Suzuki SVS 650 2015 — Specifications

This Suzuki SV 650 S from 2015 was believed to be gone for good. Disappeared from French catalogs since 2010, it returns discreetly, as if nothing had happened. No fanfare, no flashy restyling, just a deep black and a price that looks like a UFO in the landscape of mid-size roadsters. At €5,599 new, it poses a simple and impertinent question: do we really need to show off and gadgets to have fun?

Facing the leaders of the segment, the Yamaha MT-07 and its Kawasaki ER-6n from the time, the SV 650 S plays the card of mechanical simplicity. Its 90° V-twin is old school, an engine that runs on character more than on technology. With 74 horsepower at 9000 rpm and a frank torque of 63.7 Nm, it doesn't seek to overwhelm. It offers rather a linear power curve, an immediate response to the throttle, and a grainy sound that sings just enough to awaken the soul without annoying the neighbors. It is a pedagogical engine, ideal for a beginner who wants to learn to manage the throttle without surprises, but also for a touring rider looking for reliable and expressive mechanics. The question of the price of a used Suzuki SVS 650, whether from 2004 or 2009, often comes up, and for good reason: it is a sledgehammer argument against competitors who are often more expensive to buy.

But where this 2015 SVS shows its age is in its chassis. The aluminum trellis frame is still as rigid, transmitting a pleasant sensation of precision. On the other hand, the 41 mm fork and the mono-shock, with their modest travel, are clearly calibrated for comfort and relaxed riding. As soon as you insist a little in curves, the damping admits its limits, becoming vague and not reassuring. This is the Achilles' heel of the beast, the price to pay for its daily comfort. The brakes, with their two-piston calipers and 290 mm discs at the front, do the job correctly without being transcendent. They lack bite and feel for a demanding sporty use. The 800 mm seat is accessible, and the fairing of the Suzuki SVS 650, although a little dated, offers correct protection against the wind.

So, who is this machine for? Clearly not for the budding track rider looking for the latest adjustable suspension or sophisticated ABS. The Suzuki SVS 650 2015 is an honest motorcycle, without pretension, which puts everything on the essential: a charming engine, an engaged but not painful riding position, and remarkable urban agility. It is the perfect mount for a neo-holder of the A2 license, for those looking for a first "real" fun motorcycle without breaking the bank, or for the epicurean who believes that the pleasure of two wheels is not measured by the number of electronics. Opinions on the Suzuki SVS 650, whether from 1999 or 2009, often converge on this point: it is a motorcycle that doesn't cheat. Its technical specifications, unchanged in essence for years, are its best argument. It recalls that before trends and TFT screens, the pleasure of motorcycling could be found in a simple aluminum frame and a V-twin with heart.