David Hurst

Regular readers of my blog will know that I started my motorcycle riding career on a Suzuki SV650S. The SV didn’t suit me, largely because the riding position was too sporty and uncomfortable (I’m 6ft1 tall) for any major distances, plus the mileage was getting up to the 27,000 mark. So, I’ve traded it in for a new Yamaha FZ6 Fazer S2 with ABS, and having lived with the Fazer for a few days, thought it might be worth doing a quick comparison between the two bikes, particularly as they are similar and are aimed at the same target market.

I should make it clear that my SV650S was a 2001 model with plenty of mileage on it, whereas I’m comparing it with a brand new bike. It’s also worth pointing out that it is only the faired version of the SV (the SV650S as opposed to the SV650) that has the sportier riding position. The naked SV probably would have suited me fine.

The riding position on the Fazer is completely different. You sit very upright, and the bike feels quite tall, which leads to almost motocross style flickability, and possibly a less involved ride than the SV and other more sporty bikes. The seats on both bikes are hard on the buttocks over longer distances, but the Fazer is far more bearable due to the more upright riding position.

Another key difference between the two bikes is the engines. The SV is a v-twin, whereas the Fazer is an inline 4 cylinder, and both have different characteristics. V-twins typically have lower redlines, and generate their peak power earlier in the rev range. They also return excellent levels of torque, meaning you can get away with being more lazy on your gear changes. An inline 4 usually develops less torque and reaches peak power much later in the rev range, meaning you have to make the most of the gears, and rev the engine a bit more to realise the full performance of the engine.

The Fazer has a 600cc engine developing 98BHP @ 12,000 RPM. The SV650S (2001) has a 645cc engine developing 70BHP @ 9,000 RPM. So, which is quicker?

I think the SV is easier to ride more quickly, with an instant surge of power from the throttle at almost any gear and rev combination. The Fazer feels weaker around town, but when you open it up (7000RPM+) it takes off with a huge surge of power. If you had a drag race, the SV would probably pull off the line quicker, but the Fazer would catch up and win as soon as it hit the magic power band! In every day use, there really isn’t as much difference as you might expect.

Pillion comfort is good on both bikes, but the SV seems to pull better two-up than the Fazer. Grab rails are good on both bikes, with the handle at the rear on the SV and handles on the side of the Fazer. Because the exhausts run under the seat on the Fazer, the pillion does benefit from warm hands and bum too!

Both bikes have a half or bikini fairing with a screen, so how is the wind deflection? Simple answer: the SV is better. At least for me, anyway. I have purchased and started using ear plugs with the Fazer, when I never felt I needed them on the SV. Wind noise is high above 70MPH, and any speed above 90 is pretty untolerable, which is probably a good thing. It’s worth mentioning also that the SV’s mirrors seemed to suffer less from vibration at high speed.

The only real disappointment with the new Yamaha though, is its gearbox. Suzuki just seem to be able to make better gearboxes. Changing gear on my 15 year old GSX1100F is like a knife through hot butter. The Yamaha gearbox is fine until you miss your change downs at a junction. At which point you have to stand on the pedal and engage the clutch slowly until it snaps in, and then repeat until you hit first (pulling away in second is much harder than on the SV due to less torque), which takes time. Simple answer is to make sure you don’t get caught out, but we all have our off-days, and the Suzuki gearbox just seems to be more forgiving. Perversely, the Yamaha gearbox is perfect for clutchless up-changes when on the power - it snicks in very easily, despite the user manual advising you that you should always use the clutch because the engine and drivetrain is not designed to withstand the shock of clutchless changes. Knackers to that. The differences could of course be due to my comparing older bikes with a brand new one.

The only other mild irritation is that only one of the headlights switches on at low beam. I’ve found a guy on the FZ6 Forum who makes up cables to wire up the other headlight though, so I will shortly be making that modification.

In terms of handling, both bikes are exceptionally good and can be flicked around the twisty roads with very little rider input. The Fazer feels like it drops into corners faster (probably due to the tall riding position), but it does hold lines very well.

The brakes are brilliant on both bikes. I spent extra on the Fazer to have ABS, but thankfully I haven’t had cause to use it yet, and I hope I never do, but it seemed like a worthy thing to have for the sake of £300. It will no doubt pay dividends if I ever have to do an emergency stop in the wet with a pillion.

Suzuki are often slated for their finish quality, and the SV is no exception. I use my bikes in all weathers, and the SV which I only had for 4 months, was showing signs of deterioration. Previously, it had been garaged all its life, so the speed with which the rust and oxidisation appeared was a little alarming, and another factor in selling the bike. The Fazer has a painted engine, and the quality of finish looks generally better, so I have a bit more confidence in its weather proofing. Only time will tell. I was disappointed with the thickness of the paint and lacquer though. I foolishly didn’t go straight out to buy a tank protector, and somehow managed to scratch the tank with just the plastic buttons on my jacket. Pretty poor that.

So, which is the better bike?

It’s not that simple. It depends what you want from your ride and how you will use the bike. I would choose the Yamaha every time, purely for the riding position and the generally better quality of finish. The engine (a second generation R6 engine) is good when it gets going, and the sound it makes as you get to the top of the rev range is awesome. Very addictive too, which is not so good given that the top of the rev range in second gear equals points on the licence if you get caught!

There will be plenty of others who prefer the SV. I did love the relaxed thump of the v-twin, but the best sounds are to be enjoyed from about 10 metres behind the bike, which is not much use to the rider.

With Yamaha’s amazing 3.5 year 0% finance deal (which has just been extended), the Fazer will be more accessible to most people, and it’s a great bike for the money. Either way, you’re going to have a great bike that delivers lots and lots of grins.