Menus
Driving report Cup Suzuki SV 650 S
Donner and Gloria
For the 2000 season, Suzuki is attracting the next generation and is offering the 71 hp SV 650 S in racing trim for 14,990 marks. MOTORRAD tried the thundering middle class sweeper before.
Somehow it doesn’t all fit together. It booms like thunder through the empty grandstands in the Baden Motodrom, the air vibrates, and the few actors turn their heads in amazement. What sounds like a brute Ducati Superbike is nothing more than one of the first Cup Suzuki SV 650 S that MOTORRAD is driving around the small circuit in Hockenheim for its premiere. Just 71 hp, but a sound like that of King Carl himself. The light Devil muffler with volume that complies with the regulations makes it possible.
And so that the hot spurs can crack properly around the corners, Suzuki allows the use of harder springs on the fork and strut. That is a good thing, because the fork, which is inherently too soft, is permanently on stop during rough braking maneuvers. Another advantage: the ground clearance increases with the harder springs, thus reducing the annoying grinding noise of the notches.
The street-legal tires are the same for everyone, non-slip racing rubbers from Metzeler. A good idea: when it rains, in contrast to other cups, real rain tires can be put on the rims, but this requires a complete second set of wheels and thus an additional investment. In return, the SV rider saves expensive tuning, because the carburetor and the innards of the water-cooled twin must not be changed or optimized in the slightest. Only the final translation can be worked out by each driver depending on the route.
The rest of the »tuning« is limited to optical retouching and the professional disposal of all TÜV junk. Everything that bothers you, the Suzuki has a GRP half-shell, a chic front fairing, a rear wheel splash guard and powerful plastic protectors on the left and right that are a bit reminiscent of the Ben Hur cars. Just in case.
And that will come. Because as outrageously as the SV 650 thunders through the Motodrom, the arc is quickly overstretched. The 71 hp push the blue racer pretty quickly over the short straights, and because the momentum is half the battle, it lurches in and the gas tap is pulled before the apex. And full. The SV rattles gently over the red and white curbs, shakes itself, but remains largely on the track and plunges through the depression of the Opel curve. Always drive wide, fast arcs, leave where you can and ?? no way ?? lose momentum.
One is amazed at how the V2 twin, designed for road use, goes to great lengths. Clearly, the chassis with the 39 telescopic fork and the comparatively filigree swing arm lacks the precision of a real supersport file, but the Suzuki does not really take the slight pendulum from it. Because it’s actually quite funny. And for daredevils who are not quite as experienced, perhaps the timely warning that the limit area has come to an end.
One thing is for sure, the Suzuki Cup will be a real attraction for both the actors and the audience, and the thundering sound from 50 pots alone is a pleasure. That’s how many places are advertised in the 2000 Suzuki Cup. The German Suzuki dealers deliver the finished cup motorcycle for 14,990 marks plus an entry fee and training fee of 2000 marks. In addition, racing beginners can put on a brand new Kushitani suit complete with back protection, Marushin helmet and gloves. All inclusive. Anyone who stands on the podium after the match or reaches the points up to 15th place still has a handle in the prize money pot open.
L.ust? But then fix. Eight events are planned for the 2000 season, the first running on 29/30. April on the Nurburgring. If that’s not enough, you can try your luck a week later (info: phone xxxx / xxxxxx). And if the whole thing is a bit too wild for you, you should at least give it a listen. It is worth it.
The brand cups
It’s been a good 20 years since Yamaha launched the first brand cup in the German racing scene. There, too, the rather staid middle class XS 400 is being upgraded for the racetrack. With great success. Martin Wimmer, GP winner in the 250cc World Championship, came from the Yamaha Cup as did superbike crack Udo Mark and the two-time 125cc world champion Dirk Raudies, who, however, earned his spurs on the Cup Yamaha TZR 250. But with the Cup, the youth work for Yamaha is not over, but the motorcycle manufacturer enables the real talents to make the leap into the world class. The best example: Jorg Teuchert, who used to compete in the Cup, is now one of the favorites in the 600 Supersport World Cup. The list of top German World Cup drivers from the inexpensive branded cups is long. Currently it is Steve Jenkner, Reinhard Stolz and Klaus Nohles who shone in the ADAC Junior Cup and made a seamless transition to the DM and World Cup classes. Germany’s fastest female racing driver, Katja Poensgen, once terrified the boys in the 125 ADAC Cup and won this junior series (at that time advertised without brand ties) on a Suzuki RG 125. The only problem with this type of youth development: The drivers come through the strict Regulations had little contact with the complicated technology of thoroughbred racing machines. This is why there is often a lack of the basic technical knowledge that makes it possible to optimally prepare a top-class racing bike. That is why all ambitious Cup drivers are advised to switch to an open racing class after the tough driving school in the Cup, in order to familiarize themselves there with the various options for tuning the complicated technology. An informative overview with dates and costs for the current brand cups and amateur racing series is listed in the MOTORRAD supplement Sport Dates 2000 in issue 5.
Related articles
-
Driving report KTM 400-520 EXC Racing
Driving report KTM 400/520 EXC Racing Take it easy Less can also be more. With the new, feather-light four-stroke sports enduro, KTM immediately landed a…
-
Driving report Suzuki TL 1000 R
Driving report Suzuki TL 1000 R On probation With the super sporty TL 1000 R, Suzuki wants to prove that the two-cylinder principle can bear fruit with…
-
Suzuki F50 in the driving report
Piper 15th photos Stephen Piper 1/15 The Suzuki F50 in the driving report on the Boradford race track at the annual Bike Bonanza. Stephen Piper 2/15 The…
-
Driving report spear cruiser Rolling works “Give rubber,” thought Herbert Speer, and gave his Suzis popular tires in printing press format. Be praised…
-
Driving report: Suzuki GSX-R 600
Suzuki 13 photos Suzuki 1/13 Both compression and rebound are adjustable at the top of the fork leg. Suzuki 2/13 When it comes to the brakes, Suzuki…
-
Suzuki GSX-R 1000 R in the PS driving report
Suzuki 14th photos Suzuki 1/14 With the 2017 version, the GSX-R 1000 enters the sixth generation. The superbike was launched for the first time in 2001,…
-
Driving report Honda VTR 1000 time shift Japan is eight hours ahead of Germany, Honda is four weeks behind Suzuki – at least when it comes to the first…
-
Driving report MotoGP-Honda RC 212 V
2snap Driving report MotoGP-Honda RC 212 V In secret mission K photos of the engine and details, scant technical information and only two laps with…
-
Driving report Leitner Dieselwiesel 406
Driving report Leitner Dieselwiesel 406 Oil burner Startled, you want to pull your thumb off the starter button again, that’s how it hisses when gears…
-
Driving report Kawasaki SP 12 Fitness program There is no lack of performance? Michael Geiger thought, and with great attention to detail he also…