Suzuki Gladius: First impressions

[MCN_LiamM]

Took delivery of the restricted Suzuki Gladius earlier this afternoon which I'll be testing for a couple of weeks.

So far I've only been able to ride it round the office car park, but the engine is smoother than my SV. The looks are growing on me.

The seat seems to be narrower and the whole bike feels smaller and lighter - not that the SV is heavy anyway.

I'll update this tomorrow when I've had a bit more time on the bike.

---UPDATE---

After riding the Gladius the four miles home last night and coming in to work on the longer route this morning I can say I'm thoroughly impressed.

First impressions of a bike rarely change, and despite the fact I only rode the bike round the car park for my first impressions they remain the same.

After my initial ride round the car park I knew the Gladys was smaller, but I didn't take much notice.
The bars are narrower and the seat's lower and narrower. The SV isn't a big bike in any sense (not to me at 6"1' anyway), but the Gladius feels really small by comparison.

The bars feel quite close to your chest compared to the SV, something which I'm still tyring to get used to.

Once on the move the V-twin is noticably smoother than the SV. That slight lumpiness in the lower end of the rev range on the SV has now totally gone and the snatchiness you get from a V-twin when you wind the throttle on has been smoothened out - presumably to make it less intimidating for learners.

In my opinion, just like the old SV, the suspension lets it down slightly and the brakes feel weak, with no initial bite.

Instead of Dunlop D220s the Gladius gets Dunlop Qualifiers as standard, which make a whole world of difference. They give more feedback and feel and so much more confidence.

Don't get me wrong I love the SV and still do - which is why I bought one. The SV is really good and the Gladius is really really good.

[ThEGr33k]

Does it feel more powerful (j/k) :cool:

[the_lone_wolf]

Took delivery of the restricted Suzuki Gladius earlier this afternoon which I'll be testing for a couple of weeks.

is that why you're covering your face with a fosters box?;)

[MCN_LiamM]

Boob

[MCN_LiamM]

is that why you're covering your face with a fosters box?;)

Ha! It's the pink one as well (I think the official name is Candy Red)

[Caddy2000]

Whatever you call it - it will always be Fugly!

[John 675]

Whatever you call it - it will always be Fugly!

i second that :rave:

[Lucas]

You only get one chance at first impressions, good luck Gladius ;)

[zsv650]

they should do a un ugly r version would be cool remove 50% fugly add 50% more aggression and i'd buy one.

[markryker]

is that why you're covering your face with a fosters box?;)

That cracked me up :D

[Smoggy]

they should do a un ugly r version would be cool remove 50% fugly add 50% more aggression and i'd buy one.

Throw a bit of fairing along with a Black and red highlights style colour scheme and I'd actually look at it.


Actually, thats just S version?... :D

[Ruthja2801]

I got told to look at this as lighter, smaller and narrorwer than the sv and me being short!

When sat on it my legs were hanging in mid air!! So personally don't think its lower!

They should do the pink and black instead of white! That would have been the one for me!

[shonadoll]

I got told to look at this as lighter, smaller and narrorwer than the sv and me being short!

When sat on it my legs were hanging in mid air!! So personally don't think its lower!

They should do the pink and black instead of white! That would have been the one for me!

How did the height turn out to be for you on your new one?

[Sally]

Did anyone catch BIKE's review, in the emm April Edition i think, or whichever one you get on suscription..

[zsv650]

it's in ride mag it's better looking than the competition that's not saying much though.

[Sally]

They seemed to be giving it quite alot of praise..

75 bhp and 49.5lbs of torque, a little bit more than the SV..

Still undecided, maybe its a good bike, but the dodgy paint scheme, weird heat shield on the can, and some other small things just annoy me..

[El Saxo]

Did anyone catch BIKE's review, in the emm April Edition i think, or whichever one you get on suscription..

Yeah latest issue, it gets a decent write-up. Still fugly though. :lol:

[Ruthja2801]

shona i don't get the bike till sat. But even sitting on it stock i could get my toes down on one foot, the gladius erm i would say about 3-4 inches of the floor!

[zsv650]

the front mudguards still too feckin short though.

[MCN_LiamM]

Bump - update

[Sid Squid]

Thank you for making some sensible and unbiased observations.

[MCN_LiamM]

Sarcasm, Sid?

It's too early in the morning for me to tell.

[Davies]

Interesting update. I find it a bit strange that they chose to put Dunlop Qualifiers on a bike that is aimed at the learner-side of market. I had them on my Ducati and, while they were awesome in the dry, if you showed them a sniff of moisture they lost grip pretty much instantly. I reckon they should have gone for a more "relaxed" tyre to give new riders more confidence.

[MCN_LiamM]

I must admit I think it's a strange decision to put sport-track tyres on a novice bike.

I think something like Roadsmarts or BT-021s would have been a much better choice.

[ThEGr33k]

I want to see the Faired version tbh, I think there is a chance it could be quite a good looking bike :D

[MCN_LiamM]

The SV650S? :p

[ThEGr33k]

The SV650S? :p


I mean the updated version, sarky git. What they call that, the claymor? :smt042

[MCN_LiamM]

I don't think there is a faired Gladys.

The Gladius is replacing the naked SV, while the SV650S remains

[chakraist]

I think he means the gladius with lowers that was shown in a few pics.

[ThEGr33k]

The Gladius is replacing the naked SV, while the SV650S remains


Surely they are going to update it!? Sigh. 85BHP, 12000RPM's and that would be ace. :D

[MCN_LiamM]

I believe the faired Gladioli you refer to was just a normal Gladius with Suzuki accessories bolted on. Much like you can buy lowers for the SV.

[Lucas]

could a oxford stormex cover be the best upgrade?

:rolleyes:

;)

[Alpinestarhero]

I don't think there is a faired Gladys.

The Gladius is replacing the naked SV, while the SV650S remains

At least, suzuki should slot in the newer, smoother motor that you describe.

I dont like the sound of even thinner handlebars; on the naked sv, the bars dont feel wide enough....

[MCN_LiamM]

At least, suzuki should slot in the newer, smoother motor that you describe.

I dont like the sound of even thinner handlebars; on the naked sv, the bars dont feel wide enough....

Re the bars. They're almost toy like. They're quite close to your chest and fairly narrow. For somebody as tall as me the difference maybe exaggerated, but with it being aimed at novices, I think it will make them feel much more relaxed on the bike as oppose to hangging on to wider bars.

I've found a flaw with the Gladius.

That funky and small back end doesn't stop mud spinning off the back wheel and caking the back of my jacket and helmet in road cak.

I look like I've been motocrossing. A lot of it deposited on the pillion grab handles as well.

And the seat is tricky to get off and put back on again.

[zsv650]

that's what renthals were invented for.

[Speedy]

I saw one today at my local dealers, white,gold and pinky/purple colour......

I have to say, I actually like it.

I think they could have done some more colour schemes, Like shiney black/matte black, or black with red frame,.......

But I like it nonetheless.

[dizzyblonde]

I've found a flaw with the Gladius.

That funky and small back end doesn't stop mud spinning off the back wheel and caking the back of my jacket and helmet in road cak.

I look like I've been motocrossing. A lot of it deposited on the pillion grab handles as well.

.

hmmm so stupid short ass end and a stupid short mudguard at front, Suzuki are ever logical as usual.
So with qualifier tyres on, I also predict a lot of noob riders falling off in chillier/wetter weather due to no grip. Great idea :rolleyes:

[Lucas]

hmmm so stupid short ass end and a stupid short mudguard at front, Suzuki are ever logical as usual.
So with qualifier tyres on, I also predict a lot of noob riders falling off in chillier/wetter weather due to no grip. Great idea :rolleyes:

Just so owners have to spend more £ & time on 'after Market' parts to improve its look and work better!

[Jay-ninja]

Looks like there's a pattern developing here !

I think I agree with the current majority. I'm sure the Gladius is a great bike, just like the SV but let's make no bones about it - Feeling good about how your bike looks is a big part of ownership.

As the (new) owner of an SV thou and having previously owned an Aprillia Tuono, Firestorm and SP1 I don't usually consider buying a mid sized bike - however if Suzuki had taken the current ER6 style and put in the Gladius engine I'd have bought one in a flash. The Gladius just lacks that streetfighter attitude.

J

[Speedy]

The Gladius just lacks that streetfighter attitude.

J

Thats what I mean about some different colour schemes..........the current colours just aint hard enough.

But.....

I still like it!!:wink:

[simesb]

..........the current colours just aint hard enough.

One may suspect with a name like Gladys that they ain't aiming at the hard-as-nail crowd :smt074

[Sid Squid]

Sarcasm, Sid?
Not at all.

[Speedy]

How about if it looked like this...........????

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd271/DAVE_KNIGHT/SFV650K9_GUU_E19_R_11.jpg

[yorkie_chris]

Then it wouldn't look as good as a similarly coloured ER6.


I mean the updated version, sarky git. What they call that, the claymor? :smt042
I'd buy one just so I could spray "front toward enemy" on it.



Re. the qualifiers, they might put different tyres on the production ones. Presume you have some sort of demonstrator?

[dizzyblonde]

How about if it looked like this...........????

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd271/DAVE_KNIGHT/SFV650K9_GUU_E19_R_11.jpg

http://www.emoto.com/img/news/200602/2578/ducati-monster-695-noire.jpg

may as well buy one o these, or the other one with an SV engine, a Raptor 650

http://www.bikez.com/pictures/cagiva/2001/4163_0_1_2_raptor%20650_Image%20by%20Cagiva.%20Pub lished%20with%20permission..jpg

[SV650Racer]

Had one on the dyno..67bhp with a stock hardly any miles engine..so approx 2-3bhp more back to back with the SV on our dyno in the same trim..

Demo on next week..so I might venture out on the road for the first time in 7 months to put some miles on it!

[Littlepeahead]

I had a good look at it up at the NEC. Didn't like it at all. Silly name and the colours are all a bit daft - though the guys on the stand said this was to appeal to women! Since my SV is black with some extra black and then a bit more black that didn't really do it for me.

I also didn't find it that much lower than my SV, which has a sculpted seat. I'm a short person with long legs, so perhaps the shorter reach would suit me - but if I'm only trading in my SV if someone is going to buy me a Ducati 1198S. Now that's a proper bike for the girls. :)

[dizzyblonde]

well saw a real one today(thanks to Liam for the invite out), the look grows on you, could do with shedding some of the ghey parts, don't like the fact that it has no subframe, and the frame is all one piece front to tail. The downpipe is an odd twisty shape. Like the grab handles for the pillion, but they certainly won't like how mucky they will get sat on the seat from the rear wheel fling, the seat lock is in a stupid place, at the back just above the reg plate, offset to the left. The headlight is fugly, the plastics on the rad are un-necessary.
But it don't look as bad in the flesh. To sit on it I felt like I was sat on a moped....lol


oh and you won't get two portions of curry, three naans, and a tollkit under that seat ;-)
Be lucky to get a packet of fags under it, and then they'd be squashed..hehe

edit, some real photos in the photo section if anybody interested

[yorkie_chris]

oh and you won't get two portions of curry, three naans, and a tollkit under that seat ;-)
Be lucky to get a packet of fags under it, and then they'd be squashed..hehe

Everyone on here keeps saying they want the next SV to be more like a sportsbike!! They've done it!

[shonadoll]

Anyone seen the Gladius adverts on eurosport? VERY girl aimed.

[Lozzo]

Something about the styling and colours remind me of a bunch of flowers you'd put on your grandma's grave.

[warg60]

Being over six foot, I found the riding position rather uncomfortable and cramped. I also thought the bat ears stuck on the side of the radiator (which was not really visiable from the picture) very odd.
The missus had a sit on it too, and she is not short at 6 8", but she found the balance far to high for her tastes, and must perferred the Honda DN01 (750); she only has an auto licence, hence her interest in that bike.
Dispite saying that ABS was available, the salesman didn't think that was available in Britain.

[simesb]

The missus had a sit on it too, and she is not short at 6 8"

She must have huge hands :-|

[Zen Beetle]

At 202kg the Gladius is actually heavier than the SV (Ride, March 17). In my opinion it also looks bulkier. While marginally more powerful at 77bhp, the weight to power ratio would not make it any quicker than the SV. The 14.5 litre fuel tank is also disappointingly small. On a plus point, the digital gear indicator is a nice touch.

[carty]

she is not short at 6 8"

Is that a typo?! :shock:

[gettin2dizzy]

And an auto-bike license? Didn't know they existed.

[yorkie_chris]

I can see them existing in 33bhp and A-class form but I cannot for the life of me see the point. Limited to scooters #spit# and pointless curiosities (h*ndas at that) ... you might as well kill yourself now.