I’ve been looking around for a good donor SV to turn into a track bike. I figured I’d ask the experts. What year SV’s make the best track day bike? And why? Or, what years should I stay away from? Thanks in advance!
Do Suzuki a favor, buy a new bike. Everything is "new" and better. More importantly, do us racers a favor, buy new so suzuki will continue to pay contengency.
So looking at the thread - it seems an '07 is preferred for the FI -vs- Carbs. I'm looking for a bit of a project so I'd like to buy a nice street bike and turn it into a nice track bike. What do you guys think of miles? I know this is a hard one, but if can find a bike with around 15k street miles, how long do these stock engines last being raced? I'm coming out of a 2 smoker so I really don't have a yardstick to measure against. Thanks!!
'03 up is FI. My '09 has 18K (at least half of that on the track) I believe, and AFAIK motor has never been opened. It's my 6th or 7th SV. I've blown up 2-3 motors with much lower mileage, I think mostly due to letting them overrev on downshifts. I get liking to tinker, but with so many already built for sale you'd be foolish to build one from scratch.
The stock motors go a long time with very little intervention. 2005 or 2006 are probably the best years, though really 2003-2009 all are more or less the same. 2005 and 2006 have the black frames, simple electronics, but also the easier to find fuel pump (4 pin connector newer style). The big annoyance from 2007-2009 is the extra electronics, especially with respect to the throttle bodies and idle control.
I have one already built, with lots of spares. It'll run well, but could probably could use a freshening up of the engine and some fork oil, but its a solid bike. AK20s in the forks (and I have a spare set of forks), spare wheels, Penske shock. You'd probably want some new bodywork for it, but I have a couple of sets I'll give you until then to get you started. Leo Vinci pipe... A whole set up that I can probably give you a package deal, if you're interested. There's a lot more, but I won't list here - wasn't meaning this to be a classifieds ad, but since you said you were looking. Its a 2007.
04-06 is what I would look for... 04 frame/swingarm still silver. 05-06 went to black frame/swingarm. 07 went to dual plug. Maybe Zoran can chime in here, but I always bought 04-06 models for single plug setup. Did 04 and 06/07 GSXR 600/750 front end swaps on 3 of em and if I was going to build another, I wouldn't even bother with the GSXR front end swap. I would send stock forks of to Zoran and have him install cartridge kit he developed for the stock front end.
Ehh, there are benefits that come along with the newer throttle bodies and electronics. They are more of a benefit than a hindrance IMO
There is a perk in that Woolich/Flashtune can flash the ECU's on 2007-2009, but man I hate that you need to keep in the ISC and secondary motor or else the ECU throws errors. Per the service manual you need the Suzuki SDS (computer) tool to sync the throttle bodies as well.
Don’t forget there are also individual MAP sensors that help keep things more balanced and reapond better to different situations. More than likely next years bike will be a 2007 or newer to take advantage of that.