“A really safe and secure feeling when cornering. View twin engine braking also brings a very rideable and secure experience. Awesome look in all black livery.”
“Suzuki SV 650 S is my first 'big' bike on the road after a long stint without a bike, my background being old British bikes used for off-road trials.
It's a fun enough bike, is wonderfully light and easy to handle. Fuel economy seems to be 45-65 mpg depending on if I'm thrashing it or touring.
I get frosted fingers from the riding position though, which might be mostly due frost-bite-esque damage from riding through winter or the position of the handlebars. I guess I'll find out when I change bikes.
Although the seat height is low (not an issue for me as I'm 5'11 so neither a giant or short) the bike is quite long (for stability I suppose), and this in combination with the 'S's clip-ons makes it uncomfortable for longer than about an hour as there's quite a bit of pressure on your wrists, even compared to a proper super-sports.
I love the V-twin engine note. It's gutsy even at low revs, and I rarely wring it's neck - when you do there's ample power, but not really lunacy inducing amounts.
The throttle has too much travel and the throttle is almost violent on/off pick up which isn't ideal for low speed corners or roundabouts.
The brakes were utterly pants when I bought it. Although being used to old British bikes I initially thought they were fine until I tried a mates CBR 600 RR... I changed the pads for sintered which improved things, but only in an incremental way.
It's been in and out of the cover and ridden in all weather and doesn't look to have aged at all, but then it's only been 18 months. Otherwise can't fault the reliability. Starts every time.
It's been a nice bike to learn again on, but give it another year and I think something like a STR has my name on it...”
“SV 650 S good bike, V 2 engine sounds nice, I was suprised by breaking force of engine when roll off gas very easy to block rear whell ( but just when you rev happy rider).”
