The Demo Ride Junkie Rides Again.. This time, on a friend's SV-650-s. A short trip, down public streets, on the freeway, a few twisted onramps... Boy is this bike different from Stephanie's V-Strom 650.... The engine feels very similar, the "retuning for low end" on the Vstrom doesn't seem to make any difference, just a 500 RPM lower redline and therefore a little more off the top, where you use it the least. This makes me think the retuning was actually correct, as the VStrom is pushing an extra 65 lbs (417 lbs dry vs 368 lbs, plus an extra 16 lbs of excess gasoline), but doesn't feel any weaker at a given low RPM. But there is where the similarities end. The SV-S is very compact, and the ergos are actually somewhat extreme. This is a full sportbike seating position: high pegs, low bars, clip-ons below the tripple clamp. And the SV-S is a sportbike. No question about it. The V-strom however is a tall flying-couch time: Wide bars, tall seat, tall pegs (but the seat is so high that the pegs don't matter). On the road, the V-Strom engine mounting makes it much smoother. The SV is rather buzzy, the mirrors blurring into unrecognition at 7k RPM. The V-Strom has almost none of the high-frequency vibration, and what there is only goes into the seat, not the bars. The V-Strom also has much better wind protection, although there is a bit more turbulance. As a freeway/commuter, teh Vstrom is vastly superior. I didn't really get a chance to push the SV on turning, but it seemed very good on ye-bog-standard LA curving onramp. My personal verdict: The SV-s is a real nice, real world sportbike: as fast as anything in the real world. I understand why they sell em by the boatload. The V-Strom is a better general bike. It gives up some in the twisties (not as much as you'd think, because of the 2x leverage on the bars), in echange for much better comfort, wind protection, distance ability (1up or 2up), and convenience (remote preload, 5.8 gallon gas tank, etc). And it is amazing how two VERY DIFFERENT bikes can be made with the same engine. I'm just waiting for suzuki to do a 650 mini-power cruiser with that engine.
