SV650s SV650VR cafe vintage racer custom

UPDATE - Racer No. 2 now complete :) • SV650s Cafe Racer No. ...
Hi folks - this is a quick walk through the mods I’ve made to my SV650S to turn it into my idea of a retro racer. Total cost for the project was about £2500, including the bike and paint job. The bike itself was about £1100 (24km 2002), the paint was £800 (mates rates) and the rest was purchasing various parts and having things laser cut or powder coated.
One thing I forgot to mention in the video is that I also added a ’tail tidy' undertray (seems to be the only one available for SV650 curvys).
Before anyone mentions it, it was a cold morning’s the ’smoke’ from the exhaust is actually condensation :)
Happy to answer any questions, so leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

[@skylersmith26]

One of the coolest bikes I’ve ever seen

[@eugenereisch]

Skyler Smith thanks man

[@tyroneii179]

It's a well thought out custom bike, it's absolutely gorgeous ❤

[@mrcrankyank]

Stunning build mate, best SV650 I’ve seen!

[@lownotes4320]

Man, the coolest SV I've seen so far. And that exhaust sound... gave me goosbumps.

[@eugenereisch]

Yeah it’s pretty rude! I had to sell this bike during lock-down, but am about to buy another SV to do another racer custom. This time I’m going to do a twin exhaust set-up :)

[@carlosdajackel79]

Absolutely brilliant job on your SV mate. Love it 👍🏻

[@wpp6267]

Beautiful bike! Very well done. I love the rear section.

[@robert-to7ev]

You really nailed it bud. The paint, seat, and the just whole thing. Looks amazing!

[@eugenereisch]

Thanks fella :) I’m about to do another…

[@martell3857]

Nice job, love those SV’s!

[@tobyh4862]

That is absolutely gorgeous, I’m a hardcore sport bike lover but this as just awesome 👍

[@wernerbrodbeck6111]

Looks amazing. Well done!

[@davidallison1005]

Love the sv650. Love this even more. Fantastic build man. Great stuff.

[@eugenereisch]

Thanks :) I had to sell it during lock-down, but one day when things are back in the black I plan to do another :)

[@tinymotogarage]

Great build - lovely. Just got myself a naked 2000 - I'll be massing with it too - hope it turns out as good as this.

[@cheongkentang8370]

best looking SV out there! sounds perfect too

[@stefaulk1980]

Love the light 🔵👍🏻

[@Luke_SkyWalk3r]

Looks amazing

[@mattiek8008]

You sir, did an amazing job!!

[@remocreative]

Thanks :)

[@stefaulk1980]

Fantastic job sir ✊🏻

[@alexhogan1]

Very nice! And fantastic sound to finish out the video. I've just picked up a bandit 650sa. I've no plans as of yet but it's a route I'd like to take in time.

[@RealSamski]

Looks awesome

[@benyoucef4367]

Very nice mods

[@mistreku]

stunning looking bike, mate! absolutely love it! only thing i'd change is the headlight, i'd go for a halogen type, but that's just personal taste.

[@chrislatchem1854]

Very nice bike! Like the smooth lines of the early cafe racers where airflow was one of the considerations.(I am old guy, don`t really like angular style of recent years) Paint job wonderful. Like also attention to comfort ie with bars. Had some clip-ons on my Triumph years ago, riding on bad gravel roads in Newfoundland, very hard to handle. Also like the understated mount for carrying a few things. Everything blends well. (Don`t bother with spoked wheels, cast more practical, sort of like how retro drum brakes are not as good as disks -my taste anyway)

[@remocreative]

Thanks man, appreciate the compliments - I'm in the middle of doing another currently (I had to sell this one at the beginning of lock-down)... here's a mockup of how she'll look... www.dropbox.com/s/jjw0g691x2ml9iv/sv650_racer2.jpg?dl=0

[@johnfrench8714]

Laced wheels, twin silencers and twin rear shocks (I know) then that would be my dream bike, great job, looks superb!

[@eugenereisch]

Yeah, I did think about twin silencers (a common enough mod on SVs) but chose simplicity. I like the SVs hidden monoshock... twin shocks look more 'authentic' but messy in my opinion. And I would have LOVED laced wheels, but it seems that options are non-existent other than having them made to order... which would have cost about the same as the whole rest of the bike and build!

[@johnfrench8714]

@@eugenereisch No criticism from me here by the way, simply love what you've done!

[@jean-pierreart891]

Very nice modification bike ! Nice cafe racer...realy.

[@shotokanbiker]

Brilliant job! Got plenty of ideas to model in Solidworks... Really want to get one and put my own spin on it.

[@eugenereisch]

It's a really easy bike to work on - lot of options - have fun!

[@radwaan6806]

looking amazing 👏, well done mate. looks like its from a bike magazine front cover. superb 🤟

[@eugenereisch]

Thanks :) I’ve since sold the bike (n ended the funds during lock-down) but once I’m back on top I’ll build another

[@radwaan6806]

@@eugenereisch no worries mate, wish you all the best for your future projects.

[@Steyreon]

nice one!

[@eugenereisch]

Thanks for all the nice comments folks - I had to sell the bike during lock-down, but I’m about to buy another SV to do another racer custom. Might go a little more ‘modern-retro’ on this one - likely same fairing and cowl, but a different look and definitely twin pipes :) I’ll post a vid once done.

[@lucidiodesign]

I can only agree with all the comments bellow. Excellent job and great taste! You inspired me to do one of these myself. May I ask if you registered all the changes so that it’s legal? And how much does a bike like this sell for? Thanks in advance :)

[@remocreative]

@@lucidiodesign yes, I contacted my insurance company to register new fairing/headlight, exhaust and paint. It cost little more than my stock bike's quote. I sold this bike during the pandemic when fund were tight. I think I took £3000 - much less than it cost. I'm doing another one currently and would hope to never ever sell it :)

[@1000sofusernames]

Amazing stuff. Looks really nice. Just bought a 2nd gen SV and I'm now thinking about getting a 1st gen one like this for something similar. The base bikes are so cheap now. I've seen decent ones for £1000.

[@eugenereisch]

Do it! It’s a really simple bike to work on and a LOT of fun.

[@eugenereisch]

Thanks man!

[@cadenapepe912]

Merci pour la vidéo !!!

[@chrissv650s9]

Wow, very clean and slick look I would wrap the exhaust pipe BTW instead of polish. Don't now if you still got the bike

[@saz123ful]

Beautiful job!!! Very nice!!! I'm considering too the sv650 or 600 hornet for a cafe racer build.... Could you put a longer seat for 2 person ride on this bike as it is ?

[@simonlanc1]

Really nice job..well done....yes if you find out who does spoked wheels,let me know!!!!

[@mariobondanza5149]

May I ask you what brand are the levers? Would you recommend them?

[@tzrdan]

How do you find the fit and overall quality of the seat cowl? I've been looking into ordering one but I've heard a few people say they didnt fit and lock on too well without some modifications 🤔

[@eugenereisch]

Dan Conway yeah exactly that. They’re pretty expensive for a part that doesn’t fit perfectly- the rear of the cowl kind of ‘cups’ the tail section above the rear light and I often find at the end of a ride that it’s ‘popped up’ - that’s why I’ve bolted mine down - yet to find a more elegant fastening, but you can see in my video how it’s bolted down.

[@stefangiurgila7807]

That headlight you have there. Is it one of them generic eBay 7 inch ones? I've been interested in them but if I was to ride at night. Is the light beam actually any good?

[@eugenereisch]

Yes and yes :)

[@cougarangove9842]

awesome build, is there still storage space for some tools ect under the seat?

[@remocreative]

Cougar Angove Thanks! Yeah, there is, but the Airtech hump is a bit of a ‘lose’ fit. Essentially you can ‘unlock’ it like you do to take of the rear seat and then access the storage area, but on my one, I found the fit was not 100%. Basically the rear-most part of the seat hump kind of ‘hugs’ the bike’s rear fairing above the tail light and I found that after most rides it had ‘popped’ off, so I devised a fix that has it screwed on, so I can’t take it off now without some major sub-frame surgery.

[@tonycrivera]

Amazing build!! Where did you get the headlight ?

[@remocreative]

poly26.com/

[@richoman3400]

Looks good mate! Tho can I ask the name of the plastic cover part that goes on the back seat? I've been trying to find one but dunno the name

[@eugenereisch]

Here you go - Airtech: www.airtech-streamlining.com/suzuki-fairings-seats-fenders-parts/SV6501999-02.htm

[@orionparkbench]

thats a beautiful bike, my one question is have you had any problems with your rear tyre scrubbing on the bag mount?

[@remocreative]

Nope - it's nowhere near the tyre

[@orionparkbench]

@@remocreative awesome

[@ExSquaddieTales]

I tried to look for the front fairing, couldnt find it can you post the link please?

[@tomnicholl900]

Hi Eugene, did the fairing already have a cut out for the headlight or is this something that you had to do?

[@eugenereisch]

Hi Tom - you can order it with or without. I ordered it with a 200mm cutout. Just a word of warning, they don't deliver to the UK anymore. I had to have it sent to a friend in the Netherlands, though they said UK buyers can arrange their own courier to pick up.

[@eugenereisch]

(200mm being the perfect size for a universal 7" headlight bucket)

[@thomasducluzeau7745]

Love it ! Really nice job, very unique ! What's the Laser cutter website you're refering to ? 🤔

[@remocreative]

They're called Laser Master (base din Cornwall I think) :)

[@thomasducluzeau7745]

I didn’t even know online laser cutting was a thing. It really helped me, thank you !

[@remocreative]

Second SV build here (now sold) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYu2nppqm7KXfsk

[@lekso9101]

Great job mate! I dig the custom paint. Can you drop the link to the front fairing?

[@remocreative]

Thanks and sure, here you go: poly26.com/

[@lekso9101]

@@remocreative Many thanks!

[@terrymaguines3090]

Hi all.. to all have Suzuki SV.. is the piston and cylinder block of the 650 and 400 is it the same? also if the carb possible to swap the 650 card to 400 unit?. thank for the reply and help.. :) i do have a 2003 SV400s version.

[@terrymaguines3090]

by the way i love the look of this SV650 cafe racer still.. it is classy and classic.. good job sir..!

[@jean-pierreart891]

You have ali k for the cafe front firing ?

[@eugenereisch]

Google ‘poly26’ - they’re based in Belgium

[@megasheddiaries]

Like it. Where's the fairing kit from please?

[@eugenereisch]

Poly26 in Belgium

[@megasheddiaries]

@@eugenereisch have you successfully managed to arrange a pick up by courier from them? Looks like that's what I'll need to do. No hurry though, won't start til end of summer.

[@eugenereisch]

@@megasheddiaries I have a friend in The Netherlands who I had it delivered to, but yeah, I understand you might need to arrange a courier to collect.

[@cpreviews3404]

Hi Eugene, I've just bought a SV with the sole intention of doing the same to mine as you have done to yours, could you share the link for the fairing you bought. I'm going to attempt to make mine look a little like a Paton with green paint etc.

[@eugenereisch]

poly26.com - they do a full front fairing too For what I did you need 3 pieces from them - the fairing (you'll need to specify if you want a headlight cutout or not), the bracket and the screen. Half Fairing - www.poly26.com/suzuki-svs-650-kit-retro-de-1999-a-2002/4714-310617-tete-de-fourche-retro-universelle-ou-suzuki-sv-s-650-de-1999-a-2002.html#/1858-version-avec_decoupes_de_phares Bracket for fairing - www.poly26.com/suzuki-svs-650-kit-retro-de-1999-a-2002/4719-support-de-carenage-pour-le-carenage-4014-ou-5550-svs-650.html Screen - www.poly26.com/suzuki-svs-650-kit-retro-de-1999-a-2002/4718-bulle-incolore-pour-le-carenage-4014ou-la-tete-de-fourche-5550-sv-650-99-02.html

[@cpreviews3404]

@@eugenereisch thanks! So if I order with out headlight cut out, I could then make it more like the Paton by putting two smaller headlights in. Thanks I'm just trying to work out the correct paint colour now, let the fun begin!

[@eugenereisch]

CP Reviews cool - keep me posted on progress :)

[@cpreviews3404]

@@eugenereisch will do, I'm collecting the bike on Thursday, I may do a video diary of the build as I've not done one yet on a bike build, paint will be done by me and I may get creative.

[@mikehunt3987]

I love this fairing! Anyone know how to get one in USA?

[@eugenereisch]

They’re called ‘poly26’ - based in Belgium, but they’ll ship to US I think

[@d.e.aguirre129]

Where did you get the fairing kit?

[@d.e.aguirre129]

@@remocreative thanks mate, I checked the site and it looks like it only fits the 1st generation :/

[@eugenereisch]

D.E. Aguirre yep, ‘curvy’ Gen 1 bikes only

[@rasmus5247]

Looks like a bike from mario kart

[@Guerraichi]

wouuu

[@thebear6529]

very nice

[@eugenereisch]

Racer No.2 is also now done... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYu2nppqm7KXfsk

[@motorcyclewild5873]

Looks great