Suzuki SV Scrambler test

Menus

• The ramage at the height of the plumage, without being plucked
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• On departmental
• Cycle part
• Brakes
• Comfort / Duo
• Consumption
• Convenient
• Conclusion

The ramage at the height of the plumage, without being plucked

Scrambler! It was originally a question of taking a road motorbike, of grafting it with nipple tires, a slightly wider handlebars, of raising the pots to it as one puts on a worderbra to go to slip into the side roads.. Before it was a real life, a reality that left traces in the mud. But that was before. Today it is above all marketing, declined in almost all sauces, some having even made an icon, even a brand in its own right. So can we put the Scrambler at all meals at the risk of disgusting the biker, the real one, the one who comes out everywhere, no matter how ?

If the motorcycle still has the plumage without having the ramage, but still the plumage appears overdone? It’s a bit like the story of the SV, recently renamed Scrambler in a specially prepared version for France, but limited to a handful of lucky people. Moreover, it is rumored that all the models are – almost – already sold even before having been delivered to dealerships! We wanted to get a real idea, by trying it out and not just around a house pate, or even a clay pate, but several weeks on the road, the earth and the sand. Test…

Discovery

The Suzuki Scrambler has the coconut look! Hand-sewn brown saddle worthy of a hypster, large diameter matt black handlebars, headlight with mesh protection to attack small paths, wide notched footrests worthy of climbing Everest, aluminum windscreen to protect against hurricanes, aluminum chain protection and Dunlop Mutant tires with their teats. The original turn signals have been happily replaced by tapered Led models with the most beautiful effect..

The most observant will also note the aluminum scoops, as well as an aluminum front mudguard, a gearbox output pinion housing, a plate holder hooked under the saddle and some additional black protections on the sides compared to the SV vintage 2016 in stock. And frankly, it’s crazy how these simple modifications visually transform the bike, especially compared to the ugly stock license plate holder. Even the mini turn signals look much better on it than the original large cabochons.

And as the majority of the parts come from SW-Motech, we completed the equipment with vintage canvas saddlebags for this test in order to take the equipment for the trips over the weeks..

For the rest, we find the 650 cm3 V-Twin from the Gladius but restored to the taste and historic look SV with in particular this trellis frame which reconnects with the real SV.

As for the tires, without tipping in the nipple tire, they imitate the look while offering much better handling than the original fitment..

In the saddle

785 mm! The saddle is thin and low. Suddenly, the driver of 1.70 will immediately feel at ease, with his feet almost flat on the ground. The wide handlebars naturally accommodate the hands with a natural, relatively upright position. The legs perfectly enclose the rather thin motorcycle and allow it to be held well between the legs. There are standard commodos with a warning on the left for natural access for the thumb, without taking your eyes off the road.

Right in front of you, the fully digital, easy-to-read instrument panel offers all the information you need, including an accurate six-stick fuel gauge and gear indication. Clock, water temperature, partial double trip, totalizer, average and instantaneous consumption complete a clear and efficient picture on a daily basis. The speed is well indicated and the tachometer is not to be searched either, including under the sun.

Contact

The V-Twin snorts with a serious, rewarding sound, much more flattering than many twins. We even like to tickle the right handle to make the beast roar. Nothing sanitized here, while respecting the standards. We already want to open wide. With a simple impulse, the SV takes off … whatever the gear or almost. Usually, we start first. But we tried without concern to start in second but also in third. A little bit of clutch control naturally, but the whole thing is helped by the Low RPM Assist starting assistance which increases the engine speed when starting to avoid stalling. And it is very effective, so much so that the slacker can almost forget to go down first to the fire. Beginners will appreciate the near impossibility of stalling !

In the city

The SV has gained some weight in its 2016 vintage and the Scrambler ‘s added parts don’t change much other than an upward finish. Light, it is particularly manoeuvrable, aided by mirrors which pass easily over the rear-view mirrors of the cars. It accepts all engine speeds in town, able to drive quietly in the last and sixth gear at 40 km / h and 2,000 rpm. You really have to go down below for the twin to start knocking. The latter begins to take its turns from 3,000 rpm and then sets off happily with an additional gain after 5,000 rpm. The turning radius is not that short, but the featherweight allows you to perform the slightest maneuvers at very low speed and with a light stroke of gas regain the slightest balance. Because balance is its key word, making it pleasant and accessible on a daily basis, with gentle and progressive braking which can be very effective if necessary. On the other hand, the mudguard, both front and rear, significantly reduces protection against rain..

On the highway

The SV soars vigorously on the highway, cruising quietly at just 6,000 rpm to 130 km / h. It then takes 1,000 rpm every 20 km / h, capable in theory of exceeding 200 km / h on the circuit. But his pilot will give up much sooner. My wind protection is non-existent or in other words identical to the majority of roadsters. Depending on the wind, you can venture to cruiser up to 150 km / h but beyond that, it shoots everywhere and you literally hang on to the handlebars. And small detail, consumption then climbs significantly and the time saved in speed is lost by the speed in refueling. At this rate, we go on reserve around 190 km and we finally appreciate the gasoline break.

On departmental

The SV therefore finds rather happily the small departmental especially as the small engine is full everywhere. Only 76 horsepower on the spec sheet, but 76 efficient horsepower that you don’t have to go looking for in the towers. We will then willingly go down two gears, or even three on small roads, to use the entire range between 3,000 and 10,000 rpm, even if once again the sensations are there from 3,000 rpm with a real joy to climb. Handling is good with a healthy frame that allows you to pick up the pace without twisting in all directions. The Dunlop Mutant ride turns out to provide a better feeling and more confidence than the original ride and could almost in itself justify choosing the Scrambler over the original model. The slightly rounder profile also gives it more agility, which is very pleasant on a daily basis..

Cycle part

The early cycle does not suffer from any crippling defect. Easy to grip, the SV accepts being jostled in small series of turns and offers fun even for the more experienced rider with a trellis frame more rigid than it seems.

Brakes

The SV is aimed more at novice bikers. Braking is up to par. Soft, progressive, it is taken in hand naturally while demonstrating excellent efficiency with excellent bite. The rear brake is an example of efficiency that sits the bike very well and is even largely sufficient in town. The front brake provides what it takes precision to brake quickly and well but without surprise or violence. It just goes to show that it is not enough to read a 298 mm double disc or a single rear disc to deduce the real efficiency. You really have to crush the rear brake to trigger the ABS which is not at all intrusive and which allows the limit of locking, without relieving several seconds with efficiency.

Comfort / Duo

The comfort is in line with what you would expect from a mid-size roadster. The compression is rather firm but does its job well. The relaxation is sometimes a little abrupt when the road becomes more chaotic. However, the comfort provided on the road and on the road is generally good. Only the passenger has a folding seat, without any handle. This last point will require a little attention from the pilot to keep his sandbag at the rear, especially on the attack, which the model really allows..

However, the seated position as a passenger is pleasant on the road and in town. Indeed, the footrests are at the right height so as not to have the legs too bent (for a passenger of 1.60m). The rider protects the passenger well from the wind up to 140 km / h despite the absence of a bubble. As for the comfort of the saddle, it allows you to do 250 km without suffering. The little extra would be a passenger handle to avoid slipping forward when braking too dry…

Consumption

The SV claims an average consumption of 3.8 liters per hundred kilometers. This is what we were able to achieve with a city / highway mix and a one-day group ride. If the journey turns into a motorway only, with an average of 150 km / h, consumption then climbs to 5 liters per hundred. Suddenly, at best, the first stick of the gauge goes down to 90 km and goes down one stick every 35 km following. The reserve lighting up between 190 and 240 kilometers. There are then sixty kilometers of autonomy at a cool pace, or a range of about 300 kilometers, thanks to the 13.8 liters of the tank. A biker winding at a very short pace must be able to cover 350 kilometers. But over the 1,200 kilometers of our test at a steady pace, the average consumption was 4.8 liters per hundred..

Convenient

The Scrambler is happy to equip itself with saddle bags from SW-Motech. We prefer the 9-liter saddlebags over the 14-liter saddlebags on this subject. Even if the pot is not too high, even the 9 liters can experience the heat of the pot at the bottom. In the tradition, it fits perfectly with the tank bag in the same tones.

Conclusion

If the SV returned to its origins in its 2016 vintage, the Scrambler adds a touch of nostalgia and style of the most beautiful effect. To choose, I would prefer the Scrambler version, for the pleasure of the object in addition to the pleasure of driving. Admittedly, it is 1,400 euros more than the original model but with a model that we are less likely to come across on every street corner and which stands out. I will even think of putting a real pot in high position to finish the concept .. A real success therefore with an engine capable of giving pleasure to the rider from the beginner to the experienced..

Strong points

• motor
• homogeneity

Weak points

• suspensions on rough roads

Suzuki SV technical sheet

Test conditions

• Itinerary: town, small roads + highways
• Motorcycle mileage: more than 1200 km

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