Opinions: SV1000S
 

For those of you with some experience on the SV650's less popular big brother, what do you think of it?

I've got my eye on an 03 SV1000S. I dont remember hearing anything bad about them really. I've always loved twins so I'm thinking it's time I give one a shot.

I've ridden both and prefer the 650. The 1k seems to be a bit more cumbersome and not nearly as quick (notice I didn't say fast). That being said, it's another really good motor and I highly doubt you'll hate one if you were to get one!

1000 is not as popular as the 650. It just didn't get something right about it like the 650 did. It's just missing something it seems like.

Im gonna go with a 600cc vs. 1000cc bike. The 650s are cheaper.

I've ridden on the back of one, does that count :lol: The owner seemed to love it and so did the ex when he test road it. I think both of them would take the 1k over the 650. (They had mine to compare)

What about an RC51?

IScarce bike now days.

Not really they are pretty common here

RC's are her drewpy titties.

Not really. Just hard to find people who are willing to sell them for less than they paid for them. A lot of owners think they are made of gold (especially if they add a pipe and computer). A Honda dealership I went to a year ago had 3 in crates and one Nicky Hayden on the showroom floor still. I forgot what they wanted for them but not cheap.

I've ridden a V-strom 1000 which has a similar motor and it had plenty of pop. No experience on the SV1000 but I do love them when they have some nice dual pipes on the back.

There was a used black rc at a dealrship and they wanted $10k.

Good bike, solid 1k v-twin. Like said, just not as flickable as the 650 for whatever reason. Same lacking suspension issues as the 650 though, and not as sporty as the TLR's.
I was looking at them before I bought the Buell.

What about a buell??

What about a glass of shut the hell up?


I do wish there were more "comfortable" riding v-twin sports out there. One you dont have to get a mortgage just to pay for would be nice.

Off my head:

Suzuki SV 650/1000
Suzuki TLR 1000
Suzuki Gladius
Ducati 748, 999, 1098, 1198
Honda RC51
Buell Ummm....X9, X12, 1125R/CR


I would like to see Honda or Kawasaki to come out with a "standard" V-twin to compete with the SV. I don't count the Gladius cause that is what comes from when to metrosexual men fucking.

I've owned a 2003 SV650S and a 2005 SV1000s.

The bikes are actually pretty similar in handling, but the 1000 has much more power. The 1000 has actually near perfect power weighted to a light feeling chassis. It turns only slightly less then its 650 sibling and pulls hard up to 155mph while keeping the front end off the ground. It is one of only a few liter bikes I can wind out without feeling like the bike is going to loop when near the rev limiter.

Now...on the other hand, because of the big V-twin you get alot of clanging if you are in 6th gear going like 50mph then full accelerating. It is really annoyoing, which is really the only bad thing about the bike. Keep the revvs up and you will be fine.

The SV1000s has adjustable suspension, whereas the 650s does not.

I'd take the 1000 personally, but it is really a toss up.

Wanna buy a Buell?

I had the Motor in the 1000DL great engine and tranny

I have an 03 S... decent bike, strong motor, slightly stiff ride, decent ergos and that lovely v-twin relaxed feel even when smokin' along. Decent examples can be for for low$4's-High $3's. I paid next to nothing for my high miles version but had to rebuild the tranny (butthole who had it rounded off 2nd gear dogs from powershifts...outside of that it looked pretty good inside after obvious abuse-neglect). If you do get one with a bad tranny, keep in mind a rebuild is going to cost you $1500-1800 unless you do it yourself, as the cases are vertically split....a pita.....

You forgot the Honda SuperHawk

falco?

A 650 just isn't happening. I'm coming off a 600 Bandit and I do a fair bit of 2 up riding. When I'm by myself I can rev the shit out of it and have some fun but it was pretty boring with a passenger. I would like to get away from that. Plus I've been getting a bit of seat time on a ZX12 lately so I've pretty much made up my mind that I have to get away from a 600:lol:
Exactly. I've loved RCs ever since I got to ride Apoc's a couple of times. There are a few of them around but most have pretty high milage and all of them are priced high. Most owners go on about how they're "Rare" and "Collector's Bikes"...Well, sorry guys, but that's not how the rest of the world sees them.
Wanna cut your price in half?:lol:
Thanks man. Good write up:dthumb:

It's looking like a bike that could really work for me. Plus the guy who is selling it is away until the 20th so that will give me some time to look around at my options without worrying about someone swooping in to grab it up.

You also can't forget most of them have scrapes down the sides from people not understanding the difference between the compresion of a Vtwin Litre bike and a 600cc I-4.

A RC51 will be my next bike once I am able to get another one.

they had a nice 05 rc go for around 5k recently

You could get a '98-'09 VFR or the new 1200. Just saying.

VFRs are actually more rare than the RCs around here and New is not in the Budget.

if you are already staring down a premium price why not go the extra step and get a mille?

I prefer the TLS to the SV. Cheap as dirt these days too.

Given the choice between the TL and SV1k, I too would take the TL. Problem is (at least around here) finding one that hasn't been modified (often badly) to within an inch of it's life.

I seem to recall an issue with the '03 SV1k that was corrected in newer versions... can't seem to remember what it was, but I remember there was something engine related.

the 03 had issues with the crankshaft bearings that resulted in knocking coming from the engine.

I've heard of a few SV650s that like to flood out the front spark plug :td:

I'd go Tuono :rockwoot:

flood as in fuel or flood as in wet plug and no spark before they added the little flap behind the radiator?

A Tuono (1st generation or 2nd generation) is twice the bike the SV1000S is and probably cost about the same right now. I love my Aprilias but they have shit for resale values.

Tuono FTW...........Not as reliable, but way better handling & looking.

Although, why not get a ZX12R since you already like it? Those are excellent sport tourers.

Wet plug.

they added a flap that prevents water from getting into the front plug hole on later models. I have one on my '03.

Don't ride in the rain and your plugs will not get wet.

Not as reliable? Are you crazy? I'd put my Tuono up against any Jap bikes when it comes to reliability. I had the 24,000-miles done a few months back and the valves didn't even need adjustment.

:lol:

That's like half my riding season

I have over 40k and I dont think mine have ever been checked. Take that. Yea.


Really do need to check mine.

Dude.........How about things like:

1) odometer that resets if you disconnect the battery
2) electrical connectors that melt
3) clutch slave cylinders that leak
4) rear brake that constantly needs bleeding
5) oil tank made of cheap pot metal with shoddy welds that develops leaks
6) rear shock that dies early because of heat soak from the exhaust
7) swingarm recall anyone?
8) so-called "immobilizer" system that ocassionally refuses to let you start the bike for no legitimate reason


All things that happened with my 2004 (along with dozens of others on the Aprilia forum who experienced those same issues)

I know you love Aprilias, and so do I, but I would put any Japanese bike over any Italian bike when it comes to reliability. Face it, Italians' strength is not in quality control, it's in designing things with passion & art.

I was heavily considering it. The one I had been riding was recently traded to a dealer by my friend. He does a LOT of business with them and they gave him/me the option of buying it back for a really good price but I've found something else.

I gave myself about 2 weeks to find a replacement...That turned into less than 24 hours.

Oh and the idea of a twin went out the window this afternoon. I'm a sucker for a good deal I guess...Here she is.

I'll still have my Twin someday but I think I will enjoy this just fine for now.

good choice ;) now yank open the airbox and pull that nasty flapper out

I like the flapper.

Nice ride dude, 954's are way better-looking than what came afterwards.

Nice bike!

That's what I've always thought too. I doubt any of the old SBN'ers remember this but when I joined I was riding an old nighthawk at the time and had a brand new 02 954 in my avatar with a title that read "working on it". Well I finally got around to it :lol:

Awesome choice man!

I agree. The 954 is my favorite looking bike

Ok, so that marks the first time I've ever missed my 954. If mine was that color scheme, I may have kept it. Fantastic looking rig... now get a CF pipe.

I had an 02 954...it was perfect freeway commuter and lanesplitter.

At least you didn't buy one of those crazy killing 1000cc bikes.

Litres will kill you. Unless you get something like a Hyabusa. Though it may be 1300CCs it's still a sport-touring bike.

me and rr2k2 are barely a moped away from certain death!

The guy I bought it from asked what I used to ride. I guess he was worried about who was buying a litre bike (that's good!) so I replied with "Nothing but I didn't want to start on a 1000..." He gave me a worried look and then I couldn't help but laugh at that point. :lol:

All I'm getting: :x:

Well she's got some issues to sort out. I guess sitting for over a year will do that. Hopefully some seafoam is all it will take. Anyone know the service interval for valve adjustments on a 954?

Not sure and if I wasn't on my phone I would search for it... There's a thread somewhere on here with a link to service manuals for tons of bikes.

I believe cbrforum has the 954 manual hosted in a sticky. Should be forum/past cbr models/954rr. Watch out though, PG is over there :lol:

What kind of issues are you having?

I forgot there was a manual thread here. It's downloading as we speak.

It's running like crap basically. I can pretty much whack it wide open from about 8000RPM in 1st and not worry about a wheelie. It wasnt too bad when I was checking the bike out/buying it but it's not as noticeable until you're out running it. At first it just seemed like bad gas so I drained it out. It's topped up with lots of Sea Foam now. It seemed to get a little better but I dont think this is going to fix it. Somtimes it almost feels like it's not running on all 4 cylinders and chugs along like a twin. (Guess I still got my twin:lol:) We're going to dig a little deeper in it. I dont think it will be anything too major because the guy I bought it from swears that it was running excellent when he stored it.

Oh and I'm having the tires put on it that came with it this morning...The shop just called and said the rims are bent...The rear one wasn't bad and they fixed it. He said the front is pretty bad though. Don't know how I missed that:bash:

Is there a power commander? If I did that on mine it would backflip

No power commander. I had a peak in the airbox though and the flapper is gone. How was the performance before and after you got rid of yours?

Flapper was only there for noise, it was much smoother after it came out. Htev still hooked up? Or did he spool it open? Is it a full system? Stock filter? Etc? He might have enough mods to need a pc and/or sold it without getting back down to a level the stock ecu couldn't handle

Clogged fuel filter? Clogged injectors? Bad gas? Water in the gas? It shouldn't be an air issue and I wouldn't think it is a spark issue either. Sitting for a year (assuming with gas in the tank) isn't ever ideal. If that gas had ethanol in it that is even worse. Did you drain the tank or are you trying to burn through the gas that was in it? Ethanol attracts water like a sponge and from what I understand gas with ethanol in it is more prone to break down over time. Drain the tank to get the old gas out of there (if you haven't already) and start with fresh gas.

The HTEV is still hooked up and appears to be working. The micron is just a bolt on. I'm convinced it's running on 3 cylinders. I tried running it shortly on the old gas but I noticed it running like crap a few minutes into the ride. By the time I got it back home I think it fouled a plug. I drained the gas out and refilled it with supreme and a healthy dose of Sea Foam. My next step is to get some Sea Foam directly into the throttle bodies to see if I can clean out the combustion chambers and possibly the plug. If that doesn't work it's time to start stripping her down tomorrow.

Of all the stupid things I can think of, I kinda hope it's an injector wire that's come loose. At least that way, that cylinder is not getting washed down. I dont think it's a plugged injector because I just cant see one getting completely plugged while the other 3 still work so well.

At least it handles a lot better now with the new tires on (Even though they're Shinkos).

Come with the toolkit? Plug access is nigh on impossible without it :lol:

Keep your nose on the oil.

Didn't get a Tool kit:bash:
I guess I'll have to get creative.

I dont think so anyway...The previous owner was going on about it being stored behind the "Fender"? (I'm sure he meant fairing?) I had the left one off already and didnt notice anything there. Why would there be a tool kit stored somewhere that requires tools to get to?:idk::lol:

I hear ya. By the look of it, I should be changing it anyway while I'm at it. All depends on if I can get a filter for it on Saturday. Damn dealer is only open for about 7 seconds on the weekend. (Yes I run OEM filters, sorry.)

tool kit should be in a black bag in the trunk under a rubber strap. i think the 600rrs were the ones with the pop out fairing toolkit. i'll try to get a pic of the spark plug tool for you.

That's what I figured. It's not there. I must say though, this bike has a lot of trunk space. Sucks that under-seat exhaust killed that.

yeah, you can get a whole 1/2 gal milk jug back there :lol: the trunk tends to catch more attention than the rest of the bike most meets :lol:

Yeah I remember the 954's trunk, it's got a nice mechanism.

It's alive! Just as I thought, fouled #3 plug. Plus it was in about hand tight. She's working great now. Just need to get the front rim changed eventually. The previous owner may be willing to split on one too so that should help.

sweet! what are your goals with this thing?

Goals?

To sail 'round the Horn and return with Silks and Spices the likes of which ye have not seen...

Well that or to own, ride and enjoy it. Nothing fancy really:lol:

ahh well if you were looking for max power i have some velocity stacks for sale... :lol: def one of the lightest, best balanced bikes of its time. hope it meets your expectations.

ps: when you get a chance, pull your fairings and see if you got one of the autographed ones. baba-san used to sneak in the factory late at night and sign his masterpieces