Suzuki sv 1000s
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 105
The newer SVs do not have as good a suspension as the '03 but they do have slightly more horsepower. I don't think the SV is as comfortable as the VTR. I've only sat on an '03, none of the newer models, but I found the pegs to be uncomfortably high--that might be strictly a personal thing. Google "Suzuki SV" and you'll find a couple of forums that you can peruse to get the insider scoop. I was contemplating an SV1000S to replace my crashed VTR and there are also a couple of good online M/C articles you can read.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 243
From: Toronto, Ontario
Hate to be the one to say, but search, after the RC-51, the SV1000 is the most directly compared and discussed bike on this forum.
My good buddy has one and i rode it a few times...MUCH more aggresive riding position. the tank is so high and bars so low that i find it more comfortable to just lie on the tank...
power is higher than the VTR but the engine has a really weird vibration at low RPM, anything below 4000 rpm and you feel the entire engine shudder when u give it gas....really weird.
My good buddy has one and i rode it a few times...MUCH more aggresive riding position. the tank is so high and bars so low that i find it more comfortable to just lie on the tank...
power is higher than the VTR but the engine has a really weird vibration at low RPM, anything below 4000 rpm and you feel the entire engine shudder when u give it gas....really weird.
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Squid
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
I wanted the Honda / Suzuki for the motor - i never had a V twin - my 99 Honda is nice - but i just came across a 2006 sv ultra clean 2200mi
but a few of the things i have read did not convince me i should buy it and sell my Honda-- the things i did like were the fuel injection , and brakes -
but after reading some - people complained about the riding position , and poor low speed throttle response -- and this was what i didn't like about the Honda --
I have grown to like the Honda more - but i own a Zrx 1200 , and that bike runs so smooth - and powerful - and riding two up - it is a much better bike- so going to a Suzuki site might not give me the honest truth about the Sv
i hope someone here will chime in
but a few of the things i have read did not convince me i should buy it and sell my Honda-- the things i did like were the fuel injection , and brakes -
but after reading some - people complained about the riding position , and poor low speed throttle response -- and this was what i didn't like about the Honda --
I have grown to like the Honda more - but i own a Zrx 1200 , and that bike runs so smooth - and powerful - and riding two up - it is a much better bike- so going to a Suzuki site might not give me the honest truth about the Sv
i hope someone here will chime in
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Squid
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Sorry Red liner
i'll search--
i'm new here , and like a lot of forums - some people are put out to post on a subject -- i would just not bother if that was an issue -- i was looking for someone who could give me good advice about this bike -- the one i was looking at is so clean i would not want to pass it up--
i'll stop posting on this bike
i'll search--
i'm new here , and like a lot of forums - some people are put out to post on a subject -- i would just not bother if that was an issue -- i was looking for someone who could give me good advice about this bike -- the one i was looking at is so clean i would not want to pass it up--
i'll stop posting on this bike
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 243
From: Toronto, Ontario
no worries man, i'm just saying that if you wanted a whole bunch of info on the bike ASAP, the search would yield a lot more than waiting here for people to chime in.
If you are a tinkerer and want to modify the bike, the SV is a great platform as pretty much most if not all suspension from the GSXR family will bolt right up. On the other hand if you wanna do touring there are tons of parts for that too.
my next bike was going to be an SV, but i came across a nice gsxr 750 that i couldnt pass up.
my plan would have been. rear swingarm and shock from a gsxr 1000, front suspension from a gsxr 750 including the brakes, cam swap from a TL-R(more top end power) and most likely a 06/07 GSXR front bodywork...
that'd be a killer looking bike that handles great too.
If you are a tinkerer and want to modify the bike, the SV is a great platform as pretty much most if not all suspension from the GSXR family will bolt right up. On the other hand if you wanna do touring there are tons of parts for that too.
my next bike was going to be an SV, but i came across a nice gsxr 750 that i couldnt pass up.
my plan would have been. rear swingarm and shock from a gsxr 1000, front suspension from a gsxr 750 including the brakes, cam swap from a TL-R(more top end power) and most likely a 06/07 GSXR front bodywork...
that'd be a killer looking bike that handles great too.
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Superstock
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 342
From: CA, South of Heaven
I can speak for the 2003 model, which was the only year they produced it fully naked. The best looking version IMO. A friend of mine has one, and I rode it for a couple hundreds miles on my way to Laguna Seca. He has PowerCommander, Yoshi pipes, and a single handlebar with risers.
The EFI makes the engine run a little smoother than the SH, but my Honda (Dinojet/KN/Jardine) feels overall a bit peppier than the SV. The Suzuki comes with 320mm standard rotors, so stock brakes are much better than the SH. It's true thou that with a couple hundred dollars you can upgrade the SH brake system to a level twice as good as the stock SV.
The suspensions are just as crappy as the SH. They feel soft, maybe the rear shock is 10% stiffer and wobbles less. They need to be upgraded.
I found the riding position great. You sit with the back basically straight. Not the best for freeway riding, but the bike feels short, and easy to be thrown down the curve. I had a blast with it on the Carmel canyon road. Keep in mind that my buddy has the single handle bar with risers mod. Anyway, all i know is that on the way back after 400 miles of riding, even with a Sargent seat my butt was begging for mercy, while he could have gone a couple hundreds more.
The EFI makes the engine run a little smoother than the SH, but my Honda (Dinojet/KN/Jardine) feels overall a bit peppier than the SV. The Suzuki comes with 320mm standard rotors, so stock brakes are much better than the SH. It's true thou that with a couple hundred dollars you can upgrade the SH brake system to a level twice as good as the stock SV.
The suspensions are just as crappy as the SH. They feel soft, maybe the rear shock is 10% stiffer and wobbles less. They need to be upgraded.
I found the riding position great. You sit with the back basically straight. Not the best for freeway riding, but the bike feels short, and easy to be thrown down the curve. I had a blast with it on the Carmel canyon road. Keep in mind that my buddy has the single handle bar with risers mod. Anyway, all i know is that on the way back after 400 miles of riding, even with a Sargent seat my butt was begging for mercy, while he could have gone a couple hundreds more.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 243
From: Toronto, Ontario
I can speak for the 2003 model, which was the only year they produced it fully naked. The best looking version IMO. A friend of mine has one, and I rode it for a couple hundreds miles on my way to Laguna Seca. He has PowerCommander, Yoshi pipes, and a single handlebar with risers.
The EFI makes the engine run a little smoother than the SH, but my Honda (Dinojet/KN/Jardine) feels overall a bit peppier than the SV. The Suzuki comes with 320mm standard rotors, so stock brakes are much better than the SH. It's true thou that with a couple hundred dollars you can upgrade the SH brake system to a level twice as good as the stock SV.
The suspensions are just as crappy as the SH. They feel soft, maybe the rear shock is 10% stiffer and wobbles less. They need to be upgraded.
I found the riding position great. You sit with the back basically straight. Not the best for freeway riding, but the bike feels short, and easy to be thrown down the curve. I had a blast with it on the Carmel canyon road. Keep in mind that my buddy has the single handle bar with risers mod. Anyway, all i know is that on the way back after 400 miles of riding, even with a Sargent seat my butt was begging for mercy, while he could have gone a couple hundreds more.
The EFI makes the engine run a little smoother than the SH, but my Honda (Dinojet/KN/Jardine) feels overall a bit peppier than the SV. The Suzuki comes with 320mm standard rotors, so stock brakes are much better than the SH. It's true thou that with a couple hundred dollars you can upgrade the SH brake system to a level twice as good as the stock SV.
The suspensions are just as crappy as the SH. They feel soft, maybe the rear shock is 10% stiffer and wobbles less. They need to be upgraded.
I found the riding position great. You sit with the back basically straight. Not the best for freeway riding, but the bike feels short, and easy to be thrown down the curve. I had a blast with it on the Carmel canyon road. Keep in mind that my buddy has the single handle bar with risers mod. Anyway, all i know is that on the way back after 400 miles of riding, even with a Sargent seat my butt was begging for mercy, while he could have gone a couple hundreds more.
with that being said, it is a Suzuki and Honda does have a bit higher build quality. But the
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SuperSport
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 617
From: In a van down by the river (I wish!)
With all due respect Red Liner, what component parts can you put on a SV1000 to make it brake and handle better than a SH retrofitted with the CBR1000 front end and a quality shock?
I don't know much about the SV1000. I've always liked the SV650, but the 1000 just looks bland to me for some reason. I'd rather have a TL1000S w/ an upgraded shock. That was a sexy looking bike.
If the SV's engine is still the TL powerplant... well, that engine was always considered a lot hotter than the VTR's when they were pitched against one another.
I don't know much about the SV1000. I've always liked the SV650, but the 1000 just looks bland to me for some reason. I'd rather have a TL1000S w/ an upgraded shock. That was a sexy looking bike.
If the SV's engine is still the TL powerplant... well, that engine was always considered a lot hotter than the VTR's when they were pitched against one another.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 243
From: Toronto, Ontario
Yea sorry but if you find an entire CBR1000RR front end for a "couple hundred bucks" then you are one lucky SOB. Also a good shock for the VTR will cost you how much? cheapest option is a rebuilt and retroffited F4i shock at which point you are looking at $600+ for an aftermarket shock. Where as GSXR shocks are less than a $100 and bolt right up. Only requirement is a trimming of the battery box.
how much retrofitting will it take to match up that front end? its not a direct bolt on for sure. Lots of people here have to go looking for 954 triples etc etc.
the GSXR entire front ends are 1. more numerous to find and 2. a lot cheaper than honda stuff and are a direct bolt on to the SV. You even get to reuse your front rim with different spacers.
The SV engine is not a TLR/TLS engine, its not as "wild" but it is very closely related. Hence why you can use the hotter TLR cams...the engine is a softie compared to the TLR but the FI is a lot more refined.
and speaking of sv650/sv1000 and how you like the look of one and dont like the look of the other. Looking at the bikes the only visible difference between the two at first glance is sv650 has a single pipe, sv1000 has dual like the VTR. Tank, frame, tail, etc etc all "look" the same. in fact, the entire front fairing is the same, as is the rear fairing. The rest of the parts are similar but not the same so hardly anything interchanges (lower chin looks the same but its not as well as the frame.) So to say that one looks good and the other doesnt...
how much retrofitting will it take to match up that front end? its not a direct bolt on for sure. Lots of people here have to go looking for 954 triples etc etc.
the GSXR entire front ends are 1. more numerous to find and 2. a lot cheaper than honda stuff and are a direct bolt on to the SV. You even get to reuse your front rim with different spacers.
The SV engine is not a TLR/TLS engine, its not as "wild" but it is very closely related. Hence why you can use the hotter TLR cams...the engine is a softie compared to the TLR but the FI is a lot more refined.
and speaking of sv650/sv1000 and how you like the look of one and dont like the look of the other. Looking at the bikes the only visible difference between the two at first glance is sv650 has a single pipe, sv1000 has dual like the VTR. Tank, frame, tail, etc etc all "look" the same. in fact, the entire front fairing is the same, as is the rear fairing. The rest of the parts are similar but not the same so hardly anything interchanges (lower chin looks the same but its not as well as the frame.) So to say that one looks good and the other doesnt...
Last edited by Red_Liner740; Sep 5, 2010 at 03:08 PM.
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SuperSport
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 617
From: In a van down by the river (I wish!)
Not trying to pick nits here, man. As I said, I don’t know a lot about the SV1000.
As far as costs go… Deals are deals. Someone on this forum just got an entire 954 front end for $300 and RC51 or GSXR brakes are often less than $100. I don’t follow the cost of used GSXR parts so I can’t say if it’s easier (or cheaper) to get them than Honda stuff. I don’t exactly know why this would be the case unless more Suzukis are crashed and parted out…?
But besides this, it seems to me that a VTR with even a budget CBR900RR front end would out-handle a SV1000 with anything but new GSXR parts. You are comparing a ‘90s sport twin to a ‘0X budget bike. The SH competed against the full sport version of the SV1000 back in the day and usually won.
I’m not sure: If you compared the SV1000 to the TL1000S/R, would the newer bike be better? For what exactly?
To be honest, the second generation SVs don’t look as good to me as the earlier ones to begin with and the 1000 was released just when the frame and style changed. The 1000 also had a lot of ugly paint options if I recall right and the color I see most often is a sort of copper that would make a Ducati look drab.
But honestly, I took your statement that “for a couple hundred more you can upgrade the SV brakes to be untouchable by the VTR” as meaning that regardless of cost (or availability) you could make the SV1000 perform better than a well-sorted SH. You meant, I guess, that for the same money you could improve the SV1000 more…?
As far as costs go… Deals are deals. Someone on this forum just got an entire 954 front end for $300 and RC51 or GSXR brakes are often less than $100. I don’t follow the cost of used GSXR parts so I can’t say if it’s easier (or cheaper) to get them than Honda stuff. I don’t exactly know why this would be the case unless more Suzukis are crashed and parted out…?
But besides this, it seems to me that a VTR with even a budget CBR900RR front end would out-handle a SV1000 with anything but new GSXR parts. You are comparing a ‘90s sport twin to a ‘0X budget bike. The SH competed against the full sport version of the SV1000 back in the day and usually won.
I’m not sure: If you compared the SV1000 to the TL1000S/R, would the newer bike be better? For what exactly?
To be honest, the second generation SVs don’t look as good to me as the earlier ones to begin with and the 1000 was released just when the frame and style changed. The 1000 also had a lot of ugly paint options if I recall right and the color I see most often is a sort of copper that would make a Ducati look drab.
But honestly, I took your statement that “for a couple hundred more you can upgrade the SV brakes to be untouchable by the VTR” as meaning that regardless of cost (or availability) you could make the SV1000 perform better than a well-sorted SH. You meant, I guess, that for the same money you could improve the SV1000 more…?
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MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,109
From: Skurup, Sweden
Yea sorry but if you find an entire CBR1000RR front end for a "couple hundred bucks" then you are one lucky SOB. Also a good shock for the VTR will cost you how much? cheapest option is a rebuilt and retroffited F4i shock at which point you are looking at $600+ for an aftermarket shock. Where as GSXR shocks are less than a $100 and bolt right up. Only requirement is a trimming of the battery box.
how much retrofitting will it take to match up that front end? its not a direct bolt on for sure. Lots of people here have to go looking for 954 triples etc etc.
the GSXR entire front ends are 1. more numerous to find and 2. a lot cheaper than honda stuff and are a direct bolt on to the SV. You even get to reuse your front rim with different spacers.
The SV engine is not a TLR/TLS engine, its not as "wild" but it is very closely related. Hence why you can use the hotter TLR cams...the engine is a softie compared to the TLR but the FI is a lot more refined.
and speaking of sv650/sv1000 and how you like the look of one and dont like the look of the other. Looking at the bikes the only visible difference between the two at first glance is sv650 has a single pipe, sv1000 has dual like the VTR. Tank, frame, tail, etc etc all "look" the same. in fact, the entire front fairing is the same, as is the rear fairing. The rest of the parts are similar but not the same so hardly anything interchanges (lower chin looks the same but its not as well as the frame.) So to say that one looks good and the other doesnt...
how much retrofitting will it take to match up that front end? its not a direct bolt on for sure. Lots of people here have to go looking for 954 triples etc etc.
the GSXR entire front ends are 1. more numerous to find and 2. a lot cheaper than honda stuff and are a direct bolt on to the SV. You even get to reuse your front rim with different spacers.
The SV engine is not a TLR/TLS engine, its not as "wild" but it is very closely related. Hence why you can use the hotter TLR cams...the engine is a softie compared to the TLR but the FI is a lot more refined.
and speaking of sv650/sv1000 and how you like the look of one and dont like the look of the other. Looking at the bikes the only visible difference between the two at first glance is sv650 has a single pipe, sv1000 has dual like the VTR. Tank, frame, tail, etc etc all "look" the same. in fact, the entire front fairing is the same, as is the rear fairing. The rest of the parts are similar but not the same so hardly anything interchanges (lower chin looks the same but its not as well as the frame.) So to say that one looks good and the other doesnt...
The front goes on with some filing on the steering stops which have been posted about a gazilion times... Apart from that, it's completely one hundred percent bolt-on... Get your facts straight... I'm pretty sure the effort for the GSXR swap is about the same, hardly any easier...
Yeah, you need to "go look" for a set of 929/954 triples... And you also need to go looking for the GSXR parts in good condition to the right prize... It's all amatter of what you get vs what you spend... The more you lean towards the one end, the more you need to look around...
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