If you were in charge of SV development.....

Picture the scene, after a heavy night involving much Sake, the powers that be at Suzuki have made YOU the boss of everything to do with the future of the SV and given you a blank cheque to do it.

Where do you go from here? Keep it a budget bike, turn it into a full sportster?

Do yer worst!

Scrap the galdus and bring back the naked sv on the twin spark frame - keep everything else the same.

[muzikill]

Great thread topic! - this is one for the re-builders/modders.

Make the gearbox easier to fix/replace. split the whole engine !?!
Better finish on the engine casing internals (i noticed raggy edges and overlaps (and this is standard practice !?)
Replace all the cheese bolts with proper ones. i dont care if it costs extra (you can buy a replacement set for the sv for around £50, at factory bulk cost this would be even lower.)
A better seat.
Better waterproofing on the connectors and fusebox.
Extended front mudguard as standard to protect the front of the engine.

Done it...a 750cc stroked SV with BST Carbon Wheels, GSXR1000K9 front end. Making 90bhp and weighing 150kg.

Would prob cost about £12k RRP..and a bomb to insure..

Failing that Id produce the Gladius as it is as its a stonking bike in its own right and then make the SV650 Sport with a touring version, high bars, luggage capacity, larger fuel tank and a dual seat like off the Bandit. Then have the true sport version with uprated suspension, single seat.

Both would be 700cc.

Put the engine drain hole on the same side as the stand.Give an"R" option with upgraded suspension and calipers Lighter exhaust and front fender extender.Generally improve the standard of finish.
Probably less than £1000's worth on manufacture costs but would make a good bike great.

[timwilky]

Heart and brain go in different directions.

Heart would say scrap the GSXR 600 and make a 100+BHP sports tourer V twin with proper suspension and brakes.

Brain says the SV is aimed at a market sector that is price driven. and the market requires a 70BHP lower cost bike that can have multiple guises.

I would like to see Suzuki decide it is daft to have multiple suspension systems and replace the SV suspension/braking with GSXR technology. I would guess there is not too much cost to the factory in this and economies of scale should reduce costs further.

[dizzyblonde]

I wouldn't do much TBH.
Compared to many other bikes the gearbox is lovely. If you look after the engine its a peach. If you put good quality parts in the forks, with decent oil, and service when supposed to, they're fine. If you put a better quality rear shock to compliment the front, its fine. The brakes actually work, contrary to popular belief.....if you service them regular.
A better seat as standard, in fact an OEM (waterproof) gel seat works fantastic.

More to the point.......WATERPROOF PAINT!!!!


Turn it into a sportster.....why?
The SV is best left as it is.....besides the Cagiva Raptor 650 is an SV650(yes thats right, they use an SV650 engine) Italian Sportster, if you want a sportster SV, buy one of those!

[andrewsmith]

Keep the current range split; SV, V Strom and gladius
Update the SV design but not a GSXR re-hash
Offer a similar option list to Triumph with the motor aka factory big bores, slippers etc...

Parts bin raid for GSXR front and a good rear shock.
180 section as a option wheel

[MJC-DEV]

What about adding two more cylinders to smooth out that V twin lumpiness?
More comfortable riding position of course, for me,
Cartridge forks.

[squirrel_hunter]

Bring back the Curvy design and finish the swing arm off. Or at least design the mounting points so its eaiser to mod. Other than that keep it the same or what would we have to play with?