod it.

At the end of the day a 'don't mod, upgrade instead' opinion is never going to be a popular one, on a SV site. I'm aware of that, but i think its still a valid option for some.

Guys, why let this turn into a slanging match? Individuality is what its all about! Personally, I am in the half-way club with this one. I would be prepared to spend a finite amount on the bike to improve the handling/looks etc however I wouldnt throw loadsa money at it because like its been said, a better bike could probably be obtained for not much more.

What I do know is I'll most likely be keeping the bike for at least another year and for that I'm gonna look to sort the front end this year, and depending on cost possibly even look towards a rear shock. Im just debating whether to spend the extra money on the rear

Originally Posted by ASM-Forever

At the end of the day a 'don't mod, upgrade instead' opinion is never going to be a popular one, on a SV site.

A very defensive comment, and totally inaccurate as well. Anyone who's spent more than 5 mins on this forum will know of the large number of people who've swapped their SVs for SS600s.

In fact, I happen to have a 636 as well as my modded SV so I'm certainly not bias.

Originally Posted by northwind

I used to have a spade, but I replaced the handle with the handle off a more expensive model and now it doesn't work.

How did you find the pick axe front end swap in the end? Has the breaking improved as much as you anticipated?

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

A very defensive comment, and totally inaccurate as well. Anyone who's spent more than 5 mins on this forum will know of the large number of people who've swapped their SVs for SS600s.

In fact, I happen to have a 636 as well as my modded SV so I'm certainly not bias.

I'm doin the same, keeping me SV and gettin summit bit bigger and quicker for next bike.

Originally Posted by stewie

How about an 06/07 zx10 shock ?

I've had an '06 & an '05 zx10-r shock on my curvy (in that order). the '06 was too soft for me, but then I'm 14st & only ever ride the bike on track, '05 was about right for track use, '06 would probly be okay for a supple road ride. iirc the '05 is a tad longer that the '06 too

or you could just spend the whole lot on crack & hookers & you wouldn't care about your suspension

As to the question of cost (and people's comments on this, on neither 'side' upset me, how we spend our money is up to this), I justify the cost as this:

My bike's list price is probably now about £2000. £750 on suspension in total (Nitron rear shock and Matris fork internals, the former fitted, the latter to be ordered at the end of the month) seems insane as a proportion of the cost of the bike. The bike is actually worth a lot more to me than the list price, not because of any emotional attachment, but I know its history, trust it, etc. I'd value it to me at about £2700. It needed a replacement shock anyway; replacing worn out suspension is cheaper than crashing. So that'd be at least £40 with no guarantees as to its real mileage and in any event, it'd start perceptibly "going off" at 12K miles if my first one was anything to go by. I'd wanted to really sort the suspension nicely for a long time, but couldn't really justify the cost. At renewals time, I told them about the recently fitted rear shock and my intention to replace the fork internals. They said this didn't effect my premium at all.

I could have sold my bike and bought an SS600 but given how I use my bike (90% mid-long distance commuting, carrying a weeks worth of clothes, laptop, etc. versus 10% pleasure) an SS600 wouldn't really be appropriate. Also, given the value of my bike + £750 (saved on suspension), I'd only be able to buy a second hand one. So; increased running costs and less practicality for 100% of the time, for a bit more power 10% of the time I'd use my bike? No thanks.

When was the last time I really needed more power from my SV? I can't remember, at least 6 months ago though.

When was the last time I really needed better suspension? Oh, all the time. Before replacing the rear shock, it got really bad, I was conciously scrubbing an extra 10mph+ off for NSL/50 zone roundabout because it was wallowing so much. Over bumpy ground it was even more.

IMO, where the SV is concerned, suspension is the limiting factor on the road. Consequently, suspension is a mod that arguably (fender extender aside), gives the best result to the bike for the money.* I mean, some people would happily spend over £750 on fairings, a hugger and a custom paint job, which do little other than alter the aesthetics and hike your premiums.

*TPS isn't a mod. It's an adjustment! :P

A mate of mine bought a S4R and buzzes about on it all the time, loads of other mates have different bikes, but, they have all either kept their SV650s, or are more than willing to swap their (generally far more expensive) bike for my little SV on rides because they really like them.
My mate just rang me up at work cracking up laughing having put his Duc away for the winter and got back on the SV. He just loves it, and is so happy to be back on it.

I know they are cheap, and I know there are better bikes out there, but the SV650 is not a bad little bike.

Putting decent suspension on it makes it better.

If you want to keep the OEM stuff, and throw it back on to sell, thats fine too.

The thing is, its your bike, if you want to put a Penske shock, GSXR front end, with race tech guts in and god knows what else onto it... I dunno, who cares.

If you want to chrome the tank... now thats another matter. I nearly fecking crashed my bike because I was craning my neck around so much to goggle at that.