Suzuki SV650 (2016-on) Review | Speed, Specs & Prices | MCN

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes 4 out of 5 (4/5) Author:Tony Hoare, Phil West and Gareth Evans Published: 05 April 2022 Updated: 22 March 2024

The 2016-on Suzuki SV650 is a fun little V-twin naked roadster that appeals in equal parts to new riders and those with decades of experience.

• Related: Suzuki unveil A2-friendly GSX-S950

It's a re-hash of the loveable 1999-2015 Suzuki SV650, which was available both in roadster and half-faired sportster forms. It was updated with fuel-injection and a new chassis in 2004 then replaced by the facelifted, renamed and reframed SFV650 Gladius roadster in 2009.

Reverting to SV form in 2016, Suzuki’s naked middleweight received another new chassis, updated engine and fresh styling and remains a temptingly priced ‘first big bike’. Highlights are its still characterful, effective and durable V-twin powerplant, sweet, entertaining handling and a price point that undercuts more modern rivals such as Yamaha’s MT-07. Today the only question marks hang over its slightly anonymous styling, arguably basic, budget spec and slight issues over build quality – although reliability is rock solid.

Overall, the SV is a fantastic real world, mid-size V-twin naked bike. Owners universally praise it for its ease of riding, handling and superb engine and its manageability and affordability are worth highlighting, too. It's even brilliant on a trackday!

To address the ‘bland styling’ jibe, Suzuki ushered in various colour schemes for the SV650 during the bike's lifecycle. In 2019 you could have it in black with red detailing, white with blue details or black with blue details while for 2020 Suzuki announced another new set of colours – metallic silver with a blue trellis, matt black with red frame and wheels or gloss black. For 2021 both the SV650 and its adventure bike sibling, the V-Strom 650 (which uses the same 645cc V-twin engine), received further engine tweaks to get them through the new Euro5 emissions regulations.

2021 model update for SV650

Suzuki unveiled new colour options available on their SV650 for 2021 as pictured above. The models’ long-lived V-twin engine has also been tweaked to make it through Euro5 emissions regulations.

The standard SV650 model is available in white with a red frame or in black with a blue or gold frame, and the cafe racer-styled SV650X gets a new gold frame, too.

The SV retains a strong following to this day. Owner groups can be found online at www.svrider.com or in various Facebook groups.

If you're after a more retro take on the SV650 formula, check out the cafe racer-styled SV650X which is basically the SV with clip on bars, nose cowling, retro ‘ribbed’ seat and a different paintjob.

And fast-forward to 2023, when Suzuki revealed the new GSX-8S parallel twin will join the range alongside the much-loved SV650.

'I learnt to ride on a Suzuki SV650'

MCN's online editor Gareth Evans passed his test on an SV650 in 2019, and absolutely raves about it as a brilliant first big bike. This was the one he learnt on:

"One of the reasons I was so keen on the SV was its flexible yet entertaining engine, which has loads of braking meaning fewer gear changes. It allows you to learn the bike at a leisurely pace, but it also sounds mega and has more than enough grunt for a 'first big bike'," said Evans.

In July 2021 he got a chance to revisit the SV on a Suzuki riding day, and came away happily reminded of its inspired handling and brilliant V-Twin motor, which makes every journey an event thanks to its huge torque reserves, distinctive sound and brilliant performance.

"With a list price of £6599 (in 2019) it's hard to ignore the Suzuki as a reasonably priced, high-performance naked," reports Gareth. "It's far cheaper than the popular Triumph Trident 660 I'm running this year, and nearly as enjoyable for a rider of my level of experience."

• Related: Top 10 best first big motorbikes

Suzuki SV650 long-term test

During 2016 MCN ran a Suzuki SV650 on our long-term test fleet, and found it a lively, solid and rewarding machine. We took it to the Isle of Man for TT week, and even compared it with the bonkers 207bhp Kawasaki H2, with a very surprising result. Check out our video below after 2000 miles: