Oh v-twin torque, how I missed you.

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
08/27/2014 at 12:15 • Filed to: Two Wheels Good, deathtrap, sv650

I had a moment of clarity this weekend and realized, sooner or later, me riding a CBR1000rr was going to land me in the hospital (or worse). I’m the type of person who likes utterly flog their vehicles, and one simply can’t do that on an open class sportbike. So I put it up for sale for a pretty reasonable price (at about cost for me, due to how cheap I bought it), and quickly threw some of the money from that sale into a new bike. So meet the new toy, a 1 owner 2003 Suzuki SV650 with only 7400 miles!

She has a bit of surface rust due to living outside for a while, but that only helped me negotiate a great price.

First impressions are wonderful, it’s fast (enough), looks good, has tons of engine character, and sounds surprisingly good with the stock exhaust. I found that the suspension is a bit soft, but there are lots of fixes for that (GSXR 1000 suspension bolts up).

Overall I’m delighted with the purchase, I think the Sv650 and me are going to be friends.

DISCUSSION (22)

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 12:18

I dig! I've been looking into an SV650 as a commuter as my commute just shrank to about 10 minutes on sidestreets.

Decay buys too many beaters > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
08/27/2014 at 12:25

I've never been on a bike so well rounded, it'll just putt along happily under 5K rpms, and turn into a real sportbike when you give it some revs and some throttle. I was between this and a used VFR800 but chose the SV based on it being about $1K cheaper and (couldn't really put my finger on why) more fun. I also hear they get 50 MPGs :)

I always thought these were kind of overhyped cheapo bikes, but man, I was wrong.

I say go for it! Not sure what the market is like around you, but here I found a few in the low $2K range. I struggle to think of any other bike where you get more for your money.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 12:28

One doesn't simply push a CBR1000rr, it can take waaaay more than the skill level of most riders.... I've been riding my whole life and the only bikes that ever scared me were from the CBR line. Great bike, just a bit scary. Good call on the SV650.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 12:28

There seem to be good examples near me anywhere from $2k-3k consistently.

Although there is one near me right now with a missing front fender, mirror, and a nice, fat tank scrape for $1500. Guy claims it runs perfectly, I have half a mind to go offer him a grand for it.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 12:34

You should try riding a CB919F at some point. It's basically a detuned CBR900RR (From what I can dig up, most of the engine internals are cast iron and it's 100 HP) that feels nice to ride on. It won't get you in trouble and torque delivery is smooth.

Sam > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 12:34

There's a guy that rides one of those to college here in Indy. Seems like the perfect sportbike for commuting, looks pretty comfortable.

Decay buys too many beaters > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
08/27/2014 at 12:39

Yeah that's what scared me. I owned the CBR for a year, and only started to scratch the surface of it's potential within the last month. That put me well into "if I crash, I'm going to die" territory, and honestly I have just as much fun on my 50cc scooter as it ever did on the CBR.

The only thing I think I'll miss is the arm socket ripping acceleration, but now I can rev out almost three gears on the SV before I'm in ticket range. For reference the CBR does 83 in first.

Decay buys too many beaters > Sam
08/27/2014 at 12:45

Very comfortable, though I can't comment on the long term comfort yet (planning a long trip this weekend). From what I can gather so far it does just about everything pretty well.

Commuting? Check 50+mpgs

Twisties? Check

Touring? Check the lack of fairings might become an issue, but wind never really bothered me.

Hooliganism? Check, enough torque to lift the front wheel in first or second

Track days? No opinion, but I know there are a lot of guys that modify them and claim they are great on a track.

Decay buys too many beaters > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
08/27/2014 at 12:56

I looked, but there was only one locally (in my target price range), and it was kind of beat up. I did try out it's distant cousin the VFR800 though :)

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 12:57

I actually wanted to try the VFR line of bikes but I wasn't sure about V-engined motorcycles - right up to the point when the Tuono V4R and the Caponord 1200 came out.

Decay buys too many beaters > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
08/27/2014 at 12:58

Do it!* These are bikes for riders, not for shiners and polishers!

*As long as it actually runs well

Decay buys too many beaters > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
08/27/2014 at 13:01

I really liked it for the freaking quad exhausts and "VTEC! - YO". Plus they will apparently do 100K miles pretty easily on one motor.

But it felt a bit heavy, and my grin-o-meter favored the SV.

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 13:03

Ehh - I don't know if I can love the SV because the last time I rode one, it wasn't exactly what everyone said it would be.

It was dismal, to be honest. Unforgiving and dismal, clutch sucks and I know V-twins weren't smooth but it was worse than a Ducati. I've ridden a V-Rod, a Multistrada and a Caponord and the SV can't come close in terms of smooth power delivery.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 13:03

Yep. A friend of mine had a Blackbird which was about the fastest thing I've ever been on. Much respect for those that ride them, but damn if it wasn't scary.

doodon2whls > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 13:11

Nice ride ! Ever since I rode a 1st gen SV650, I have praised it to my two-wheelin' friends that are looking for a fun and dependable street ride. SO many aftermarket upgrades are available thanks to the number of SV650's regularly flogged on track.

Speaking from my clearly prejudiced experience, the VFR800 (and its VFR750 predecessors) is a GREAT platform, albeit a little heavy and slower steering compared to the SV and it's naked competitors. I have ridden the SV650 - fun bike, but it felt tiny compared to the VFR (for me), and the wind protection is lacking for long hauls. Great 'round town bike though and is really flickable. I really love the V-Twin's torque and tremolo with an aftermarket pipe.

The Duke 690 is another great flickable bike, and had ergos more suited to this tall dood's frame. I would love to own one, but I like to take longer two-up rides and while the Duke 690 was super comfy for me all day, it isn't exactly passenger friendly for long rides. There is room in the stable for more bikes, but I feel guilty that I don't ride the VFR enough in the past couple of years already - something I had hoped to rectify this year, but work has been nutty.

doodon2whls > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
08/27/2014 at 13:16

The Honda VFR V4 engine is rock solid, and a brilliant powerplant. It is intended to generate the torque of a V-twin on the low end and the HP of an inline 4 on the top end. It does this pretty efficiently, too. I regularly get 40mpg on strafing runs around the back roads. I have achieved 47mpg while cruising @ 65mph...

The 5th gen (98-01) engine is the most sought after IMHO: 781cc, Fuel Injected, and gear driven cams. 6th gen VFR's had chain driven cams and V-Tech which some would argue was not worth the extra effort and complexity.

nermal > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 13:20

Good call! I think the 650 twins seem to be about the limit for a street bike.

Should have kept the liter bike and took it to a few track days though. There's nothing quite like riding one where it belongs, which is a high speed track with a tight 1st gear corner leading onto a long straight. Your bank account will hate you though.

Decay buys too many beaters > nermal
08/27/2014 at 13:30

Unfortunately I cant support more than 4 vehicles right now.

Apartment life :(

I'm actually planning on taking the SV to track days once I look into suspension swaps. Apparently (from what I hear) they are like the Miata of the bike world.

Decay buys too many beaters > doodon2whls
08/27/2014 at 13:32

I was DEFINITELY cross shopping VFRs in my search, but in the end went with the SV for the upgradability (I mod cars, so why not bikes?), and overall cost. The SV was super low mileage and about $1K cheaper.

Man, I do want those quad exhausts though!

Decay buys too many beaters > Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura
08/27/2014 at 13:34

I've ridden worse, it's way more refined than my old 1983 Yamaha Virago ever was!

nermal > Decay buys too many beaters
08/27/2014 at 13:37

Yep, there are tons of people that track SVs, and they're cheap to run too. Make sure your tires are in good shape, and get a new set of Q3s if not. Also, make sure you have good brake pads, fresh fluid, and stainless lines on the front.

As far as suspension goes, the org I ride with usually has a vendor at the track that will do suspension setups for around $40. Get your existing suspension adjusted first, then do a few days before you do anything else.

Decay buys too many beaters > nermal
08/27/2014 at 13:41

That's the issue with the SVs, there is no suspension adjustment stock (just preload)

The only things you can do are either put new springs, oil, and valves into the stock front shocks, or a GSXR swap. As for the rear, a ZX-10R shock will swap right in and offer full adjustability