Suzuki SV650(s) : Simply..a damn good bike

Advantages: Light, economical, easy to ride and fun. Comfortable too.
Disadvantages: Sound with standard can! Niggly quality issues..

...ride it. I rode the bike back from Harrogate in Yorkshire to Thatcham in Berkshire and I was scared about my fuel. I had done 155 miles according to the trip computer, and when I filled up I could only get 10 litres in the 17L tank. Reserve comes on with about 3.5-4l to go so it should give you a range of about 35 miles when the light starts flashing. Controls are typical Suzuki, very clear and simple. Dashboard shows revs and speed, low warning light but no temp gauge or fuel guage. Two trip meters (very handy) and an odometer complete the package. Under the rear seat, it's hard to fit much as the fuse box is in the way. My bike has a tail tidy so I'm not sure if this affects underseat storage. I managed to fit a Scottoiler there, and I also managed to stuff a pair of Winter gloves under the seat... just. My SV650S model has clipons...

xJay1337 27.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

  Suzuki SV650 - What a great bike full stop

Advantages: Brilliant first / budget bike, sporty all rounder, mid-range grunt, cheap
Disadvantages: Budget suspension, budget feel

...I passed my Direct Access test in 2002, and was looking for a newbie friendly bike to get some miles under my belt, and do the commuting to work. Having no prior experience, I needed a user friendly bike with a bit of poke to keep me interested. The logical choice was the Suzuki SV650. Dubbed by RiDE magazine as the best first bike ever, and lauded by many other mags as a great budget bike, I had to find out more. The bike is light 170kg, has 70bhp, and a good spread of torque from low down. It comes as a naked bike the SV650 and a half faired 's' version. These differ slightly in foot peg and handlebar positioning, the former having normal bars, the latter clip-ons and rear set pegs. Both have good ground clearance. I bought my SVs (half faired) used, a W plate with 8k on the clock. Over the next two years I put on 22k miles...

goodo 30.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

SUZUKI SV650 plaything

Advantages: Fast, Fun, Economical Silly plaything!
Disadvantages: It hurts if you get knocked off!

...turn right without indicating or looking, and you happen to be overtaking him at the time then it hurts! (I'm not bitter!) -Parts aren't cheap, not for any bike, but as there aren't a lot of these in scrap yards yet, you have to buy the new bits which my bank manager is upset about! -It needs servicing every 4000 miles. Okay thats average for a sports bike, but compared to a BMW it's no good if you want to be a courier. Services cost between £100 and £300 depending which one... (not including the number of tyres you kill!) -No spare wheel. Okay thats obvious but an imperative reason to be a member of the AA -they have tyre repair kits. (The ones you can buy I coudn't get to work at all.) Go get one......

miggle 16.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

The SV 650 is a quality motorcycle that does everything.

Advantages: Performance, purchase price, cheap insurance, resale value.
Disadvantages: May want a bigger bike after awhile. Cheesy-looking rear bumper.

...I have owned and driven many motorcycles for about eleven years now, and always enjoy the versatility of a "middle-weight" bike. The Suzuki SV 650 is by far the greatest value on the market right now. For under $7,500 US you get a very sharp looking bike that performs well and does everything you ask of it. The SV 650 comes with fuel-injection, which may not seem like much, but once you get used to a fuel injected bike, starting up a bike without it will make you feel like you're in the stone age (you'd be amazed at how many "value bikes" that are still carbureted). So working from the inside out, I love the 90 degree v-twin. Almost every sport or "sportier" bike out there is an inline four (except Ducatis of course). The SV has a distinctive exhaust note that only a V-twin can give, and of course an after market exhaust pipe/system (and...

matthewaggie 02.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

SV650.The complete middleweight

Advantages: Fast and Furious meets MR smoothie
Disadvantages: Not a lot

...-3 weeks. I have fitted a matching rear hugger to keep the suspension spring and swinging arm clean to cut down on the cleaning later on. Suzuki do a lot of aftermarket spares for the bike but the prices are a little more expensive than other suppliers.It really does dont depend on whether you want genuine parts or patented parts and that depends on finances. The Suzuki SV650 has been likened to the TL1000 so that is not a bad thing.Personally i think it is a CBR600 meets Fazer meets TL1000. Overall the bike is great for those who want a first REAL bike after passing their test or those of us who want a bike that we can use.Whatever your requirements the SV650 will meet them. Test ride one today and i bet you will get off the bike with a grin as wide as a Cheshire cat. Grin factor 10/10...

wotnot 07.10.2002 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

Great first, second, or tenth bike!

Advantages: Price, looks, power, easy to ride.
Disadvantages: Speeding tickets, you'll want another one to park beside it!

...After spending far too long admiring other peoples' motorcycles and wondering how great it would be to finally learn how to ride one myself, I decided this was the year I was finally going to learn to ride. Okay, seriously, I turned 30, almost had a nervous breakdown, and decided I needed a little more excitement in my life so I bought a bike. There, honesty works every time. After passing the local motorcycle safety course and getting my licence, I decided to research everything I could on a good first bike. Initially deciding to go with a Kawasaki EX500 (good first bike, nice handling, brakes, suspension etc.) but it looked a little out-of-date looks-wise. For about a $1,000 more I wound up getting a deal on a pretty blue 2005 Suzuki SV650S (Canadian model) from my local dealership. The bike is far more modern than the Kawi...

salamol0 05.06.2005 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

The best starter bike ever built!

Advantages: Cheap, easy to ride, insurance friendly, great first bike
Disadvantages: Build quality, when you park it next to a 900 or 1000cc, you'll want rid

...As a 22 year old who has always been into biking i decided to do my full test last september. I passed 2nd time (had trouble with a u turn in the wet on 1st!) and set about looking for my first 'big' bike. On a budget of about £2500 i had a fair few choices - the insurance companies managed to cut these choices down to 3 or 4 for me! In the end it came down to a choice between a 51 reg SV650S for £2400 or a R reg Yamaha Thundercat for £2300. I rode both and for me, the SV won hands down - so i bought it! As a first bike, you dont have to worry about squeezing the brakes too hard and locking wheels (although they are good enough to feel safe) as its a V twin. This was my first V twin and i was impressed how easy it was to ride, barely any power was needed to pull away and the low down torque was unbelievable! It was easy to throw...

fezza101 10.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

My first bike

Advantages: Fast, reliable, economical, good looks
Disadvantages: you get wet when it rains :-)

...Bought this bike a month ago and i`m very impressed with it. Been running it in but couldn`t resist giving it a squeeze- and it flies!! Don`t have much to compare it to being my first bike but this is what i know- Gets 150 miles out of a tank that makes it about 50mpg. Handles really well. Taking corners faster than i do in my car already- this is the confidence it inspires in me. Don`t even feel i`m pushing it yet. Looks great. I got the blue one and it is always turning heads. A bit different from the sports bikes and better than a commuter. Very comfortable riding position. I`m 5'8" and it is the perfect size. Easy to get the head down when you need to. Wind isn`t that bad anyway even at 100mph. Hard to say what the 0-60 is but i kept up with my friend`s Nissan Skyline, so it can`t be...

claymore73 16.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

Bargain blaster

Advantages: Engine, chassis and price
Disadvantages: Soft forks

...The best budget middle weight bike out there. The engine produces good power throughout the rev range. It may be a few bhp down against the four cylinder opposition but it more than makes up for this in lowdown and midrange grunt. The engine also loves to rev, especially for a twin. The handling is excellent for a bike of this price. The forks are far too softly sprung and can bottom out under braking, but the chassis is soo good that you do not use the brakes that much anyway. The brakes are at best adequate, but anything better would just overwhelm the forks anyway. Comfort is good for the rider, but acording to the wife just OK for the pillion, and the extra money spent on the faired S version is a complete waste of time as unless you are flat on the tank the fairing does nothing. The best thing about the SV though is that it is...

bobbit139 25.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki SV650

suzuki ignis sport

Advantages: small and compact
Disadvantages: none found yet

...I purchased my car new the last day of march 2004 .and from the time of collection I have not looked back on the purchase.The test drive and ordering a week prior was very well organised being allowed to take the car for an hour with my wife on our own so we both could try out the little beast. I had chosen the sport model as I still wanted pleasure from driving a smaller car. I have not been dis appointed small speedy and economical .The sport model comes ready fitted with recaro front seats white dials turning blue when lights are on and a trip computor systemn telling time of journey km per hr average and time. The car is compact but well fitted trim and plenty of storage areas.The boot cover is the only flimsy dis appointment being made only of a netting, but it does hide from view the boots contents.service intervals are 9000...

bluepoint 27.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Suzuki Ignis