Suzuki SV650S
Suzuki’s new twins

Differences between the new 2003 Su-zuki SV650S and its popular predecessor are immediately evident from the moment you swing a leg over the bike. The tank has a new shape and the instrument panel is entirely different, now featuring a digital speedometer below a prominent analog tach.

When the engine starts, you can hear right away that there’s something new in the engine room. There’s a clearly defined induction snort caused by the new, larger airbox and a crisp bark from a larger capac-ity exhaust canister. All-new electronic fuel injection produces crisp and accurate throt-tle response, too, allowing much more care-ful control when launching and when shift-ing.

The larger induction and muffler vol-umes are accompanied by new camshaft profiles that have more advance and dwell than in the old bike, and the combination has bumped torque and power curves to new heights.
Suzuki approached the task of re-engineering the SV with a three-pronged strategy called Looks Right, Sounds Right, Feels Right. In the looks right department, the company produced a new frame with main spars formed by high-vacuum die-casting technology. It looks like an ex-truded or tubular product on the outer sur-faces, but the inner surface is a maze of re-inforcing ribs.

The fuel tank is higher and more hump-backed, partly to enclose the larger airbox, also to provide an extra quart of fuel stor-age volume. And the fairing has been re-designed to show more of the engine and to house a pair of clear-lens, multi-reflector headlights that have a pair of outrider run-ning lights to lend a four-lamp look.
Unlike the last generation of SVs, the instrument pod is now common to both the naked version and the S-model for 2003. Once again, there are small differences in gearing and dimensions between the two. But by far the most significant new feature on 2003 SVs is the electronic fuel injection, which incorporates what Suzuki calls a dual throttle valve system.

The rider’s wrist controls the primary throttle butterfly, but that position is re-ferred to an electronic map where it is cor-related with engine speed and gear position before the computer instructs the secondary throttle’s stepper motor to open its valve. The result is carefully managed airflow rates and a sense of fine control and re-finement at the right hand.

The new styling, stiffer frame and what felt like better fork action might not have been quite enough to tempt an owner of an older SV650S (like me!), to spring for the new model. But the combination of better power, purer engine noises and beautiful throttle response are enough to send anyone scurrying for the checkbook.
Particularly since the key ingredients in the little Suzuki are there in undiluted measure. It’s a light bike, but not so small that a tall rider can’t get comfortable. Even with the S-model’s clip-on type handlebars and slightly raised and rearward-located footpegs, the riding position isn’t too tortu-ous for long rides.

With its relatively broad spread of torque and friendly demeanor, the SV somehow manages to play dual roles, where it is approachable to beginners as well as being a serious canyon tool in ex-perienced hands. On a long open-road cruise, the SV can be quiet and smooth un-der the rider. Yet it will spin beyond 10,000 rpm with an angry, urgent drone when given its head, and pull with surprising in-tensity.

The small V-twin has proven remarka-bly reliable on both the street and the track, but because of the increased output this year, Suzuki has added an oil cooler to the new bikes for extra protection. Internal en-gine modifications include new shot-peened connecting rods that are stronger and lighter, and aluminum valve-spring re-tainers to help withstand protracted high-rpm use.

Although the overall recipe is very simi-lar, a host of tiny improvements have been made to sweeten the mix. The rear wheel axle is thicker. The rear shock lever ratio has been changed to increase the amount of rear suspension stroke. The front brake lever now has six adjustment points instead of four. And so on.

But the best news of all is that the price has hardly changed. The naked version is priced at $5,899, while the S-model stick-ers at $6,299. With a strong combination of performance, versatility and technical so-phistication, the new SV650 represents an attractive deal for riders looking for an af-fordable, insurable lightweight with real character.

Call me biased, but I think it’s a gift.

2003 Suzuki SV650S

Base price: $6,299
Engine: 645cc DOHC V-twin
Horsepower: 71.1 at 9000 rpm
Torque: 47.2 lb-ft at 7,200 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed
Fuel capacity: 4.2 gallons
Mileage (as tested): N/A
Dry weight: 376 pounds
Seat height: 31.5 inches
Wheelbase: 56.3 inches