Suzuki SV1000

What a Goer – I bought my SV1000n K7 about 6 months ago after many years riding and touring on a GS500 which I loved. The SV was a bit of a game changer as far as power and torque are concerned and initially I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision. It was a huge step up in performance and for a while it scared me a bit.I wasn't sure if I could keep the front… Read more

wheel on the ground, but I've been on several day rides now and a 4 day 1600 km ride, riding 600 kms the first day and I can safely say I'm hooked. It is very fast and has heaps of torque low down. It corners well and stops well and you can just open it up in any gear. I bought it because it is compact and light as I'm only 160cms tall and 67 kilos. I can easily throw it around and keep up with even the fastest bikes without any trouble at all. Around town you can easily putter around and then just touch the throttle, no matter what gear you're in and it responds. My bike has twin Micron cans and has an awesome note. It turns heads. I need to fill up at around 230 kms riding around town and around 300 kms touring. It's a naked so can be pretty blowy at highway speeds but I tour with a tank bag and this makes a big difference. I thought about a screen but the tank bag makes that unnecessary. The riding position is quite comfy even for a shorty like me, the seat is better than my old GS500. I use a lamby on day trips and an Airhawk when touring. Combined with Suzuki's bullet proof engines and their reliability this bike is a keeper. I absolutely love it.

Love it – I have ridden 3500km on my Suzuki SV1000N K7 (2007 naked model) over 12monts since buying it at 3000km and love it. It is a brilliant street or around town bike. Lazy riders can putter around in top gear at 2,500rpm without fowling plugs. It has loads of torque from 3000rpm and goes like a bullet above 5000rpm. It is light, nimble, easy to ride… Read more

and ideal for shorter lighter riders especially when pushing into awkward parking spots. It has very good handling around town, in the twisties and on straights at speeds well above those most riders will need on public roads. The standard rear pegs are too small, too high and too far back for my wife. The local engineer made a 3cm stainless steel extension (that accepts standard Harley rubber pegs) that slip into the rear peg hinge and are very comfortable.

I found the standard bars too low and too far forward for long highway trips, especially after fitting a MRA Vario-screen for naked bikes. The screen works very well without buffeting and is very quiet. Less wind pressure on my chest and helmet resulted in more weight on my wrist and neck causing wrist, neck and shoulder aches after an hour or so on the highway. I solved the problem by replacing the standard bars with a set 5–6cm higher (limit without replacing throttle cables and hydraulic lines). The higher bars are far more comfortable with no more wrist or neck aches at modest cost. Higher bars, MRA Vario screen, Givi panniers and top box have made it a great light weight highway bike with plenty of power that brakes and handles well. Typical range at 110kph is 200km before reserve light and 240km to 250km upper limit before refilling the 17l tank. A few easy modifications have made it a great all round bike. For those on a budget, there are still low km bikes for sale at reasonable prices representing great value for money.

A Sheep In Wolf's Clothing – After selling my XJR1300 & with no intention to buy another bike, my mate was selling his SV1000. It only had 2000 kms & still had original tyres. Appearance: silver frame, silver or little gray paintwork. 7/10. One word sums it up: BLAND. The following year everything was BLACK - frame, motor, crankcase, paint. That looked awesome! Handling:… Read more

quite good.

Braking: good but nowhere near as good as the XJR.

Performance: awesome. Could exceed 100kph in first.

On highway & back roads the SV was unbelievably fast. If I snapped the throttle in the first 3 gears, the front lifted.

Why did I sell it? Was caught speeding at a ridiculous speed. First time I lost my licence. At age 60. Very immature & expensive. Regret selling it. Wish Suzuki would bring it back to market.

SUMMARY: unbelievable bang for buck.

love mine – second v twin i've had after a road king and i really like it. makes an awsome sound with a set of remus carbon pipes and has a givi screen to take most of the wind. at the right revs it will pull really well out of corners and i have done 3000 k's on it over four days touring. I find the fuel range ok. mines a single seater so luggage carrying is limited but its a keeper for me. cant beat that noise....................

2004 Sv1000 naked – I sold my 2007 sv1000s and brought the naked model as its a little easier on my aging body. Its comfortable and im able to use an entire tank of gas without wishing the trip was over. The S model served me very well and had a stonking engine and an awesome sound with the aftermarket pipes on it but as i'm getting older my body was starting to… Read more

whinge a bit with the fairly high pegs and bent over riding position, not saying it's uncomfortable for most pple it was just getting that way for me ( im in my mid 50's) I actually liked the bike so when i saw a naked version i pounced on it and have never looked back..... it's easier to ride in every way , better on the wrists , the back and the legs and still has all the stomp i loved about the S version. I found the seat good on both models and the brakes were great, well at least I thought they were ..... not to grabby when you have to get hold of a big handful in a panic stop so less chance of locking the front brake ( no ABS on these bikes lol) but still good enough to haul you up in a hurry when needed.

My naked has a one tooth smaller front sprocket than the S model..... not sure if thats standard or not but sure makes a difference to the pickup , and it also picks up the front wheel very easily in the 2 lower gears, which i like ..... yeah yeah I still have a little bit of hoon left in me .... I'm only in my 50's ...not dead lol. Tyre wear is not to bad , I have had times over the summer period where i have chomped through a new set of tires in less than 1000km ..... so if ur on the gas a lot and hittin the back roads it can be a little hard on tires , but i've also had a set of the same tires last 4-5000km when im just being a normal non idiot. Gas mileage will vary depending on your right wrist..... i've had as little as 100km from a tank on a weekend blast, and as much as 260-280km on a trip at speeds of 85-110kph. The only thing i miss about the S version is the wind protection , the naked can get a little breezy (and tiring) if your siting over 120kph for any length of time, but its fine for a short squirt up to 200+kph ( only on a track of course ;-) . You cant go wrong with either bike because both are great..... but for me the naked version wins the day . More relaxed riding position on the naked version but still heaps of fun to ride like a lout if you feel in the mood. Can eat tires...mainly the rear if your on the gas to hard to much of the time.

Good – The SV is the perfect bike for every day use, and good enough to ride with the sports bike heroes on weekends. It tours well, although without a sheepskin or some seat modifications you will be happy that the 19 litre tank is only good for around 200km. The price is right and they hold there value well. Suzuki reliability, with V twin… Read more

torque.

There is a real community out there for the SV rider, not usually seen with Japanese bikes, try www.svdownunder.com for a local example, there are other international sites though.

Fix the seat and a bigger tank and I would give the big SV a 5 out of 5. Reliable, real world performance, great commuter, good ergonomics, looks, price. Very uncomfortable seat after a few hours, fuel range could be better.

Good – Great touring/commuter bike with upright seating position. Even with a 17 litre tank, the fuel range is better than a Honda VTR1000 with a 19 litre tank! I have done 8500km in 9 months without any problems. On long trips I throw a sheepskin on the seat for additional comfort. Overall a great all-rounder at a bargain price. V-twin torque,… Read more

bullet-proof engine, comfort, bargain price. 17 litre tank, "flighty" front end even with standard steering damper, could do with a higher screen.

Good – V Twin has a great set of balls, torquey as hell, pulls from 3ooo RPM. Well built and with a few extras a very good allrounder which has proven a very good reliable bike. Torque, sleeper looks, V Twin sound, digital speedo, top gear acceleration, tidy handling and useability. Jittery front end when on rougher tarmac, no centre stand, mirror stems should be longer and seat is hard on the arse!