Since I am an adiv motorcyclist, I figured i’d post up a quick long synopsis of my curret motorcycle situation:
On June 29st, 2021 I hooked up my cheap utility trailer, and made my way from Rhode Island to central Connecticut. I had been wanting to pick up a track bike so I could try my hand at the world of track-days. This had been a nagging thought that I couldn’t shake for years, but successfully put it off during the pandemic.
A week earlier, I had made the move of going on to the local track organizations Facebook page, and posted a want ad for a track-prepped 2nd generation SV650. The SV650 is the obvious choice when wanting a well sorted and well supported track bike: their geometry, simplicity and reliability make them the perfect choice. I also knew that I did not want a first generation bike since I long-decided that I am done with motorcycles with carburetors, and the 1999-2003 SV650 has two of them.
A few hours after my wanted posting, there were a few replies. One was by far the cheapest option: a 2004 model at $1000 and he only had one pic of it…
He explained that he had purchased it from the original owner who was in New York City. Apparently the owner suffered some sort of accident with the bike that totaled it. It is now unclear to me if the original owner, or the man I purchased it from, converted it from wreck to track bike configuration. He decided he wanted to try his hand at racing so this was his mini-twin class bike. During one race at Palmer Motorsports track in Palmer, Massachusetts, he was battling with some other riders on the straight at 100mph, got tangled up, and went down into a low-side slide. The bike ended up in some pieces with some damage, but was still straight. He took it home, ordered some replacement parts, and never touched it again. Since there was no battery or gas in the tank, I didn’t try to get it started. I paid him, we strapped the bike into the trailer, piled the parts into the bed of the truck and I made the 2 hour ride home.
Unloaded it all. Unfortunately I did not take better pictures. Along with the bike, there was a new fairing and a new-old stock tank included, which alone value-wise equals the value of the bike.
Upon disassembly, most of the damage I found was a few threaded holes that needed re-chasing with a tap, pock-marked frame from sliding across the gravel, and there is a bunch of battery-acid staining on the chassis and swing-arm. The rear seat cowl and tank needed most of the repair work. Luckily, the frame sliders took the slide and saved any serious damage.
After much prep, I assembled a tent in my garage, purchased a single-stage automotive lacquer, got out the $80 harbor freight spray gun and re-sprayed the body in Toyota Cavalry Blue.
While the bike was apart, I did a basic fluid flush, as well as installed a woodcraft key-delete as well as some PAIR delete plates. I also opted for a clear windscreen as those blacked-out ones are not for me. After reassembly, I was finally able to see the finished product.
After staring at it for a while (a few years), I started to see that it was going to need a complete suspension over-hall and some other small items to be track-ready. In february 2024 (almost 3 years after getting the 2004 bike), I found myself Searching around on the local track-day page again, someone posted a very nicely appointed 2007 sV650 track/race bike that had everything that I would want/need, INCLUDING a front suspension that had been gone thru by super-bike services with Traxxion dynamics internals, as well as an Penske rear shock. Bonus bits include a quick shifter, brembo master, aftermarkey rear subframe with gsxr rear cowl, and a fresh dyno sheet. Not long after, it was home with me…
The only issue was it had been painted via spray can with non-automotive paint. The gas tank was a mess from the fuel spilling melting and re-drying the paint. After some thought, I figured i’d swap the freshly painted bodywork from the old 2004 blue SV onto this new platform, and then simply sell the 2004 with the 2007’s black bodywork, PREFERABLY for what I paid for the new 2007. So I got to work.
Perfect: Everything fit like it should, except that the tail section is different so until I get to it, it’ll remain black. Now it looks as good as it runs.
Since I had recently sold my CB500X street bike, I figured i’d go ahead and sell the 2004 SV and maybe get a street legal SV so I could have the same platform to share parts, and knowledge. Once I entered into ownership of the SV650, the beauty, SIMPLICITY, community and genius design of this well-loved platform revealed itself to me over time. A naked-street SV650 would be perfect.
Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees: I know I can’t when so entrenched in a project. As I was prepping the 2004 model for sale, It hit me that I had a clean title for this bike: This is the street SV that I was going to go out and purchase… I already owned it.
I began shopping online for a street tail-section, bars, risers, lighting, and other bits. Ebay and amazon had lighting, and a used tail from a crashed bike was sourced.
After about 2 months it was finished and ready to be registered.
I made the appointment for the VIN check (since the bike was titled in New York, and I am in RHode Island this was required) and an appoint for the registry as well. After the Vin check was successful, it hit me that I might have a PROBLEM insuring it since it had been a ‘totaled’ vehicle. Nothing was said when I had the VIn check, so I found a free VIN-check online and ran the vin: It came back as a totaled vehicle. I was confused since the title was a clear title. I then made my way onto my insurance portal to get INSURANCE and it went thru without a problem. I was shocked.
Then the final test was the registry. So much matters on who ends up waiting on you when you go to the registry, and their mood. Luckily the guy was in super helpful, and i left with my plate. Officially, I had taken this twice-wrecked but somehow still straight SV650 and gotten it street-legal and road worthy.
To celebrate, I purchased new rubber for it…
…and enjoyed it for the 2024 season. It might look like hell, but it runs amazing. and with a zx-10 rear shock, and some heavier weight in the forks, it handles great. Yay motorcycles!
With loads of character, and my ability to now take this apart and re-assemble at a moments notice, I really have fallen more and more in love with this bike. I was going to paint it, but have not decided yet. Maybe a gsxr fork conversion may be on the HORIZON, or just packing on the miles…
Tim Guertin 