Bike died - Suzuki SV650 2017

Hi guys

Could I please have some advice from you. Last month, I bought a 2017 model (2016 reg) Suzuki SV650 on 4000 miles from a dealer. This afternoon, on my way back home from work in central London, the bike died after 3 minutes of riding. It started like it was coughing and jerky and finally came to a stop. The red light on the right hand side of the dash came on.

I did let it cool down for a few minutes before restarting it which it did without any issues. However the bike died again. So I called the dealer where I bought it from. They told me that due to the hot weather, the bike could cut itself out and advised me to let it cool down before riding.

I want to ask if you guys have experienced the same problems with SV650 and is it true that bikes could act this way in hot weather? Yes, It was indeed very hot today at 37° in London but surely in other parts of the world, it can be much hotter?

Many thanks!

and by the way, a very kind fellow biker did stop to offer help. The brotherhood is amazing!

I would say after only 3 mins of riding, the bike still wouldn't be up to running temperature even in this heat. So the dealer using the hot weather as an excuse, seems a fob off to me. I could be wrong.

It is hot but the cooling system should be able to cope without any problems. Mine regularly run in city traffic with the cooling fan cutting in a lot. Make sure that fan is working. But if you've not had it long take it back to the dealer and insist they fix it. Any issues then involve trading standards.

dead right the dealer excuses just doesn't wash take it back anyway and demand it gets sorted

I would say after only 3 mins of riding, the bike still wouldn't be up to running temperature even in this heat. So the dealer using the hot weather as an excuse, seems a fob off to me. I could be wrong.

Thank you Ball

It is hot but the cooling system should be able to cope without any problems. Mine regularly run in city traffic with the cooling fan cutting in a lot. Make sure that fan is working. But if you've not had it long take it back to the dealer and insist they fix it. Any issues then involve trading standards.

Thanks Frog

Dealer is full of shit, so it is model for polar circle only. Could be lot of thins, from electrical, some connections loose or you should check what was the engine temperature before cutting off, if engine was to hot and fan didn’t start may be thermo switch.

Forgot, if was jerky could be fuelling, check fuel filter

Coughing and jerking normally sounds like something to do with fuelling. I would start your investigation there

Blocked breather on fuel tank? try opening the filler and see if it starts then.

Yeah the bike should be fine in any weather as that's what the cooling system is there for lol, I'd say dealer was fobbing you off with that excuse

So, on my lunch break just now, I thought I’d gave it another go since ‘the weather is a lot cooler now’ and guess what! The same thing happened again. So I called the dealer and they told me that I was responsible for transporting the bike to their shop. Fine. Since it is so further down south, when I spoke to Rescue, they wanted £40 mileage contribution. Fine.

‘then what about when it’s fixed, how am I gonna get it back???’

Lesson learned – always buy local.

Also Friday night ruined.

Have you check the water level?

Also is the red light for both temp and OIL. Could it be an oil issue.

Iv not bought a bike off a dealer but if I buy a bike off them.and it brakes down I REALLY DONT think it's up to me to get it to them them .they should come and collect it and fix it and drop it off to you when ITS FIXED .. am I wrong on that .. as I bought a 2an hand car off a dealer and it packed it less than 10 miles away from the dealer (citroen C8 it needed a new ignition rack does away with spark plugs and it cost £800) I called the citroen brakedown they collected me and the car dropped me home which was 2 miles away from where I broken down then next day dropped off a off a replacement car for me me to use . (Which turned out to be some one elses car that was in for a repair as 4 days later I had to swap cars ) 2 weeks later my car was fixed and dropped off and the other car taken away

So what's different with bikes then .. it's a faulty bike they are responsible for it to work thro the warranty..

Your guys are geniuses!

My Zuzu has come back to life.

The problem is exactly as some of you have guessed previously. The fuel cap vent was blocked. So I rode it with cap open for 10 minutes without any kind of problem. I then called another sales manager at the dealership who advised me to give the rubber ring around the cap a good squeeze. Apparently this rubber ring either has holes in it or a membrane but I did just that. Also I cleaned it around the surface. Then I rode it for 15miles with the cap locked. No bother!

The cause of the blockage? I have done some further research online and this is what I think:

On Wednesday evening, I did fill the tank maybe too full then I parked it the next day directly in the sunlight in 37° for 10 hours. Fuel evaporates in the tank and somehow blocked the vent. So what I did was I suffocated my bike.

But still I will keep a very close eye and maybe I’ll still pop down to the dealer to have it checked over.

Thanks guys for all your time, advice and support. Safe riding!

- A proud new biker-

As far as I know, this is the vent hole in question.