SV650
The non-S model, the SV650, is the unfaired version. It has no front fairing whatsoever, and therefore a single round headlight and non-clipon handlebars. The different handlebars provide a more upright, comfortable riding position. Other than that, the model is near identical to it's S counterpart, except for slightly different gearing (the rear sprocket is bigger to give reduced top speed but improved acceleration).

SV650 S
The S (allegedly the Sports model) has an upper-fairing as standard, with twin headlights to suit. It also has clipon handlebars and therefore a slightly more sportier riding position. Having said that, it's still the comfortable side of sporty. The rear sprocket is different, as mentioned above, giving the S model a higher top speed (around the 127mph mark). There is an optional lower fairing available from Suzuki that effectively makes the SV650 S a fully faired bike - available from your dealer at 209ukp (plus VAT and fitting).

Model features
Whichever model you choose, the rest of the features are identical. The bike uses Suzuki's increasingly popular 650 90-degree V-twin 8-valve motor. The motor delivers a fairly modest 69bhp but a useful dollop of torque - 37 ft.lb, to be exact. This endows the SV models with useful low-down punch out of corners, rather than revvy top-end rush.

Suspension is fairly basic, with non-adjustable front forks and a rear spring/shock adjustable for preload only via a simple 5 point adjuster. The front employs twin 4-pot calipers (perfectly up to the job although nothing outstanding) while the back runs a single disc with a 2-pot caliper. All conventional stuff. The frame is, from a distance, a trellis-looking affair "a la Ducati" but when you get close and personal it's clearly welded alloy.

Colour options are limited to red, yellow, black or metallic blue. Standard exhaust is a low mounted stainless steel silencer on the right hand side - quite a crappy effort when you get close to it, actually. You get a speedo, an LCD display that combines two trip meters and the odometer, a rev counter and an array of the usual warning lights - but that's about it. There's no reserve or fuel gauge - just a simple warning light that blinks at you when you're on your last 1 litre, and glows constantly when you're about to run out!!