Best SV650 years for racing...

[Mr Sunshine]

So I'm thinking about picking up an SV650 as a street bike with the thought that in the next year or two I'll make it one of my race bikes. I heard that the older SV's are more reliable than the newer ones. But I don't know if that is a fact or a myth.

So if you were to choose which year(s) SV650 you would purchase to race based on which one has the most reliable with the biggest power output (or potentional power output) engine, what would you choose?

[timk]

Here's one vote for the old style.

[jeff191]

Connecting rods on 03-current seem to break a lot compared to the 99-02.

I think crank thrust bearing setup is different between old gen and new gen with old gen being better

cams on new gen are slightly better (only applies to supersport)

Shock and forks on both generations are junk

Old generation is much better looking

Talk to Dave Lanigan as he is *the* expert on these motors...

[Mr Sunshine]

Old generation is much better looking

Um I like the look of the new ones (04+) better. The bubbleness of the older ones (-03) look weird.

Thanks for the info. Suspension definatly will be high on the list to get fixed ASAP.

[Speeddealer]

As far as chassis' go the newer 03 up SV's have got some advantages over the 1st. Gens they are lighter and stronger with a little bit better geometry.

In the engine department the first Gen's have stronger crankcases but, the 2nd's are going to make more power with a Supersport build.

Of course if you are going to build a Superbike pick which ever one you like the look of, though expect the 2nd Gen's to more fragile and expensive and complicated.

Hopefully I can get my big throttle body conversion done soon and rectify some of that!!

[Mr Sunshine]

Speeddealer thanks for the info.

I think what I am going to end up doing is to purchase an '06 (because I am getting rid of my old bike the deal makes sense). Run that for a year or two and then convert it to racing trim.

[jkramer]

if you're looking to race for Suzuki contingency money, you MUST be on the latest generation bike (03+)

[Mr Sunshine]

if you're looking to race for Suzuki contingency money, you MUST be on the latest generation bike (03+)


That's a very good point although I'm too slow to think about it...unless it is a rain race and either nobody shows or everyone crashes out.

um...

[Mr Sunshine]

Also if I understand it the following classes are classes a SV650 might be competative in (assume one bike for all of the classes so the bike is in supersport trim):

650SS
Lightweight Superbike
GP Twin

Am I missing something or am I incorrect in this list?

[skidmarx]

That should be Middleweight GP Twins, but to be competitive, a stocker will need some work.

[Mr Sunshine]

That should be Middleweight GP Twins, but to be competitive, a stocker will need some work.

Ah yes....what other bikes compete in that class?

And I guess if the SV needs some work to make it competative in that class then the same bike couldn't be used in 650SS.

No worries...I should be picking up my '06 SV650 sometime this week...now I just need to hold off until 2008 to race it. :)