Ride report on the SV1kS

[TRaGiK]

A few people wanted me to post up a ride report after putting some seat time on my new 07 SV1k, so here it is.



So far, I've put approx 2,000 miles on it, and had it for just over 3 weeks now. Already had it dyno'd, and it made 65 ft pounds of torque, and 106 hp...I'm happy with that.

I absolutely LOVE this bike, and glad I ignored almost every magazine review on it. All the reviews I read basically said the suspension is crap, the brake are crap, the ergo's are wrong (for a "standard" type bike), the handling is crap, etc etc etc. Some owner reviews I read said gas mileage was crap. They were all (mostly) wrong.

First, the handling. While the suspension isn't as good as say, as GSX-R, it's not crap either. Is it budget? Sure...undersprung like most any sport bike. However, I didn't necesarily want extremely firm, race replica suspension. Something to absorb the bumps a little is nice. It's firm enough where the bike handles itself well enough for me. One magazine says the bike "Wallows" in the curves...and it does a small amount. However, the only time I've got it to wallow, was in a high(er) speed sweeper, with a lot of mid-corner bumps....a shit curve. Wasn't wallowing bad enough to throw me off my line though.

So far, it seems to handle itself as good as my old 2001 F4i, albeit it's a hair less "flickable"....it also weighs 70 pounds more. Not a big deal to me though.

Brakes. The mags said brakes were off old GSXR's. 4 piston calipers, with 310mm rotors, and that the lever had to be pulled extremely hard to stop fast...bullshit. The brakes work great. Absolutely no complaints on them for me at all. Works better than the F4i's imo.

Gas mileage/range. The mags said this bike gets around 35 mpg, and a few owner reports said they got as low as 100 mile per tank on every tank. This had me very worried at first. However, when the first tank lasted 142 miles, I was put at ease. Best so far was the first tank at 142 miles, and worst was 120 when I was running it pretty hard. On average, I'm getting around 135 miles per tank (with the hard luggage installed), which is fine with me. My old f4i only managed 125 with the soft luggage on it. Alot of you I'm sure will say 135 miles out of a tank isn't shit. Well, it's good enough for me. That's about all I can stand at once without having to get off and stretch anyway.

Ergo's and comfort. Ugh...this is where the bike sucks. Apprently, they're the same ergo's as the 04 model GSXR 1k's....and it sure feels like it. It'd be a great riding position if all my riding was done at Deal's Gap, but it absolutely SUCKS for anything over about 50 miles. Bar position is LOW and FAR forward, pegs are high and far back, and the stock seat sucked. Actually, anything over about 30 miles without letting my legs hang off the pegs, and my knee's feel like someone is stabbing them right behind my knee cap.

I put a Suzuki gel seat on it, and that helped my ass a LOT, and my knee's a little (it's about 1 inch or so taller than stock). The rest of the ergo's will be changed within a month or so. Heli-bars, and most likely, SV650 naked rear-sets will be replacing the stock crap.

The ergo's, in my opinion, is where suzuki really screwed up, and is likely partially to blame why the SV1kS is such a bad seller. It's competition is the FZ1, 919, Z1000, etc. Bikes with very reasonable ergos. This thing has the absolute, 100 percent, complete opposite of "reasonable ergos". All are easily (and relatively cheaply) to fix however, and things I looked into before buying the bike.

So far, I've added Givi E21 and E460 bags (ordered them before I even took posession of the bike), Pyramid Fenda Extenda (keeps the front plug from getting wet in the rain), Givi windscreen, and a 12v outlet. Frame sliders are on the way as well. Once the ergo's are handled, this will be the PERFECT bike for me I believe. It will have everything I wanted in a ST bike, for less than what I could have bought a VFR (with luggage) for....not including not-necesary farkles like exhaust.

[Spiffious]

Nice report.  I'd say you about summed up my thoughts on my '05.

I've got heli-bars, which helped alot, still deciding on the seat.  Some lower pegs would be a nice option.  Are the 650 naked sets bolt on?

[TRaGiK]

Nice report.  I'd say you about summed up my thoughts on my '05.

I've got heli-bars, which helped alot, still deciding on the seat.  Some lower pegs would be a nice option.  Are the 650 naked sets bolt on?

SV650 naked rear sets, are pretty much a direct bolt in. Details on it can be found here: http://www.suzukisv1000.com/faq/foot_rest_pegs_conversion.htm

The suzuki gel seat is a huge improvement over stock....not nearly as comfy as the Corbin I had on my F4i though, but not nearly as pricey either ($130 vs. $300).

[rauchman]

Thanks for a great ride report.  It's great to see a "real world" report on this bike.  I've been interested in this bike since it debuted in 2003, but at this point am waiting to see if they do a redesign for 2008.  I've been reading internet tidbits about Suzuki doing some modifications to their twin engines and am hoping that this translates to a redesign for the SV's.  The one thing that's been holding me back is the limitied tank range.  Although I'm happy to see that on your bike it's not that bad.

[Spiffious]

What I have heard is that the sv1k continues as is for '08, but some countries, such as UK are no longer getting it.
From here:
http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/showthread.php?t=359253


Also, forgot to ask, how do you like the windscreen? how does it compare to stock on backroads and on the highway?

[1KPerDay]

On average, I'm getting around 135 miles per tank

I assume you fuel sometime near reserve?

[TRaGiK]

I assume you fuel sometime near reserve?

I fuel up as soon as the low fuel light comes on. Normally takes around 3.1 gallons to fill it up, leaving 1.4 gallons still in the tank, so I've easily got another 40 miles before I have to start sweating about it.

Also, forgot to ask, how do you like the windscreen? how does it compare to stock on backroads and on the highway?

I like it, though it has it's downside. It does block a lot more of the wind, but it's noisy....extremely so compared to the stock screen. No big deal to me though. Aside from the noise that may bother some, it's great for all kinds of riding.

[shil]

Thanks for the report, I pretty much agree with everything you've said.  

The suspension responds well to proper setup.  Set the sag, it makes a big difference.  I had to add a 15mm spacer between the spring and preload adjuster to get the front end where I wanted, the rear was just fine out of the box.  The spring rate at either end suits me just fine.

Replacing the oil in the steering damper with 5wt helps with the wallowing in sweepers.  

Helibars and a Trottlemeister work up front.  I replaced the stock footpegs with Buell pegs, it add an inch of legroom and I can say that I've got Harley parts on the bike.  

I've got Suzuki's accessory ST screen installed.  It's moved the sweet spot up to about 130 kph.  I don't notice that it's noisier than the stock screen.

I've ridden 250 km on a tank, or just about 150 miles.  I don't think I could have gone much further.  I wasn't willing to find out.

[Spiffious]

Thanks for the info on the screen.

I am currently jonesing for a sargent seat and black coated holeshot exhaust.
The suspension feels great to me just upping the preload a bit front and back.

My main problem is highway comfort with a passenger.  The wind just seems to knock us around.  I have thought of adding some sort of windscreen and perhaps carve the passenger seat foam so she sits a bit lower.

As for tank range, it is typical for me to fill up right at 150 miles, which is about 10 miles after the light starts blinking.  The farthest I have gone on a tank is 185 miles.  This was with the fuel light lit solid, with little more than fumes in the tank.  That was also when the bike had less than 1000 miles on it, and I suspect that I could go 200 miles now since the bike is nicely broken in.

[Zerosum]

Interesting read.  I'd take anything a magazine says about brakes and suspension with a grain of salt.  The guys who write those articles are constantly being handed the lastest and greatest sport bikes to review.  The difference between what they would call "excellent" and "crap" is probably too small for your average street rider to notice.  I have a magazine from a few years ago that favorably reviewed the SV1KS... the headline was "Forgotten Twin: Is the SV1000S the best bike you *didn't* buy?"

I've always dug the SV1KS, too.  It's one of my "fantasy bikes", with the lower fairing, lower pegs, and raised handlebars of course.  In keeping with my established MO, I'll probably pick one up in 10 years or so.  

[Zerosum]

As for tank range, it is typical for me to fill up right at 150 miles, which is about 10 miles after the light starts blinking.  The farthest I have gone on a tank is 185 miles.  This was with the fuel light lit solid, with little more than fumes in the tank.  That was also when the bike had less than 1000 miles on it, and I suspect that I could go 200 miles now since the bike is nicely broken in.

That's about exactly what my VFR750 gets per ~5 gallon tank, FWIW.  I'm surprised that it's that good.  Is that highway milage or "wringing it's neck" milage?

[Spiffious]

That's about exactly what my VFR750 gets per ~5 gallon tank, FWIW.  I'm surprised that it's that good.  Is that highway milage or "wringing it's neck" milage?

That is what I would call, "commuting miles".  Song neck wringing, but mostly 'normal' riding on mixed highway, backroads, and some in town roads.

When I was loaded up with a passenger, two packed saddlebags, a loaded givi topcase, tankbank, etc, I was getting a solid 45mpg on our 1600 mile trip.  We were doing "blue ridge parkway" type riding... so, somewhat spirited, but overall not pushing the bike real hard.

I think part of what makes good fuel economy possible on this bike is the mix of fuel injection with a torquey motor that can lug along at lower RPM's.

[TRaGiK]

Interesting read.  I'd take anything a magazine says about brakes and suspension with a grain of salt.  The guys who write those articles are constantly being handed the lastest and greatest sport bikes to review.  The difference between what they would call "excellent" and "crap" is probably too small for your average street rider to notice.

All the mag reviews compared it to a bike that was way out of the SV's league. Most notibly, they compared it to a BMW (can't remember the specific model, but it was an opposed twin, half naked model). The BMW they compared it to had the upgrade to Ohlins everything. Of course the BMW handled better. I was scratching my head wondering why they didn't compare apples to apples. Base model BMW (of the same model), to the SV1k. O'well.


I'm taking the SV on a ride to Shady Valley this weekend, and camping one night in Boone with it. I'll update this some more once I get back. I haven't been on any real technical roads with the bike yet, so Shady Valley should put the bike to the real (handling) test.

[shil]

You'll love it, the SV was made for roads like that.  What it lacks as a freeway flyer it more than makes up in the twisty stuff.  

[TRaGiK]

Just got in from my camping trip/ride to Shady Valley, so here's the last installment of the ride report for my SV1k.

This bike is WORLDS better at STing than my previous (again, 01 Honda F4i). I had it loaded up with camping gear, and it performs much better fully loaded. No strain on the bike, easy to pass people, no problems taking off from stop lights, etc etc. The F4i loaded down was a dog....several times my buddy with his Ninja 650 nearly ran in to me from a stop because it was so slow taking off. No such problem on the SV1k.

Ergos (again). While I am much more leaned over, with my feet higher and farther back, than on my previous bike, it wasn't terribly uncomfortable on the highway. Not a huge deal running 2 consecutive tanks of gas through it in a row (140ish miles per tank). However, I'm still going to get some HeliBars for it. I think I can live with the stock rear sets though.

With the pegs so much higher than they were on my previous bike, I didn't think I'd have to worry about dragging them. WRONG. First hard right hander at Shady Valley, I dragged the peg feeler, scaring the shit out of me. Oops. All my fault though, as my body position was way off on that turn. No problems the rest of the day dragging anything once I corrected my body position.

Handling. The bike is still quite a bit better than me on it. My previous two bikes were pretty light (425 or so pounds on my F4i, and on the SV650 I had prior to that). Compared to those, this thing is a pig...485 pounds wet (with my hard luggage, figure around 500 - 510 pounds). I never noticed the weight before, til Shady Valley on the quick left-right-left-right transitions. I was out of breath, and had shakey legs on the first pass, trying to work the bike back and forth. Not nearly as easy as it was on a SS bike.

Engine. It's awesome. Lots of torque, plenty enough HP. Fuel sipper when rode normally, and a gas guzzler when pushed hard.

It was nice not having to tap dance on the shifter through the twisties. 2nd gear covers everything except some of the longish straights. On the F4i, I'd be anywhere from 1st to 3rd on a regular basis. Very nice not having to worry about shifting so much.

While at Shady Valley, I got an all time low MPG. I went from getting 42 - 44 mpg for normal riding, to just barely above 30 mpg while hustling the bike through the twisties.  Low fuel light came on around 93 or 94 miles, where as normally it comes on between 135 and 140 miles. When pushed hard, it gets far worse mileage than my F4i did, but when normally ridden, it gets far better mileage. No big deal though, as I don't ride aggresively on a daily basis.

This is definately the best ST bike (er...bike that I'm turning into a ST bike) that I could have bought. Much more emphasis on Sport, rather than Tour, but for me, that's a good thing....it fits me good anyway.

I hope I never own another I-4 600 again now. This thing is making me lazy.

[TRaGiK]

One more thing to add.

I'm slower on this bike than I was on my prior (yeah yeah....fast on the street doesn't mean anything....yadda yadda yadda). I'm still trying to adjust to the major differences in the handling from my last bike, the weight, and the riding position. When I made my first couple passes at Shady Valley, my lines were horrible, entry speeds could have been faster on a bicycle, etc. By the time I finally got comfortable on the bike, it was 5 hours later and I was exhausted. But, I DID finally get comfortable with it.

Hopefully I'll be heading back up to Shady in about a month.

[bedlamite]

Drop the forks so 10mm is showing above the triple, swap the fork springs for straight rate and refill with 5wt oil (stock is 2.5wt) and the transitions will be a lot quicker.

[JIMLARCH]

I owned a 2003 GSXR1000, sold it and had an Sv1000 for 5,000 miles.  I agree with most of what you have said, except for the bit about legroom.  I'm 6'3" and I also found the leg positioning for me the worst of any bike I have ever owned.  I didn't find the pegs were too high, but too far back.  This was made worse by the seat being too soft.  I believe a Corbin seat and some adjustable footpegs would have rectified this problem.

The bike was deceptively fast, but I found I was running it harder than my old GSXR just to give me the same buzz.  I couldn't get used to the V twin sound at idle.  The bike sounded like it wanted to disintegrate.  Also didn't like the surging around 3500 rpm.  All of these niggly problems, I know, could have been cured.  I guess I'm not a V twin guy, and went out and bought another GSXR1000.  Have to admit though that there are times I wish I had my SV, and fixed the little things I didn't care for.  Enjoy the bike.