[ironguy]

Wondering how the SV handles in ligth snow or rain...
Does anyone have experience riding it in such inclement weather conditions?
Any tips might help.

 

[Fatass SVS]

1st gens have front cylinder spark problems. Water accumulates in the spark plug wire hole and drowns the spark. Filling the plugwire boot with dielectric grease cures the problem.

Otherwise: When it rains, you get wet. When the roadway is snowy, you slip and maybe crash.

 

[adm2204]

<- Has experienced the dreaded SV325

I wouldn't ride on snow if you paid me.

 

[nyc rugby]

Otherwise: When it rains, you get wet. When the roadway is snowy, you slip and maybe crash.

Don't forget, if the storm gets bad, hail is really loud when it hits your helmet.

 

[Fatass SVS]

<- Has experienced the dreaded SV325

Yeah having the front cylinder cut out and in (especially cutting back in while heeled over in a turn) adds to the excitement of a rainy ride.
On the plus side, dumping all that unburned fuel/air mixture into the exhaust can sounds AWESOME! ;D

 

[Lost1888]

1st gens have front cylinder spark problems. Water accumulates in the spark plug wire hole and drowns the spark. Filling the plugwire boot with dielectric grease cures the problem.

Otherwise: When it rains, you get wet. When the roadway is snowy, you slip and maybe crash.

And up our way they salt the roads like it's going out of style. Really they just need to use up the supply so they can justify ordering more for next year. And salt residue on a motorcycle, especially a naked, can't be good for it.

 

[andyauger]

With a Hole Shot Fenda Extenda and clear drain hole for the front plug, no issues with any rain. Snow, haven't a clue.

 

[wi_sci]

60 deg in the afternoon - slush by the time I was leaving work. The snow wasn't sticking too bad to the roads but it did stick to the bike. (2nd gen) Really no problems as long as you have good tires.

 

[RandyO]

in snow & cold pavement, most tires don't do so well, best options are Pirelli MTR60-corsas or Avon Extreme Rains,

salt is not as serious a problem as most people make it out being, its unsightly & dirty but washes off for the most part with no permenant damage, summer bug splats are more corrosive, the biggest problem with salt is accelerated wear on the chain, brake calipers & shift linkage

cold air = free horsepower

 

[Gerard7aa]

Ive ridden in mountain rain storms, and in desert monsoon rains.
Not a problem other than me getting drenched.
Of course I was riding slightly under the speed limits.

 

[doxiedog]

Hail makes my fingers hurt. Lightning spooks me,when it's getting close!

 

[Zokambaa]

Wondering how the SV handles in ligth snow or rain...
Does anyone have experience riding it in such inclement weather conditions?
Any tips might help.

Yeah snow is a death wish.... it can be done.. but very slowly and I wouldn't want to be around cars when having to do it...

unless you have studded tires snow is best avoided....

rain is no issue if you have the right tires.... the good thing about my 06 is that it has a flap that hangs down from the radiator so I don't get all sorts of crap in the sparkplug.... but on the gen-1 I never had an issue with it either... I never checked it but it is possible the last owner or the shop smeared some dielectric grease on the cap and prevented the issue....

I know some of the people on the brit board sv650.org rigged up some flap on the 1st gen to block the gunk too.... either that or a fender extender flap on the front which helps keep the mud out of the cap...


In the rain I found conti road attacks are WAAAAY better than the stock tires... however I've gone up side streets with ice and snow on them.... very slowly... and I have to admit the stock tire felt a little better... probably because of the flatter profile...

just avoid any frozen water (ice or snow) and the SV is fine...

 

[maxxdope]

SV is all around ... it depends on your selection of tires.. and courage

i ride in rain w/ a motorcycle jackets and plain jeans all the timeA(to work & back)

still didn't have sparkplug issues(maybe the BANDIT fender i installed helps

 

[sodak69c10]

i've rode in both, thanksgiving of 07 i rode 300mi back home in the snow and 30* weather for the weekend

stay warm and dry, it helps you concentrate, salt isn't much of an issue as sand is, you'll break tires loose very easily, stopping distances increase drasticly, other vehicles tire spray goes everywheres,bike runs cooler then normal

visors fog easily, i try to avoid it but we have strange weather here at times, i've rode to work in the morning with sun and clear skys and came home in a few inches of snow

 

[08sv]

Ride in rain all the time. That flap @ the bottom of the RAD.must help cause my sv is a daily an I ride in 50' VIS. pouring here w/out a glitch.

 

[matthumm77]

Snow sticking to the road=CRASH. Rain is not bad unless it rains hard then vision becomes an issue. You also have to take turns like your riding a trike, keep the bike straight. Hard rain or hail can hurt all over.

 

[507phantom]

the bike only handles as well as you do. you can do almost any weather condition, if you ride for the conditions, and have the right gear. a good layer of ice is pretty much impossible to ride on, but frozen concrete is pretty manageable. a little snow should slow you down, a lot of snow means the inside of the helmet fogs and ices, and the outside just ices. and riding with the visor up really isn't a good option, (an electric snowmobile visor would be nice).

once your equipment isn't up to the task, then you shouldn't ride. of course that includes your tires.

it wasn't snowing when i left, and was only a predicted 10% chance.

 

[buzzmanrm]

I have ridden in tortential down pours at high way speeds (construction zone on the Ohio turnpike in bumper to bumper at 75) scariest expierence ever.

Rode all last winter in VA no problems spun it out in a parking lot once dropped it no damage rode it home.

Rode in 103 heat with my GF for 2.5 hours never overheated.

The bike is pretty solid, sleet and hail suck bad, rain is ok even heavy loose grip of the bars, and keep a hand like silk on the throttle and brake and you should be fine.

Don't forget good tires with lots of tread Pilot Powers FTW

 

[TBone]

Generally, I find that it funnels rain into my crotch.

 

[buzzmanrm]

Generally, I find that it funnels rain into my crotch.

Yeah especially if you wear chaps LOL.