Bike Reviews

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Before actually buying the bike, I knew that if I spent a few Rand on her, I could make her look really nice. Not that she was not nice in standard trim. Her predecessor, the TL1000 was know for being kitted out with all the extras making her sound great and certainly look great as well.

I spoke with Stuart at Suzuki South and we went through the basic things we can do which would not cost that much money. So we fitted the following:

• Eliminator kit – this takes away the standard number plate holder and flickers etc. It really tidies the back end of the bike beautifully.
• Hugger – This replaced the chain guard and runs over the rear wheel
• Number plate - Fitted a small number plate.
• Flickers /Indicators – I fitted specially made flush mount flickers. They were quite expensive but they fitted in so nicely with bike and really finished the rear end of the bike.
• Exhaust – I fitted a set of Leo Vince pipes. I really found them to be a quality product and they made my bike sound and perform above expectation.
• Filter – I fitted an aftermarket filter allowing the bike to just breath a little better.
• Screen – I fitted a MRA sport touring screen
• Cowl – I also fitted a seat cowl for the passenger seat, which also helped to really finish the bike off.

Other than that the bike was standard. There was no engine modifications. But she looked really good and I can promise you, no matter where I went, she turned eyes. So much so that my mates with there more expensive bikes, would not even get an eye thrown towards them.

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It was difficult for me to sell the SV1000, but I had got to the point where an upgrade was essential. The older the SV got, the more I realized that I would ultimately get next to nothing for her. Even though she was in a better than new state. She was now 4 years old.

So I had been looking for a few months wanting to buy, but not wanting to spend. I was leave and went for a ride around Cape Point, on my own, as Chavonne was working. On route back, I thought let me stop off at Suzuki South and see what they have. They are agents for both Suzuki and Kawasaki. Although I had never been a fan of a Kawasaki, I was fortunate enough to ride a friends ZX14 some 12 months prior and I literally fell in love with the bike. Yes she is fast. Actually very fast. But she is comfortable and with the riding that Chavonne and I do, speed is important and looks are important, but so is comfort.

I walked in there she stood in black trim. She really looked awesome. I have not fitted this bike with any extras, but as I bought her second hand, she had a few extras. My friend Stuart asked if I would like to start her up, because he could see in my eye that today is the day I buy the bike. She made such a fine noise, that it blew the banner off the wall and the whole shop vibrated. The extras she has on is as follows:

• Pipes – She has Two Brothers aftermarket pipes fitted, which gives her the meanest growl out. They look good, they sound good and they certainly give her a little extra in terms of performance.
• Screen – She has an aftermarket MRA touring screen fitted.
• Rims – I asked that they fit rim tape to her, which just breaks the black on the bike.
• Filter – she has an aftermarket performance filter fitted.
• Bracket – the standard number plate holder, which on most new bikes looks horrific, was removed and a number plate bracket was fitted that reads ZX14, with a smaller plate to the standard fitted.

As you can see there is a little less on this bike, but nevertheless she looks great and also is an eye turner. A dream ride!

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