More SV questions

[ahastings]

According to Cycle World the 2003 standard model has 1.5mm less offset in the triple clamps and a 4mm longer swingarm than the S model. I don't know which one would be better for roadracing though. I would think the longer swingram and increased trail would be better because it should give better feel on the front and better hook up. Anybody know for sure? Any suspension pros out there?

[Nate R]

Doesnt that decrease trail? Are you sure the S has the shorter swingarm?

[ahastings]

No. less offset increases trail. Trail is the distance from the center of the wheel at the point it touches the ground to a point on the ground where the center of the pivot point would intersect the ground if it was carried  down in a straight line with the fork angle. Less offset moves the wheel back thus increasing the distance to the previous point. Trail is what causes a motorcycles front wheel to self center when you are moving.Increasing the trail will make the bike more stable and also put more weight on the front tire as you will be moving the tire closer to the engine. As far as this info on the SV I am only quoting what I read in Cycle World. Suzuki doesn't give those specs on their website but it does give wheelbase numbers and I think the S has a longer wheelbase by around 15 mm. So who knows