Nothing cheap is going to add the suspension travel they have on you. Other than that...it still can be ridden on dirt roads if you understand it's limitations. Look at the triumph scrambler. Throw on some Michelin Anakees, throw on a radiator guard, and maybe make a bash plate for the exhaust.
Forest Roads on the SV?
I've read and posted some of the other threads about dual sporting an SV and have some additional Q's.
I bought an older gen 1 SV naked model. I don't have a lot of money in it. I come from a dirt background and still ride dirt and dual sport on my KTM EXC450. Been thinking about getting a big dual sport where I can do both longer distance rides with forest roads thrown in. Some the riders around here have bikes like: KTM 990 Adventures, BMW GS 1200cc?, Triumph Tigers, and V-Stroms.
With cheaper mods, can I make my SV into a bike that will keep up with those beastly dual sports? They are mostly doing smooth dirt and gravel roads on them anyway - not real knarly stuff. The SV seems to have some advantages over them on dirt roads, and some disadvantages. Advantages - Lower seat height and a good deal lighter. Good torque. Disadvantages - Suspension travel and short wheel base.
About my bike - current mods that might help off road:
Racetech front suspension, Fox Shock rear. (Same travel, better suspension) High mount Leo Vince exhaust. Jet kit and tuning. Bar risers 1.5 - 2 inches. Braded brake lines.
Other mods considering - More dirt type handlebars, raising the front fender slightly like a scrambler, street/dirt type tires. Bash plate
Here is my bike:
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I bought an older gen 1 SV naked model. I don't have a lot of money in it. I come from a dirt background and still ride dirt and dual sport on my KTM EXC450. Been thinking about getting a big dual sport where I can do both longer distance rides with forest roads thrown in. Some the riders around here have bikes like: KTM 990 Adventures, BMW GS 1200cc?, Triumph Tigers, and V-Stroms.
With cheaper mods, can I make my SV into a bike that will keep up with those beastly dual sports? They are mostly doing smooth dirt and gravel roads on them anyway - not real knarly stuff. The SV seems to have some advantages over them on dirt roads, and some disadvantages. Advantages - Lower seat height and a good deal lighter. Good torque. Disadvantages - Suspension travel and short wheel base.
About my bike - current mods that might help off road:
Racetech front suspension, Fox Shock rear. (Same travel, better suspension) High mount Leo Vince exhaust. Jet kit and tuning. Bar risers 1.5 - 2 inches. Braded brake lines.
Other mods considering - More dirt type handlebars, raising the front fender slightly like a scrambler, street/dirt type tires. Bash plate
Here is my bike:
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
the scorpions come in 120/70 and 160/60
and they ride descent on street... that's my next move....(i don't want to reveal my round headlight grille plans...shhh...)
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I ran these tires,when i lived up a 1/4 mile gravel road,they worked better than conti's in the loose stuff.
Ask about my pock marked radeator. A fender extender would be a good idea.
my brother used Avon distanzia SM tires on his SV and I use them on my honda xr650R supermoto
great tires--80% on-road--20% off
they work great for both though-the rear wont last too many miles though if you like corner carving
but basically--the SV's can handle a lot of abuse--and on a nkaed one its easy to put MX bar and hand guards on it
just make sure you buy billet rear sets if you are gonan jump it at all--the stock ones are weak(my brother made his own out of 1/4 aluminum plate-they are rough but do the job)
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this si the same bike he used to race WERA with--the forks have emulators and .90 springs IIRC--and he took the penske off and put the stock shock back on so he wouldn't blow the penske up-lol
these were at a kart track but he dual-sports his bike all over N.Ga--
you can flattrack an SV really well
great tires--80% on-road--20% off
they work great for both though-the rear wont last too many miles though if you like corner carving
but basically--the SV's can handle a lot of abuse--and on a nkaed one its easy to put MX bar and hand guards on it
just make sure you buy billet rear sets if you are gonan jump it at all--the stock ones are weak(my brother made his own out of 1/4 aluminum plate-they are rough but do the job)
this si the same bike he used to race WERA with--the forks have emulators and .90 springs IIRC--and he took the penske off and put the stock shock back on so he wouldn't blow the penske up-lol
these were at a kart track but he dual-sports his bike all over N.Ga--
you can flattrack an SV really well
3
Those SV supermoto pics are awesome! If you don't mind explain more about the kind of dirt riding your brother did on the bike. Did he do any forest roads? PS - I've test driven a kart at that track before.my brother used Avon distanzia SM tires on his SV and I use them on my honda xr650R supermoto
great tires--80% on-road--20% off
they work great for both though-the rear wont last too many miles though if you like corner carving
but basically--the SV's can handle a lot of abuse--and on a nkaed one its easy to put MX bar and hand guards on it
just make sure you buy billet rear sets if you are gonan jump it at all--the stock ones are weak(my brother made his own out of 1/4 aluminum plate-they are rough but do the job)
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this si the same bike he used to race WERA with--the forks have emulators and .90 springs IIRC--and he took the penske off and put the stock shock back on so he wouldn't blow the penske up-lol
these were at a kart track but he dual-sports his bike all over N.Ga--
you can flattrack an SV really well
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
