Suburban Bolt-on Bars
By Mark Timney

The SV650 may not be a touring bike, but it is fairly comfortable to ride on longer trips thanks, in part, to its upright handlebars. But such an upright posture has its price. It exposes you to a lot of wind, especially at 60+ M.P.H., and it reduces front-end input and feedback. 

While many SV riders are happy to trade a little performance for comfort, Terry Phillips, the owner of Suburban Machinery, bet that some riders were looking for a way to make their naked SV handle more like the racier “S” version with its ‘clip-on’ type bars. He produces two styles of bolt-on replacement bars. His Type 1 bars ($150.00) are 3.5" lower and 1.0" forward compared to standard SV, and one inch higher than the "S" model handlebar. The Type 2 bars ($129.95) offer a slightly less committed position—one inch higher than the Type 1 bar. Incidentally, the Type 2 bars are also designed to clear the fork preload adjusters, which come on the 2002 SV.

I have to admit I was first attracted to Suburban’s bars more for their appearance than for their promise of improved handling. They have a striking European streetfighter aura about them that really adds to the appeal of a naked SV. And, I wondered how much better could this great handling bike handle anyway? Well, when I put the Type 2 bars on my bike I found out the answer was, “A lot!” With these bars it seems like all I have to do is think about where I want to go and I’m suddenly there.

Repositioning the bars down and forward puts more weight on the front end and changes the leverage you have on the steering. In this case, Phillips has balanced out the front end forces at play quite wonderfully. The bike feels even more perfectly planted to the road. The more race-like posture also drops you out of the wind a tiny bit too, something else which improves performance.

"But is the bike still comfortable to ride?" you ask. I can only speak for the Type 2 bars, but the answer is “yes.” Granted, you’re not in as relaxed a riding position as with the stock bars, but I'm not the least bit uncomfortable with them. And even if I were, I'd buy them anyway because of the handling difference. They’re that much better. Really!

Additionally, the bars are beautifully constructed, sturdy, and easy to put on. They also reposition the stock mirrors so you can actually see what’s behind you now. Both styles of bars come with brackets to reposition the turn signals so they don’t interfere with the new placement, but you really don’t have to do this with the Type 2 bars.

Suburban's bars are great add-on for the naked SV. They're a noticeable, practical, fun and fairly inexpensive performance modification for your SV.

About the author: Mark Timney is a freelance writer and new SV rider. He lives in Keene, NH, and is a professor of journalism at Keene State College. He can be reached at mtimney@cheshire.net.

Suburban Machinery Inc.
37127 Ben Hur Ave. • Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Phone: 1-800-297-1341 or 440-951-6555 • Fax: 440-951-5174

http://www.suburban-machinery.com/sv650.htm

TYPE 1	TYPE 2