Sometimes, it is the most outwardly uninspiring bikes that inspire us the most. Mat takes a look at what has always been a bit of a personal favourite - Suzuki's SV650 - and comes away happy, which is something new for him......
Probably the best review I've ever seen on the SV650 and on point: "simple" bike that delivers everywhere simply right. Hired one of them for a road trip in New Zealand and I was amazed how well it did everything. Granted, ours had side panniers and a top case, but even fully loaded with me + wifey + luggage it was a hoot to ride. This bike is awesome!
Reast in peace, Mat. This video convinced me in 2019 to buy the sv650 and absolutely enjoyed the bike in the 2 years that i've had it. Ride on in heaven, mate!
Have owned 20+ bikes in my 60+ years including the Triumph Street Triple and a Gladius along with HDs but just purchased a 2017 SV650 and it is the best of the best. You want regret your purchase....
@@kosta2177 I have owned a couple sv650 myself. Some facts I am aware of, the V-twin engine is extremely durable. The combination of its light weight, nimbleness and power are unique in the world of Street motorcycles.
Thank you for this very nice piece. And a pretty nice bit of riding as well, mate! At the end of the day the measure of any bike is the smile that it puts on the rider's face when he or she dismounts, and you were obviously having a lot of fun! Given how many bikes you gentlemen ride, that is big. Well done, Suzuki.
This is a fantastic bike. My wife got one 2 month ago and it is a gem in corners. After riding spots bikes for about 20years im suprised how good it is. It will give any sportbike rider on the road a workout in the bends. It will fall back in the straights cause of its lack of power..but dam you can have fun on this cheap bike...
You guys do some of the best and most honest reviews I’ve seen, usually saying a lot more in a lot less time than other channels. I love this bike. It’s like nobody noticed it went back on sale. I never see them on the road. Unfortunately the Yamaha MT-07 had a lot to do with that, but the Suzuki is a more refined package (I’ve owned the Yamaha). Currently, Suzuki offers some incredibly good bikes. They do value for money better than anyone, and the SV650 is probably the best value and most versatile bike they sell. I’m buying one.
The seat gets more comfy as you clock up the miles. Think it's a mixture of the seat softening up, the suspension softening, and my ass toughening up. It was very uncomfortable when I first bought it, but now I never notice. It's a great bike and the v-twin engine is super.
Boughtine I April. Best bike I could have asked for. I think it is absolutely beautiful, and such a delight to ride. If you are thinking about this bike, get it!
I had an FZ-07 (MT-07) the year it came out and sold it earlier this year. The engine was really the only good thing about it. I should have bought an SV650 in 2007 as my first bike, but that's another story. The SV never stopped being good until the Gladius. I'd buy the new SV now if not the updated V-Strom 650 with the same engine for a bit more practicality. 90° v-twins are still better than 270° parallel twins. I have also ridden the Z650 and thought it was a better balanced and more thrilling mount than the Yamaha.
270° parallels and 90°Vtwins have the exact same firing order. The parallel is a less expensive engine to build for all the obvious reasons. 689cc vs 645cc. Yamaha has a broad spread of torque and a few less ponies, also weighs about 25 pounds less than the SV. Sure it could have used some suspension help but so does the SV which is only sprung heavier from factory. Yamaha has better calipers. Yamaha uses 180 rear tire. Taking both to a performance shop with full exhausts, ECU flashes, filters, suspension work, and a drag race would be very entertaining. Z650 makes over 10 hp less than the SV and buzzes badly over half the rev range. Bar angle is quirky too, compared to the much better ergonomics of the former ER-6N/Ninja 650.
Lifted_Above The MT-07 vs SV650 can be continuously debated. I didn’t think the brakes were anything special on mine. But that torque was great and 9000rpm sounded like an R1. As for the Z650 my friend loves his and I loved riding it for an hour but it has faults just like the MT and SV. I rode my friends 2013 Ninja 650 for about 50 miles and hated the ergonomics, especially the low seat high pegs. The handlebar had a very awkward rake. Would take a Versys 650 any day over that. I wonder if the Versys will make it onto the new Z650/Ninja 650 platform. It’s still using the old heavy one, but it’s by far the best bike on that old frame.
Traded my "03 SV 650 in 3 months ago on a Victory Octane. It took me 4 years to find a replacement for the SV. It is such a good all rounder I found it hard to find something that could come close to it's flexibility. I might have to take the new one out for a test ride.
I bought a gladius in 2009, I still have it 10 yrs up the line . I've had loads of bikes throughout my life , but this is the best. So please don't rubbish this model. Get your facts right
Cheers from the U.S. :-) Love the SV but have always been weary of top engine maintenance. Seems as if most of the bike would need to be disassembled? Ha ha! Anyway, great review guys. Excellent production values as usual. Love the show. Please keep up the awesome work! :-)
I haven't done any serious top engine stuff other than checking valve clearances and spark plugs on my 09 SFV650... This bike looks like it'll be about the same when it comes to accessing each of the cylinder heads. Not that difficult. The tank I would imagine props up about the same way as my SFV which is a hinge on the rear and you prop up the front. Rear cylinder, prop up the tank. Front cylinder, move the radiator out of the way
Easy access is a hallmark of Suzuki SV's. Checking the valves is no big deal and you most likely won't need to change shims anyway. Roadraced an 05 for three years and no adjustments needed.
How much does the wind affect your riding experience on longer drives? I've always loved the look and concept of naked sport bikes, but always wondered how much the wind beats a person down on long rides.
Im looking forward to next summer, I bought myself a Ducati S2R 800 -05, and my long time friends got themselfes a MT-07 -14 and a SV650 -04. Going to be fun experiencing the differences!
@@liamschofield4435 I haven't decided yet on a bike, but when you get it please keep me updated, I'm still doing my research, I have narrowed it down to either SV650 or CBR500
Z650 is down at least 10 hp, very vibraty above 6,000 rpm, has a strange bar angle, otherwise seems put together well. Just won't have anywhere the same power to keep up. MT-07 makes fatter torque everywhere than the SV, but about 3-4 hp down.
When i compare CB650R vs SV650 at first i think Honda just make a really good looking Bike but when i look closer close up and when people riding it SV650 just absolute shine over CB650R . i think it because it looks more classic and better proportion while CB650R just look flashy.
I've done 50,000 km on my SV650a and it is super snatchy and jerky around town. Even on country lanes in 3rd gear the power comes in with a jolt. Other than that it's a brill bike.
Had an sv650 when I lived in az. Would kill my buddies r6 in the city but always left me on the freeway....even after the carb, jets, filter, slip on and sprockets. Still a really fun bike
06:58 this is a good video, don't get me wrong...Watched it like five times, own the SV (lovely)....but when Cartman starts interfering, I start losing it, every time.
zako other than being uglier and very slightly heavier, they're essentially the same bike. I've been debating picking up a dirt cheap gladius and stripping it down
5:11 Actually it sounds like plenty, unless you ARE Chaz Davies or plan on doing track days only; this thing'll move anyone fast enough to have fun, which is what this bike's all about! There are plenty of of bikes with more power if that's your thing. The SV is a small, light, cheap n easy bike for normal people, not a crotch-rocket.
Matt says the SV650 has an updated Nissin braking system. But it says Tokico on the brakes. Did he mean that the Nissin system has been updated to Tokico brakes or did he make a mistake there :P
I own this Bike, I love it so much and I agree in every Point! Its Perfekt, but the Seat, I think I have to Stuff it a bit. After 4 hours my Ass hurts a lot :). But anything else is brilliant and its the perfect bike for the city as well as the Country.
sorry boys been watching a few of your videos now and if you dont mind could you put the prices in euro aswell please thanks from Ireland . Great reviews keep em coming .
The problem is, if we do it in one currency, we'll have to do it in every currency. Half the test will be giving figures that mean nothing because the price here in SA converted directly to Euros or Pounds or Dollars might not reflect the actual price in other countries, once import taxes, etc, are taken into account.
It's the internet ie the whole world why only state one currency ? unless they only want to attract South Africian viewers ? more viewers = more revenue which in turn will make it a better channel? maybe i am just a lazy bastard and should just unsubscribe . Enjoy .
6'5" (~197cm) and I have the 09 SFV650. Honestly I don't have any issue fitting on my SFV650. I've sat on one of the newer SV650s and the only difference I really noticed was that the tank was a bit thinner I have done many 200 mile trips with no issues
mista bubble Nice, definitely on the list in my head 👍 It would be a good replacement for the Keeway as they are very similar in size + style of bike, but bigger engine of course.
4:38 ... MT07 CP2 engine is better .. makes more bhp and torque, sounds nicer and has more character. The SV does have slightly better suspension though (or much better if compared to the pre 2018 MT07)
I wasn't actually comparing it to any other bike, but ok. I get it, the SV650 is a well made, good handling, inexpensive, practical bike - attractive it's not.
Not really... yes they put some of those cheap plastic pattern pieces on the bike but the rest is solid. Compare it to other bikes in the price range and class and its one of the better.
Tom Brady #Tbreezy #12Hunnit #GOAT It's close but you can't beat the FZ-07 engine. The SV650 feels extremely similar though. Same recipe with a less peppy engine.
Same firing order between the two engines. The difference comes in the "feel" of the engines as the Vtwin feels different than the parallel, due to cylinder layout and overall character of single-pin crank. A parallel needs a counterbalance shaft...or two. The L-twin is naturally balanced due to there always being an opposite-moving mass to the crankshaft weights at all times. That's the main reason the L-twins are made the way they are made. But, doubt the camshafts, heads, chains, tensioners they are more expensive than parallels. I've ridden both. It's a hard call. My heart says SV. My brain says MT/FZ. Nothing says Z650. hahaha
Lifted_Above That's why minimum requirement for enthusiast five motorcycles, from a scooter for getting a gallon of milk for a run to the convenience store...::)
Yeah I'd def have more than one. But currently my living situation has me without a real garage to work with, a community concrete space under apartments is not ideal. Otherwise I'd have an ADV, a 650 naked twin, and probably some 450 dirt machine (with knobs or motard treatment).
Sorry but this is not the best middleweight twin. The Aprilia Shiver 750 V twin is. In NZ the Aprilia Shiver is only $2k more than the SV and you get a much much better bike.
In NZ there are still a few new 2016 750's available for $12900 NZD. I bought my 2012 with 4000km on it for $9900 which is cheaper than the $11 000 new SV over here. I seriously considered the SV but they just look so cheaply made and I just couldn't do the ultra budget swing arm, exhaust, suspension and so on.
Cheap man's Monster? Maybe. Don't have to worry about Desmo valves, European parts/prices, or bike cost... Not to mention a lot of aftermarket parts I'll still take my SFV650 over a Monster 797 every day
Iv got the 22 model fab bike and come summer of round Europ on it.not everyone wants a 1000cc bike or a sports bike.and for anyone that's short it's good as it's same seat hight as most 125 bikes you have been riding .
