Thread: Suzuki SV650S ?

Not the SV but the DL650. Same engine but mine was a 2007 with fuel injection.

I just had a chat with my brother, who is reasonably versed in two-wheel pursuits and he remembers the SV650 as a reliable, but somewhat staid, motorcycle. Detuned, perhaps? It was 'Ducati-esque' in appearance, with the full fairing and had a reasonable rumble to the exhaust. Good torque, but nowhere near the Kwakas of the time, performance. (Probably handled better, though.)



He also added that some Suzis of that era had minor electrical issues.

He also added "If he finds the price of tyres nowadays, a bit steep, wait until he looks at helmets!"

Originally Posted by Saitch

I just had a chat with my brother, who is reasonably versed in two-wheel pursuits and he remembers the SV650 as a reliable, but somewhat staid, motorcycle. Detuned, perhaps? It was 'Ducati-esque' in appearance, with the full fairing and had a reasonable rumble to the exhaust. Good torque, but nowhere near the Kwakas of the time, performance. (Probably handled better, though.)



He also added that some Suzis of that era had minor electrical issues.

He also added "If he finds the price of tyres nowadays, a bit steep, wait until he looks at helmets!"

Thanks, already had a shock looking at helmets !

Got the SV650, it needs some work as it's been standing for some time and I don't think it had been serviced for years.
Brake fluid was the colour of mud, coolant was very weak and crusty deposits around the cap.
Screen damaged and covered in micro cracks (ordered one from China).
Front indicators need to be replaced, rubber mounts decomposing.
Chain rusty but not worn, will remove clean & lubricate once I get some paddock stands.
Gear lever broken, was knocked over while they think someone was trying to steal it from the back garden !
Tyres date from 2011 so once I have it running I'll replace them.
Carby overhaul kits ordered, I haven't tried starting it.
Purchased oil filter, plugs & air filter.
I'll check brake pads, change fork oil etc.

Light corrosion on most aluminium parts but it only cost $800 and will go straight onto Club Permit.

Electrical issues seem to be regulators failing, common to a lot of Japanese bikes of the era.

Listed as one of the most modifiable bikes ever, now in the 25th year of production. Suspension very average, most people changed/upgraded the forks & rear suspension.
3.6s 0-60mph. Standing 1/4mile 11.85s (back in the day when it was new !).

It came with a Murphys Moto Skate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hupbYSHIjpc
I've been offered the previous owners helmet, a Shoei that cost $1K. Never sure about secondhand helmets though.

Once the carby kits arrive I'll strip & clean them, several YouTube videos so common issue with jets gumming up.
Also a lot of articles about re-jetting them.

The aim is to either get back into bikes and restore a couple I brought out from the UK or.....sell them all.

Colin

Looks good. Bullet proof engines

As mentioned elsewhere I ordered a gearlever to replace the broken one.
Turned up and I tried to fit it and found the female thread in the angle ball joint was right hand thread rather than the correct left hand thread !!
Checked the listing and it mentions suitable for RH thread ?! So not actually fit for purpose as the bike needs LH thread !

M6 angle ball joint ordered from Ebay but drilling the original one out will be 'fun'.

The rear brake pedal was sluggish returning, I was getting ready to order a master cylinder seal kit when I decided to strip the footrest/pedal assembly.
Congealed grease & dirt was the problem, a quick degrease & lube and the pedal now returns instantly.

After Christmas the other spares should arrive.
Front indicators.
Carby overhaul kits.
Screen.

I found that some parts are cheaper from a shop (Peter Stevens) rather than buying from Ebay. Air & oil filters for example.
Sparkplugs on special at Autobarn.
Oil I had to hunt around to get a decent price, tried the Penrite helpline to find whether there was a car oil that was suitable (for some reason the word 'Motorcycle' on the container makes it more expensive). Didn't get a particularly helpful reply so ended up with a motorcycle oil that was on special at Autobarn. Some of you are probably aware that you have to be careful with oils used in a wet clutch application.
I remember in the dim & distant past I ran a number of Lambrettas, the gear oil is shared with the clutch. There was always some clown who used EP90 and ended up with permanent clutch slip. I still have some ST90 oil somewhere and a few Lambretta nuts, bolts & cables.

Paddock stands arrived and are assembled so I can remove the rear wheel, check the brakes & clean the chain.
I come from an era when we had to remove & clean the chain then boil up in a tin of special grease (I think I still have some somewhere). This was before O-ring or X-ring chains.
6 years on bikes before I took my car test in the UK meant I was always cleaning & lubing chains.

There's a few large button head shouldered screws missing. I'll have to find alternatives or make up spacers to create the 'shoulder' and washers to increase the head size.

I'm sure I'll find a few more things to fix as I investigate further.......


Colin

Carby overhaul kits arrived from China via Alibaba, very quick delivery.

Removed the tank and removed the carbys, that lovely smell of very stale fuel.
Picture attached of one of the needles.
Overhaul kits fitted, one minor issue that I'll have to think about but all back together for a test tomorrow.

While the tank was off I replaced the spark plugs, the front one was painful to get to. I should have done it while I was draining & flushing the radiator !
The radiator has to be unbolted and there is just enough room, with a few socket adaptors, to get to the plug.

Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

Carby overhaul kits arrived from China via Alibaba, very quick delivery.

Removed the tank and removed the carbys, that lovely smell of very stale fuel.
Picture attached of one of the needles.
Overhaul kits fitted, one minor issue that I'll have to think about but all back together for a test tomorrow.

While the tank was off I replaced the spark plugs, the front one was painful to get to. I should have done it while I was draining & flushing the radiator !
The radiator has to be unbolted and there is just enough room, with a few socket adaptors, to get to the plug.

Colin

Good to see it's only minor things, at the moment. On a side note, I was thinking of getting an Asian, carby kit for a 9hp Honda, water blaster motor. What are your thoughts on the product? Thanks.