Spicing It Up

The SV650 has been in production for so long, that one could be forgiven for beginning to think it was time to check-out and move on. But Suzuki has decided to take a great recipe and well, make it spicier.

First produced in 1999, the SV650 served as a budget entry into the mid-weight road market. It didn’t take long for the SV650 to become a popular choice amongst racers and build a reputation as one of Suzuki’s most well-priced performance orientated classics. With a rigid frame encompassing a reliable and strong V-Twin engine, the smooth power delivery was suitable for, and appreciated by both learners and experienced riders alike.

The third generation of the SV650 is a throwback to the golden-era of motorcycling with conventional styling, a two-tone paintjob and retro trinkets to remind us that the good old days were actually good and that the café racer is not dead, just yet. The first things I noticed about the SV650X was the comfy ergonomics and how easy it was to ride. Everything worked perfectly, it was, well, so Japanese; functional and practical. The clutch, although unfortunately not span adjustable, was effortless to pull in and the gears flicked through the 6 speeds without a hitch. The 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 90-degree V-twin engine purred away like a kitten, and all was cosy.

To be perfectly honest, the SV650X was responsive and felt steady on the treacherous Karangahake Gorge roads but riding slowly in traffic, my neck was getting stiff and my shoulders starting to ache. The ‘clip-on’ handlebars on the SV650X are lower than on the standard version and the poor road conditions meant I was constantly slowing down dodging potholes, branches and landslides after the recent storms. Around town, navigating traffic and pedestrians I found myself struggling to turn my head as the forward (café style) lean had me in a bit of a compromising position. But once out of town, things changed.

The seat height (790mm) is comfortable and narrow enough, even for a vertically challenged. The curb weight at 198kg is manageable and quickly disappears once you get onto the open roads. And the footpegs are in a ‘set back yet reasonable’ position for an urban styled motorcycle. One thing that caught my attention was the suspension. The SV650S of the past always lacked the adjustment options where suspension was concerned, but not anymore.

As a fairly light-weight rider I feel every bump in the road, yet the pre-load adjustable coil-spring forks soaked up the ruts and potholes nicely as I started to test the Suzuki’s ability over the hills.

Confident Handling

Riding at night can be tricky, and the SV650X still sports the standard ‘old school’ round headlight with traditional 12v bulb. I found myself wishing for brighter LED headlights as I leaned in and out of tightest, most incorrectly cambered bends this side of the Bombays, in near pitch blackness (and some boy-racer in a lowered Honda up my backside to make matters worse!) But the Suzuki never missed a beat. With enough low-down torque to accelerate smoothly out of turns and the factory Dunlop tyres sticking (surprisingly well) to the wet roads like dried poo to a woollen blanket, my confidence increased, and the Suzuki’s V-Twin sound changed from a friendly purr into a mighty roar and I soon left the boy-racer licking his wounds in the darkness.

As the dark, narrow roads opened up and flattened out, I found myself grinning like a Cheshire Cat, having completely forgotten about my stiff neck and sore shoulders. The Suzuki handles like a dream and really feels like a quality package as opposed to the bargain-bin special that it once was.

Stepping Up

One area where the SV650X excelled (and where I really didn’t expect it to work) was on the race track. Having started out my riding career on a LAMS SV650, I knew the bike was a great starter for the world of road riding, but what about carving around the corners of Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park’s pristine tarmac. Well, there was only one way to find out.

The SV650X’s V-Twin engine is a real gem and for a mid-sized café racer, it hits the sweet spot. Now fitted with Low RPM assist, even beginners will find it hard to stall on take-off. The designers of the 3^rdGen SV650 decided to incorporate ‘Dual Spark Technology’ to enhance combustion efficiency and power delivery (not to mention help meet those strict emission ‘regs’) and it really is a great engine. Starting off slowly to get heat into the tyres, the SV doesn’t really mind if you stuff up your gears and try coming out of a corner too high or low in the rev range. The V-twin simply pulls cleanly.

But it was the low handlebars that made commuting a bit of a pain that really came into their own on the track. The more slanted riding position puts you in the right spot for carving around the track, with a small shift of the bum on the ribbed seat all that’s required to get your shoulder dropping into turns and the SV changing direction.

While the SV650X may not be the ideal commuter, it certainly is a lot of fun and can pack enough punch to put a grin on your face. Even if you’re used to the bigger bikes, the SV650 has plenty to offer. Ride it how you like it, from uncertain beginner to hooligan rat-pack, the SV650 will appeal to many. The standard version with higher bars turns this café racer back into a slightly more commuter friendly package and obviously, with Suzuki reliability, it’s going put the competition on notice.