The SV650's due to go back to Suzuki, so we thought we'd head off on a bit of a trip for our last ride. Chris packed up his tent and the Whiskey and we headed off. #suzukisv650 #suzuki #suzukibikes
You said it perfectly for why I bought my 23 sv650. "I just want to ride my bike". Nothing else, just ride my bike. It does it perfectly. Not a day has gone by that I've not ridden my bike. Always on my mind, and when I get on it, it's absolutely great riding it.
Did a 3 weeks camping trip around NZ 10 years ago on an SV i still get the chills when i think about it. On and off road fast and slow. Memories of a lifetime. Im gonna buy another one
Was my first bike, since then I've gone through a fair few bikes of most CC's. I've just bought another SV and modded it how I did back in the day. Front end swap, new shock, quicker throttle. I fucking love it.
I sold my adventure bike, and bought an SV650, and I absolutely love the thing, it brings a smile to my face every time I ride it, and sounds epic with a slip-on exhaust fitted!
The 650 twin class of bikes (sv650, z650/er6 and mt07) are incredible beginner bikes. I started with an A2 restricted z650 and within a year I'd gone through europe and travelled all around the UK camping and exploring. They are all super reliable bikes with ok suspension and brakes and are incredibly manageable. Not enough is said about how important this class is for people getting to grips with motorcycling nowadays. Big enough not to feel like you're riding a moped but not hair raising enough to scare people away.
I passed my test on a z650 full power and what a bag of 💩 it was uncomfy slow vibey cheaply made front dived like Tom daily every time you went anywhere near the brakes I wouldn’t wish one on my worst enemy 😂 can’t speak of the sv or the mt new hornet etc as I haven’t rode any of them yet
3:10 - absolutely the core of motorcycling these days and I wish I had figured that out earlier. A smaller easier ride/trip is better than none at all and comes with less stress, expense and usually as much fun. Max smiles per hour.
Chris as always is able to bring into words the feel of many riders. I am without shame a SV fan. The Gladius was my first big bike, had an accident and bought another one. After selling it I ventured into the triple engines sold and bought a SV650s and this year bought another one. Like Chris I love these bikes. Just wished I knew how to ride like him 😂.
I owned 4 SV650s, among dozens of other fancier bikes (Busa, Ducatis, etc), and it's always one of my fave bikes of all, a happy little puppy of a thing.
After passing my das and moving on from the world of 125cc engines I got an SV. I will NEVER get rid of or sell this bike. I may get others but the sv will remain my daily commuter for as long as she’ll have me. It’s too easy, too fun and too capable at everything I need it to do. It’s fun putting miles on it on longer trips and fun filtering through traffic and riding off. I love it.
Lovable content. Natural and credible. This bike truely brings its emotional value along with its mere greatness. If I were a SV650 I'd feel unstoppable after this video. Cheers!
It was my second street bike in 2003. Since I have tried them all. Now I have 3 bikes to sell and I am going to buy one SV650 to grow old with me. It’s a great bike for what I like to do.
It came out at the end of the 90s and was absolutely wonderful, my French mate said it was the top selling bike for 2 years on the trot there 👍 Always surprised Suzuki didn't make a 700 or 750 version to keep it fresh and up near the top in it's class ...
They made the sv1000..., Great bike. Making IT around 800 CC , fixing oiling issue while wheelieng and gaining some HP could mąkę it competetive again. Suzuki redefined this Class in the 90, they are probably going to keep the SV on sale for a few more years.
Thx 🙏🏻 so much (!) for this wonderful review of an absolut heartwarming bike: so beautiful, so simple, so powerful, so naked, so retro without being retro - all u need ! And Y o u showed us, that it depends mostly of the rider, but everything is possible 🫶🏻💪🏻 Convinced at all, definitely will testride this gorgeous v-twin soon (even being “late”, while old/53, but curious as a teenager 😅) ! Ride safe, greetings from the Black Forest 🇩🇪
What a fantastic video and narration! Even though i am not nearly as good a rider, I couldn't agree more. I have the same bike (blue, ABS) and every time i ride something fancier, i realize that i have as much or more fun on the SV. Plus it had zero problems. I'll never sell it.
Everytime I looked at getting my next bike the SV was always on my list now on my 9th bike and I finally got one. I got to experience cruisers, an 80s sports bike, current sports bikes, ADVs, dual sports and a naked scrambler thing CFMoto made and I'm grateful for all those experiences but by christ I should've got an SV sooner. That little V twin is a cracking motor that loves to rev and be used! I've gone the full kit with mine using emulators in front, a Nitron rear shock, R&G sliders (frame & case), Barkbusters (utilizing what I needed out of 3 kits), Shad side cases, Givi top box (modified frames because I already had the box), LED lighting, windscreen, Leo Vince slip-on, rad guard, etc. I've built up a bike that is good for ripping round back roads, travelling and going 2 up, commuting to work and when the time comes, tracking. I love this new bike and the best thing I did was that suspension!
I commute on mine, will do a weekend on the track this month, and in the summer pack it up with all the gear for 9 days living in hammocks while adventuring. Love the sound and feel of the engine
Cracking film Chris, I've not had a V-twin & now I think I want an SV👍 I think you've just shown in the film exactly why Suzuki should give you another 6 months ...call it the 'Scrambler that can' project 😉 ...modify it to see how much you can do, a bit meteor-esque. Sounds a bit mad but Suzuki aren't in the scrambler space, & 98% of the bikes in the class are street bikes...so why not see how far it can go, Ducati did the desert sled so a few mods you could be well away up a muddy track for good value money.... Go on have a word with them, you know you want to 🤣🤣
I’ve been riding my whole life I’m 63 and going back into this segment for simple reliable fun. Cheap insurance no more crazy expensive Harleys it was a huge waste of money. This segment is the true core you want bigger and fancier but truly don’t need it at all.
I use a SV650 for the daily commute, on my 3rd one, nothing comes close for reliability and fun all on a budget. They are truly the last characterful bargain out there, with the rise of the more cheaply produced parallel twins you won’t see their likes again.
loving riding my V-twin sport tourer naked honda ntv 650 revere on backroads, The rumbling engine note give it soul/carisma. compared to my older/faster/heavier 750cc 4cyl inline sewing machine.
I can't help but think 7k for a bike that has been using the same base componentry since 1998 is a bit salty, particularly given the new Hornet. Think how many times over the initial building costs have been paid for since then. 😮 I have a soft spot for the SV. unfortunately Suzuki haven't done an awful lot with it whilst it's been in production. If you rode a 2002 first gen FI you'd struggle to see the difference. Great review as usual Chris. 👍
40 years on two wheels and my K9 SV650S, which shares the garage with my Street Triple and two Ducatis, is still my favorite bike. It is just such a well-developed package, and I would argue that the chassis on the second gen is one of the best ever designed; pair it with that jewel of an engine, and you have one of the best bikes ever built regardless of price or pedigree.
@@mark675 Too late, I am already there 🙂So by your name I am guessing you own a Striple? 🙂I love mine, but I stand by what I said. For me it isn't all about BHP or spec sheets. As good as a Street Triple is, I think the SV is a better complete package as a do-it-all bike. One particular area is touring, sit at 80 or 85 MPH on the SV and it is dead smooth, the "frantic" nature of the Striple is pretty tiring to me on long journeys.
@@johna6968 They say there is one in every crowd, I guess I am that one 🙂 I should add that I have K-Tech suspension on mine with upgraded brakes, so not quite stock.
Have the sv650 2022 exact same as this one it's a hoot to ride and this September Im of to the French pyrenees on her. Can't wait to have a blast up there on her. Get lot compliments about her too. Not meany 650s you can achieve 73.7 to gallon on eather.
I love the engine of this bike, I tested ride a Vstrom 650 and love a feeling of it, I'm not a Adventure or touring guy so yeah I'm maybe going to buy a SV650
If it weren't for the 25%-more-of-everything 8S coming out, I'd be tempted to buy a new SV650, kit everything out the way I want it, and just ride that bike until I can't ride motorcycles anymore. I've had 4 SV650 bikes from the 2nd generation through the years, even coming back to them from 150 horsepower inline-4s, shows how much I liked them. I do moan about the departure from the V-twin architecture, but I know Suzuki has put the time and money into this new 776cc engine they released and it sounds just as good, is reported as very smooth, and has more poke everywhere. Also the chassis seems to be designed for people who aren't tiny.
"Go out, and talk rubbish with my mates", there's nothing more I want from life! That sounds like the best evening, and if there's a ride home the next day after a bacon butty for breakfast, it's been brilliant! You are talking my language! Where do I sign up? Oh! Suzuki SV650, I see. Simples.
In 2012 I got my first big bike at the age of 18… mine was also 61 plate sv650s and to this day and over 10 bikes later it’s still the most fun Iv ever had on a bike… although I tried another sv 650 a few years ago and it wasn’t quite the same… think the age had a massive contribution to the feelings towards the sv… I’d still have it to this day if it wasn’t stolen! 🙄☹️
Thanx for the lovely video :) I really love the SV, as a professional biker do you thing the SV is beginner friendly or maybe to much as a first bike!? Cheers and ride safe :)
Ill say it again older SV650s can go for around a thousand, its dirt cheap and in return you get reliability and fun, and speed but you cant exactly use it in the UK, for reliability EFI is always better in pretty much everu scenario
What's the long term maintenance like? Does it have hydraulic lifters? Do you have to half disassemble the bike to do anything you have to do at regular intervals?
So happy Suzuki is still selling this simple and proven platform 20+ years on. It just goes to show that bikes aren't always about the latest gimmicks and electronic wizardry.
Bought a v-strom after divorce as a “cheap and cheerful workhorse” to sit outside in all weathers but I absolutely loved every ride on it. 100% agree with Chris.
At £7k it's close to it's competition that are better bikes. In the the past it was £5k with a good gap upwards to it's competitors. If people want to buy one go a head, it's brilliant but not the bargain it once was. Chris did more miles on the kwak z1000sx in one hit than the total on this bike, says a lot.
bring the seat to a shop and let it pad up, or do it yourself - easy job.. I did buy the c-racer seat and modified this as it comes with a very steep slope and my lower back did hurt. It´s fun to figure out the shape that works, easy to do. Today I had a four hour ride without cramps and back pain. Prior to the mod after an hour I felt like being ready for a chiropractic treatment ;) BTW: I am 1,88 m tall.
