Faults:

Nothing. This bike has been reliable and more than I have ever expected from a bike. Long trips are comfortable, and if required, it handles well on highways and even dirt roads when you want to get off the beaten track.

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

After much research for a bike, after selling my 2006 ZZR600, I wanted a bike that was FUN, good on power, and good handling. The SV650S covers all of them really well.

Although not big on peak power, the delivery of the power is simply fantastic, along with the growl of the intake under the tank, this bike is just an amazingly fun ride. Sure it doesn't have the power to rip your face off under acceleration, but it is more than enough for the street and back roads.

I was a little worried about stepping down in power, but I have to say that I am not worried any longer. Unless you ride consistently over 200km's per hour, then maybe this bike is not for you.

But for MOST of the riders out there, this is the bike they should be riding MOST of the time on the street. I am not a track day guy, I am not a full-leather racing on the street kind of guy. I'm a guy who wants a simple, fun, quick bike to RIDE! An added plus is the great gas mileage with this bike.

With some cheap upgrades to the front suspension, a nice exhaust, and maybe steel braided brake lines, this is all the bike you'll ever need for the road. Why buy a bike with 150hp that you CANNOT fully use on the road? The SV650 has real world HP, looks great, is cheap to own, and from other reviews, is quite reliable.

Who buys this bike? Beginner Sport bike enthusiasts, and people who just want a fast motorcycle without going full on race for the street, or who don't want to own a cruiser. This bike is almost in the middle of the scale, and to me, that's what most of us should be riding unless you want to race.

I've only gone on two rides so far, both a few hours in length. Comfort is great for a sport bike, bad is you are used to cruisers.

All in all, this bike puts a smile on my face. That's what motorcycling is all about.

Faults:

Nothing so far. Only have 300 miles on it...

General Comments:

I have the S model, which isn't usually recommended for beginners. Personnaly I have had no problems whatsoever riding this bike, and have found it easier to ride in all situations than the ones I rode on the course (Savage, Rebel 250, Vulcan 500, Buell Blast).

The controls are low effort and very smooth. The low weight makes it easy to manoeuvre at low speeds, and high speed handling is very stable. The suspension is reputed to be cheap, but the default settings work great for me (5ft 7, 155lbs), and it soaks up bumps and potholes pretty well with good cornering characteristics. The bike is both stable and agile at higher speeds.

The engine is very smooth and very flexible. It gives good, smooth acceleration in practically any gear at any speed. Higher revs give a stronger pull, but even at 3K RPM it will pull willingly without hesitation. It also sounds great as the revs climb, and the engine braking is strong enough to slow you down alone in most situations.

The riding position is sporty for sure. It's quite comfortable, but there is some weight on your wrists. I have found my right hand getting numb after 30 minutes of riding, but otherwise the bike is comfortable. Thicker gloves seem to help somewhat, but a more standard riding position is better for comfort.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase, especially when considering the very low price and the cheap insurance. I was originally set on buying a 599 (for the looks) or an FZ6 (for the R6 engine), but had in mind many favorable reviews that put the SV on top as having the best engine, the strongest chassis and the lowest weight in its class. For thousands less than those other bikes, it's hard to beat...