Opinions on a SV

[Particle Man]

I'll respond here too (responded on facebook too )

I personally would go with the 06 (even though I love my 03) because, as stated above, a lot of aftermarket goodies only fit on the 04 and up models. The 03 was really a generation of it's own and sometimes it's tough finding things that will fit.

I'd also be wary of that few miles on the SV - depending on how it was stored, you could be looking at a lot of dry rot (rubber bits and such) and brake line issues (moisture in the lines).

Just my .02

[Rangerscott]

Count me in for the '06.

[Tsunami]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

I'll respond here too (responded on facebook too )

I personally would go with the 06 (even though I love my 03) because, as stated above, a lot of aftermarket goodies only fit on the 04 and up models. The 03 was really a generation of it's own and sometimes it's tough finding things that will fit.

I'd also be wary of that few miles on the SV - depending on how it was stored, you could be looking at a lot of dry rot (rubber bits and such) and brake line issues (moisture in the lines).

Just my .02

I was thinking about the parts too. Funny thing is I already have an extra seat for the 03 that I was going to send to Sargent to get refoamed. So if I get the 06, I have to look for another seat.

The 03 is stored outside (Logically, I would hope under a bike cover or some shade...) as my friend doesn't have a garage.

Girly question-- what do you think of the 06 color?

[Particle Man]

Don't ask me - I only like the copper which is why I have the 03

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

I'd pass on the 03. I don't like the silver frame and some stuff was changed considerably in 04 which means that some aftermarket parts are 04+ only.

I don't understand how an 03 is different from an 04.

There was a major design change in 03 (they became fuel injected and got an all-new frame with straight edges). But after that, they all looked the same after that. I stopped paying attention to them though, so I don't know the details.

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Tsunami

Did you have to do anything major to your SV other than basic maintenance?

Nope

However, after about 18K mine developed a rough vibration at 5K rpm, under hard accel. It vibrated the whole bike. Tried doing valve adj, carb syncs, new chains/sprockets.......Never improved, so I just lived with it. But it was irritating. Might have been an imbalanced clutch basket.

[Tsunami]

Ok I this may sound ridiculous but the 06 guy posted his bike with no year or miles...and his selling point was that it had a K&N filter...that adds to my wariness

[racedoll]

Ask for maintenance records on the 06. Anyone with some sense would keep something...I would think.

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I don't understand how an 03 is different from an 04.

There was a major design change in 03 (they became fuel injected and got an all-new frame with straight edges). But after that, they all looked the same after that. I stopped paying attention to them though, so I don't know the details.

For 2004, Suzuki lowered the subframe by 40 mm and made the seat more narrow; the rearsets were also higher on the 03 and the rear angled up more compared to the 04+. In addition, the 03 shared the same radiator as the first gen SV.

There are also some length differences between the 03 and the 04+ (the 03 SVN was 2125 mm (83.7 inches) long while the 04-06 was shorter at 2080 mm (81.9 inches).

If I recall correctly, ground clearance was also reduced from 155 mm in 03 to 150 mm for 04-06 (though it remained at 155 mm on the S models).

It may not seem like a lot but a lot of the most common upgrades (like the seat and rearsets for example) are not interchangable from the 03 to the 04+.

Oh, and the frames were silver up until 05.

[Tsunami]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Nope

However, after about 18K mine developed a rough vibration at 5K rpm, under hard accel. It vibrated the whole bike. Tried doing valve adj, carb syncs, new chains/sprockets.......Never improved, so I just lived with it. But it was irritating. Might have been an imbalanced clutch basket.

You are not helping the 06's cause...

Originally Posted by racedoll

Ask for maintenance records on the 06. Anyone with some sense would keep something...I would think.

Unless he maintained it himself