Born again biker- what do you think of this deal?

[Madasadad]

Im returning to 2 wheels after 20 years break and have myself set on a Gladius.
Ive been offered a pre reg ABS June 2014, 0 miles, Scorpion exhaust, R+G tail tidy, R+G crash mushrooms, Suzuki tank pad and Suzuki Fly screen at £4950, what do you think?

[Teejayexc]

For what my opinions worth...I'd think you'd do better to source a nice secondhand bike of whatever marque you prefer and hone your riding techniques before splashing out on a new bike.

[Madasadad]

Yip im considering 2nd hand also, but was interested in whether the deal represented good value

[Matt-EUC]

It's a good price, but the SV is all round a better bike and you can get an even better deal on one.




Edit: there is also an enormous amount of second hand SVs.

[Madasadad]

I originally was heading for an SV but don't fancy the race rep position and got a sore back sitting on it in the showroom!. Im only 5'6 so it was a bit of a stretch also. So its a naked bike for me. Considered FT07 also, but fancy the more relaxed power delivery of the v twin. Have ridden plenty of sports bikes in my time, but not for me now. I can't think as fast as they go!

[Matt-EUC]

You will be branded a sissy for riding a girls bike.

The SV comes naked too. The pointy naked is actually quite sexy.

[littleoldman2]

Get a test ride on one, if you like it then buy one.

[Biker Biggles]

Im not up on new bike prices but five grand sounds a lot to me for a pre reg "budget" bike,especially a not that popular model.Used naked SV is the way to go.

[Madasadad]

Im not a fan of the blue and white, I'm looking at a grey and red one. Put a Ducati sticker on it and 'real men' would love it! Ive seen loads of women on M600s. Like most things, one mans meat is another poison. Thankfully i care more about my own opinion and requirements than perception. It comes from a lifetime of not following the crowd. Am off to look at a FZ07 tomorrow although don't fancy being a guinea pig for a brand new engine.

[Madasadad]

Im not up on new bike prices but five grand sounds a lot to me for a pre reg "budget" bike,especially a not that popular model.Used naked SV is the way to go.

Id agree about the £5k price but theres £700 of extras on it, the stuff Id want to put on anyway, aftermarket exhaust etc

[Matt-EUC]

Didn't realise it wasn't new, an SV is £5k out of the box.

[Bibio]

no an SV is £4k out the box.

go for the Gladdy as it has that lovely V twin. i had a 20 year gap and i love my SV. and yes that gladdy does sound like a good deal.

i could be wrong but no other marque has a 600/650 for £5k with all those extras.

the Gladdy is growing on me.

oohhh and Matt who are you to talk you ride a fugly strom :-)

[Matt-EUC]

But it's not a girls bike. They make the Gladius with pink on it! PINK!!

[Madasadad]

What gladius colour scheme has pink?

[Matt-EUC]

The pink one?

Pretty sure it has a white tank.

[Bibio]

us men who are in touch with our effeminate side dont mind one bit.

[Madasadad]

Nope, no pink ones! just checked the suzuki gb website. Sure my embarrassed effeminate face will match the manly Ducati type red trellis!

[Matt-EUC]

One has pink writing.


Also, I read somewhere that Suzuki admitted it was developed for girls.

[littleoldman2]

Stop digging Matt

[Madasadad]

And what!
I drove an 2.0 MX5 "hairdressers car" for a year. The best fun to be had on 4 wheels that would still guarantee you'd keep your licence! It wasn't fast, just went 60 mph everywhere and allowed tail out antics with ease. I s'pose thats part of the problem with having an opinion formed by others. Im quite sure that if I went onto a CBR/YZF blah blah forum, Id be called equally effeminate if I was debating an SV! as opposed to a gaydius on the SV forum !lol
Im comfy in my skin, thankfully!

[Matt-EUC]

I'm in agreement that the mx-5 is an awesome car.

But my opinions are just that, opinions.

[Madasadad]

And valued for them. Wish me luck with the FZ07!

[Matt-EUC]

Dayum that bike is sexy...

[Madasadad]

But probably characterless, time will tell

[jambo]

The Gladius is the logical progression of the SV650.

Silly name, and some slightly odd colour choices, but some very nice ones too. I doubt anything about it rides significantly differently to an sv650, but I must say I've not had a chance to ride one. If I was in the market for a naked twin I'd be trying the ER6N, the SFV650(Gladius) and the MT07.

Jambo

[Madasadad]

Yip those are my 3 choices, but Im tending to the Gladius because of the v twin

[Matt-EUC]

Monster 696 is good. Expensive though :/

[Madasadad]

if was in a different price range, there'd be loads of options!
But really is this feminine? I just don't see it!
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii235/madasadad/IMG_0013.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/madasadad/media/IMG_0013.jpg.html)

[Matt-EUC]

The white one with pink writing is ;)

[Bibio]

http://media6.dropshots.com/photos/173708/20091211/095142.jpg

now tell me thats not sexy.. this is the bike that changed my mind about the gladdy.

[timwilky]

I came back to biking after a 20 year break.

Modern bikes are a damn sight quicker and manovreable with better handling, suspension, brakes and tyres than the bikes of my youth. That still didn't stop me bouncing down the road after 6 days of bike ownership, waking up in the road thinking what did I do. to see an old man apologising to me as he couldn't stop when I braked for a red light and he didn't.

What I am trying to say is **** happens. After such a long break, I would advise you approach a local riding school and ask for one of their instructors to give you a couple of refresher lessons. Then forget all about a new gladys, save the money and buy a good second hand SV already modded that wont make you cry when it goes down. Sorry, but it will.

You never make any return on after market bits, so a shop costing them in the price is taking the proverbial, they are there to make the bike more attractive. Not to make money for the seller.

[Madasadad]

I don't want race rep stance. TBH **** does happen, if it goes down the road so beit. It is the luck of the draw unfortunately. Id a very good friend wrote off a brand new (6 days) YZF and he's a very experienced guy, lock up over a white line. I don't intend buying 2 bikes. Im buying one to keep. If my ultimate goal was bigger, faster etc etc, then maybe. But either £3.5k for a 2009 10k miles and has already been down the road or just under £5k for a new one. No brainer to me. They're the only 2 available in NI at the minute.

[Teejayexc]

I came back to biking after a 20 year break.

Modern bikes are a damn sight quicker and manovreable with better handling, suspension, brakes and tyres than the bikes of my youth. That still didn't stop me bouncing down the road after 6 days of bike ownership, waking up in the road thinking what did I do. to see an old man apologising to me as he couldn't stop when I braked for a red light and he didn't.

What I am trying to say is **** happens. After such a long break, I would advise you approach a local riding school and ask for one of their instructors to give you a couple of refresher lessons. Then forget all about a new gladys, save the money and buy a good second hand SV already modded that wont make you cry when it goes down. Sorry, but it will.

You never make any return on after market bits, so a shop costing them in the price is taking the proverbial, they are there to make the bike more attractive. Not to make money for the seller.


Didn't I sort of say that in the first response*

* before gaylord started about pink bikes.

[Matt-EUC]

This happens a lot, someone says they want to buy a bike, then people pitch in and say "oh no, you want the curvy" and then others say "oh no, you want a pointy"

But in the end they buy what they wanted in the first place.

[Bibio]

i'll just throw in another option for this. you can fit what is called a comfort kit (basically naked bike bars and yoke) to the Sport model of the SV the whole kit costs about £350 to do properly. http://www.topyokes.com/ do them. yes everyone knows Matt is a plonker but his products are very very well made.

[Madasadad]

Now why did no-one say this at the start! will have a look at top yokes

[Matt-EUC]

Now why did no-one say this at the start! will have a look at top yokes


I mentioned naked SVs...





Here is a picture, note the riding position:



http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/09/22ff58ef503ed7a1deb995947f9ff94c.jpg

[Madasadad]

I know but theres none available in NI

[Matt-EUC]

Ah... I see, I didn't clock on to your location.

[Madasadad]

And I'm not very patient, once I get something into my head!

[otaylor38]

Gotta say, i didnt like the gladius when i first saw it. Just looked plasticy n what not compared to the naked SV's. But its grown on me big time, id probably still opt for the SV if it was an option, but if theres not one available then theres not much you can do is there. Is importing expensive? I've no idea, but its hassle?

If you like it, go for it. Its your bike!

Dont think its a girls bike either if that helps. But then, some say the SV's are a girls bike dont they ;)

[NTECUK]

Extras won't count for jack when you px it.

[NTECUK]

Is that red frame standard??
That looks good.

[DryRob]

Don't wanna jump into another person's argument but I think it was in Ride magazine about the Gladius being marketed/designed towards women but it backfired so they got a bad rep with both sexes. I think I remember a guy in the article saying they were better for race conversions than the SV for reasons I can't remember or care about...

Get what you want though, it's your money and you're the one riding it.

[Madasadad]

Yes the red frame is standard. Although the extras are worth little at trade in, they are the ones I would probably buy as aftermarket, so Im getting them at great discount. The exhaust sounds fantastic!. Bike Bought today.

[otaylor38]

Nice one! (:

What exhaust is it?

The SV engines do sound awesome with an exhaust on

[Madasadad]

Scorpion Serket, sounds really throaty, and manly! lol

[ophic]

Never liked the Gladius but you're right in those colours it looks sweet. Hope you enjoy it.

Actually i've got a problem with a lot of Suzuki colour schemes recently. Things like the huge power cruiser M1800 only available in baby blue or pinky red. What are they thinking?

[AJC]

Congrats on the purchase, enjoy!

Truth be told I have never really looked at the Gladius, mostly forgot about it. But Having saw the pics in this thread I actually rather like it. Dare I say I would have one of them before another SV, actually maybe not before a naked pointy thou :)

[Matt-EUC]

Bike Bought today.


I hate to say I told you so, but...

Told you so ;)

[NTECUK]

Pop up a pic when you take delivery.
Welcome back to two wheels

[Red ones]

Sounds nice

That exhaust looks good and sounds better. It also has a lifetime warranty!

[Madasadad]

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii235/madasadad/image.jpg1.jpg
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii235/madasadad/image.jpg3.jpg[/URL]

[Matt-EUC]

I stand corrected. Feck all girly looking about that.

[Madasadad]

Cheers Matt, when I saw it, that was it, I was havin it

[Bibio]

very nice. enjoy :-)

[Red ones]

The naked curvy is dead, long live the...er...that's a bit like a naked curvy.

It's nice.

[otaylor38]

Ooh very nice mate! Enjoy!

[shiftin_gear98]

I like it, enjoy... Red looks awesome.

[Madasadad]

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii235/madasadad/image.jpg2_1.jpg (http://s265.photobucket.com/user/madasadad/media/image.jpg2_1.jpg.html)
Well A1 test passed, loving the bike, trying to get it run in Asap! As most people say, the seat is a bit wick!
Torquey and roarty with the scorpion pipe!

[timwilky]

whats with the lumps of black plastic at the side of the rad, look like they don't belong?

I am sorry, but the designers need battering. The exhaust hanger/peg arrangement is horrible.

That seat looks like a compromise designed for style over practicality. But as I never do pillions (I have a bike to get away from the peg, not take her with me) I wouldn't want a single large seat nor rear pegs etc.

Now what it really needs as well as a serious hacksaw job, is nice gold USD forks, all black or red wheels. not the rim tape look alike.

[Madasadad]

I'm guessing the sfv650 isn't really for you then! Yip usd forks would be great, but only in combination with an upgraded rear shock, but that moves the model into much more expensive territory, which flies in the face of the original ethos of the sv/sfv as an enjoyable but budget bike. The wheels are all black, but having put reflective tape on myself, I'm happy with the result. One mans meat is another mans poison after all

[BanannaMan]

It's one of the best looking gladius's I've seen.
Very nice.
Not crazy about the rim tape but that's just me.
It's your bike and you liking it is what matters.
Enjoy!!!!!

[Geodude]

Looks a tidy machine, my only gripe is the hanger/footpeg arrangment so im with Tim on that yuk, saying that if you love it.. Enjoy it matey :)

[Madasadad]

I can't disagree with the footage arrangement, it is a bit ornate! Something simpler would've reflected the sv heritage better