Motorcycle.com

Not perfect, but......

I now have tallied about 1200 miles on my SV650. I am following the "Motoman" (look it up), method for break-in. Note: this is the third vehicle (1 car, 1 scooter, and 1 motorcycle), that I've followed this method, and it works.....enough about that.....

This bike has an amazing amount of... torque, and enough high rev power to get you pretty much any where you wanna be....0-60 is about 3.6, with a top end of around 125-130....
Would I love to have the top end of a Hayabusa?....Of course I would.....
But I also think that it would probably end in a firey crash somewhere.....
And that in itself explains why the insurance rates are so absurd for the straight 4 crotch-rockets....
The SV650 handles well (with a touch of wallow in hard corners), and powers through the exit with all the pull anyone could want.
The gauge layout works real well. Predominent analog tach with a digital speedo are both easy reads, and I love knowing the exact temperature of the engine. The oil level window is another great feature (especially if you're anal about that sort of thing). The tires which come stock with the SV650 are grippy enough to hold when they should...as for the longevity of them?....don't know yet.....
Let's get back to the performance of the bike. Can it be beat?....of course it can.....but not by many....
The combination of low-end torque, and high-rev power, make for a long smooth powerband which can't help but make any ride a hell of a lot of fun.
Braking seems a bit more than adequate, yet not great...just a bit spongy, yet never leaving you feeling unsure about the results once you apply them.....
This bike seems to be made for twisties, and falls into them effortlessly, and adjusting your track halfway through a turn is not the nightmare that it is on some bikes....
All this adds up to a very, very nice all around motorcycle that's light enough, and "flickable" enough to go through any congestion. And, poweerfull enough to jettison you away from the pack at the flick of the wrist.
This bike is a bargain.....
Well put together....fit and finish-A...
power-B, handling-B, ridability-A-,
Overall, I have to give this bike a B+...
Note: For use as an everyday commuter, and also for joyrides, this bike fills the bill very, very well. Read Full Review

One fine machine

I have owned my SV650 for two years and have about 9000 miles on it. I have owned many bikes in my life, but this one is one of the special ones that feels like putting on a confotable pair of jeans. You are just one with it. I have made a couple of mods, but it was not due to the stock form being d...eficient in any way. First was a reusable K&N filter for easier breathing. Next was a louder pipe. Anything that sounds this good has to be heard. It sounds like fantastic with the carbon fiber Two Brothers exhaust, but if you are bashful you might find it a little too loud. Handeling was improved some with the addition of Pirelli Diablo tires. Riding it is effortless. My 68 year old father rode it last fall and was astounded. He is also a lifetime rider. He nudged it up to 100mph and said it was the easiest 100 he had ever done. The stock seat foam does compress on long rides and can be uncomfortable, so the gel seat is my next mod. Riding position is just slightly forward and keeps your arms from getting tired in a 65mph run. I could go on and on. If you're looking for a standard that handles close to a full on crotch rocket, sits about like a standard from 1980's and sounds fantastic, you gotta get one. I paid list price out the door. My local dealer knocked off enough to cover the taxes and stay under 6K. Oh, one more thing. Depending on how I ride it, I never get less than 50MPG and stretched it out to 69MPG by shutting down at stop lights. Fuel injection on this bike is flawless and even with the mods the factory settings give me perfect starting and driving. Read Full Review