The Bike
Suzuki introduced the SV650 in 1999 as a budget mid-sized bike. It has a reputation as a great all-rounder and has built up a large following of dedicated fans. In 2000 the SV650s was released in the US. It is essentially the same as the original, but has a bikini fairing, slightly sharper steering because of different front suspension geometry, and a different sprocket to gear ratio for faster acceleration.
In 2003 more angular styling, a new frame, fuel injection, and several other tweaks like more aggressive cam shafts were added. Since then the ‘S’ version of the bike is relatively unchanged aside from engine modifications to improve emissions, optional anti-lock brakes and factory lower fairings (more at Wikipedia).
In 2009 Suzuki replaced the naked version of the SV650 with the Gladius, a major redesign that has been very controversial among fans of the SV650 because of its styling.
These are the modifications & upgrades I have made to my SV to date:
- K&N Oil Filter
- Osram Night Breaker Headlight Bulbs
- Puig Race-Profile Screen (Dark Smoke)
- Vesrah Brake Pads
And here is a gallery of pictures in revers chronological order:
