Suzuki SV

The SV is a great bike for beginners or lazy riders (like me) who are tired of trying to stay in the powerband on hot rod sports bikes, but still want something sporty. It handles well stock and has enough power to get you into trouble, but is smooth and predictable. I can ride for miles on the twisties without shifting. I can hang with all the "big boys" (except on the straights, it tops out at 135mph).

The stock tires are okay, but an upgrade here will be money well spent. This is my second SV. I put 20k on my 2003 before it was eaten by a garbage truck (my fault) and have 7500 on my '05 and never had to do any mechanical work on them besides maintenance.

I have taken trips up to and over the Sierras (from the SF Bay area) and - while it's not as comfy as a touring bike - I could still walk after 600 mile days. I'm 5'10" and wouldn't want to be much taller for this bike. It's good for shorter people, though, my feet are flat on the ground from the saddle.

A good all-around street bike if you only can own one bike. The straight SV is more comfortable to sit then the S model (my girlfriend rides a straight SV), but it's lack of a fairing makes freeway riding kind of a toss up. Maybe the most comfortable would be a straight SV with a aftermarket fairing.

Either a SVS or the straight SVs are great bikes and you won't be disappointed. I'd also look at the V-strom if you want something with the great low-end power of the v twin in an adventure bike package.

This bike is a nice one if you like the naked ducati type for a fraction of the price . There is a G pak available for better performance . It is very reliable in the mist of traffic. It is also very torqy in the low to mid range with the G pak on . Without the G pak this bike fades in the triple digits. This was disapointing to me knowing all of the technology Suzuki has been putting into it's 1000GSXR level bikes. The quality of this bike is excellent considering the price . On a scale of 5 stars. this one gets 4.5 The 2003 entry was the first for the SV 1000 taking the place of the old TL which was a dream and the v twin sound has not sounded much different since. although with yoshi it has a slightly improved .
For the money this is the bike to get but get it in the sv 1000 not the 650.........................

I would get this motorcycle brand new! If you get it used like I did, you don't know how the person treated it until it is inspected. My ratings would be higher if the person I got it from would have taken better care of it and not used it as a stunt bike or to race.

I have been looking around at cruisers for a couple of years. I finally got some cash put away and started seriously looking for a cruiser then bam i ran across a great deal on this bike and contacted the guy and we talked about it and i decided that i would get it. I love the bike it is super quick looks real sweet and after adding a little personal touch to it like carbon levers, carbon turn signals carbon mirrors some decals it looks awesome and i am very satisfied with the bike, also consider 50 mpg on top of that and your in heaven. I give it a 4 out of 5 for comfort just because this is the first crotch rocket i have owned and that is different from a cruiser sitting wise anyway, but i guess as far as crotch rockets are concerned it is comfortable.

I like the torque of a v-twin sport bike.It is a bit too tall for me,but I may be able to lower it. I feel I got a good deal on this bike.

I bought my 650 in preparation for a Wild Hog ride next year. Since I am 5ft8 and 155lbs, I wanted to get back into riding after a 25 year hiatus without killing myself right off the bat. I read many articles and reviews, and discussed my ideas with biker friends. The SV650(not the S) fit the bill perfectly. It allows me to sit upright without constant pressure on my shoulders, offering a sense of relaxed control. I love it. Being over 55, I started off with a great deal of respect for its capabilities. I was not disappointed. Soon, I had to exercise restraint not to overdo it. The manual says its not good to get RPM's over 10,400!!!!! Oh really? Ha! I never went there, as I was able to work my Mojo effectively at levels far below! For a hundred bucks a month (while building equity into an asset) what a blast. Buy one. Have fun. It is just like a bike, you don't forget. It's just that we are better drivers now.:) The only complication is that all the neighborhood women want a ride! Good thing my wife isn't jealous. I bought a yellow one so that I would be seen- Safety First. Many compliments everywhere I go. When I bought it, I thought, Oh Bother, how will I get it home without spending a bundle? Good old UHaul rents a motorcycle trailer for $15 a day! It's so light you can haul it with a Civic! That way, I could get it home to start riding in an environment within which I was comfortable and familiar. As you can tell, I'm a happy owner.

What do I think of my sv 650s. Well I have to say it is a all around a good buy. It dos need a few things done to it like, it needed a oil change and a few other things. But it was a good buy for what I payed. ok I think. My dislikes, it needs a new chain.

What do I not like is the problem, I have looked the bike over and tried to find a down fall but have not accomplished that task. I am 6'2 and this is a really comfortable sport bike. It is also my first sport bike. Had a cruiser in the past but it doesn't compare to the Suzuki SV 650. The torque and handling of this bike is amazing at any different speeds. At first I was a little scared of getting a sport bike, but my brother was selling his, so I decided one day to meet up and check it out. It took maybe 1/4 mile back road to realize WOW! this rocks and I had to have it. I am still a new rider, but I see myself owning this bike for along time to come. If you are a new rider and don't know if you want a crotch rocket or a cruiser go to your local Suzuki dealer and test ride one of these before you decide, because if you ride one after you settle for your first pick. You will say to yourself, man I wish I would have listen to that review I read on eBay!!!

Safe and Happy Riding friends.
DLM

This is my second motorcycle, and my second Suzuki, but my first sport-oriented bike. I started off on a GS500E naked parallel twin and loved it. That bike is THE bike to learn to ride on. I was very impressed with Suzuki's quality and reliability, but I also fell in love with having a twin, so the SV series seemed to be right up my alley.

After a few months of searching and debating between a 650 and a 1000, I decided to get whatever I could find for a better deal. I'm happy to have found my '03 1000 S with less than 2,000 miles, flawless condition. I LOVE the bike. It has beautiful lines, amazing power, superb quality of craftsmanship and parts, and the sound it makes is second only to the big Italian twins.

The posture on the S model is that of a sport bike, leaned over, somewhat uncomfortable on long rides, but the best part is for tall guys like me - 6'3" 215 lbs - it is actually not cramped at all. The seat is not the best, but can be easily upgraded for the Suzuki gel seat or a Corbin / Sargeant after-market saddle. The clutch is easy and forgiving, as are the brakes, so this 1000 isn't really as hard to ride as one may think.

The displacement of a twin vs. an inline 4 is not comparable. The linear power of the 1000 v-twin is beautiful and never twitchy like a typical crotch rocket. There is torque out the ying-yang from low rpms -- you will be able to hang with almost EVERY bike on the road until the speed hits triple digits.

There is a surprising amount of after-market support for this bike, since almost everything for the 650 fits the 1000, and even many TL-1000 parts fit too. There is also a good internet forum support network for these bikes, so you can learn as much as you want while sitting at your computer.

I can only say that I love this bike and have no regrets whatsoever for buying it. It is gorgeous, handles well, is fast, sounds great, and is just a damn fun bike.

Having made up my mind to but a “new to me” Suzuki motorcycle, I had narrowed down my choices to the 1000cc or 650cc Suzuki SV, or the 1200cc or 600cc Suzuki Bandit. I watched several auctions over the winter bidding occasionally and eventually won the 2000 Suzuki SV650 that I have now.

As a 20+ year rider I had some apprehension moving to a smaller cycle, but no longer. The 2000 Suzuki SV650 is a great all around, in town bike. Although the cycle looks small the riding position is very comfortable. As this is my first V-twin in very long time, I am very pleased with the response of the throttle and torque provided by this little two cylinder engine. I think I would have made a bad choice had I held out for the 1000cc SV, the 650 a real winner.