So yesterday I got this itch to really see what my Suzuki SV650 can do speed-wise. I mean, people argue online all the time about which 650 is fastest, right? Just specs on paper don’t tell the whole story. I wanted the real deal, how it feels and compares out on the road. Grabbed my gear, called up a buddy who knows bikes and has a decent GPS unit for measuring, and headed out early towards this long, straight, empty backroad near the old industrial park – perfect for safely testing this stuff.
First Up: The Suzuki SV650
Jumped on the SV first thing. Warming it up properly, I gotta say this thing always feels eager. Not huge power, but it pulls smoothly right from low down. Got into position, dropped the hammer through the gears. The tach climbed quick, engine singing, wind noise getting loud. Hit the redline in sixth gear and held it. Glanced down at the GPS display my buddy was holding after I eased off. 122 mph! Honestly, felt solid and planted, kinda buzzing a bit but not scary. It gets there without too much drama.
Okay, one down. Time to see how it stacks up.
Bringing in the Competition
We had a couple other 650s lined up, friends’ bikes they trusted us with:
- Kawasaki Ninja 650: You know, the sporty-looking one. Took this out next. Definitely felt a bit sportier tucked in. Acceleration felt maybe a tiny bit slower off the bottom compared to the Suzuki’s grunt, but it revved out strong higher up. Pushed it as hard as it felt happy to go. GPS showed 124 mph. Huh, a tiny bit more peak than the SV? Figured the fairings helped punch through the air a little cleaner.
- Yamaha MT-07: The hooligan bike. This thing feels brutal down low, wheelie monster! But up top? Once I got past that amazing mid-range punch, it kinda ran outta steam. Wound it out, felt like it was working harder and vibey. Stopped accelerating noticeably earlier. GPS result? 115 mph. Quick street sprinter, not the top-end champ.
- Honda CBR650R: My buddy’s bike, the proper inline-four. Hopped on this thinking, “Four cylinders! Gotta be fastest.” Took off, engine much smoother, sounds gorgeous screaming higher. But… getting the needle moving past the ton felt… steady, not explosive. Needed to keep it singing way high in the revs to really make progress. Maxed out at 126 mph on the GPS. Barely faster than the Ninja! Surprised me, thought it’d pull harder.
What Actually Happened Out There
Honestly, actually doing these runs back-to-back was eye-opening. Forget the brochure numbers or forum boasts. Seeing the little speed differences firsthand, feeling how each bike delivered the power to get there? That’s the real story.
- The SV650 hit 122 mph. It wasn’t the highest number, but damn, it got there in its own character – strong low-down, straightforward, kinda relaxed vibe even near the top. Typical Suzuki honesty.
- Ninja 650: 124 mph. The fairing probably snuck it just past the SV. Felt purposeful, but maybe not quite as fun getting there as the SV’s torque lower down.
- MT-07: Only 115 mph. Proof that brutal acceleration doesn’t always equal higher top speed. Happy fun bike below 100mph, though!
- CBR650R: 126 mph. Highest number, but honestly? Felt like it took a longer road to get there, needing to rev its nuts off. Smooth, but you work for that last few mph.
So yeah, the numbers are close among the SV, Ninja, and CBR. A couple mph here or there depending on the day, the rider weight, the wind. The big difference was how they hit their top speed. The SV felt easiest to access its top speed with that torque. The others needed higher revs or specific conditions. Made me appreciate the SV’s character all over again – it might not win the spec sheet battle by a mile, but it delivers the goods in a usable, real-world way. Just got home, bike cooling down, notebook filled with messy numbers and vibes. Pretty solid day figuring this out with my own eyes and ears!
