Suzuki SVS 650 2010 — Specifications

Do you remember that era, around 2003, when roadsters were sharp beasts, often screaming inline four-cylinder engines? Suzuki then played the opposite card with the SVS 650, a small revolution disguised as an accessible sportbike. The idea was simple but brilliant: to graft the famous 90° V-twin engine, a block derived from the SV, into a more aggressive fairing and a revised frame. Facing the Hornet and Fazer of the time, it displayed 74 horsepower, about twenty less, but brought something essential: character and ease of use. The 2010 version we are talking about here is the culmination of this philosophy, a machine that has matured without denying its "sportivo-school" soul.

Its engine is a true lesson in joyful mechanics. With 63.7 Nm of torque available fairly early, there's no need to seek the excessive power of super-sportbikes, but rather to savor exceptional everyday usability. The twin, now fuel-injected, breathes with a surprising stretch, supple from low revs and willing up to the 9000 rpm of the maximum power range. That’s the whole point of the Suzuki SVS 650: it makes riding lively without being intimidating. The technical specifications reveal a weight of 196 kg fully fueled, which makes it a maneuverable motorcycle, even if its new riding triangle, more committed, makes it a little less lazy in the city than the first SVS 650 models of 1999 or 2001.

Just speaking of evolution. Since 2003, the fairing of the Suzuki SVS 650 has been inspired by its big sister the 1000, giving it a more substantial look. Under this look, the aluminum trellis frame and the 41 mm fork have been optimized to offer superior stability, especially on deformed roads. It enters corners with a disarming naturalness, aided by more performant tires than the old ones. We are far from the radical sportbike, but very close to a machine with healthy and predictable behavior, which explains the often laudatory reviews of the Suzuki SVS 650 2009 or even earlier models like the 2004.

So, who is it for? Clearly for the motorcyclist looking for a first "real" bike with character, or for those tired of aseptic four-cylinder engines. It is an ideal companion for the winding road, capable of top speeds of 215 km/h without ever seeming nervous. Its 16-liter fuel tank and a seat height of 800 mm also make it an honest touring machine. The new price was €6499 in 2010, but today, the used market is the ideal hunting ground. The question "what is the price of a Suzuki SVS 650 2015 or a 2004 in France?" logically arises, because it is a safe bet. One can reproach it for a slightly high consumption for its category and a spartan passenger seat, but its fundamental qualities, forged since the SVS 650 2000, remain timeless. An honest, funny and endearing proposition, which marked its time.