I'm not surprised. One of the magazines compared the SV to the other 600cc bikes. It held held it's own. Even though the Honda 599 (600 Hornet) and the FZ6 put out more ponies, the SV has the power where it's used/needed most- in the power band ~5 to 7k rpm. It does just about everything right, for a lot less. The FZ6 doesn't even have preload adjustment on the front shocks. For what it costs, it should have it . It does have a center stand, something I had to add. :

 

I feel the same way about the SV as well and i have only had it for two months. I would never get rid of it even if i wanted other bikes.

 

I'm not surprised. One of the magazines compared the SV to the other 600cc bikes. It held held it's own. Even though the Honda 599 (600 Hornet) and the FZ6 put out more ponies, the SV has the power where it's used/needed most- in the power band ~5 to 7k rpm.  It does just about everything right, for a lot less. The FZ6 doesn't even have preload adjustment on the front shocks. For what it costs, it should have it . It does have a center stand, something I had to add.  :

I think I read that article.... would it be this one perhaps.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/middleweight_motorcycle_comparison/

 

...the SV has the power where it's used/needed most- in the power band ~5 to 7k rpm.

I just rode a new GSXR1000 and that thing had more torque in sixth gear at 4000 rpm with a 1/4 throttle pull than our Suzuki SVs do at peak.

 

Thanks for the feedback Morph. I always find it interesting to hear people's opinions.
I'm in a pivotal point myself. With a new job and money to spare I want a new bike and It's hard to decide between an SV650 or one of the larger bikes you've described.

I must have changed my mind a million times by now. I won't know till the day I write the check I suppose.

 

Thanks for the feedback. The triple is one that always sticks in my mind. I consider selling the Mille for one at times because it is just too focused for street riding.

 

I just rode a new GSXR1000 and that thing had more torque in sixth gear at 4000 rpm with a 1/4 throttle pull than our Suzuki SVs do at peak.

I think any inline 600 that was made in the last 6 years is in a whole different world of its own. I rode a ZX6R 01 and that thing was crazy, cant imagine what a 1000 is like, Ive heard some pretty crazy stories.

 

Thanks for the feedback Morph. I always find it interesting to hear people's opinions.
I'm in a pivotal point myself. With a new job and money to spare I want a new bike and It's hard to decide between an SV650 or one of the larger bikes you've described.

I must have changed my mind a million times by now. I won't know till the day I write the check I suppose.

At this point, if you can wait 'till winter, you will save a bundle (Esp on a Buell or Triumph) ! Either one would be a nice alternative if you dont go with the SV.....

 

sv is in my stable to stay until it blows up.... which judging by Rany o's experience is a very long way from now. my only gripe is its not good for long rides and not great for 2-up. but thats why i think i might add a bandit 12 to the stable next year. then i can really get crasy with the sv.


by the way i forget which magazine it was but.... you know how we all gripe about the sucky stock suspension. this mag said out of all the competitors (fz6, 599, 650r) the sv650 had the best suspension. i can't imagine how bad the suspension is on those bikes.

 

I just rode a new GSXR1000 and that thing had more torque in sixth gear at 4000 rpm with a 1/4 throttle pull than our Suzuki SVs do at peak.

Not to be an idiot, but the 1000 doesn't best the SV650's peak when it is at 4000 rpm. The GSXR1000 only make 5 more hp at 4000 rpm, than the SV650 doesn at 4000 rpm as well. But, the 1000 is by all means way more powerful bike, but at 4000 rpm, it is not even close to the SV's peak. This is an apples to oranges comparo, but i just had to point that out.

 

Not to be an idiot, but the 1000 doesn't best the SV650's peak when it is at 4000 rpm.    The GSXR1000 only make 5 more hp at 4000 rpm, than the SV650 doesn at 4000 rpm as well.  But, the 1000 is by all means way more powerful bike, but at 4000 rpm,  it is not even close to the SV's peak. This is an apples to oranges comparo, but i just had to point that out.

um not to mention that a gsx-r 1k is not the best choice for riding twisties. kinda big imo.

 

I would still like to ride a Kawi ZRX11 or 1200. I bet its a nice bike.

 

Not to be an idiot, but the 1000 doesn't best the SV650's peak when it is at 4000 rpm.

Not going by numbers, I'm going by how it felt. In sixth gear at approx 100 km/h and just turning the throttle 1/4 of a turn, I felt the kind of pull that the SV makes at peak in 2nd gear. The difference is that it seemed like it would be endless, and I stopped at 5-6k.

To think about actually being in the right gear and cracking the throttle was downright terrifying. I pretty much put it in top gear as soon as I could pulling out of the parking lot, just to be sure I wouldn't make a mistake.

Size-wise it wasn't all that different at all. The bars felt a tad closer, and the pegs felt a tad higher. The big fairing under my knees was the strangest part. It was funny because it even did the 5 second EFI hum thing after turning the key.

 

I just bought an FZ1 yesterday, registering it tomorrow. Made a deal w/ the wife that the sv will go, but the more I think about it, its hard to imagine letting it go. It is a perfect bike for banging around town or the twisties. I am so torn....

 

um not to mention that a gsx-r 1k is not the best choice for riding twisties.  kinda big imo.

Kinda big? It's smaller than the SV, not to mention lighter (not to mention the extra 90hp)...

 

the gsxr 1000 at 6k rpm makes more hp than the sv 650 at peak.

 

I would have never guessed that a literbike is more powerful then the 650cc SV. Thanks for clearing that up, guys.

 

I would have never guessed that a literbike is more powerful then the 650cc SV. Thanks for clearing that up, guys.

That's not the point us us saying that it's more powerful. On the previous page the statement was made that the SV has more usable torque at lower RPMs than a litrebike, and that's what we were arguing.

 

Plus, lets do a reality check. You can say all you want that the SV650 is within 5hp at 4000rpm, or that the SV650 has higher peak torque than the gsxr1000 makes at 4000 rpm, but that doesn't make either statement true.

In fact, my 04 1000 makes 64 foot pounds at 4000, and the sv650 (2003 as tested by Sport Rider) makes 47 foot pounds at peak (7250). Also, the SV650 is pushing around 26hp at 4000rpm, where the GSXR is almost double at 49hp.

Source: http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_0308_suzuki_sv650_dyno/photo_03.html SV650 at Sport Rider
Source: http://www.brokedown.net/gsx-r1000.jpg My 04 GSXR1000 at Widman Suzuki in St Louis

 

I just want my SV650 engine in a Buell XB chassis.....that would be the ultimate bike boys and girls.

 

people, no one in their right mind will say that the SV650 has more torque than a 1000, but the power curve is deffinitly one of the smoothest on the market, power comes on right off idle and continues linear, on most of the liter bikes the power reslly does not come on till you are past 1/4 throttle, and then at 1/2 throttle a light switch flipps and there is a surge of power. I do not want that.
Secondly the weight of most liter bikes is greater than a SV650, I also do not wnt that. Last, do you really need all that extra HP? Forget the testosterone, do you really need it? Do you really use it? Safely? If you are afraid to tell the truth, you do not have to answer, I understand, some people have to prove something.
I really do not need more than my 650 gives me on the street. If I was doing lots of track days then maybe....

 

*.*

Pretty much everything you said I disagree with. With the exception of the new R6, the "power curve" even though it looks nice on paper for the SV, is very choppy. Every comparison review, whether it be online or print, comments on how terrible the throttle response is on the SV compared to other bikes. While the bar graph might not look as pretty on an I4, the throttle is very linear, that is to say throttle pull is proportional to power. It's not just a twin thing, either, because the 650R is much smoother. The SV's throttle can go from 1/2 power to 10% power in about 1mm of travel sometimes.

Litre bikes used to weigh more than the SV650, bust you would never feel the difference in a new RR bike. Bikes like the FZ1 or 999 weigh more, but you'd never feel the difference at all on the GSXR1000. It feels every bit as light and flickable. Any new literbike is under 400 pounds now.

Finally, if you want to think about rational power, why do you even have an SV650? When do you need to go 120mph? Can you safely ride around pinging the SV off the redline all day? People who ride any kind of sport bike are already admitting that they get a thrill from going fast. Could I have bought a Dakota instead of a Ram? Could I have bought a 27" TV instead of a 120" projector? Could I have bought a Ninja 250 instead of an SV650? If all men handed in their balls and bought minivans, women wouldn't dig us for being cool.

 

To each their own.  I owned a FZ6 and hated it, no power till 7000 then it hit like a light switch.  I love the response of my SV.
Anyway, whatever floats your boat....
By the way, no I do not really need my SV to hit 120mph, but I do need to be able to pass people on the freeway safely. I will give an example, I owned a 2001 Mustang GT. I have no idea what the top speed was, I never went that far, but I used the power to pass people on the freeway, I now own a 89 mustang with a 4banger, and it has no power at all, yes it gets to freeway spees, but it cannot make a safe pass. My wife owned a Rebel 250, and that was the same thing, it could not safely pass anything on the freeway.
Now my old mustang GT could be compard to the SV60 while the Roush version of the same Mustang would equal the liter version of the SV. Is it really needed over the 650?
Again to each his own.
By the way, alot of us ride sportbikes not to go incredibly fast but because we enjoy riding twistys. I do know people who are like you and want speed, but there are alot like me who want the twistys....and you do not really need to be over 120 on some twistys...

 

Just so no one gets the wrong idea, passing is not all I want to be able to do with the SV. Secondly, I own the 89 Mustang as a commuter that gets me 24mpg, but it still handles great and looks great...
And yes one great reason to own a sportbike is just to be able to look at it and admire it, not to mention th hear the sound of that V twin!!!!

 

people, no one in their right mind will say that the SV650 has more torque than a 1000, but the power curve is deffinitly one of the smoothest on the market, power comes on right off idle and continues linear, on most of the liter bikes the power reslly does not come on till you are past 1/4 throttle, and then at 1/2 throttle a light switch flipps and there is a surge of power.  I do not want that.
Secondly the weight of most liter bikes is greater than a SV650, I also do not wnt that.  Last, do you really need all that extra HP?  Forget  the testosterone, do you really need it?  Do you really use it?  Safely?  If you are afraid to tell the truth, you do not have to answer, I understand, some people have to prove something.
I really do not need more than my 650 gives me on the street.  If I was doing lots of track days then maybe....

Linear until you hit about 5K RPM's in first gear, my sv650 has a power dip right there, does the 1000 do this as well?