COMMENTS AND INFO

I'm looking into increasing the performance on my SV650 although I am not willing to lose any low-mid range power to do so (due to the type of city driving I do). So what kind of aftermarket parts should I be looking into to increase low-mid range? Any specifics would be greatly appreciated, thanks alot.

The obvious mod is an exhaust system. I've had no experience of these so if you can help out Brandon specifically then drop him/me a line please.

Hello all. I am in the process of hunting for for an SV in my area; they are somewhat scarce! I may have to go to L.A. to get one. I can't wait!

Anyway, my friend just got a bikini-type fairing for his SV from Rifle ( it's a prototype) and it looks great and works well, too. I'll have to take his word as I haven't ridden it yet; he won't get off the thing!

It is a very well-made fairing, not just a windscreen, and cost i the $250 range. Rifle Fairings is online at http://www.rifle.com/. Check it out if you are looking for some stylish, functional protection.

Bad news regarding importing SV's from Canada. I just got off the phone with the dealer in North Vancouver that I purchased my SV from (see my earlier post somewhere below) and apparently Suzuki is "cracking" down on importing the bikes to the states. This has also been confirmed with a representative from Suzuki Canada in the Toronto office.

The documents that are required to import and register the bike (namely the EPA / DOT certification) are no longer being issued by Suzuki Canada. They are (and never were) under any obligation to provide the documents and after the initial rush of buyers in the states, they have decided that they will stop producing these documents in effect halting the importation of future SV's. Since a buyer in the U.S. can't support the dealer in Canada ie. Service, additional accessories, they've taken a no import stance. This isn't to say that there is not a way around this, but I don't know of one.

At any rate, "my" dealer can't get any more SV's until the end of the year anyway. The demand is much higher than the supply (prices are rising).

Finally, I spent six and a half hours at the DMV here in Phoenix last Saturday, and I was able to register my bike without any major problems. I showed them the emissions compliance letter (the one they don't want to give you anymore) during the vehicle inspection and they were happy.

I forgot to mention earlier about the " RIDE TO WORK DAY" on JUNE 16th 1999..

I dont know if any of the people are interested but RIDE magazine are advertising it as a "FUN DAY" and not a day to CLOGG the roads full of bikes as a Rally may do...it's the perfect excuse to ask your favorite person if they would like a lift to work.....there is also an addressd to write to or a number to call if any Bike Clubs etc are going to be orgainsing anything....

If this is of no interest to anyone..including yourself..please disregard.....

Thanks for your time and the site page.....

Thank you. I ride to work everyday, perhaps I'll just go a longer route, give myself some more time, and enjoy it even more than usual.

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I have written once before, hopefully your loyal fans can help me this time too.

My SV650S has just reached 1600km, rev-time, but I have a gremlin in the machine! Has anyone else had their SV's engine stop during gear changes while flogging it off traffic lights/intersections? Twice this has happened to me - the engine stops (yes, stops completely) between a gear change, but if I let the clutch out the bugger starts again immediately, like a super-fast roll start! Afterwards there is no lack of
performance, and no signs that anything just went wrong?!

Can anybody enlighten me here?!

UPDATE - SEE 01/06/99 FOR ANSWER !!

Glad to see the site is available again, it seems a bit quicker now and I prefer the colours this way.

I have a question about the engine noise that you and the others have been talking about - does anyone think it is the cam chain or is my machine having different problems? Mine makes quite a bit of noise at tick-over but rattles on the overrun, under light load (usually caused by being followed by a white car with a blue light on top!) or when you shut the throttle after blipping it and the only thing I can think of that would make this kind noise is the cam chain (please correct me if I'm wrong - I would much rather find out it's me being paranoid than an engine strip).

Can anyone tell me if the cam chain tensioner is hydraulic or spring loaded?

Any advice appreciated.

I have this 'feature' too, so do many others, the more info we get the better able we'll be to judge whether it is designed or otherwise.

Thank you Shawn for pointing us to the CMG Online (link below) comparo between the SV650S and the Ducati SS750.

I couldn't agree more with the test riders' conclusions. Before buying my SV, I went and test rode a 900 Monster as I was seriously considering purchasing the 750 Monster Dark. Beside not being "wowed" by the Ducati, I felt more like the M900 was taking me for a test ride not the other way around. I found riding the Ducati to be way too "high effort" for my liking (just like the CMG testers did). On the other hand, the SV's friendly nature and ease of rideability has endeared it to me more and more every time I ride it.

For all interested in replacing your rear shocks, check out either Koni or Works. Both make shocks for a variety of Suzukis with non-rebuildable shocks, so offerings for the SV might be forthcoming.

http://www.koni.com
http://www.worksperformance.com

Cool site, cracking pictures.

Other half has just bought a yellow faired SV650 and I can't wait to have a go. One of your site's images is now wallpaper on her screen. All she needs now is some sounds for when Microsoft Windows starts and exits. A recording from the blue SV (with the race can) posted on your site would be a most excellent addition.

regards GA (ZX6R).

Love your Web Page! (I love your bike!!!)

I thought some racing enthusiasts would be interested in seeing my bike in race form. I have a Yoshimura full race exhaust and jet kit on order and also a Penske rear shock. To date I have raced 2 weekends so far this year (8 races total with 4 per weekend) in the expert class with GLRRA - Great Lakes Road Racing and have all top 10 finishes. I believe with a new shock and more horsepower a race win is inevitable this year!

I would like to thank my sponsors for all of their support.

M&M cycle of Kalamazoo MI and their excellent staff for their support

A1 Autobody for the kick paint job

RBC Gunsmithing for machining the awesome custom rear sets

Jeff Cross for machining the cool custom footpegs and front fork spacers to increase the preload

Tapeworks Graphics for the obvious rad graphics

Sharkskinz for the quality bodywork and hardware.

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Joe Doman #33 Expert

I just Bought a brand new sv650 (american version). Im even thinking of selling my Ducati 900ss so that I can modify my SV.

If I sell my Duck the SV will be seeing a lot of track time with my local club. Therefore the suspension will need a bit of work.

Do the forks from a gsxr600 or 750 fit the SV? Or would it be cheaper to modify the factory forks.  Does the rear shock from a gsxr600/750 fit?

Im also interested in putting clip ons on my SV. I want to use the clip ons that the european model has. Where can I get those clip ons or similar ones. I do not want to loose the turning radius of my bike by placing full race clip ons. Will race clip ons they hit the tank at full lock?

Does K&N make a filter for the SV? Finally, I understand Vance & Hines and yoshimura have a slip ons for the SV. Does anybody know whether the SV makes more power with slip ons or is a full system, such as M4 and Two Brothers, necessary for horsepower gains?

I live around the Philadelphia area, any other SV owners out here?

Here's nick from Holland again, is this bike a blast or NOT! Everything is going great and the weather is even getting better and better.
Who wants more than a SV and good weather?

Well i have been fussing around with a paint program and the result is added.

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BTW did you get my e-mail adress change? it's now nwalther@pers.gpb.nl

Greetings from Nick, and keep doing the great work, is this site growing!!!!

Hello there, this is a cool site. (thanks..)

I'am Ralph from Eindhoven in the Netherland. I have my bike for a few weeks now. It is an impressive bike. It looks great, drives real easy and pulls how I like it. I bought a the black version, and drove it for 1250 km. In my point of view, I think that I have problem with the engine. I noticed the following things during riding and standing still.

1- at 1000 rpm the mirrors are shaking,

this would be normal I think

2- at 4000 rpm the mirrors are shaking more brutaly, can't see a bloody thing

they shouldn't shake that much!!

3- my engine makes also the noise that a lot of people talke about, between 3000 - 4000 rpm.

this could be normal...awaiting more emails to confirm that this is heard by most people

4- some times te exhaust gases smell like burning plastic.

run away from the bike quickly!!    (only joking....)

5- by the way, is the engine that noise at 1000 rpm. In the beginning I thought I had a problem with the valves.

If anyone has some info ore remarks, or also noticed any of those things. Please let me know.

Casa - the picture you sent was too large, I had problems downloading it. Can you make it a lot smaller size and resend please?

Hello ,my name is PASCAL, i reside beside PARIS and here is some images of my 650sv modified....

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This hugger is specifically made for the SV and you can have it at:

"Espace tunning Roca"
108, rue de Fleury
92140 CLAMART
you can see their website : http://www.webmoto.com/roca/list/650sv.htm

Had a TLR since 08/98. Loved the SVS and have had one ordered for 2 months. First 20 sold got new complete 2 bros systems. I bought no 20 after my dealer relented and let me have a red one - they were the next shipment and they really wanted to move the yellow and blue bikes on the floor. Hasn't mattered as Two Bros have had a few hold ups.

My dealers is 2 B's NZ distributor. Anyway, pipes turned up this week - 25 sets. Major state of the art plumbing. My faired SV due within the
week. Hunted down and shot the owner of the car with plate "SV650" Soon she will be parked next to my yellow TLR, plate "TLR".

I post on and off on Chris's TLR board - thought I'd share this stuff, and the fact that this little twin is the hottest thing since it's big brother
and in some ways more fun to ride. I wouldn't give up either of them, and I've only been riding the shop SV demo!

"Check out Race-Tech's Gold Valve Cartridge Emulators at http://www..race-tech.com/reference/prodcat/frk_rr.htm.

Though they don't have a kit listed specifically for the SV, a fellow posted to www.motorcycle.com that he had installed these in his SV (along with new fork springs).
Motorcyclist magazine (here in the states) has consistently raved about Race-Tech products in general and the Emulator in specific."

Latest updates due 18/05/99.

"I've been having difficulty connecting to your server. I'm glad we're hooked back up again (me too, should be okay now)

I have a pic of my bike with the Two Brothers muffler I adapted to it [PHOTO].

My bike is now at 4850 miles and everything is great. there is now a shortage of SV's for sale here in California. There
are only a couple of bikes left for sale and they won't last long. I'm so glad I got mine when I did."

"I just got my SV 650 which I ride in New York City. This motorcycle is awesome for urban warfare.

I wrote to Corbin as requested on this site and they wrote back saying they will be making a seat and saddle bags for the
SV in the future."

"Hey man, how's the bike? I have 1600 miles on mine and am now starting to get the modification bug. I want to
add all kinds of stuff to it!

Do you know if a 170/60 tire will fit the back wheel, and how much taller it is than the 160? I don't want the gearing   affected too much. I'd love to fit a 180/55 tire on the back but know I'd need a wider wheel.

I also want clip on's. I think it would look awesome with the round headlight, clip on's, and a huge rear tire. Of course the stock exhaust has to go eventually too."

"I bought my sv650s about 5 weeks ago, a blue one. I was in fact the first in my state of Australia to own one, and apparently I still am the only in my state (hmmm, noone has seen the light yet). Anyhow, I have run the bike in, and it is great....

...but, I always notice a rattle coming from the front cylinder between 1000 and 4000rpm. I have conversed with another Australian sv650s rider and he said the same. I want to know if anyone else has found the same - I always feel confidence in numbers."

Well, I get the rattle, most prominent at tickover, just over 1000rpm. Like David says, is this common to most of us? Send a reply if you can so that I can gauge whether it is or not. I suspect it is.

"Has anyone looked into trying to take an inch or maybe more out of the seat to ground height on this bike?"

If you have then let me know please.

"I gave airtech bodywork a call today (www.motorcyclebodywork.com) and they apparently have a bellypan available
for the SV that requires some drilling of the frame. They don't have pictures on their site yet, but they do
have a similar setup on the TL1000s for which photos are available. They said they are also working on a new
tail and a full fairing.

Price on the bellypan was around US$220 primed but unpainted. "

"I sent you the web address of a review that CMG Online did of the SV650. I mistakenly listed it as cmgonline.ca when it is actually cmgonline.com. Anyhow, they have moved the review of the main page and it can't be accessed directly anymore.

Here is the direct address."

http://www.cmgonline.com/CMG99/articles/features/test_rides/testride_SV650vsSS750_990329/testride_SuzukiSV650.html

"This is an exhaust systems manufacturer in the Netherlands that makes complete and slip-on systems for the SV and lots of other bikes, too.

Last time I checked, the exchange rate between US/Canadian dollars and the Netherlands Guilder was quite favorable, making their products very affordable. Please tell them I sent you. "

http://www.bsm-exhausts.com/english/index_en.html

"I just want to let you know that i bought a sv650 and i love it. It handles very nicely on the road and i drive it just about every day with weather permiting."

Sorted then!

"Just following up on my past tale about the dying battery. The dealership apparently had a new TL1000 in with the same problem. Seems they must have had a bad batch of regulator-rectifiers, the part that was messed up.

The bike is working great, put 600 clicks on the first weekend.

Trying to make the decision on the pipe still - figuring I'll probably go with the new yoshi or the two brothers
one. Any word on adjustable front forks?"

Nope...see posting below asking for same information..

"Hope the weather in Wales was as good over the bank holiday as it was here and that you managed to get out on the bike for a blast. (only for a short time and the holiday traffic was heavy as expected)

I have a couple of questions you might like to post on you site:

1. The standard tyres slide too easily (that old favourite of mine!) has anyone tried another type that works well?

2. The bikes suspension is too soft at the front has anyone had time to find out what oil weight / preload / air gap suits fairly hard riding?

3. Does anyone know of a different rear shock that fits (if it needs one after the front is sorted) as mine tends to wallow if you are not 100% smooth in bends?

Alternatively I could always learn to ride properly!

The bike is still getting better and better engine wise, I have not had a missed or sticking gear since it's first service and it seems to have gained a few bhp (3040 miles). I have found that it seems to become a bit weak in the 3-5K RPM band if you have been giving it a lot of stick but settles down again after a few minutes of legal speeds, anyone else had this happen?

The size of the bike is just fine for me (6 foot) however it did need the controls adjusting to stop it getting uncomfortable on longer journeys (mainly gear leaver and rear brake pedal)."

I had to adjust the controls too, including loweringthe angle of the brake and clutch levels so that my hands were straighter and thus less prone to aches and pains.

"Howd'y, Took a look at your Suzuki SV650 page, Looks great. I pick up my SV on Monday May 3 1999.

Just to let you know, M4 Performance Exhaust, makes a killer system for the SV. Some guy down here in Texas has been racing and winning  on the new SV with the M4 system."

M4 can be reached at: http://www.m4exhaust.com

"I cut the stock muffler off my SV today and installed a Two Bros oval Al can with the power valve. It runs great without any jet changes. There are no flat spots and no hesitation. For your info the pipe into the stock muffler is a 2-1/8" dia, and a piece of 2-1/4" exhaust pipe slip-fits perfectly over it. It makes it easy to change the pipe and adapt a muffler. The pipe is also a double wall construction with a bit of fiberglass packing between the two pipes [inner and outer]

The sound of our 90 degree V-Twin is astounding! It's a low growl at normal around town RPM and turns into a great scream of power at higher RPM."

"As most SV-riders I love the handling, styling and fairly good performance of the bike- I just wish that the suspension were a little harder...

However - what really dissapointed me was the lack of deep characteristc V-twin sound. The problem was solved with a Scorpion Race-can, which were sent to from a fellow SV-rider in England (Whom I got in touch with using SV650.org).

The bike now sounds very much like a race Ducati, it takes throttle much easier and it looks great. At a price of only £ 139 including tax and connector pipe I think it was worth every penny. But - you shouldn't get one if you don't like to turn heads!"

"Are there any racers out there that don't need the stock rider's seat? I need a spare seat (one is going to be cut down for a very short rider)."

Contact (jeffwe@hotmail.com) if you have one available.....

"Love the site! Just got mine today after salivating over magazines for months. Love the sharkskin bodywork. As I have an unfaired model I will be thinking how to mount a decent headlight behind those beautiful body pieces. Hopefully in reality someone will come out with a carbon fiber bikini fairing like ducati's monster's that doesn't buffet your head til your neck snaps off. That would do just fine, but that sharkskin set up is absolutely beautiful.

Seems like it is a good deal buying from Canada. If any are left. I nabbed the last one in Omaha and suspect they will be sold out nationally soon. Great to see the enthusiasts putting their money where their requests are (remember the hawk!). Thank you Suzuki for bringing me my dream! Thank you Stevens Motorsports for
dropping my ninja off the workbench forcing a very cheap sale on a SV650 -$1,500! (no hard feelings - really!)

First aftermarket item - exhaust, followed by bikini fairing (please?). Have yet to push the limits on brushed tires. Pushed the front end tonight with my girlfriend on the back, hopefully it was new tires and the effects of a passenger as I wasn't expecting the limit so soon."

And this too......

"Hey! there looks like there is a bit of room in the swingarm. Does anyone think I could get a Suzuki or aftermarket 5 or 5.5 inch wheel and 180 tire in there? Anyone try yet? I know it will most likely slow turn in down, but the poser/street squid in me just has to know!"

Let me know too if you do!

"Well hello again, here from holland, to all you SV lovers (can't imagine there owners out there who don't love there's) a couple of months ago i wrote about some modifications i would like to do.

Well it was a quite hard decision but ive done it, i've cut the whole plastic frishbee from the back of my SVs
and mounted a couple of smal turnlights, it wasn't that easy i have to say, but the looks are awesome
"SUPERBIKE STYLE", iff you're planning to do the same, beware that there is an electronic unit at the end of it.
So take good care of what you are doing, i had to displace it for about an inch to the front and my tools can fit just in place, keeping the rubber strap.

I've also fitted smaller flat turnlights upfront (not on the pics jet) and this looks great too, I just hate things sticking out. Ive got 2500 kms on the tach now and is this bike a blast, ive mounted a "Laser" oval (stainless steel with carbon look) aftermarket racemuffler (it's even off Dutch hands) a couple of weeks ago and does this baby sound cool, the engine even gains some power, and i'm now planning to invest in a dynokit and K&N filter, than this baby will rock around the clock, i'm quite sure about that.

Well that's it for now and ill lett you know when other modifications are done.
"RIDE FAST BUT SAFE" and have just like me a whole lotta fun.
P.s. if you drive mostly alone? like me, remove that stupid grabend."

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And on fitting the pipe......

"Well, you have to saw the original pipe about 2 inches from the welding and then slip on the Laser, quite easy.
The deliver a mof (don't know how you call it) so you can always place the original back, they also deliver a DB Killer with it witch you can fitt to keep the neighbours happy. Ive payed Fl 850,- for it thats about 280 english pounds .

You could take a peek at their site, don't think it mentions a muffler for our SV's but as i can tell they can deliver it and even give you a 5 year warranty"

http://www.laser-jama.nl/