Suzuki SV650S reviews

I bought my SV650S about 3 weeks ago, and it's a great bike. It's got a lot of power for a beginner to handle, but if you're just a little judicious on the throttle you should be fine. The bike cuts corners with great intensity, and is equally easy to do so. The riding position isn't great for people with bad backs. Having broken my back in 3 places, it's a little cumbersome, but nothing I couldn't handle. The quality, fit and finish etc. is great, the bike is built like a rock. Show less

This is my first bike in 20 years. I went into a shop looking for the biggest baddest thing on 2 wheels and the salesman suggested I start with something a little more manageable. I looked at the FZ6 & the Suzuki and I choose the SV650S because of the powerband. When I got it home I hopped on and headed out to get reaquainted with 2 wheel travel. In an hour, I felt like I had been riding the last 20 years! Soon I was slicing my way through the back roads and cranking up that gutsy V-twin. Strange thing was this bike got better the harder I pushed it. It feels light as a feather and you don't have to shift, the engine pulls hard out of every turn even if you didn't pick the right gear going in. This bike does everything it promises with incredible ease. I rode my buddy's FZ6 and that bike really requires your attention to ride smoothly. If I had to nit-pick, the riding position is between upright and full sport and it can cause cramping. My shifting was really notchy and sometimes it would refuse to up-shift under power. A clutch adjustment solved this problem. At highway speeds the bike can feel a little drifty, but take it up to 75-85 and it has that solid feel again. Finally, the brakes are a little weak, but I am 260 and that's quite a bit of weight for this bike. All in all, given the price, insurance costs, and maintenance requirements this bike is pretty much flawless. Show less

I took an MSF class and we learned on 250cc's so the SV650S took a little getting used. My bike is very responsive and easy to handle so it is very forgiving for some newbie mistakes. I've had a lot of comments that my skill level exceeds that of a beginner. I think that has a lot to do with how easy the 650S is to handle. A lot of fun to ride but my friends can definitely leave me on the straightaways but they can't touch me on the curves. My bike tops out at about 135 but I don't see why you really need to go faster than that on the highway. I have also ridden the 1000S and immediately noticed the increase in torque in all gears which the 650 lacks. I do plan to get a GSX-R750 next riding season because I want the best of both worlds, speed and maneuverability. I would recommend the 650 for any beginner or experienced rider alike. Good for a long ride or a daily commute. Show less

My SV has the performance and comfort I was looking for in a sports bike. Torque V-twin has all the power I expect from a bike its size. For the price I think it's the best on the market. Show less

This is my first Suzuki and I absolutely love it!! The bike handles like it's on rails and keeps pace with just about any bike out there. Sleek, good looks, and a reasonable price. It's a real hard combination to beat. I love this bike! Show less

I HAVE HAD MY SV FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW, AND I AM ONE WITH MY BIKE SO TO SPEAK. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MY SV, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD USE A LITTLE MORE TOP END POWER. I RIDE IN THE HILLS A LOT AND I KNOW WHAT THIS BIKE CAN AND CAN'T DO. THERE'S REALLY NOT THAT MANY BIKES THAT CAN KEEP UP WITH THE V-TWIN POWER OF A SV IN THE MOUNTAINS. BELIEVE ME, I KNOW. I've LEFT ALL KINDS OF GSXR600, CBR600, GSXR750, AND 1000'S, IN MY DUST. IT'S A GREAT ALL AROUND BIKE. WORKING AT A BIKE SHOP MYSELF I LOVE SEEING PEOPLE BUY GSXR600, 750'S, AND 1000, MAINLY BECAUSE THEIR BUDDY HAS ONE, AND THEN THEY GET BLOWN AWAY BY A SV 650. THERE IS NO BETTER FELLING THEN THAT! GREAT BIKE, GREAT RIDE... Show less

I purchased my 2006 SV earlier this year and so far love it. I love the look of the naked bikes and was shopping the Ducati Monster and the SV, I read a lot of reviews and price finally won me over. The SV is a lot cheaper and also easier to get serviced where I live. I am over 6' tall but sit comfortable on the bike, once I get to about 75 mph the wind can become a little annoying, but I just lay on the tank if I go any faster. It is able to keep up with the other bikes I ride with but only till about 130 and then see you later to all the full fairing sport bikes. The bike does make you confident in your abilities, and curvy mountain roads aren't too bad on the SV.
Accelerates great out of the curves and brakes feel strong at all times. The only thing that bothers me is the factory suspension settings make it a little bouncy in the front on uneven bumpy roads, which we have a lot of here. I don't weigh much at 150 lbs, so acceleration is good enough for me, but I don't try to race Busa's and Ninja's. Overall I really enjoy the bike and think I would enjoy it a little more if I was 2 inches shorter. I would tell anyone shopping for a naked to check out the SV. Show less

I've had mine for a little over a year and I still really like it. Honestly, I bought it because I fell in love with the naked, falcon-faired look, with the positive reviews and price helping seal the deal. I don't see a lot of these where I live, only a few of the pre-'03 bikes. The paint looks rather green in all the pictures but is definitely a dynamic blue. Depending on the light, it goes from teal (yuck) to lively electric blue to a deep royal blue. Buying touch-up paint in this color is expensive, though. It's my second bike, my first with clip-ons. I have found it fairly comfortable overall, enough to do 700+ highway miles in one weekend on the stock bike. Laying on the tank is quite comfortable. That said, the seat could definitely be better and this might be my last bike with clip-ons. It's usually fine but, if I throw out my back, the position becomes difficult where it wouldn't be on something like the V-Strom. One thing I really like about this bike is that I feel pretty confident riding it. With my GS850G (larger and seemingly more stable), I'd feel very nervous my first couple trips on the highway each season. When I picked the SV up after two years of not riding, I felt completely at ease taking the highway home. I even fell off it at low speed and got real nervous about turns but a few hours in a parking lot practicing low-speed tight turns got me over that. Like I said, I went down on it - an embarassing parking lot accident. Surprisingly little damage was done despite a bit of a skid. It scuffed the exhaust (the size of a finger tip), the rear brake, about 1-inch of the fairing, the mirror back, the bar end, and the turn signal. Bent the bar end bolt and the rear brake. Nothing broke - no glass, no plastic, nothing. Likely because of my weight, the bike's power doesn't blow my mind. The SV's got as much torque as my previous 850. Like they say, it doesn't complain about rolling on at low RPMs. It's zippy enough, and it can (and did) throw me down if I'm careless with the throttle. Other positives: Headlights really work well. Insurance was very good. The bike is unintimidating yet performs decent which makes it good for honing my skills. Fuel injection. My complaints are: The seat is uncomfortable. The brakes and front suspension are weak. The #@!$ing gearbox is clunky instead of 'snickety' (and I cannot seem to adjust the clutch to help). I'm not too heavy for the bike but I'm too heavy for this riding position. Overall, I think my SV is great. It's been dependable in its first year. I think it's a beautiful bike. The SV has been a good choice and I will have a soft spot for this bike. Show less

I just bought the bike about two months ago and it goes great. It has tons of power compared to my Hyosung 250. It will pull the front end up in first gear if you rev the hell out of it. The motor sounds good with the stock exhaust. Wind pertection is also good. The bike will keep up with a Katana 750 stock until you get in higher speeds. It handles great but you might need to adjust the front forks if you are on the bigger side. They might hit if you hit a good enough pot hole. It's a great second bike. Show less

Bought this as my first motorcycle, and it has been a lot of fun so far. Will be keeping this one for a long time. Good usable power and plenty fast for a new rider. Good gas mileage and good for commuting. Best in the canyons. Starts easy and maitenance is simple. It is a budget bike, so when you become a faster rider it will require some mods to make it suit you and your abilities. Fortunatly there are a lot of mods and a big community for this bike. Could be too much bike for someone who is not very coordinated, but if you pick up physical skills well, it will be perfect to teach you how to ride fast. I feel in control of the bike while I'm twisting the throttle open vs the bike controling me. Show less