Great All Around Sport Bike
Written: Sep 01 '04 (Updated Sep 23 '04)
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Pros: Great all-around bike. Easy to ride, inexpensive with great performance characteristics.
Cons: Posture is aggressive. Not comfortable for most people on long rides. Just a tad topheavy.
The Bottom Line: You get supersport fun and nearly-supersport performance at a price that won't kill your budget. The v-twin engine is a non-expert's answered prayer.
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| jystrebler's Full Review: 2004 Suzuki SV1000S |
This review is going to be geared towards a person who knows little about modern motorcycles. Those who know a lot about them will probably seek another source for more detailed information.
The Suzuki SV-1000S is the big brother of the Iconic SV-650 and SV650S.
First, a little bit about the name of the bike.
First the "V" in "SV" stands for "V-Twin".
These bikes have v-twin engines. Two cylinders arranged in a "v" shape. The most common manufacturer of V-twins is Harley Davidson who make the famous cruiser bikes.
But this bike is inspired by another manufacturer, Ducatti, who makes v-twin sportbikes.
Ducatti started making versions of their sportbikes called "naked bikes".
A nakedbike is a sportbike, but without all the expensive plastic fairings, etc. Thus, it can be sold to the public for less money.
Suzuki started with the SV-650 and SV-650S. The SV-650 is a true nakedbike. Basically a v-twin sportbike without any fairings on it.
The SV-650S (the extra "S" stands for "sport") has a tiny half-fairing with a small windshield.
The SV-650 is almost legendary, just a few years after its introduction. For an all-around motorcycle in the 650 class, it's tough to beat the SV-650. It has already garned a cult following.
It does not quite have the speed of the true race-replica bikes like the GSX-R600 or the Yamaha R6. But those bikes take considerably more skill to ride.
Basically, a skilled rider can squeeze more performance out of an R6 than he could out of an SV-650. But a rider of average skill (meaning perhaps they've completed a few safety courses, but not a formal track school), will probably get better performance from the SV-650.
Why? It has to do with the power band on a v-twin. Basically, a V-twin supplies power at almost any RPM. The in-line 4 engines, like the one on the R6 or GSXR600, need to be revved very high to get benefit from the extra horsepower. At medium and low RPMs, they're not particularly powerful at all.
So, for somebody who has never been to a track school (the type of schools that qualify a person for a novice card on the road racing circuit), the SV is a better choice.
And it is not as though an SV can not perform. In the hands of a skilled rider, it is a very fast bike.
Okay, so on to the SV1000 and SV1000S. Same principle as the SV650, but a bigger bike. This is what they call a "liter class" bike, or 1,000 ccs of displacement.
I do not believe the SV-1000 comes in a naked version. It comes only in the sport version with the small fairing. (In 2003, you could get a naked 1000. They sold so poorly that in 2004, they were no longer available.)
The bike has plenty of power and due to the v-twin engine, you get response on most places on the tach.
So, you can pass without having to downshift, for example. Twist the grip and try not to fall off the bike. It will rocket forward whenever you want it to.
When it comes to motorcycles, speed is an issue. The manufacturers of motorcycles are notoriously silent on this these days. The reason is, most motorcycles are faster than any human being ever wants to fully comprehend.
The major manufacturers have a self-imposed limit of not producing a consumer motorcycle that will get over 200 mph or therabouts.
Why? Because in the late 90s, it became apparent that every manufacturer was going to have a handful of bikes that could exceed 200 mph. Without a self-imposed mutual agreement, there's no telling what the arms race might have produced.
With the SV, I will say this: at 130 mph (indicated), it is not remotely close to redlining. This bike redlines at about 11,000 rpm, and at 130 mph, it is at about 8,000 rpm.
(I emphasize "indicated" because the SV-1000S speedometer is notoriously overstated at high speed. When it indicates 130, you're probably only going 120. Still, figure it out. Even with an overstated speedo, this bike is probably capable of moving you at 150 miles per hour.)
The reason the manufacturers don't talk that much about speed is because the folks who ride these bikes know how fast they are, and making the public more aware can only lead to trouble for motorcyclists such as restrictive legislation or even an outright ban on some models of bike.
You also will have trouble getting factory-supplied horsepower ratings. Motorcycle horsepower is stated as "rwhp", or rear-wheel horsepower. Meaning the actual horsepower delivered to the rear-wheel (versus a theoretical measurement of how much horsepower the engine can produce in a perfect environment).
RWHP on this bike is in the neighborhood of 110. Again, the manufacturer isn't going to supply this statistic, so your only source is various people who have put this bike on a dyno somewhere. Keep in mind that this bike has about the same horsepower as a Honda Civic. Probably in the same league as the six-cylinders that were available on the early Ford Mustangs.
V-twins are notorious for supplying a lot of torque. This one supplies between 60 and 70 foot pounds depending on where you are on the tach.
Now, for the things that make this bike unique:
1. The bike is very narrow. V-twins tend to be. The mini-fairing also contributes to the narrow look. The appearance is about like a praying mantis. You either like it or you don't.
2. The bike is very powerful with response at almost any rpm reading. Twist the grip and try not to fall off the back.
3. The bike is a tad heavy relative to supersport bikes: 417 pounds, dry. (Versus a Suzuki GSX-R 1000 which is 370 pounds, dry.)
4. Mirrors: universally considered some of the worst, ever. Because the bike is narrow and it has only a tiny half-fairing, the mirrors just don't stick out far enough. You can buy extenders or try various things to get longer mirror stems, but the stock mirrors are just bad.
5. Fuel-injection: believe it or not, a lot of motorcycles are carbuerated (especially Harleys). Fuel injection is infinitely better for every conceivable reason. The mapping for the SV is pretty good, but not flawless. Good enough for daily riding, but could be improved.
6. Instruments: the basic ones. Speedo, tach, idiot lights for gas and other malfunctions.
7. Wind protection: poor. The fairing does very little. However, the lack of a lower fairing helps keep your legs cool on a hot day. Unfortunately, I find that there are a lot of zones where my helmet gets a good bit of buffetting. If I'm not very low on the bike (laying on the tank), or very high on the bike (sitting nearly upright), my helmet sits right into the deflected windstream. That makes wind-noise particularly problematic on this bike depending on your riding posture.
8. Brakes: very, very good. Front brake has been described as "grabby" and I agree. It's a powerful sportbike dual disc and you can stand this bike on its nose if you're not careful. (For those of you in the know, that's called a "stoppie" if you do it and then bring the back wheel down successfully. It's called an "endo" if you screw it up and flip over the bike... a good chance you're going to the ER after an endo.)
9. Seats: Standard sportbike seats. They're flat so you can shift your butt around. Most people would not find them comfortable. I considered a custom saddle, but have decided to stick with the standard sport seat. This bike comes with a pillion (passenger seat) and if you want to spend more money, you can buy a hard trunk cover that replaces the back seat.
10. Seating position: Very aggressive. They relaxed it just a tad since 2003, but it's still almost in the sportbike range. If you have back problems or want something for a 3,000 ironbutt ride, the ergos on this bike are not good.
11. Cornering: This bike will corner very nearly like its sportbike cousins. The SV-650 will corner more aggressively, but bigger bikes generally don't corner as well. You can lean this bike over to the point of dragging a knee. It isn't quite in the category of the true supersports, but unless you drop a knee on a regular basis, this bike has all the handling you could ever need and way more than a comparable displacement cruiser or standard motorcycle.
12. Price: Full retail on this bike is $8,599. For a GSX-R 1000 or Yamaha R1, you're looking at $2,000 more than that. Again, only 1 rider in 10 (maybe) has the skill to squeeze the extra performance out of the GSXR or the R1. So, if you're not that one rider in 10, you will be better off by saving the $2,000 and going with the SV.
13. Insurance: The hidden price of a bike is in the insurance. Younger riders will probably find that the insurance for a 1000 cc bike, (this or any other sportbike), is too expensive. Ask your agent what the difference in insurance would be for this, versus a 600 or 650cc alternative. The difference could be as much as $100 per month.
Overall, for the money, I don't think there's a liter class bike that can touch the Suzuki SV-1000S. I believe that if you like sport style riding and can only own one bike, this is the best overall choice you could make.
A few notes:
1. If you're going to start riding, or are getting back in after an extended layoff, I strongly recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Course. I took it and learned enough that it was well worth the effort. Even very good and experienced riders, if they've never been to a course, are likely to learn something. You don't have to own a motorcycle or have a motorcycle license to enroll and they teach you as though you've never ridden one before. In many states, the cost is minimal: $15 or $20.
2. If you can, once you complete the MSF Basic Course, enroll in the MSF Experienced Rider course. It's more of the same: good control skills, but you get to use your own motorcycle. It's a one-day course and usually costs the same as the Basic Course.
3. Generally speaking motorcycles today are higher performing than people could ever imagine. Be very careful about buying more bike than you can handle. This bike: the SV-1000s, has enough power that you will be killed if you don't ride it well.
4. Don't ever drink and ride. To successfully pilot a motorcycle, you need every available bit of reaction time, clear thinking and instant response to various situations. Dulling that in any way is an invitation for disaster.
People are not very considerate of motorcycle riders. They turn left into oncoming motorcyclists. They pull out into the road right in front of them. If you haven't considered this yet, please take it to heart: when a motorcycle and car collide, the motorcyclist loses every time.
And when a motorcyclist loses, death is a potential outcome.
As a rider, you should do everything you can to ensure your continued survival. So, take the MSF courses. Read up on street riding with books like "Street Strategies" and "Proficient Motorcycling". Treat every intersection as a potentially deadly situation.
I do not feel that motorcycling is inherently unsafe. But I know that it entails risk. As a rider, you will bear the brunt of any bad outcome on the road. So, if you hope to ride into your golden years, you need to develop habits and strategies that allow you to avoid the inevitable problems that happen on the roads.
One area I can't stress enough is the wearing of a helmet. Your head is a fragile thing when it impacts with a road or another motor vehicle. I have been involved in accidents where my head has hit both. I assure you that the front of a car and the surface of a road don't budge an inch when presented with your face. If you do nothing else to ensure your safety, buy a DOT and Snell approved full-face helmet and wear it each and every time you ride the motorcycle, even on short trips and even on hot days.
Ride safe.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6499
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
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Epinions.com ID:
jystrebler
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Location: Toledo, OH, Northcoast of America
Reviews written: 96
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Father of one squirmy child, Sometimes listenable Musician.
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