I don't think they're actually making these, but....

[tt_four]

...and to think you guys thought you hated the Gladius before.....



I just saw that picture over in the svriders gallery. I personally kinda like the way the gladius looks, so I think this one looks a little fun as well, but I know plenty of people have made it clear they're not too crazy about the bike already.

A motard, as fun as they look, is definitely one of those things I'd only ever own if I had money to spend, because there's a couple different types of bikes I'd need to own before I could justify something like that. Well I guess only if it was a new and shiny one. It was still stupid of me to sell my old 83 Yamaha XT550 to my cousin for $200 when i was 18. I should have kept it and just put some street tires on it.

http://forum.svrider.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=198

[The Buddha]

This has a larger good to garbage ratio than that gladius ... Upside down front forks is a great start.
Of course the radiator shroud gotta go, but the first set of branches it encounters in its first "off road" venture should take care of that.
Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

Do those bikes really see much offroad? I haven't really looked into them too far, but I still don't know that I really understand the purpose of a motard. I assumed they were just streetbikes for people who grew up on dirtbikes, and don't feel like going to a normal sportbike. Do people actually ride them off road with the street tires?

I've also never taken the time to check out the parts on the gladius. I doubt they're all that great considering the bike is a step down from the sv650, which has a lot of budget parts to begin with. Mostly speaking towards the styling, I don't think they could've done a better job, maybe a seat cowl, but I'm sure there's some ok looking aftermarket cowls. That's definitely a bike I'd consider if I found one cheap enough, and was looking for a bike that Heather could fit on, and feel comfortable riding.

[Dr.Sparkie]

  call me n00b, but why would anyone dress up an SV650 as a dirtbike/motard?

cause I thought the whole motard thing was to make a street bike out of a dirt bike.... not to make a street-from-dirt-conversion-looking bike from a street bike....

and wouldn't it still be a 200kg bike with a high center of gravity... cause it's still and sv650?

or am I missing out on everything?

[The Buddha]

call me n00b, but why would anyone dress up an SV650 as a dirtbike/motard?

cause I thought the whole motard thing was to make a street bike out of a dirt bike.... not to make a street-from-dirt-conversion-looking bike from a street bike....

and wouldn't it still be a 200kg bike with a high center of gravity... cause it's still and sv650?

or am I missing out on everything?

Oh ... this is just the confusion suzuki was hoping to create.
You've played right into their grubby little hands ... they want to create the impression that its just an SV ... there by ... they have won ...

See my friend, this is a crappy SF-V, where they have ignored its problems, and solved what was not broken ... in fact they have solved its best feature by tossing out the un rustable steel frame and put in a steel frame ... with a gazillion welds.

Then they made it a super retard ... and painted it and fit spoke wheels and long suspension ... and you entirely lost the plot ... I swear, you should never go to a bike store without a magnet.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Dr.Sparkie]

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_sfv_650_gladius.htm

now I think I understand.


well, I understand what you guys are talking about... but wtf was suzuki thinking? For sure my next bike is going to be a triumph.

[tt_four]

haha, well I don't think that motard was actually a suzuki creation. When I tried to look it up online it looks like someone else made it, and last year they made one out of a hayabusa(which sounds awesome!).

I think I was willing to overlook the cheap parts and short comings, because I didn't expect it to be anything nice to begin with, I thought it was just meant to be a really nice looking beginner bike.  Now on the other hand, I was just looking around online at msrps, and I see that bike is supposed to cost $6899! That's more than the SV by $900, so the real confusion comes with a bike that's I thought was a step down from the SV, but actually costs a step up. Even more important, is that gladius costs more than I paid for my old speed four!

Cheap parts on a cheap bike don't bother me so much, because if I'm looking for a bike that's just meant to be something for my wife to ride with me, they don't really matter. She's never going to complain about the rebound or torque. She still has fun just being on a bike, and an anodized purple cog on the rear wheel is probably going to be the best upgrade she cares for. Knowing the MSRP on that bike is rediculous, makes me assume I'll probably never find one cheap enough I want to pay for considering they're still going to ask more than an SV.

[The Buddha]

I'd buy the er6 kawi over the gladius.
In fact, I like the 09 kawi over the previous versions and there seems to be a lot less weld crap on it than the previous versions.
That gladius has a nice instrument cluster, that that ends the list of compliments I would give it.
Its damn headlight looks like a scrotum.
Cool.
Buddha.

[The Buddha]

Knowing the MSRP on that bike is rediculous, makes me assume I'll probably never find one cheap enough I want to pay for considering they're still going to ask more than an SV.

Oh ... not a problem, just wait till they start staining the ground red ... those never command any sorta value. You know, like a ... GS.
Cool.
Buddha.

[tt_four]

Oh ... not a problem, just wait till they start staining the ground red ... those never command any sorta value. You know, like a ... GS.
Cool.
Buddha.

haha, what's this about staining the ground red? New bike lingo I've never heard before. I doubt the resale would be too high anyway, but you can find a used SV for pretty cheap, and considering they've been selling in high numbers for 10 years, they're probably always going to be my best bet.

Dr.Sparkie:  I know I've complained about them plenty, but that Triumph I had would've eaten an SV or a Gladius alive. The SV is definitely the more practical bike, considering the huge price difference, but mine was only $1000 more than an SV when i got one, althought the price has gone up a bit since, and the SV, has only gone up about $200 in the past 5 years. If you've got the money to spend, the triumphs are definitely nicer than when I had mine. I was always mad that mine was an inline 4 instead of a triple, but I obviously just didn't wait long enough.

[sledge]

Its damn headlight looks like a scrotum.
Buddha.

I would get over to the Doctors and get things checked out ASAP if I was you mate.

[The Buddha]

With a scrotum like that you're question my ability to stain the ground red
Cool.
Buddha.

[JB848]

Looks more like something you would get behind door number 3 on " Let's Make a Deal" when you choose the wrong prize.

Just a thought but I'll stick with my little red GS 91'

[purplepeopleeater]

SV650's discontinued here, pay more for the continued SVsport than the Gladius. I'd stay clear of the ER6n/f - had both - cheaper paintwork than a ten year old GS, cracked frames on the Kawi are an issue for 'some' on newer models - let's see if it will be 'most' after a few more years of use.
Gladius is a street bike/commuter. Does it look like an off road bike? not where i live matey. And what's a bloody motard? I'd rather have a pit bike.

[tt_four]

Yeah, I don't remember the exact prices, but the sport is definitely a bit more than the regular SV here too, not sure if it was more than the gladius, but people who like naked bikes tend to really like naked bikes, so it would be hard to compare the SVS with the gladius anyway.

It doesn't normally look like an off road bike, just in that one picture I found, which I think someone did up special. Motard is a name for a street bike that looks like a dirtbike, kind of a cross between moto and retard, I'm assuming.

Either way, I did some more looking into it while I was trying to kill time at work, and I get why they keep comparing it to a ducati 696, because it's a 600, and clearly has some italian styling to it, but it really doesn't look all that much like a ducati aside from the steel frame and twin engine. Either way, the bike is so blatantly a miniature MV Agusta Brutale, which makes me like it that much more(I don't know how I didn't pick up on that earlier, I mean look at the names! it was a dead give away). Given the color scheme, the headlights, the frame, even the tank has those lips above your knees. All the Gladius needs is a good looking rear seat cover. All good news considering I don't see a Brutale popping up on craigslist for $2000 any time soon....

Gladius:


Brutale:


Gladius:


Brutale:


The only downside, is that when you copy something, and then compare it side by side, the copy starts to look a little boring. The more I read about it though, it's not meant to be as aggressive or fast as the SV, it's just supposed to be a good looking street bike. Something you can actually ride to work on, and have a good time without feeling like you're supposed to be going 95mph on, and I can respect that as I'm finally getting to a point in riding where I can appreciate taking it easy, although I'm also looking to appreciate a giant engine when i find my next bike as well, and 66hp isn't going to cut it. This bike is definitely going to stay on my short list for when Heather says she wants a bigger bike, and is allowing me to spend the money on one.

[Chanse]

I Think the first photo looks a little awkward. Like they have 15 inch wheels on it with low profile tires... Doesnt quite look right....

[tt_four]

If you wanna see it looking not quite right, look at the web page suzuki made for it.... www.gladiusstyle.com .....It's definitely the worst thing I've ever seen, and if you've disliked anything about the bike before, scrolling through the site page by page(it's set up like a pdf catalog) will make you hate it even worse. They're clearly after a new crowd with this one, and when you guys talk about the bike being more geared towards fashion and less towards performance, that's definitely the target group.

[Jughead]

I still kinda like the Gladius. I think this suppose to be the Answer to the Cagiva Raptors which didn't make it to the States.Suzuki supplied the Engines to Cagiva but Suzuki wouldn't let them Import them because it would cut into the SV Sales.If they would have Imported them I would have one setting in the Shop.

[Jughead]

Here is the X raptor
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/cagiva/cagiva_x_raptor.htm


If you go to Page 33 of the Gladius Style page and look at the Design behind the two guys you'll see that there's something that looks Similar to the Raptor