Motorcycle.com

Great fun at any age

I was no kid when I got this bike -- 50! As quick and agile and sportbike-ish as it is, one may think it's for young, hotshot riders only. No way. It's a blast -- fun, great in the twisties, powerful, and fairly forgiving, given its athletic abilities. Never having ridden a true sportbike with clip...-ons, this seemed like a great alternative to get some of that same feeling. My older back and wiser brain doesn't want my body lying down over the gas tank, feet to the rear, and hauling it down the highway with my nose to the ground. So I get this great, mostly upright seating position, nice ergonomics, and still get the speed and torque and braking that make this old guy smile. It's just a perfect, fun bike for riding some curves in the countryside, or for little 100-mile jaunts, or whatever. I've never done a longish highway trip on it, but I imagine I'd be more comfortable on it than anything else in a standard or sportbike class. Read Full Review

Great all around motorcycle

I commute on this bike every day, and take it out for fun on weekends. It has an excellent, spirited motor & handles great. Track days are a blast, although if I did them frequently I would want a more focused sport bike.



Pluses:

Comfortable riding position

Sweet motor

Excellent handling...
Low cost

Minuses:
Suspension is not up to par for high-speed antics
Long distance rides are uncomfortable. Anything over 150 miles has me looking for a rest area. At 200 miles I need a massage. Read Full Review

A great bike for home erectus

Positive:

- Now-uncommon sporting standard configuration

- Best low-cost engine package made - smooth & bulletproof

- Neutral body position, FI for low maintenance and high mileage

- Contemporary looks

- Quiet exhaust

- Great SV forums

Negative:

- Utterly basic suspension

- Mack truck...-like chrome exhaust can
- The usual mediocre & slippery seat

I got my naked SV650 (sometimes called an SV650N) coming off a KTM 640 dual sport that was three and a half feet off the ground - not kidding about that. The off-road part was beating up my aging body, so I was looking for a less aggressive body position with the feel of big pistons churning that would be comfy around town and on day trips. Oh, and a passenger seat so my sweet miss can come along once in awhile. Right now I'd say I made just the right choice.
On the down side, if you read anything online about an SV not being impressive in the suspension dept., believe it. It's too bad there isn't a handling package to equal the amazing powertrain. However, decent springing is about $200-500 away for most riders if you change the shock and fork springs.
If you're young enough not to have too much scratch or old enough not to *need* a radical sportbike, the SV650 is an incredible machine. And they're popular and common, so there are lots of accessories and performance mods available. I'm having a great time setting mine up (tires, bars, tank pads, lower pegs), and I haven't managed to spend $400 yet. I'm keeping mine. Read Full Review

Best all around moto

No matter what motorcycle I ride, I keep coming back to this one. It has been a fun project, too, in making changes and enhancements. Great aftermarket following and a great buy for the money. Read Full Review

A great bike for home erectus

Positive:

- Now-uncommon sporting standard configuration

- Best low-cost engine package made - smooth & bulletproof

- Neutral body position, FI for low maintenance and high mileage

- Contemporary looks

- Quiet exhaust

- Great SV forums

Negative:

- Utterly basic suspension

- Mack truck...-like chrome exhaust can
- The usual mediocre & slippery seat

I got my naked SV650 (sometimes called an SV650N) coming off a KTM 640 dual sport that was three and a half feet off the ground - not kidding about that. The off-road part was beating up my aging body, so I was looking for a less aggressive body position with the feel of big pistons churning that would be comfy around town and on day trips. Oh, and a passenger seat so my sweet miss can come along once in awhile. Right now I'd say I made just the right choice.
On the down side, if you read anything online about an SV not being impressive in the suspension dept., believe it. It's too bad there isn't a handling package to equal the amazing powertrain. However, decent springing is about $200-500 away for most riders if you change the shock and fork springs.
If you're young enough not to have too much scratch or old enough not to *need* a radical sportbike, the SV650 is an incredible machine. And they're popular and common, so there are lots of accessories and performance mods available. I'm having a great time setting mine up (tires, bars, tank pads, lower pegs), and I haven't managed to spend $400 yet. I'm keeping mine. Read Full Review