SV1000S: What's the good word?

In rec.motorcycles.tech bob prohaska <bp DeleteThis @imln8.berkeley.edu> wrote:
 > Del Eaton <delberth DeleteThis @ix.netcom.com> wrote:
  > > I am thinking of buying a 2003 SV1000S. I had a '98 VFR800 that I thought
  > > was great. I'm hoping the SV will measure up. Is there anyone out there
  > > with experience with the SV?
 >
 > I have a '98 vfr and an '01 sv650s. They're very different animals.
 > The sv is a bit "rowdy", very quick, hard to ride in a deliberate way.
 > The vfr encourages a sort of decorum, and makes it easy.
 >
 > An sv1k has a hydraulic clutch, which the 650 sorely needs, but even
 > so, I'd be surprised if the sv1k could match the vfr's manners and grace.

I have been thinking about putting a hydraulic clutch conversion on my
'01 SV650S, but is it worth it? I don't find my clutch to be hard to
pull or have any problem controlling it.

 > The sv's greatest advantage is light weight, the 1k model is surely
 > heavier than the 650 but probably still lighter than a vfr. Until I
 > have to dab the vfr is better to ride than the sv. Once a foot goes
 > down the score's reversed.

One important difference between the '99-'02 SV650 and the '03
SV650/SV1000 is carbs vs. fuel injection. A couple of folks on
uk.rec.motorcycles reported some unhappiness with the FI on the SV1000S.

--
Mark '01 SV650S '81 CM400T '99 EX250-F13<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

On 8/22/03 5:34 AM, "olsonm@tiny.invalid" wrote:

 > In rec.motorcycles.tech bob prohaska <bp.TakeThisOut@imln8.berkeley.edu> wrote:
 >
  >> I have a '98 vfr and an '01 sv650s. They're very different animals.
  >> The sv is a bit "rowdy", very quick, hard to ride in a deliberate way.
  >> The vfr encourages a sort of decorum, and makes it easy.
  >>
"Rowdy"? I have to disagree, based on my conception of the term "rowdy". The
SV650 is mild and manageable. Sure, it can be coaxed into some shenanigans,
but if you're not wringing its neck, it's about as easy-going as bikes get.
Light weight, tight steering... one of the best "city bikes" I've ridden in
a long time. Not at all unpredictable.

Maybe I don't know what you mean by "rowdy" and "hard to ride in a
deliberate way". Do you mean that you find yourself riding in an "accidental
way" on the SV? Is it somehow difficult to control?


 > I have been thinking about putting a hydraulic clutch conversion on my
 > '01 SV650S, but is it worth it? I don't find my clutch to be hard to
 > pull or have any problem controlling it.
 >
Mark, why would you want to convert it? That's just needlessly adding
complexity to a system that works fine as-is. I actually prefer a cable
clutch over hydraulic, partially because of the simplicity of the system and
partially because it offers me better feel at the lever without the
hydraulic fluid acting as a damper. You have to lube the cable, but only
about as often as you'd have to bleed the system if it were hydraulic.

  >> The sv's greatest advantage is light weight, the 1k model is surely
  >> heavier than the 650 but probably still lighter than a vfr. Until I
  >> have to dab the vfr is better to ride than the sv. Once a foot goes
  >> down the score's reversed.
 >
Light weight is nice, that's for sure. And the SV650 certainly does feel
like a featherweight compared to some other bikes. It's probably about
80-lbs or so lighter than your VFR, right?

 > One important difference between the '99-'02 SV650 and the '03
 > SV650/SV1000 is carbs vs. fuel injection. A couple of folks on
 > uk.rec.motorcycles reported some unhappiness with the FI on the SV1000S.
 >
This is a common complaint about many first-generation FI bikes, though
you'd think Suzuki would already have made progress in this area, given
they've been using FI in the GSX-Rs for years.

--
Jamin Kortegard
2002 YZF-R1
2003 WRX<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

Jamin Kortegard wrote:
 >
 > On 8/22/03 5:34 AM, "olsonm@tiny.invalid" wrote:

  > > I have been thinking about putting a hydraulic clutch conversion on my
  > > '01 SV650S, but is it worth it? I don't find my clutch to be hard to
  > > pull or have any problem controlling it.
  > >
 > Mark, why would you want to convert it? That's just needlessly adding
 > complexity to a system that works fine as-is. I actually prefer a cable
 > clutch over hydraulic, partially because of the simplicity of the system and
 > partially because it offers me better feel at the lever without the
 > hydraulic fluid acting as a damper. You have to lube the cable, but only
 > about as often as you'd have to bleed the system if it were hydraulic.

Oh, I basically agree that it would add needless complexity... but
that has never stopped me from fiddling around. I have never owned
a bike with a hydraulic clutch, I just assumed that in general a
hydraulic clutch system *should* result in less effort at the lever,
if properly designed, because there is less friction and you can
design the system with less overtravel needed at the clutch actuator
because of its self-adjusting nature.

Again, I have no pressing need to re-engineer the clutch on the SV650S.
There is one bike I have ridden that could *really* do with such a
system overhaul, the H-D Sportster. The example I tried had such
high clutch pull effort (even after installing an "E-Z Clutch" assist
device) that the owner ended up trading the bike on a V-Star 1100.
Probably the Sportster clutch could be redesigned with lower effort at
the lever with a cable-operated clutch, but I suspect that the higher
the force needed to move the clutch actuator lever, the more benefit is
obtained from a hydraulic system.

--
Mark '01 SV650S '81 CM400T '99 EX250-F13
DoD #959635 RFB #2 (my email domain is net)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

"Del Eaton" <delberth.RemoveThis@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:BB6AE893.1F016%delberth@ix.netcom.com...
 > I am thinking of buying a 2003 SV1000S.

 > Your comments are appreciated.

I got to ride a buddies recently broken in SV 1000 a couple weeks back. He
upgraded from the SV 650 that he put 30+K on. I was very impressed with the
bike. The engine was probably has the smoothest V-twin motor that I've
ridden (I've ridden most of them). It has a redline a little higher than
most V-twins and likes to rev. It handled very confidently, just like it's
little brother. Very smooth fuel injection, light steering. I had fun and
felt confident on it right away and was impressed....like I was with the
650.

--
Gary
'01 CBR 929RE<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

Jamin Kortegard <jkortegard.TakeThisOut@notmymail.com> wrote:
 > "Rowdy"? I have to disagree, based on my conception of the term "rowdy". The
 > SV650 is mild and manageable. Sure, it can be coaxed into some shenanigans,
 >
 > Maybe I don't know what you mean by "rowdy" and "hard to ride in a
 > deliberate way". Do you mean that you find yourself riding in an "accidental
 > way" on the SV? Is it somehow difficult to control?
No accidents yet [sound of knuckles rapping forehead] but yes, I do find
the sv difficult to control: my rides often involve sharp turns on steep
grades at very low speeds, slow enough that the clutch has to be slipped
while dragging the rear brake. The clutch friction varies noticeably when
the forks are turned, and the rear brake is _far_ too sensitive. Riding
briskly is easy. Riding slow and smooth is easier on the vfr.

 > like a featherweight compared to some other bikes. It's probably about
 > 80-lbs or so lighter than your VFR, right?
Haven't weighed either bike, but I'd guess the difference in weight is
at least 80 pounds, possibly more. And the vfr has a higher CG.

  >> uk.rec.motorcycles reported some unhappiness with the FI on the SV1000S.
  >>
 > This is a common complaint about many first-generation FI bikes, though
 > you'd think Suzuki would already have made progress in this area, given
 > they've been using FI in the GSX-Rs for years.
Interested to see how the FI fares on the sv1k. My '98 vfr has a perfect
throttle response off-idle but tends to lurch coming off engine braking.
Takes a very delicate touch to pick up the driveline snatch in steep down
hill turns. Then the carbed sv650s is much easier to ride smoothly.

bob<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

Gary wrote:
 >
 > "Del Eaton" <delberth.DeleteThis@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
 > news:BB6AE893.1F016%delberth@ix.netcom.com...
  > > I am thinking of buying a 2003 SV1000S.
 >
  > > Your comments are appreciated.
 >
 > I got to ride a buddies recently broken in SV 1000 a couple weeks back. He
 > upgraded from the SV 650 that he put 30+K on. I was very impressed with the
 > bike. The engine was probably has the smoothest V-twin motor that I've
 > ridden (I've ridden most of them). It has a redline a little higher than
 > most V-twins and likes to rev. It handled very confidently, just like it's
 > little brother. Very smooth fuel injection, light steering. I had fun and
 > felt confident on it right away and was impressed....like I was with the
 > 650.

You're not making this any easier for me, you know.

--
Mark '01 SV650S '81 CM400T '99 EX250-F13
DoD #959635 RFB #2 (my email domain is net)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

 >It handled very confidently, just like it's
  >> little brother. Very smooth fuel injection, light steering. I had fun and
  >> felt confident on it right away and was impressed....like I was with the
  >> 650.
 >
 >You're not making this any easier for me, you know.

Here's another wrench to throw in your decision-making process. There is
nothing, anywhere, that moves the soul like the sound of a big V-twin with a
pipe in the canyon. Hoo baby.

I deliver UPS in the CO mountains, and there are frequently sportbikes carving
the canyons, and those Ducatis, Aprilias, TLs and SuperHawks (if they pipes)
make me eat my heart out. I have an '85 Honda VF1000R that sounds okay, better
than an inline four, but nothing like a twin. Those guys make me want to be on
my bike out there with them.

"Wild thing....I think you move me........"

I'm sure an SV1000 would sound just like a TL with a pipe. If you don't plan
on an aftermarket pipe, alas, I won't be impressed.

Good luck!!
KennyH

Horsepower is cheaper than therapy.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word? 

Been really digging my 03 650 with a Hindle carbon fibre
full system.
Dave
 >> Stay informed about: SV1000S: What's the good word?