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TOPIC: Re:SV 650
#10830
DocShadow (Admin)
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SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
jd750ace,

You mentioned that you had a SV 650 in your stable. I'm thinking of getting one for my daughter next spring (too late to ride now ).

I know you're biased as you have one but I would be interested in your opinions of the bike.

Doc
 
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#10833
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
DocShadow wrote:
jd750ace,

You mentioned that you had a SV 650 in your stable. I'm thinking of getting one for my daughter next spring (too late to ride now ).

I know you're biased as you have one but I would be interested in your opinions of the bike.

Doc


pretty good no-nonsense bike. light, handle well, enough balls to have fun with.

funnily enough, i´ve got the engine from one on the bench in the shop at the moment for a rebuild. looks very well built inside, and despite having been run with next to no oil in it (reason for rebuild) the damage isn´t dramatic.

at servicing times, it´s worth remembering that the valve adjustment is bucket and shim, with the shim under the bucket, so to change them means taking the cams out. budget accordingly.

the only glitch i´ve come across with them is a misfire on the front pot in the rain. this is easily identified because the tacho runs off the front coil and normally fails at the same time. most english riders that use them all year round fit a front mudguard extension and a small `fairing´ made of rubber in front of the plug cap to deflect the rain.

oh, and they sound wonderful at full throttle with aftermarket cans on
 
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#10837
jd750ace (User)
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
bias or not, I bought mine new at the end of 2002, when the '03 bike came out with fuel injection and the less cool looking frame. My 02 has 36300 miles on it, and I have to say, it is probably the most useful and endearing bike I hav ever owned. The only shortcoming I can identify is the price-point suspension (common) and the seat is not high-mileage worthy. I have not replaced a single non-wear part. I have used 4 sets of tires, oil, filters, 1 set of rear brake pads, 2 chains, and 1 sprcket set. The front cylinder moisture item is easily cured by adding DC-4 compund to the plug cap during installation. Beware of "de-snorkeled" bikes and mods such as aftermarket exhaust and timing advancers. The bikes flat-out don't need them. The aftermarket exhausts vary widely in installation quality, as the original header, a beautiful stainless affair, is cut to install most cans. As we all know NONE of the aftermarket exhaust systems currently sold in the United States are Street-Legal. As for the shim-and bucket valves, my bike has yet to need an adjustment, and it is pretty common for them to hit the 45,000 mile inspection prior to needing one. There is huge aftermarket support for them, and some really good online communities. Beware of any extensive electrical work, as usual, and anything with really low miles, as they tend to lose the stator due to acid damage from unchanged oil. It's a great bike, and most people won't out-grow them. You may also be interested in the V-strom 650, an equally compotent bike. Good Hunting. Let me know if you have any questions.
 
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
Thanks guys, that's the kind of info what I wanted to know.

The bike has received good reviews in the past and it's in the cc range that someone would not outgrow quickly.

Doc
 
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#10839
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
jd750ace wrote:
As we all know NONE of the aftermarket exhaust systems currently sold in the United States are Street-Legal..

what does `street legal´ mean?
 
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#10846
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
all aftermarket exhaust systems or the manufacturer's technical data specifies that aftermarket exhaust systems are for closed course or "off-road" use only. They do not comply with DOT, NHTSA, EPA, or any other regulatory agency's minimum standards for exhaust, noise supression, spark arrest, or safety. They are manufactured and marketed to make money off people who like noise. Call the manufacturer of your favorite exhaust and ask them to send you the approval documents from all the above agencies (that the manufactuer of the bike is required to obtain to sell the bike) and they will tell you they have none. Go get yourself a ticket (much more prominent nowadays) for excessive noise or disturbing the peace, and ask the aftermarket pipe peddler to help you in court for free, since they made and sold the exhaust, and be laughed at. Just information for those who don't know. Call the AMA government relations people. They'll tell ya.
 
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#10862
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
Doc,
I used to have a SVS650, Good bike. Nearly bulletproof. Very high revving engine that would really go when you hung on the throttle at high speeds, had her up to over 150 KM/hr once and tach was at something like 7,500 rpm! Lotsa noise with aftermarket pipes. I would recommend jetting and pipes on these bikes if you want some decent performance out of it. Mine was a little doggy out of the hole until I did those mods. This was a nice LIITLE entry level cruiser that would be perfect for a starter bike as the road manners were excellent, and it wasn't so powerful you'd get into a skid, or so heavy you couldn't pick it pick it up after laying it over on the grass (...don't ask! ) The only reason I sold my 650 was to get the Roadie which I just HAD to have, and I couldn't keep both.
(I remember when I brought the new 650 home. ...almost had to tie the wife up on the porch 'till she got used to it! ) The only thing that really annoyed me about the 650 was the stupidity of trying to adjust the manual valves on the thing ...really made me mad when trying to get at the dang things
But overall a real nice, VERY sharp looking little bike.
 
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#10863
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Re:SV 650 "Doc" 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
Doc,
Forgot to mention in my last post that my 650 was the Classic model. The 650 Custom was nice, but not as flashy in my opinion.
 
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#10868
DocShadow (Admin)
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
Thanks StarMyram.

Just read an article on adjusting the valves ..... http://www.bluepoof.com/motorcycles/howto/svs_valves/index.htm

This looks like it's a major pain.

Bottom line in the article .... "if I ever, EVER, mentioned wanting to adjust my own valves on this bike again, to gently take me out into the backyard and shoot me."

Doc
 
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#10870
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Re:SV 650 11 Years, 4 Months ago  
jd750ace wrote:
all aftermarket exhaust systems or the manufacturer's technical data specifies that aftermarket exhaust systems are for closed course or "off-road" use only. They do not comply with DOT, NHTSA, EPA, or any other regulatory agency's minimum standards for exhaust, noise supression, spark arrest, or safety. They are manufactured and marketed to make money off people who like noise. Call the manufacturer of your favorite exhaust and ask them to send you the approval documents from all the above agencies (that the manufactuer of the bike is required to obtain to sell the bike) and they will tell you they have none. Go get yourself a ticket (much more prominent nowadays) for excessive noise or disturbing the peace, and ask the aftermarket pipe peddler to help you in court for free, since they made and sold the exhaust, and be laughed at. Just information for those who don't know. Call the AMA government relations people. They'll tell ya.

i was joking mate

i gotta be careful with that english humour of mine
 
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