A very nimble handling bike. An aluminum framed 650cc 90 degree water cooled V-Twin that has very little low end torque but it sure loves to rev.

2003 Suzuki SV650S

In The
Beginning
I purchased this bike to take some of the load off of my 2003 Buell Firebolt. At 13 months old the XB9R already has 17k on the odometer. Throughout this page you will see that I have made some comparisons between the two. I do not want anyone to think that I expect one to out do the other, both bikes are wonderful for what they were designed to do and they both have some fine points and quirks to... enough said.

The Frame
Being an aluminum truss style frame it is very light and rigid. I liked the frame of the older 2002 and prior bikes in the looks dept. Actually I liked the looks of those bikes better in almost every way but lets get back to the frame stuff. It handles very well and is a blast to ride in the twisties. There are no surprises and it's a cinch to alter your line at mid point, not that this is ever a great thing to do but riding on public roads you never know about the dog or gravel that may be waiting for you just around the bend. The first thing that I noticed riding the SV is that although she handles very well she just doesn't feel as planted (stable) as the Buell. Sorry guys but the Buell has her beat bad here.
Frame and swing arm sliders will be ordered for it soon.

The Suspension
Not much to say. Stock it comes with a set of Dunlop 220's. I also have these on my Buell and I like them very much. Just remember when your in the twisties that there not 208's or Pilots and you'll be fine.
The rear shock has adjustment for spring pre-load only and I am running mine on the soft side. If I want a stiff ride I'll hop on the Buell.
The front suspension is about the same. Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped with adjustable preload. Again, these are set on the soft side and the ride is just fine. I'll be changing the fork oil soon for something abit thicker and to verify that both tubes have an equal amount in them. From the factory these amounts can vary dramatically. My beef here is that Suzuki (and many other manufacturers) have decided to leave out the drain screw on the tubes. Not a big deal really but how much can it cost to drill out two holes and fill them with screws.

The Brakes
The rear brake is rarely used, I assume that if I should ever need it, it would work just fine. The front brakes are plenty strong with a nice progressive feel and like the Buell it has an adjustable lever for travel. I have ridden them fairly hard and they still felt the same after getting them warm from some very aggressive riding.
I prefer the power and feel of the Buells ZTL system better but I'm still very satisfied with Suzuki's version. At some point down the road maybe I'll put on a pair of Ferodo's and some braided stainless lines.

The Engine
For only being a 650 the gal can really cook. I'll bet that with very little time and money I could beat the Buell well into the 80's or 90's. Below 4000 rpm you can forget it, all that you'll get is driveline snatch and induction noise. Once she hits 4k though she takes off like nobodys business. The vibration (or lack of) within this rpm range (4k to redline) is smooth beyond belief. I never much liked inline 4 cylinders due to the fact they are too smooth for me, I like to feel the engine instead of always looking at the tach. This thing is darn near as smooth as an I4 and the engine loves to be shifted around 7k rpm or higher.
I hop on the Buell after getting off the Suzuki and it feels like I'm in an earthquake. Are Ducati's this smooth?
The fuel injection is flawless. It has never glitched and response is very crisp. Not having to choke the engine in the morning is also a plus.

Little Things
:: At 6' 00" the seating position is perfect. The windscreen deflects air to about the mid helmet area. Just right for me.

:: Instument pod is fugly. I always liked the old fashioned separate tach and speedo. Having 2 trip meters is a nice touch.

:: Rear fender is large and many don't like it. I prefer low fenders for those rainy days, if they would only do the same for the front.

:: No radiator grill, all of those tiny aluminum fins are out there to get distorted by something as small as a june bug.

:: The headlights are wonderful on the sport version. And the LED taillights are kinda cool too.

:: The exhaust can is massive. It's also as quiet as it is big.

:: Oil changes are a breeze.

:: Passing light is a perfect for coming in to intersections at night in traffic.

:: The seat is a little hard but I've gotten used to it.

:: Stock mirrors are a joke. They are plenty clear but all you see is your arm. Baren mirror is now installed.

:: 13 year old son says that the rear seat is very comfy.

:: For some reason girls like the copper color. I like this. =)

To be continued...