Suzuki SV650S reviews

I absolutely love this bike. It seems like every bike you see is a CBR, GSXR, or R6. So I didn't want to get one of those. And on top of that I was a first time sport bike rider. I made a great decision not only because this bike is much cheaper than the others, but also because of the power it has. I was really surprised. Yoshi slip-on makes this bike sound incredibly mean. It keeps up with all the 600 series bike until about 80 mph then they pull ahead but I shouldn't be going that fast anyway. Stay safe, wear your gear and get this bike. Show less

This was the first sport bike I have ever owned, and I must say that I made a great choice. No, this bike was not made for flat track racing against inline 4s, but it truly responds in the hills and cornering. And have you heard what this bike sounds like with a slip-on?? I have guys on Harleys even turning their heads!! The only thing I question is why Suzuki put a 4.5 rear rim instead of a 5.5?? This is only aesthetics though. I hope and pray that Suzuki does not discontinue this bike like they did the TLRs. I am an SVS rider for life!! Show less

The 2001 SV650S was my very first bike. I found it extremely easy to learn on because it was easy to handle and very forgiving. For a beginning rider, the power was just enough for me to be comfortable. One of the main reasons I purchased this bike was the low price. The price can not be beat. The only down sides to the bike for me were the fact that there was no lower fairing which is not a look I prefer. Lowers can be purchased but they are very hard to find and expensive. My wrists and hands began to hurt after riding for about 30 minutes and the seat is also not the most comfortable if your are riding more than short distances. Definitely not a long distance bike comfort wise. I outgrew this bike quickly, but would definitely recommend it to someone riding for the first time. Show less

I cannot wait for my foot to heal from the fractures I incurred from being cut off the access road by one of those sorry car drivers. Anyway, I haven't been riding too long but my SV650 made it awesome, except for the one and only time it wouldn't start after it had been rained on and the poor grip from the rear stock tire. Other than that, I think it's best trait was its handling. It goes wherever you lean it with a comfortable quickness. If you're getting your first bike or maybe something light weight that can keep up for your girlfriend (not to put lady riders down) this is seriously a bike to consider. Especially for the price! Show less

I've had my 2006 SV650S since the end of April of 2006. There's a lot I can say about this V-Twin wonder. I've had the bike now for 9 months and have put 25,000 miles on it. As a year round rider, I put a lot of trust in the SV to get me home and around town. I give this bike 5 stars for reliability for it is a very durable motorcycle. I have gone through the roughest roads I wouldn't normally go through and was amazed how stable and responsive the bike is to my inputs. I give it 4 stars for performance, the SV has wonderful low end power to get you going in stop and go traffic. The bike is very adaptable, the bike can be ridden any which way you want it. It does its best through the tight and technical roads. When you go to really learn the throttle on the SV, it becomes the best bike in and out of corners feeling strong and not twitchy. I give comfort 5 stars. Its semi aggressive form helps the rider change body position quickly and as much as he/she needs to adjust to every condition. I give quality 4 stars. I love my SV a lot, and am thinking what the SV1000S has in store. But being I have 25,000 miles on the bike now I worry from time to time if I missed anything on my last service. Show less

I bought my 2004 SV650S new and have ridden it for two years as a daily commuter bike. It's great in gridlocked Denver traffic. Never overheated or had any other hardware failure. On the weekends, I do plenty of canyon carving in the Rocky Mountains and bike is great in the corners, having a solid feel to it. The bike is very nimble and is geared well for the twisting canyon roads. Performance is generally good, though there are times I wish it had a little more power. Those times are two up riding or roads above 9,000ft altitude. During either of those cases, the bike loses it's sporty feel. Comfort is one thing that could use improvement on the SV650S. As a 6'4 rider, the bike is simply not large enough for my long legs. But I've yet to find a Japanese sportbike that does fit me. After an hour of riding, I have to stop and get off the bike for a stretch. If I had the chance to buy the bike again would I? In a heartbeat, I would. It's not the fastest or the most comfortable, but it does everything well. And it's versatility is what gives it a space in my garage. Show less

Well I finally picked up my SV after several days of rain. Even though it was only 40 degrees, I was not about to trailer it home. I know I have only 5.5 miles on it I noticed that I am a little low, so I might have to buy some risers. Maybe I will get used to it. This bike is very easy to ride, has plenty of power, and was quite a bit cheaper than a GSXR. So far, or short however you look at it, I am very pleased with my purchase. Plus the 2006 blue/green is awesome! Show less

I've owned my SVS for a couple of months, and as a first bike, it is very confidence inspiring. Because of it's broad power band, light weight and riding position, this bike is very pleasing for a beginning rider. I would highly recommend the SV to any beginner wanting to get into the sportbike world. Aside from the soft front fork, the bike handles like a dream. This bike has the ability to be ridden hard, without worrying about the bike getting away from you. don't doubt the SV's V-twin, it can easily keep up with much more powerful inline-4's(600-1000cc). If you decide to purchase an SV, you'll be extremely satisfied. Just upgrade your stock pipe w/an M4 or Yoshimura and you'll love the bark of the V-twin. A sound that all inline-4's dream of. Show less

Back in April 2006, I traded my 05 LTZ-400 ATV in for an 06 SV650S. I told the dealer that it was going to be my first streetbike, and they had a few bikes they recommended. A couple were out of my price range, and a couple more I felt were beyond my skill level. It was narrowed down to the SV and a Yamaha FZ-6. I chose the SV because of the price and a more comfortable seating position. I fell in love the first time I rode it. The bike feels very light and agile underneath you and inspired a lot of confidence. As a beginner, I really appreciated the fact that the power came on smoothly and predictably. This bike has great manners at slow speeds, but can really rip if you ask it to. I used this bike to breeze through my DMV riding test. It's got plenty of power and torque to pull me around and keep me entertained, but the handling is really where it's at with this bike. You can really rip down into a corner without the bike doing anything creepy. By the time I'm done with this bike I'll be well prepared to upgrade. Probably the only complaints I can make are minor. The engine is a little on the noisy side, but I'm told that's just how these bikes are. The instrument cluster/dash is a little cheesy and plain looking, but it's pretty easy to look past that after you've ridden this bike for a while. I'd definitely recommend this bike to anyone, especially a novice. Show less

At first I didn't want a sport bike to be my first. I even told my friend to help me not to pick one when I went to get my first bike. My friend has a Ducatti SR2 moster 803cc, and I liked that style of bike. When we went to the dealership, we looked around for a while trying to keep away from a machine that could kill me for being a beginner rider. That is when my friend pointed out a candy red naked bike. She is sexy and begs to be ridden. I liked the design and looks. Fell in love with her at once. I put almost 3000 miles on it in less than three months. It is a great commuting bike as well as go out and have fun bike. The faring really helps riding on the highways unlike the Ducati that even though it is great looking, and really powerful fun to ride bike. It does leave you unprotected from the wind. I really like my bike and hope to have many happy miles with her or the great roads of USA. Show less