Fitting improvements
The standard Suzuki SV650 is good – but can a few sportier extras make it just a tiny bit better?
I’VE NEVER FELT the urge to modify anything just for the sake of it. Seems like a waste of time. Maybe I just don’t get doe-eyed over stuff, or perhaps it’s my abject laziness. For me, everything needs to have a purpose or I can’t be bothered with it. And the SV is no different: when it works, I’ve left well enough alone. It has enough power. Let’s face it, It’s never going to outdrag a superbike, but it’ll still overtake as much traffic as you like, and let you know where the crests in the road are. The only time it’s ever come up short is on track, where ground clearance and the slightly cramped riding position proved to be problematic mid-corner. Otherwise, for riding on the road, everything just works. That doesn’t mean some basic things couldn’t be improved.
Exhaust
The standard exhaust is a complete visual and aural disappointment. A simple carbon fibre Yoshimura exhaust took 10 minutes to fit and improved things no end, making it ever so slightly prettier, noisier, lighter and more powerful.
Handlebars
The SV’S narrow high-rise bars are fine for road use, but they’re so high and narrow that hanging-off on a track becomes an uncomfortable, cramped affair. I fitted a set of Gilles sport bars that are wider, changing the riding position to put more weight over the front end. They’re somewhere between flat bars and clip-ons. They definitely look better and they’re perfect for fast rides, especially on track, but for general road use they’re not as good as the stock bars.
Tyres
I fitted sporty Pirelli Diablo Rosso 3s. Wet performance isn’t great and cold weather made the SV a nervous little bugger, wobbling mid-corner and sapping my confidence. Once they’re hot, though, they’re fantastic and they’re wearing well.