Suzuki introduced this middleweight V-twin streetbike nameplate in 1999 as a lightweight, friendly sport machine built around a 645cc 90-degree twin. It quickly earned a strong reputation for approachable handling, lively torque and everyday usability, which made it popular with newer riders and experienced enthusiasts alike. A major update followed in 2003, when the model was revised with a more modern chassis and fuel-injected character for export markets.
The nameplate did not remain continuous through the following decade. In 2009, Suzuki shifted to the Gladius for this part of its streetbike lineup, effectively stepping away from the SV650 badge for several years. Suzuki then brought the nameplate back in 2016 with an all-new global model that revived the original concept in a slimmer, lighter and more contemporary package while retaining the same basic 645cc V-twin architecture. That return re-established the model as a core Suzuki middleweight and led to later spin-offs such as the café-racer styled SV650X.
Today, the nameplate is best understood as having two distinct production eras: the original 1999 launch and the revived modern era beginning in 2016.