Restricting an SV650

Motorcycling
1

Hello, I have been riding for just under one and a half years now and am finally looking to complete my test and move onto a bigger bike. I am only 18 so after completing my test I will be restricted to 33bhp for 2 years. I currently ride a Varadero 125. I have been looking at a range of different bikes to get and the SV650 seems to have won me over!

The only concern I have is after restricting the bike what will the speed be like on it? I will be getting a new one and it will be restricted by the fuel injection I am guessing. Is it worth me getting a bike like an sv650 and restricting it or would I be better off just getting a smaller bike to start, which will only produce 33bhp until the two year period is up.

I currently ride a varadero 125 for reference, which I find to be very sluggish.

Thanks for any help

2

I was in the same situation as you - got an sv650 and got it restricted. Find somewhere that will

drill a hole in the throttle barrel and stick in a “pin” (a screw!) and give you a dyno print out

(try an “under-the-arch” garage!)

Cost me 90quid and meant I could unscrew the pin whenever I wanted, not that I did of course!:wink:

Only really affected the bike once I got onto faster roads, in town, there isn’t much difference

as you’ve still got the torque low down. Good luck

3

Thanks for that, I have actually thought of doing this in the past. If ‘Joe Bloggs’ did this and ‘Joe Bloggs’ got pulled over would it be quick enough for him to put back in without anyone noticing?

4

love SV’s…

i’ve rode both restricted and unrestricted 650’s, as caveman said, other way of restriction is throttle stop, or through the ECU.

bear in mind teh restriction cuts in on an SV at about 8k RPM i think, it will still feel liek a rocketsjip compared to a 125 varadero:D varaderos are ok tho, there v-twins too!:w00t::cool:

5

Well not really. I carried around a small screw driver with me but I think if you got pulled, it would look a bit dodgy if you start fiddling about with one around the throttle! Then again, how easy is it to tell if a bike is restricted or not on the spot without a rolling road? Not that i’m condoning this by any means!

6

I didn’t realise it would reach 8k revs without the restriction kicking in! Considering it red lines at 11k(I think) it should still be able to perform quite well. I’ll probably keep the restriction kit in place for at least a year, then when I eventually do take it out it will feel like a new bike again!

7

If your going to keep the bike for a while, restriction looks like the way to go.

O.K. it costs you about £100 but think what you save on depreciation by not changing the bike when you can de restrict. (It will also be perfectly run in when that time comes.)

To me, having a bike with all the braking and road holding of a decent 650, but simply restricted in power, makes perfect sense.

Now here’s a thought. The legendary Triumph air cooled Bonnie of the 60s/70s came out of the factory with less than 33ps.

Just do it.

8

I’ll be getting the bike new from a Suzuki dealer so will get a free restrictor kit with it anyway! Hopefully i’ll manage to get my test done next month then i’ll pick up the bike sometime in November if all goes to plan.

Thanks for the help everyone!

9

How much are you going to sell the Varadero for, out of interest?

Can’t go wrong with the sv650 for sure. Not sure I’d buy one new but it seems you have a level of patience so don’t doubt you’ll enjoy it!! :slight_smile:

10

Not sure at the moment mate, having really looked around at other prices. It’s an 02 reg with roughly 24k miles. It’s got a few cracks on some of the panels but apart from being a bit sluggish runs very well and is mechanically sound. I’d be happy to take 1100 for it when coming to sell I think!