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SV650 Suspension, where to start?

B

blakesgst

New member
Joined
Oct 24, 2009
Location
Grover Beach, CA
Moto(s)
R6, F3
Hey Guys,

well after all the help and suggestions everyone gave me in my other thread I decided to pick up an 02 sv650 for my first track bike. I plan on doing quite a bit of track days and going to a few schools, eventually id like to start racing in the production class. That being said i really would like to start thinking about suspension work. For the front end I have seen people talk about racetech and another person on the forums who helped me quite a bit mentioned intiminators, any suggestions there? For the rear it seems a lot of people recomend a penske shock, any other options i should consider?

Thanks,

Blake
 
If you want to ride it on the track get the race tech emulators, throw in some 20-25 weight oil, and get straight rate springs set for your weight. Penske makes the only shock worth buying, the Ohlins is too short. You can get a Fox and have it revavled, but Peske is the way to go.

If you're running a C group pace you can stick with the stock shock for awhile, but you can't go fast on a SV without changing stuff.

Don't waste your money on a GSXR front end unless you have money to spend.
 
Contact the guy who posted above me. Give him your bike and a small pile of money. Get back a well set up SV.
 
Start by having Dave Moss of CRS set up the sag and rebound for you at a track day. Then spend money on parts. After you replace your forks, of course (if they really are bent bad enough).
 
barlow said:
Start by having Dave Moss of CRS set up the sag and rebound for you at a track day. Then spend money on parts.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately it does not work that way on sv, you have to spend money first than dial in.
SV suspension is not adjustable other than preload.
 
Everyone has given some good advice but I must chime in on the intiminators that you mentioned... We did the initial testing of this product and worked to get the final product set up the way you can now buy it off of the shelf. Ultimately if you do springs set up for your weight, Intiminators for $300, and the right weight fork oil you will have a really solid front end. Be careful though as there are two versions of the Intiminator out there. Make sure you get the "Race" version. You can call Gregg Spears at Spears Enterprises and he can get you set up. Ricor is the company that makes these but they only sell the "Street" version and Spears Enterprises is the only one that has the "Race" version.

I used this set up all year with a fair amount of success:)

We ran the intiminators in the forks and a penske rear shock on our production bike. I also run a superbike with a 2008 GSXR 1000 front end on it and I had just as much confidence in the intiminator front end as I did with the GSXR front end. We are actually talking about setting up a superbike configured bike with stock forks and intiminators to see what we can do with it. At that point the only gap would be with the brakes...

Please let me know if you have any questions. I would be glad to answer. Good Luck with your bike.

www.spearsenterprises.com/Intiminator.html
 
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You can also find a set of 96 or 97 Honda CBR F3 forks and do that swap to get a cartridge dampening set up for pretty cheaply. You use the upper forks from the F3 and the lower portion from the SV650 for a very clean install. I've seen forks on ebay sell for $100 or less. I can't say they'd be better than the Intimidators but it would get you much better front suspension (you'd have to buy springs of course) for a very reasonable price and you can spend your money on a shock and get to the track faster.

Zoran might say I'm full of it but it would be a huge step in the right direction over the stock forks and much cheaper than some alternatives.

PL
 
why not Zoran? the F3 componants fit in the stock tube and sliders, only external is the cap, which liek the ak20s, is legal...

Brian
 
on 2nd gen sv yes, on first gen no. What Pete is saying is to use inner tubes from F3. Inner fork tube from another bike is not legal for production.
 
TWF said:
Unfortunately it does not work that way on sv, you have to spend money first than dial in.
SV suspension is not adjustable other than preload.
Click to expand...

+1 Dave where are my forks... :)
 
dsapsis said:
I thought they were "our" forks :laughing

Long story, but the basics are:
a) I suck
b) Zoran doesn't
Click to expand...

What you each get one, Dave has the For, ZIM gets the ks.

Sapsis we need to go for a ride. I think I could be convinced to take the Duc to the track:cool
 
Ridley said:
What you each get one, Dave has the For, ZIM gets the ks.

Sapsis we need to go for a ride. I think I could be convinced to take the Duc to the track:cool
Click to expand...

Well duh to taking Duc to track -- what else is it good for?:twofinger

Not sure what ks is -- but this is for a new, faster (read:slower) bester (read:alien fairing'ed) thing to serve as back-up, laugh-machine, and additional chair in pits for the Monkey Clan. Cant go wrong.

Back OT: I hear Ohlins suck in the rear, so that's what we are sportin!
 
I read your threads and here is my take:

Get an already prepped trackbike that was built by someone you (or others here) trust. Doesn't matter whether its an SV or a 250. Whether it aready has nice suspension or not is NOT a big deal at first. There are plenty of people that race the new gen 250 with stock suspension quite well.

You will spend more time and money building it yourself (although more fun might be had in the process). If you want track time then get something that works that you will not have to muck with.
 
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