SV650 in vintage: Has the time come?

I think it has. I wonder if it might be time to allow 1st gen SV650s to participate in vintage. It appears that they are no longer a first choice for twins and are being sidelined in favor of 3rd gen, FZ07 and Aprilia 660s. They are now pushing 25 years old and are clearly a good fit for vintage. I suspect that there are some bikes and riders that would be more inclined to go vintage than continue with twins.

 

I would think it would fit in V7.

 

I could see v-7 mw , superbike rules. A decent rider could give someone on a CBR or FZR a good battle.

 

Do it and they will come.....Me too!

 

I just bought a first Gen from Mark and my son is getting one too. There's two more participants.

 

Maybe Mark would even grid up, since he seems to have developed more of a vintage mindset since he got old.

 

Ken - Not untrue.

I’ve actually emailed this suggestion to Sean since 2018 (I looked up my emails when I saw this thread)

I am truly hopeful to be back out in ‘23 with at least 2 of the horribly carbbed (sp?) antiquated turds.

And yes I have an stupid affection for the 1G.

 

VC - Vintage Clapped?

 

It is well known tha Mongo is just a big meanie, but now maybe ther is hope that he will see the light and put the 1st gen SV into its rightful place in V7. I think it is apparent that it will add some entries without taking away from current classes. If I wanted to race a twin in modern classes, a 1st gen SV would not be it.

 

I bought mine to finally race a bike that wasn't in Vintage, but if there is a place for it I sure as hell will pay the entry fee to be out there. Mark mentioned the Vintage tie when I picked it up a couple months ago and it sounds like a great idea. And I was never really concerned with how competitive I'd be in modern classes. The reason I bought it was because Mark had a well sorted machine and my son and I finally want to see who's the better rider with us both on the exact same motorcycles for once.

 

My buddy and I were just this week discussing racing a couple SV650 next season. More opportunties to race them would be very welcomed.

 

Very wise decision. The way I see it is that many 1st gen sv riders would add V7 to the classes they are already running, so WERA would gain ,at least, another entry fee in addition to what they are already getting. The old win/win scenario.

 

This is kind of my thinking as well. I would like to run this (theoretical) Vintage class along with LWSB and F2. My 1Gs are all “Kinda Superbikey” so the V7 Superbike rules would be a nice fit. Regardless of Mike C’s hatred of carbs, flatslides are a truly beautiful (and noisey) thing.

I do disagree with brother Ken, I think the 1G is still plenty competitive at the club level - Not with my old fat rump on it but if I put Tuna on my SB I’d bet he could do just fine.

I know this time of year everyone (myself being one of the biggest offenders) talk about “next years plans”. For myself, there is a list of friends I haven’t seen in 2-3 years in person and I know the only way I will is if I get back out to the track. Not to be melodramatic- but I’ve lost too many friends this past couple years and I want to see the ones I still have and catch up.

 

I never said it wasn't still competetive at the club level, I said that it is no longer a first choice given the newer competitors. Don't forget that these youngsters are unable to deal with carbs.

 

I vote for adding the SV

 

Does anybody know the comparable lap times at a track like Barber for a good V7 bike and a good superbike SV?

 

I would say a rider who finishes in second in either class would be a reasonable comparison. That would eliminate the super fast guys and me on the slow end.

 

I have now heard from a couple of reliable 2nd hand sources that a good V7MW time at Barber is in the mid to high 1:30's range and that a good SV time is 1:38. Are those realistic sounding times? If so, then an SV650 seems to be a good fit in V7MW.