13 replies to this topic

[tullyhubbert]

I've had my TDM 6 years now, sold my last Blade 4 years ago with a view to replacing it with something other than a sportsbike, something that didn't have 4 cylinders and something that interested me. I'm a relative newbie to bike (17 years) so as gorgeous as they are I don't have nostalgia for bikes like quartermaster just bought, that and I wanted to buy something I could ride as much as I want.

 

So this popped up last week and I now find myself the owner of an SV1000K4 with 9,500 miles and a years MOT. For a 13 year old Suzuki its in pretty good condition, stand a pace away and you can take pride in it. Get up close and personal and there are plenty of imperfections, this isn't a bad thing as I can get pretty anal about keeping things mint (My TDM e.g.) Bought as it stands, no service book or history, no manual, no tool kit, no standard parts to replace the following 'improvements' Renthal bars, Yoshi cans (E stamped but removable baffles missing) tail tidy and mini indicators.

 

Its on badly worn road legal race tyres, I picked it up on a wet evening which made for an interesting ride home <shudder> These will be replaced with something much more road focused this week, and I've just returned all the suspension settings to standard.

 

My thoughts so far, it sounds epic and engine performance is very impressive. It would be unfair to judge how it handles as I've never ridden on tyres so badly out of shape e.g. the front tyre is squared off! My first V-Twin, looking forward to some sunny Sunday mornings now 

 

Anyone any experience of Avon 3D Ultra Sport tyres? I use Avon 3D X-M on my TDM and really rate them.

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[dablik]

Doses'nt look bad at all Tully for a 13 year old, in fact it looks a lot younger, happy fettling, no experience of Avons i'm afraid, assume red is the faster version

[Nog]

Nice handling bikes the SV's.  I had a 650 and had a lot of character.

 

Check out "The Workshop" on YouTube.  He's got an SV1000 and is doing video's on maintenance and things that go wrong with them.

[Studley Ramrod]

Congratulations on yer noo steed.  Bet that'll be a lotta fun when you get it sorted.

[Quartermaster]

Bet it sounds nice

[muddy]

I rembember these when they came out. Stonking engine, but iirc these had tank slapper issues that had owners needing to fit steering dampers. Not sure if that ever got resolved, I think it put the mockers on sales.

[Retro]

I rembember these when they came out. Stonking engine, but iirc these had tank slapper issues that had owners needing to fit steering dampers. Not sure if that ever got resolved, I think it put the mockers on sales.

I remember the 90s TL1000s widowmakers. They had a weird rotary damper system in an attempt to reduce wheelbase. It didnt work. Seem to remember a Journo getting killed on one after it went into an unexpected slapper. Suzuki lopped of its balls and rebranded it the SV

[tullyhubbert]

assume red is the faster version

 

Obviously, though its silver in 9ers 

 

I'm no expert in Suzuki (Or any brand for that matter) past models, but I believe the infamous widow maker - TL1000S had 130bhp and a rotary rear damper. The TL1000R had the same bhp with a more standard suspension set up.

 

The SV1000 to the best of my knowledge is a budget TL, it was re(de)tuned to 118bhp, smaller throttle bodies mean less bhp but better low/mid range performance apparently. Its fully adjustable front and rear, comes with a steering damper as standard across the front of the forks. I have rear they can be a but prone to a head shake.

 

All I confirm is it has more than adequate engine performance and sounds great. It's happy to pull without obtrusive vibration from much lower down the rev range than my TDM.

 

I rang today regarding getting the Avons fitted, my supplier can't get a rear as they aren't available from Avon atm and there's no estimated delivery date. (He can fit 016 Pros for £160 all in, an older design of tyre but much cheapness and not as old as the bike design!) I'm contemplating fitting a set of sports touring instead, Bridgetone T30 Evo or Avon 3D X-M or similar (Don't like the look of PR's) Maybe the less aggressive profile would help to settle the front, we'll see what he comes up with and make my mind up then. I'm not a fast now as I've convinced myself I once was   so ST would probably be fine. 

[muddy]

My mistake. That was it, the TL. The SV must've been the softer rebrand.

[Nog]

smaller throttle bodies mean less bhp but better low/mid range performance apparently. 

 

If I understand it right the smaller diameter TB's means air will travel faster through them, which at low rpm's improves cylinder filling and low down torque, but becomes a restriction at higher rpm's, so this is better for the road, less so for the race track.

[tullyhubbert]

My tyre fitter sourced the rear 3D Ultra Sport from another supplier so my 9er (New tyres last week) and the SV are sitting on new boots ready to be scrubbed in, obviously in NI that means a dodgy forecast for the next few days, damn 

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[sidestand]

Looking better already !

Nice bikes those SV 1000's - always fancied one, but Suzuki pulled the plug before I got round to getting one - think they couldn't get it through the Euro 3 regs

Getting quite rare now

[tullyhubbert]

Over the winter a friend bought a DL1000 Vstrom (Mint 7 months old 2000 miles £7500) which is apparently based on the same engine as my SV. It's a really nice bike, not too tall, well equipped and at £10k new seems like very good value to me.

 

I was out for a run with him at the weekend, very impressive bike and perhaps worth considering as a TDM alternative as they become harder to find?

[Studley Ramrod]

The new model is a nice looker too.