Anyone have a Suzuki SV650?
 

They are REALLY cheap (i see them under $2k). Could really help to save on gas.

Im just wondering if anyone here has one and what kind of mpg they are getting, if they are reliable... that sort of thing...

I have a 2006 SV650n ("2nd gen", "naked" F.I.).

Best I've done is 58 mpg during moderate backroad riding on Ethanol-free Premium. Straight hwy I run about 55MPG at 72-74MPH. I found Ethanol-free 87 at the end of last season, and may try to see if I can get some better numbers.

I geared it up 1 Tooth on the countershaft to drop revs about 500 at cruise and have a slip-on muffler.

It will do low 50MPG in-town as well.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...g/4330a5c1.jpg

Check out www.svrider.com for everything SV.


Jay

Totally worth the money. I bought mine with 8k 4 years ago and now have 72K:thumbup: I haven't even adjusted the valves, mainly cause I've checked and it doesn't need it. I've raced and beat on it hard. (aside from chains, sprokets and tires. Did change the forks springs) To this day I've not had any mechanical operating or drive-ability problem. Even when I and it hit a guard rail at 45mph. I fixed the dents and re painted it and she rides again and has been since. I am about to get a new bike and still race this one. I've taken many trips and geared it 4 down in the rear and one up as I have plenty of open road here and do a lot of freeway driving. Same mpg as the other here. I also, when I drive in town our up here in our mountain community a lot of pulse and glide driving. I take advantage of going down the hills and coast. Getting 160 to 190mpg per tank. All depending on how you drive it. Mine is an 02 full fared S model. I also have a varying air valve for the intake box to lean or rich it up simply by changing the air availability. It's carburated so I take advantage of that. I use a digital a/r meter to see where I'm at with an lamda 02 at the collector from both exhausts.
Bought mine for $800.00 cause the guy thought it blew a head gasket. Almost impossible so took a chance,....he had over filled it by almost three quarts oil. Dumped and refilled and has run great ever since.

Ninja650
 

The 650 class is the often misunderstood segment that fits between the 250's and the supersport 600's and includes all of the more versatile everyday riding motorcyles. I just bought an 2007 Ninja650 to go with my 2011 Honda CBR250R and 2009 Ninja250. It has 8,800 miles and was $3500 with fresh oil change and tires. My son will be riding it mostly as he is a little too big for another Honda at 6'1, 280lbs. I'm sure I will have a chance to put a couple tanks through it where I should be able to get about 55 mpgUS on my 68 mph commute. The Ninja 250 gets 66 (my daughter rides that now) and I am just over 90 mpgUS on the CBR250R. The Suzuki SV650 and the Ninja 650 are the go to used motorcycles for commuters that are too big for the new Honda CBR250R. Much better on gas than any inline 4 engine in a 600 that all the canyon racers ride. But you can't buy a new SV as Suzuki has dropped them in favor of the V-Strom. The BMW G650 GS costs $7900 and the newest Honda NC700 at $7000 can get amazing fuel economy at 72 mpgUS. They are tall riding adventure style bikes like the Versys and the V Strom but could be lowered. Tall riders that occasionally ride on dirt roads and less often on the big highway might be interested in the KLR650.
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2012 NC700X Overview - Honda Powersports
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2012 Ninja® 650 Sport - Kawasaki.com
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2012 Versys® Sport - Kawasaki.com
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Suzuki Cycles - Product Lines - Cycles - Products - V-Strom 650 - 2012 - DL650A
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BMW Motorrad USA

The G650GS is not that tall, though, it has the same seat height as your CBR250R. The tall version is the Sertao now (it used to be the Dakar) - though the vanilla GS has quite long wheel travel too :)

The V-Strom looks huge next to a G650GS, though it's not much heavier. The F/G650 is a nice compact bike :D Sized for humans, as a former colleague of mine said when she saw my Teresa (F650CS, same size as the 'little' GS) and a V-Strom together in the parking lot :D

True. Great all around bike with great fuel mileage and a decent price. Cheaper than the V-Strom too.