1999-2002
The original SV650...
1999-2002
The original SV650 turned the budget bike class upside-down with a bargain basement price tag alongside near sportbike performance. The 645cc, 90-degree, carbureted V-twin churned out 65 HP at the rear tire and was good for low 12s at nearly 109 MPH in a drag race. Combined with the competent chassis, it was an instant hit.
2003-Present
The second...
2003-Present
The second generation SV650 received a host of motor upgrades with fuel injection topping the list. A new aluminum trellis frame was added along with other useful tweaks. The updated SV was good for a tick over 70 HP at the rear tire and sprinted through the quarter mile in 12.02 at 110 MPH. Later S models received fairing lowers and optional ABS.
When Suzuki released the SV650 in 1999 it struck gold, and the sporting middleweight became an instant cult-classic. Released during an era of bland budget middleweights with lackluster sporting capabilities, Suzuki showed riders that you can have your cake and eat it too. The first generation SV650 was an unbeatable package with a jewel of a motor and sold at a bargain-basement price.
From the minute the SV hit the streets it garnered a reputation of being a budget Ducati thanks to its 645cc, 90-degree V-twin engine and its unique trellis frame that made for a remarkably capable back-road bomber. The carbureted motor was as smooth as glass and made great power from idle to redline, not to mention it was as reliable as grandma's refrigerator.
While the trellis frame was constructed of aluminum, unlike the chromoly steel versions found on most Ducatis, the SV still offered enough heart to match its soul. In fact, riders soon discovered that the strong frame was stout enough to build a solid racebike around.
Like the chassis and engine, the brakes were a great platform to build upon and lacked only a pad and line upgrade to handle serious track riding. However, the factory suspension didn't follow suit since it was geared for a beginner and flopped like a wet noodle when ridden with some exuberance. Thankfully, the aftermarket had quick fixes and SV aficionados also discovered that GSX-R forks and shocks swapped straight to their SVs.
One year after the first SV hit the streets, Suzuki released the S model that added a nice quarter fairing, clip-ons and slightly taller gearing. Little changed until 2003 when Suzuki gave the SV a revamp with a move to fuel injection, more motor tweaks and an updated frame, just to name a few.
Just like '99, when the updated SV650 hit the market there was a resurgence of interest, and Suzuki couldn't build them quickly enough. By then, the SV had been out for nearly five years and in addition to sanctioned SV-only race events across the globe, riders marked the SV650 as the best beginner bike with a Labrador-friendly demeanor and a performance ceiling high enough for seasoned vets.
In addition to its sporting character and extreme versatility, the SV has proven to be as reliable as a Sherman tank. It's not uncommon for riders to flog their SVs for well over 50,000 miles.
Not wanting to mess with success, Suzuki refrained from substantially changing the SV in its later years, save for new lower fairings on the S model, a twin-sparkplug head and optional ABS. Unfortunately, in 2009 Suzuki decided to discontinue the standard SV, but thankfully had the smarts to keep the S model in production.
Coming soon...
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