2007 SV650: Project better late than never

[V1GiLaNtE]

2007 SV650
Mileage at Purchase: 11,5xx 
Current Mileage: 21,xxx

Maintenance and Mods:

• New NGK spark plugs - Completed 10/15/17 @ 11,8xx
  
• New OEM air filter - Completed 10/15/17 @ 11,8xx
  
• "Ram Mount" style phone mount with USB charger - Completed 10/15/17 @ 11,8xx
  
• Brake fluid flush and refill - Completed 10/21/17 @ 11,9xx
  
• F/R Bridgestone Battlax BT023 - Completed 10/21/17 @ 11,9xx
  
• Delkevic SS70 Slip-on exhaust - Completed 12/20/17 @ 12,xxx
  
• R6 Throttle tube - Completed 12/28/17 @ 12,1xx
  
• Oil change and filter - Completed 11/4/17 @ 12,5xx
  
• Galfer HH Sintered F/R Pds - Completed 3/10/18 @ 15,7xx
  
• MotionPro Clutch Cable - Completed 3/10/18 @ 15,7xx (Includes Clutch Adjustment)
  
• Oil Change and filter - Completed 3/29/18 @ 15,9xx
  
• Oil change and filter - Completed  8/24/18 @ 19,000
  
• DID chain and sprocket (15/47) - Complete 8/24/18 @ 19,000 (Includes clutch adjustment)
  
• SV Racing adjustable rear plates - Complete 8/26/18 @ 19,xxx
  
• F/R Michelin Pilot Road 5s - Complete 10/26/18 @ 19,xxx
  
• GSXR Front End Swap - Complete 12/18 @ 20,xxx
  
• Fork Rebuild (dust seals & oil) - Complete 12/26/18 @ 20,xxx
  
• LED Turn Signals - Complete 1/2/19 @ 20,xxx
  
• Coolant change to SuperCool - Complete 3/16/19 @ 21,xxx
  

I've been on the hunt for an 05+ SV650 for the past couple of months and honestly a motorcycle for the better half of 10 years. I told myself this was the year I was going to sack up, buy a bike and go ride Skyline in the fall because it's a bucket list item for me. No more reasons why not or financial rationale to do otherwise. 

The timing worked out near perfectly for the bike. I got home from Vermont the 2nd and saw this bike was for sale in Westminister, MD. I was off Monday to recover from the 8 hour drive so I secured a uHaul trailer and made the drive (because duh, why not?). The guy I purchase it from had owned the bike since 2010 and didn't really ride much anymore because he had two kids and needed cash for a mini-van. The bike had a few cosmetic bumps and bruises, but overall seemed solid for the price. For a true first bike I didn't want anything too pretty anyways. I made a bold cash offer up front before test driving and he went with it. 

Since it's a MD bike I had to get it inspected before I can register it. Rode it to the inspection station last Friday and got an inspection sticker no problem. Plan is to get it fully registered this week with VA and start riding to Rosslyn for work.

I think the tires are OK for this riding season (or at least the end of it), but will need to be replaced. Overall it's been really satisfying to go out at night and tinker with the bike and sit on it making "vroom vroom" noises (no really). 

I think longer term I'd like to at least throw a slip-on exhaust on it because the v-twin sounds like tits with a big throaty exhaust and that's probably it. Just ride it and enjoy it and if I continue to like the bike thing keep it long term. If I don't I know I can sell it next season an easily make all my money back.

[Apoc]

My first bike was an SVS. It was a great first bike that treated me well. I still get fuzzies when I see those tail lights in front of me.

I think I added a Yoshimura slip on to mine.

[.RJ]

I like

[Tyler.M]

Mine was probably the best bike I've ever owned after I got the suspension sorted out. Something to be said for a nice torque-y motor. Awesome ride, man. Be safe!

[V1GiLaNtE]

Mine was probably the best bike I've ever owned after I got the suspension sorted out. Something to be said for a nice torque-y motor. Awesome ride, man. Be safe!

I've been looking into this. I'm probably 200lbs without gear so I've been looking at the zx10 vs 14 rear shock. Did you do this mod?

[V1GiLaNtE]

Officially tagged and titled now.

[Tyler.M]

Mine was probably the best bike I've ever owned after I got the suspension sorted out. Something to be said for a nice torque-y motor. Awesome ride, man. Be safe!

I've been looking into this. I'm probably 200lbs without gear so I've been looking at the zx10 vs 14 rear shock. Did you do this mod?

Yup. You're tall too, the zx10 or 14 rear shock will sit a lot lower than the stock sv650 but there are solutions for that. I'd also look into the front suspension and doing some new tubes. I didn't do that, but when I moved to my 919, it made it so much easier to dial in for weight and height. I always had a "nosedive" problem on the SV that I couldn't fully sort out, under hard braking you could feel the front end sort of list a little bit as the forks started to compress. Fortunately this is probably the most popular club racing bike in the last 15 years so plenty of options.

Also! I really really liked the Battleax bt-02 tires, great commuter tire with awesome wet weather traction. I rode in a downpour once with water up to my pegs and didn't dump the bike on these things, so they're great in my book.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Yup. You're tall too, the zx10 or 14 rear shock will sit a lot lower than the stock sv650 but there are solutions for that.

Such as? Also, went ahead and ordered a set of Battlax Tires. I'd rather not muck around with questionable tires considering it's pretty much the only thing between me and road.

[V1GiLaNtE]

A few parts are inbound today/tomorrow:

- New F/R tire (Bridgestone Battlax BT023)
- New OEM air filter
- New spark plugs (NGK Iridium IX)
- Ram Mount style phone mount + usb charging plug
- Quality tire pressure gauge

Filled it up for the first time last night.. A laughable $7.89

[V1GiLaNtE]

I've put about 300 miles on the bike in the last week. Of which about half was this past weekend riding around Leesburg and the surrounding area. I've been working through some basic maintenance items as parts come in. Saturday I installed a new air filter (gross), phone mount with USB charger, and today I tackled new NGK plugs. I definitely noticed a difference with the new air filter. Throttle response seemed to improve and hope this will up the MPGs. 

I'm really enjoying working on bikes. The simplicity and ease of everything has made me grin. My plan is to drop the bike off with Fairfax Cycles to have them install the fresh rubber, align the rear wheel, and flush the brakes. I'll tackle the oil change myself.

I'll continue to ride to Rosslyn while I'm still there. It cut my commute time by over half from the metro. I'm going to be switching projects to the Metro Center area so I want to feel out how that parking situation will play out and I have to start wearing a monkey suit everyday.  

[Tyler.M]

Love that color. Damn. And to craigslist I go.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Love that color. Damn. And to craigslist I go.

Agreed. It's hard to believe it's 10 years old.

[Tyler.M]

Love that color. Damn. And to craigslist I go.

Agreed. It's hard to believe it's 10 years old.

the styling just holds  up so well on the nakeds. do you like your bar ends? I experimented with it on my SV but the riding position wasn't tucked enough for me to get the proper use out of them and I went back to OEM set up.  

Also, highly recommend doing a seat upgrade with a gel pad for longer trips.

[V1GiLaNtE]

So far so good. They provide me with decent coverage. Any recommendations on the seat?

[Tyler.M]

I went with Sargent and it was pretty decen; it just took a bit to break in. There are a few other options and companies but quality is hit or miss. some offer a lot more in terms of customizing like amount of padding but they were crazy expensive.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Updates made to original post to reflect mods and maintenance. New tires installed as well as brake fluid flush and fill. Brakes feel 1000% better. Good bite and good grab both F/R.

Was riding to Rosslyn for the last 2 weeks and it seriously cut my commute time in half. Roughly 50min+ door to door on the metro. ~25min or less on bike.

Today I rode to DC for the first time. Yesterday it took me almost 2 hours door to door with all the delays on the metro. Severely overestimated my arrival time on the bike. Door to door in about 30 minutes. $2.85 to park for the day ain't bad either. Only downside is I almost got creamed by a dbag in a flat brim hat in a Prius who merged into my lane. Merged right into me and continued to stay in the lane as I shook my fist and laid on the horn. He was so close I could have punched him in the face and yet he continued to stare at my blankly. I need to master my ninja mirror punch skills.

Last bit of work will be oil/filter change, chain clean/lube, and adjustment. Riders of MM (that should be a sick-ass patch btw), what say ye on chain maintenance?

[Tyler.M]

If I remember correctly, Kaan has some pretty great survival stories of commuting through DC on a R6. You guys are crazy though, DC traffic in a bike sounds dangerous as hell

[V1GiLaNtE]

If I remember correctly, Kaan has some pretty great survival stories of commuting through DC on a R6. You guys are crazy though, DC traffic in a bike sounds dangerous as hell

On the plus side at least once I get into DC it's mostly low speed..?

[V1GiLaNtE]

Ride report 12/12:

It's been a little over 2 months of ownership and I've racked up about 2k miles so far. You can read some of the work that's been done above. Mainly just an overview of how things have been going riding to work 4x/week and if I can every day (even if just short).

I traded in my leather riding jacket for a 4 season textile jacket by Tourmaster. With commuting everyday into DC I wanted to be as covered as possible. CPE armor in the elbows, shoulders, and back with ballistic material in contact points makes me feel much better. With the liner inside I'm warm enough with just a dress shirt on underneath. A set of Joe Rocket winter gloves with 100g of Thinsulate changed my life. I've never had cold hands since I bought those gloves.

Pretty straight forward routine to get me on my way. Riding to work is the highlight of everyday and I can't wait to get on the bike. Check the tire pressure and adjust about once a week, check the signals, brake light, horn, etc. every other ride, and lube chain every 300 miles. I've only actually adjusted it once because I was a noob and lazy. Such an easy job.

Just ordered a Delkevic slip-on and I am pumped to get it on. It changes the SV from a soft sewing machine whisper to a car-alarm initiating roar. Should be here just before Xmas and hope to install. Exhaust pr0n promised.

[V1GiLaNtE]

Riders of MM I'm looking for suggestions on a pair of motorcycle specific commuting boots. Currently I'm wearing my redwing boots everyday, but I am starting to think about something with more ankle protection and waterproofing. Ideally, something I can walk in for the day if I had to.