Suzuki SV650 reviews

This bike is light and handles extremely well. This is my first street bike and I really enjoy riding it. The engine weight is centered low in the frame, which helps to make it feel much lighter. The engine has some lag at low RPMs, but once it's rolling, it has plenty of torque. The seat is great for one up riding. The handlebars could be a little lower. Mirrors work fine. I've experienced no problems and it gets excellent mileage. This is a great bike for anyone. Once you've ridden an SV, it's easy to see why they are so popular! Show less

This is my third motorcycle, but my first non-cruiser owner experience is an eye opener. The bike steers where you want it, stops well, and goes better than a v-twin 650 should. It handles great in city traffic and is bearable on 300-mile trips. Wind protection is lacking so I installed a double bubble shield, which keeps the wind off the chest at least. The front brakes are a bit wooden, at least compared to my brother's R1 and Z1000, but I hope some braided steel lines up front will cure that. Oil changes and other maintenance is a breeze and the chain has only required tightening 4 times in over 12,000 miles. I must be the only freak that would like the final drive changed to a belt system but then again I have no illusions about becoming Rossi on the street. I can't talk my wife into getting her own bike so I'm tearfully going to send my baby down the road this spring for a more 2-up friendly machine. In all, I've had nothing but good things happen on my Sv650 and would recommend one to anyone who doesn't carry a passenger 50% of the time. If you have a decent tank bag and good weather, you can take it anywhere. Show less

After growing tired of looking at the long list of boring metric cruisers out there I finally decided to look for what I wanted. The perfect bike to get me back into riding. I'm a big guy so everyone told me that a V-twin was THE way to go... well, okay. Did that have to limit me to a cruiser? Ask Suzuki and they say NO WAY! Try the SV series. I checked out a new 2005 SV1000S... very nice but a little too boy racer and the riding position was a little too forward for my liking. Had they had the 1000 in a SV naked version I probably would have bit. As it was I turned my attention to the "slightly" used market and found a gorgeous blue SV650 not far from me. I went and took a look, sat on it, started it up... perfection! I bought a 2 year old 2003 with only 2025 miles on it. After a week of riding it now I like it more and more every day. I haven't ridden in over ten years (1990 Honda NX 250) and I'm surprised at how quickly it all came back with this bike. It's comfortable enough for my work commute and it seems like it would even be fine for a day trip. The low end and mid range power are perfect for my riding style but if need be it gets up and goes too. Can't say enough about it. I love it. Show less

As an owner of many exotic bikes this is the one that I grab the key to almost every time. Fast enough to be fun, handles great without being punishing, and I arrive refreshed when I get to my destination. Pure motorcycling at it's best! Show less

I am not trying to be a sales at Suzuki, and I am not! I've been working on bikes for many years and I mean it. Since 1975, I rode bikes and repaired bikes, most of my own for a long time. I have ridden multiple 2005 gsxr1000's and they're all nice, radical but nice. They all have their good and bad sides. I raced road racing in the very late 80's, going to track days still last year, but I am starting to feel the bad side of leaning too much forward. Not as much of my back, but my head and wrist. I started looking! BMW, Yamaha FZ1 (that is still my 2nd choice), and all kind a straight up riding bikes. TODAY, I KEEP SMILING!!! I think this is the best down to earth MOTORCYCLE in the world. So easy to handle, easy to start, easy to manuvere, in trafic and all. Show less

This is exactly what a standard motorcycle should be. Fast but controllable even for novices but capable of some serious speeds and tight turning. Very comfortable though the shorter folk like myself might want to lower it and bit and maybe buy some risers to ease the wrist strain..a very cheap modification. It's a quiet bike but has a lot of take off power and plenty of passing power. Show less

this is the first street bike I've ever owned. I've been riding dirtbikes in the woods of Colorado my whole life. Even though I have nothing to compare with, I ride with many friends and I have yet to ride a bike that I've felt as comfortable, awed, and even safe on. The brakes, handling and amazing response is still unbeleivable to me after two and a half years. It truely is a dream bike. Show less

Got it as a second bike as a backup for my GL1800 Wing. 1000 miles on it so far. Added M4 full exhaust (sounds GREAT now), racetech springs (less dive on breaking, more stable in the twisties), and power commander (smooth out the powerband/re-mapped). It's sprung too soft for someone over 160. The Adjusted the rear pre-load up to number 5....much better. This is a very nice bike especially for the money. It's comfortable, feels very solid and good power especially when above 7K rpm. Good torquey engine too. Will probably add a mini fairing for wind protection on the highway....over 75 on the naked can be a little tedious after a while. A very fun bike with great character. Very good for a first bike or for experienced riders as long as you don't bite off more than you can chew. Show less

I was kinda nervous buying a bike and not knowing how to ride, but I am so glad that I decided to go with this one. I could go on about how great bikes are in general but I am sure you all know. However, I will leave you with this, I had no idea how to ride and really didn't know what to expect from it, but my first day on this bike I felt as if I had been riding for years. Lightweight so you can move it around easily, and a lot of room on the seat for when the boys get uncomfortable. It's a very basic bike compared to most, but very stylish, powerful, and respectable. It cruises easily and drop it 2 gears and your off. The bike made it very easy to learn on. Show less

Lightweight, wide flat bar with decent peg placement, rev happy torquey v-twin ... what's not to like? Very flickable!!! Midrange RPM's thru the twisties is where this bike will suprise many of the "big dogs" with all their top-end power. Suspension is a bit soft but can be remedied easily for pilots of lesser weight. Show less