#sv650

Were he still alive, Barry Sheene would turn 67 in 2017. A British racing icon, he remained the last grand prix world champion until Danny Kent won the Moto3 title in 2015. Known for his bravado and hard-charging style, Sheene won over fans from around the world. Including France, where this story originates.

If you’ve read my 2017 Suzuki SV650 First Ride Review, you’ll know how I feel about the new SV. I’m a big fan of the new bike and feel that it’s recaptured the magic of the original SV. With its charismatic and refined 645cc V-Twin, I was instantly drawn to its fun-loving character, and now that Suzuki has wised up and given the bike an attractive – and competitive – $6,999 price tag, it’s clear Suzuki is answering the challenge thrown down from its crosstown rival, Yamaha, and the $6,990 FZ-07.

I’ve already covered the 2017 Suzuki SV650 quite a bit since I rode the new bike in mid May. Of course there was my First Ride Review, where I basically confessed my love for the bike, and in my Top 10 Features of the 2017 Suzuki SV650 I explained specifically which aspects of the bike I like the most.

In case you haven’t read my First Ride Review of the 2017 Suzuki SV650, let me sum it up for you: It’s an awesome motorcycle. Of course, if you’ve been reading MO for any length of time you’ll likely know I’m a big fan of the SV, having previously owned and raced one myself. With that, you can likely conclude that I’ve thrown journalistic objectivity out the window when it comes to the new SV. However, if Suzuki had missed the mark, I’d be sure to criticize instead of praise.

Here at MO, we’ve made it perfectly clear Suzuki missed the boat with the Gladius, the awkwardly styled and poorly-named successor to the hugely popular SV650. A name change to SFV650 wasn’t enough to fool us, either. By virtue of its stellar engine, the SFV held its own in the various comparison tests we placed it in, but it fell a little short of being a true SV successor. Then factor in the exorbitant price tag the Gladius/SFV carried – up to $8,149 in 2014 – and Suzuki had a tall order trying to win back fans of the SV650.

In 1999 who would have ever thought Suzuki’s unassuming SV650 would become a cult classic? The basic motorcycle, with its 645cc V-Twin, may have had components sourced from the bargain bin within the factory, but the sum of its parts was so affordable, and so enjoyable to toss around, riders all over the globe hold the bike in high regard – including MOrons like Yours Truly and Editorial Director Sean Alexander. Both of whom have owned, modified, and raced SVs.

Last month we brought you the Top 10 Most Anticipated Bikes of 2016. For February, let’s take a look at the most affordable new bikes of 2016, because, well, a lot of the bikes in that other list are pricey: XDiavel, Brutale 800, Super Duke GT … you get the picture. There already exist a lot of motorcycles in the sub-$10k price category, and here’s 10 more new models joining that list. From retro to modernistic, cruiser to sportbike, on-road to off, there’s a little something for everyone in this list.

To celebrate the imminent return of Suzuki’s beloved SV650, as well as to prepare for similar upcoming shootouts betwixt the SV and its modern counterparts, we bring you this 2006 shootout pitting the SV650 against its Kawasaki Ninja 650R nemesis. The Ninja 650 has been updated since this shootout ten years ago, and Honda now has a competitor in the form of the CBR650F. Who knows, to really stir the pot, maybe we’ll throw a KTM 690 Duke into the mix. 

As I look forward to this holiday season I’m reminded that I have plenty to be thankful for, not least of which is the return of the Suzuki SV650 next Spring as a 2017 model. Short of telling you my life story, let’s just say the SV has a special place in my heart as it does for many other riders out there. So, as I rejoice about this good news from Suzuki, allow me to explain 10 reasons why the SV650 is such a great motorcycle.

According to Suzuki, the new 2017 SV650 returns to all the elements that made the original SV a cult classic – but with more of everything. The 645cc liquid-cooled V-Twin has been updated with more than 60 new parts, boasting more low-to-mid range horsepower and torque, as well as improved fuel economy and lower emissions.

With Suzuki’s announcement at its annual dealer meeting this week that it was bringing the GSX-S750 to America next year, what better time to travel back to 2006, and Yossef Schvetz’s review of the 750 little brother, the Suzuki GSR 600. With design cues similar to the B-King, the GSR 600 wasn’t quite the monster the B-King was. Instead it was formidable competition for other middleweight naked standards of the time. Bikes like the Honda 599 Hornet, Yamaha Fazer 600, and even Suzuki’s own SV650. Where does the GSR stack up? Here’s Schvetz with the answer. Also be sure to check out this GSR 600 photo gallery for more pictures not posted here.