Randy O SV650

[richw]

Randy you are obviously the expert on sv 650 longevity

I am thinking of getting this as a commuter bike.

Question:

What chain life have you been experiencing ? When I think of utility I think of shaft drive but is that true any longer ?



What sort of tire life ? My liter bikes cost 5 cents a mile in tires!!




What kind of gas mileage ?




I don't want my Gixer as a good commuter bike because tires, riding position, lack of carrying capacity aways trying to spin the tire etc.

[Qfactor]

with my SV

I have been experiencing:

~45-50mpg

~8,000mi per tires (80% commute,10% 2-up, 10% spirited)

~18,000mi per chain

Q

[RandyO]

Rich

I have a scottoiler, and get about 35k from a set of sprockets & chain, front sprocket wears first

I run 16/44 sprockets intead of stock 15/44-45

Azaro ST tires I get about 10k-13k from the rear and 10k-17k from the front Avons VBD design requires high pressures for best longevity and performance , 42r 36f

my SV is piped & jetted so my fuel economy suffers, stock with tall gearing you should get 50-60 unless your listening to the SV crying "feed me feed me, I love gazoline"

I get 38-42 with my jetting

[benVFR]

Everyone will laugh at me for this but if you've got the $$ why not get a Buell or something like that for commuting.

Belt drive
No valve adjustments
Better fuel economy then just about every japanese bike except a 250

They may not make competitive power but they apparently are very good at making power on a minimum amount of gas.

Just going to cost more then a SV no matter what.

[richw]

Randy

Interesting about mileage though

My last 3 literbikes when i rejetted them usually raising the needle a notch usually mileage improved into the low to mid 40's


Last 300 mile day on the Gixer it did 44 mpg with zero modifications

Are you pushing a windsheild or fairing at speed.

My commute would be about 12 miles mild country and then town driving mostly under 60 mph

[Degsy]

Originally posted by richw

Are you pushing a windsheild or fairing at speed.

No, he's pushing Randy at speed. No offense Randy, but you are a bear of a man.


degs

[s a x m a n]

Chris (madmax) over at ODFU rode his SV accross the country last summer ... he could probably give you some good insight

[beet]

Originally posted by benVFR
Everyone will laugh at me for this but if you've got the $$ why not get a Buell or something like that for commuting.

Belt drive
No valve adjustments
Better fuel economy then just about every japanese bike except a 250

They may not make competitive power but they apparently are very good at making power on a minimum amount of gas.

Just going to cost more then a SV no matter what.

& he loves it ...he's a wheelie popper all the time. he does eat belts !!!!! i think the belt is weak
but i will say i would love 1

[RandyO]

Originally posted by richw
Randy

Interesting about mileage though

My last 3 literbikes when i rejetted them usually raising the needle a notch usually mileage improved into the low to mid 40's


Last 300 mile day on the Gixer it did 44 mpg with zero modifications

Are you pushing a windsheild or fairing at speed.

My commute would be about 12 miles mild country and then town driving mostly under 60 mph

like degs said, I'm a barn door, I do catch a lot of wind when I ride my worse milage is steady high speeds on the highway, prolly only get 35 or less, on a leisurly cruise, even 2up, I can get 45 or maybe a little better


my XV 920R is a great all around bike, I get 55 mpg consistently, it has an enclosed non o-ring 630 chain, almost 50k on the original chain, I've never had to touch it in the 20k I've owned it

makes about the same hp as the SV, somewhat better suspension than the SV too and least it's got some damping & rebound adjustment

[Currently]

I use my SV for commuting 70 miles a day, 35 each way.
It is the perfect commuting bike. The seat kind of sucks
for anything over a hundred miles but that can be changed.

I got a Corbin seat but I don't like it. I will try rebuilding the
stock seat with dense automotive foam and if that works,
I will be selling the Corbin. (fits '04 -06)

The thing that surprised me the most about the SV is that
it is a bike that is modified a lot and there is an unbeliveable
amount of stock parts available for pennies on the dollar.

The only time I don't ride is when they forcast heavy rain.
I don't like the misting that reduces visibility on the highways.

[ancosta]

A lot of SV'ers get over 15k on the chain given the bike's modest power and of course how well it is cared for.

The SV has been very good to me in terms of tires, Put about 8k on stock D220s and they had ~30% tread when removed, put about 6k on a set of pilot powers including 3 track days, and the tires are very much still usable, if not a bit flat from the highway.

My MPG has fluctuated between 35 and close to 50, I think it's been a function of wind, tire type/pressure and how much throttle.

You can get a decent tank bag and a set of soft bags for around/under $200 and have plenty of storage, some guys do Givi bags which are $$$, yet another option is a Givi top trunk screwed into a spare passenger seat, a bit goofy looking but 100% of storage (sans passenger) for like 1/2 the cost.

If it was me and I was looking for commuter I'd look for basically any SV that has been well cared for, any year works. And you may be looking for a windscreen as well, unless you don't mind being blown around a bit.

Also I'd try riding someone's SV and see what you think of it if you haven't already. The suspension is very soft and you may want to plan at least throwing in some heavier oil and cranking the stock shock up, if not one of the many upgrade paths out there, but that is $$$.

Go to svrider.com, and you will get a lot of FB from folks that do a good 10-20k a year commuting on their SVs.

[Ken C]

Rich, How about commuting on the DRz? Isn't yours street-legal?

I've been doing it all week. 50 mpg with pipe and jetting. (Considering going back to stock). It's fun!

[richw]

Its been under advisement

Currently zero carrying capacity on the DRZ

Could be possibility with a back porch installed. I have been using my old R80 when weather is OK but its really an artifact and if I am considering being a bike commuter then

the yzf is going soon
the R80 eithr goes now or after brother visits in July

On my commuter list is "Used"
sv 650 not s
KLR 650
even a burgman ... no splashing

[ancosta]

How big is your commute and what speeds are you talking?

I had more fun riding my brother's 49cc Zuma to work which was 5 miles of in-town, large iced coffee on the floorboards btwn my feet, and it was all good. Burgman may be an interesting contender, what about Silver Wing? They are kind of $$$ I think however.

[richw]

I know I will be unpopular but
after closes analysis I never seem to think Honda

The 2 wheeled way for work is country road to town riding. It is a total of like 12 miles each way. More fun and less likely to be a hood ornament.

Reports of the 400 cc Burgman has 75 mpg and possible 70 mph cruise. The large luggage capacity and out of the splash and dirt factor are attractive on scooters going to work.

If both were presented I would probably go for the 650 burgman.


My 2 wheeled safety idea is always to be moving faster then traffic so I am passing and not being passed. That is why I would discount anything under a 250


I don't know about the scooter.

The old man joke

"Did I ever tell you about the worst sex I ever had?"







"It was wonderful"

I have never found a motorcycle I didn't like so I think it would carry to scooters.

And then I could join one of the outlaw scooter gangs

[Ken C]

A co-worker has a 400cc Yamaha "Magesty" It looks pretty good and I could fit a week's worth of groceries under that seat.

[ancosta]

I'd try the scooter then if the $ was reasonable. The biggest problem I have with going 5 days a week commuting on my bike (outside of rain) is storage. Need to haul computer bag with big laptop, and gym bag with change of clothes. It's too much for a single backpack. A milk crate on the back of a scooter would do the trick I think

[richw]

I was in Taiwan and its small scooter crazy

Special parking and even traffic lanes for scooters only.

I am believing that the bigger scooters were designed for commuting in europe including Large underseat storage.

Room for bags laptops and rainsuit. Be easy enough to check out at a dealership

Took my DRZ in the mysty morning now have damp feet.

Love the ride but have mental block against it and trashing it in the woods


The scooters are dry except during real rain. Wet roads and puddles I believe not a problem