Since everyone races SV's seems like...

[velocity bmg]

Just found the Sept. issue of RR world. J*** "Woody" was in there I think.
I'll have to show it to peeps at work and say, "see that dude, #1 plate?"
"That's the guy who sent me the race race take offs"

My five minutes of fame.

Congrats on the win , btw.

Also noticed Tye Howard's name in there. Seems he was racing an "SV 650".

Backing it in on one pic...ala Schwantz...Doohan...old school.

Now, AFAIK, and SV is like a stripped down sportbike, (Think Ducati Monster), with some full race body work on it.

Seems like alot of guys choose to race these...I'm assuming because they are cheap to fix if you bend it or bin it.


Is this the thinking, or am I totally off here?

[meanstrk]

I'm sorry...... What's the question here?

[velocity bmg]

Originally Posted by meanstrk

I'm sorry...... What's the question here?

I guess the question is, and it is just a question.

1. Why use what is basically old technology, and comes not race ready to compete professionally?

(I mean, if I,and this is just my view of course, if I were going to race, I would get the latest model, trick it out, and go all or nothing.)

Being on the poor side relatively, I don't see myself with a 2008 ZX-10R with every aftermarket, billet titanium, 128 bit power commander, carbon rotored bike either. But was just wondering if there is another reason for using the SV.

Yeah, cheap to fix, probably fun to throw about, etc.

Am I making sense here at all?

[toyotapower]

Originally Posted by velocity bmg

I guess the question is, and it is just a question.

1. Why use what is basically old technology, and comes not race ready to compete professionally?

(I mean, if I,and this is just my view of course, if I were going to race, I would get the latest model, trick it out, and go all or nothing.)

Being on the poor side relatively, I don't see myself with a 2008 ZX-10R with every aftermarket, billet titanium, 128 bit power commander, carbon rotored bike either. But was just wondering if there is another reason for using the SV.

Yeah, cheap to fix, probably fun to throw about, etc.

Am I making sense here at all?

because they are a great learning tool. they don't have the power of an inline 4 so corner speed and braking are highly emphasized. honestly if i could afford it i'd love to have started racing on an sv or better yet a two stroke.... from what i understand it makes you a better rider. for example: a kid that goes to arroyo seco (tiras banks) was on an sv650 last year and he could really throw that thing around, carried a lot of corner speed. this year he got a gsxr1000 and he is dominating the amateur class.... he's even passing half the experts in races where they are gridded together. moral: small bikes make it easier for you to learn, whether its racing or just street riding.

[meanstrk]

because they are a great learning tool. they don't have the power of an inline 4 so corner speed and braking are highly emphasized. honestly if i could afford it i'd love to have started racing on an sv or better yet a two stroke.... from what i understand it makes you a better rider. for example: a kid that goes to arroyo seco (tiras banks) was on an sv650 last year and he could really throw that thing around, carried a lot of corner speed. this year he got a gsxr1000 and he is dominating the amateur class.... he's even passing half the experts in races where they are gridded together. moral: small bikes make it easier for you to learn, whether its racing or just street riding.

Very good answer!

The SV, when set up properly, is a VERY capable bike and can teach you how to carry corner speed like you never thought possible. Once you learn corner speed on a bike like this, you can pretty much ride the piss out of ANYTHING once you get the throttle control down. Not to mention that the price of entry is less than a SS bike. Look at this realistically though..... No bike is turnkey track ready. You are still going to have to get the suspension set up for individual weight and that may or may not mean new springs and valving. Yes, you get a more capable bike with a modern in line 4, but learning how to rail a less capable bike is SOOOOO much fun! You learn how to get more with less!

It's why I bought mine.....

[velocity bmg]

Originally Posted by toyotapower

because they are a great learning tool. they don't have the power of an inline 4 so corner speed and braking are highly emphasized. honestly if i could afford it i'd love to have started racing on an sv or better yet a two stroke.... from what i understand it makes you a better rider. for example: a kid that goes to arroyo seco (tiras banks) was on an sv650 last year and he could really throw that thing around, carried a lot of corner speed. this year he got a gsxr1000 and he is dominating the amateur class.... he's even passing half the experts in races where they are gridded together. moral: small bikes make it easier for you to learn, whether its racing or just street riding.

Nice explanation.

I saw an SV on the way between my residences today coincidentally.

Corner speed is the new in thing because of the 800 GP series.

I was reading about the old two stroke 500's...much faster...vicious.

In fact, I think it was Creville that said "4-strokes are great bikes....for girls."


Steer with the rear.

Things go in cycles.

[R1100S-Rider]

I've takin my SV650 to a couple track days, and will be racing it next year. I've passed people on 600, and 1000cc bikes. You learnen a lot more starting small, than starting big. Of course they all pass me in the straights, but I catch up to them on the turns, and thats where it counts. Anyone can go fast in a straight away, but only the talented can go fast in the turns.

The reason so many people start out on SV650 is that they are a excellent bike. They handle very well, they crash well, they aint all the fast. They are forgiving. You can spend a little bit of money, and get a heck of a lot of power out of them, and they are extremely light. Suspension is easy to set up on thoses bikes. The more powerful of a bike you get, the harder it is to set-up the suspension correctly. An SV650 is just a wonderful bike.

[LDS]

Originally Posted by velocity bmg

Corner speed is the new in thing because of the 800 GP series.

Not really. Every mile per hour you can carry through a turn, you take with you to the end of the straightaway.

Cost is another great reason to race an SV. Where a liter bike or 600 will go through a set of tires per race if you're even halfway fast, an SV can go a whole weekend on the same set. I ran a half-day track day, four practice sessions and four races this weekend, and I'll use the same tires next weekend for a track day, two practices, and a 20 lap race. On a 600 or 1000, the tire bill for that much track time would be around $2K.

[RRRR6]

Originally Posted by velocity bmg

Corner speed is the new in thing because of the 800 GP series.

[Woodyracing]

wasn't me, I got my name in there for finishing 6th place in one of the Cycle Jam races (as a novice) in July or something like that, nothing spectacular at all.
I ain't won nothin unfortunately, hell I almost finished last place in a 4 rider race this past weekend at Nashville (I f'in hate that place). Part of that was my broken foot but I wouldn't have been able to keep up with the leaders anyway.

hey LDS, see ya at Barber man!

to get back on topic though, a bike you race doesn't have to be ready to race on the showroom floor. The SV is cheap and effective, while not being overwhelming. An older 600 is similar but racing one can be tricky. Usually your stuck with either vintage racing (Honda F3 is the bike of choice for V7 with WERA) or running in the 600 class, which would be a slaughter on a 80-90 HP bike. To run that class you need an 03+ and a good bit of modifications to be competitive and even then you have to be REALLY damn good to run up front even in the novice class.

125 and 250 two strokes are also great for this but they require a LOT more maintenance and are much more expensive and are catered to smaller riders (kids mostly).

The SV is cheap, reliable, easily available, parts are easy to find, racing classes are small but still competitive, contingency is available, its got enough power that your not bored but not so much that your getting close to high-siding in every corner. You don't have to spend a fortune to be competitive, a 99 SV can compete with an 07 without too much trouble.

You can find 1st gen SVs race prepped for a couple grand and go win novice races on it, the same can't be said for the 600 class obviously

the fast guys can run the SV in the Suzuki Cup finals at Road Atlanta, the winner gets a brand new SV and there is plenty of Suzuki money up for grabs.

[Woodyracing]

Originally Posted by velocity bmg

Nice explanation.

I saw an SV on the way between my residences today coincidentally.

Corner speed is the new in thing because of the 800 GP series.

I was reading about the old two stroke 500's...much faster...vicious.

In fact, I think it was Creville that said "4-strokes are great bikes....for girls."


Steer with the rear.

Things go in cycles.

cornerspeed has nothing to do with MotoGP going to 800s. 125s and 250s (and SVs) have been relying on cornerspeed long before MotoGP went to 800s, or even four strokes for that matter. The 500s weren't "faster" just more brutal.

"Steer with the rear" is a great motto for world champion superbike or 500GP riders but a novice club racer won't win anything but broken bones with that philosophy.

[Docbrock]

Other than a GSXR, the SV is the most common track bike I see. It's real nice if you have a small crash, being able to borrow/buy parts to get your bike back running and you back on the track so you don't loose any track time. Good learning bikes. Also, you can race them in a class that is a bit less competitive than the middleweight meat grinder.

[velocity bmg]

Originally Posted by Woodyracing

wasn't me, I got my name in there for finishing 6th place in one of the Cycle Jam races (as a novice) in July or something like that, nothing spectacular at all.
I ain't won nothin unfortunately, hell I almost finished last place in a 4 rider race this past weekend at Nashville (I f'in hate that place). Part of that was my broken foot but I wouldn't have been able to keep up with the leaders anyway.

hey LDS, see ya at Barber man!

to get back on topic though, a bike you race doesn't have to be ready to race on the showroom floor. The SV is cheap and effective, while not being overwhelming. An older 600 is similar but racing one can be tricky. Usually your stuck with either vintage racing (Honda F3 is the bike of choice for V7 with WERA) or running in the 600 class, which would be a slaughter on a 80-90 HP bike. To run that class you need an 03+ and a good bit of modifications to be competitive and even then you have to be REALLY damn good to run up front even in the novice class.

125 and 250 two strokes are also great for this but they require a LOT more maintenance and are much more expensive and are catered to smaller riders (kids mostly).

The SV is cheap, reliable, easily available, parts are easy to find, racing classes are small but still competitive, contingency is available, its got enough power that your not bored but not so much that your getting close to high-siding in every corner. You don't have to spend a fortune to be competitive, a 99 SV can compete with an 07 without too much trouble.

You can find 1st gen SVs race prepped for a couple grand and go win novice races on it, the same can't be said for the 600 class obviously

the fast guys can run the SV in the Suzuki Cup finals at Road Atlanta, the winner gets a brand new SV and there is plenty of Suzuki money up for grabs.

Oh hell...thought you were the ASRA number 1 plate guy.

Jeff Wood...

Oh well.

As far as two strokes...and racing...and whatever...

Ok...you are right.

I just have always liked 2 strokers because when the engine breaks, there
are only about 6 parts that will usually need fixing.

Also, 2 strokes CC for CC, pound for pound, make far more power than
a 4 stroker.

Look at moto-x.

A 1991 CR 250 would fucking smoke one of those 4 stroke CFR450 F four bangers.

I used to ride a friends 91 CR 250, the first real well made water cooled
dirt bike Honda made.

That thing was fast...wheelied whether you liked it or not.

Not out of control wheelie...it would just shit and get.

MY CBR would have to be dropped off a building to reach that kind of acceleration.