2009 Gladius replaces naked SV650

[lopee]

Potato, potato, potato       

Would that make it a french fry??


I agree im w/ the trusty 7" round.

[Roadstergal]

*looks at specs*

Four hundred and forty six pounds??

Holy shnikies, that won't make the engine feel anemic or anything like that.  Shithell, m'boy's SV1000S weighs less than that.

[gsJack]

First noticed it at the Kawasaki site when they put up their new bikes a couple weeks ago, the bike makers are giving a curb weight figure starting in 2009 instead of dry weight.

New SFV650 (Gladius) is 446# curb weight.

2008 SV650SF is 379# dry weight.
2009 SV650SF is 438# curb weight   

So the Gladius is only 8# heavier than the SV650SF.

This is going take some getting used to, I have a lot of the old dry weight figures in my mind.   

[makenzie71]

What the hell is up with the merging of rider and pillion pegs?  That whole idea was abandoned in the early 80's...and for damn good reason...

[bobthebiker]

What the hell is up with the merging of rider and pillion pegs?  That whole idea was abandoned in the early 80's...and for damn good reason...

Yeah! cause it looks about as good as a 500 pound guy naked.   
I'm liking this curb weight thing now. and the gladius doesnt look terrible, other than the passenger and rider peg mounts being integrated, and the exhaust.     I'd rather have a Buell 1125R though.

[Danny500]

Yeah! cause it looks about as good as a 500 pound guy naked.   

You REALLY had to use that analogy? It's gonna take a week to shake that image. 

Dan

[Juan1]

The Gladius weighs 7 pounds more than the GS500. 

As has been documented, Suzuki has changed from using dry to wet weight, and all weights on their website are currently wet weights.  The GS500F is 439 to the Gladius' 446.

[gsJack]

Some more pics from MCN.AU:

http://www.mcnews.com.au/2009_Bikes/Suzuki/SFV650_Gladius/Suzuki_Gladius_SFV650_Pictures/index.htm

Analog tach, digital speedo, gear position indicator, clock, etc.

Nice!

[The Buddha]

The Gladius weighs 7 pounds more than the GS500. 

As has been documented, Suzuki has changed from using dry to wet weight, and all weights on their website are currently wet weights.  The GS500F is 439 to the Gladius' 446.

Yea but that's all 7lbs of ugly ... and it has a name to match ...
Scratch that ... they have crammed 1000 lbs of ugly in a 500lb package ...
And that's just what it is new, just wait till the fasteners and the parts where the steel frame and the bolt on sheite plates meet up and there is these tiny nooks and crannies where it will .... ummm ... rust ... yea ...
I think they have got some permanent ailment with that short time they got in bed with kawasaki ... they have kawasaki's disease maybe ...
The ER650 was a great bike, but for its steel frame ... this POS isn't a parallel twin and it is now steel framed ... way to go kawasaki ... thanks for killing our next upgrade ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[Pigeonroost]

Gladius - its french ... it means headlight like a potato ...
Cool.
Buddha.

Or is it po-tah-to?

Let's call the whole thing off.

No it is NOT French.  It is Ebonics!  He be "gladheass" on a' Gs500 stead o' dat POS!

prs

[The Buddha]

fenderectomy ? nah, i still haven't cut mine. i like the stock look of things. they look new longer

No they dont ... they just look long longer ...  ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[Paulcet]

No it is NOT French.  It is Ebonics!  He be "gladheass" on a' Gs500 stead o' dat POS!

[The Buddha]

Upon hearing this refusing to be outdone Harley davidson motor announced their new model - The Phallus ... Affectionately also called the duck or the dickhead in interal memo's
Here read all about it.

THE HARLEY DICKHEAD

Harley announces new engine for 2007 model year

Harley Davidson announced that in it will introduce the newest model of engine to their lineup, the DKH "Dickhead" Super Single. Where the engine differs is in design. It will be a massive, eighty eight cubic inch single cylinder air cooled motor supported on twin ball bearing mounts for maximum rigidity. The shape of the valve cover is instantly both easily recognizable and unforgettable. Of course, it will be shaft driven for the final drive.

"It's definitely a work of art." Miriam Baxter said, looking at the test model. "I get excited on so many levels just looking at it."

When asked about the new changes in design philosophy, a spokesman at the Motor Company said "we wanted to give the customers something they could really relate to. We think that the new Dickhead really represents our traditional, core buyers and what they look for in a Harley Davidson product."

When asked why the company has gone to a single cylinder model, we were told that vibration was far less than the older V-twin model even though the Dickhead still has all the power of the classic V-twin which it will eventually replace in the years to come. The sound of the new engine is somewhat different as well, being only a single cylinder, but the exhaust pipe is chrome plated and rather huge with one tester even referring to it as "veiny" in nature. Our test model was evidently a press beater, and the chrome pipe showed signs of blueing through constant flogging.

And what does the new Dickhead engine sound like?

"Where the classic sound of the old engine was similar to 'potato-potato,'" Said a HD design team spokesman, "this new engine sounds more like 'unf-unf' and it only gets faster in tempo the more you get down on it."

"There's just something about this new engine." One test rider commented. "I can't really explain, but when I hop on this thing, I know it's going to be a great ride."

The new Dickhead will take its place among the ranks of other notable Harley engines such as the Knucklehead, the Panhead, and the Shovelhead. The spokesman added "We believe the Dickhead is really going to fill some holes in the market."

Most of the current models will receive a new Dickhead engine as will a yet unnamed new model. Our inside sources say that the mystery model is probably going to be a Dickhead paired with an entry level Sportster, which really won't be all that surprising.

At first, look for a slow trickle of Dickheads to start showing up at the dealerships as the company closes down its hundredth anniversary celebration and ramps up for full production of the new models. Corporate sources also tell us that soon after that, all of the dealerships should be chock full of Dickheads.

"It will be standing room only when all of the Dickheads hit the sales floor." A spokesperson commented.

"The Harley Dickhead. It's what we're going to base our new corporate sales policy around. We're totally committed to getting all the Dickheads we can into our dealerships." The company spokesman said. "That's where we're really going to see a jump in profit, from sales made off of all of the Dickheads."

The Harley Davidson Dickhead. If you haven't seen one yet, just stop by your local Harley Davidson dealership where you'll find several on display

Pics will follow shortly.
Cool.
Buddha.

[cafeboy]

Gladius - its french ... it means headlight like a potato ...
Cool.
Buddha.

Or is it po-tah-to?

Let's call the whole thing off.

No it is NOT French.  It is Ebonics!  He be "gladheass" on a' Gs500 stead o' dat POS!

prs

     

[Kasumi]

Looks like an ER6n with a slightly very slightly different headlight. Nice tho

[commuterdude]

Holy crap this is the uglies bike I have ever seen!  ER6n here I come!   Those rear/front peg things, look like a .............DICKHEAD.   Wonder if this thing really comes with SHAFT drive.  I bet the engine features GIANT RODS.
New 2009 Suzuki Glutius Maximus.   Biggus Dickus.   Encontinentea buttocks.   WEEEeeeeee, I just got my new GLADIUS guys!   WEEEEEeeeeeeeeee, come on over and check it out, we can sleep on soft furs....

[bobthebiker]

The ER650 was a great bike, but for its steel frame ... this POS isn't a parallel twin and it is now steel framed ... way to go kawasaki ... thanks for killing our next upgrade ...
Cool.
Buddha.

Actually, the ER650 is a paralell twin, same as the EX650, and versys. cosmetics are the only difference.

[hotrodstu77]

saw a gladius today at my local dealer, sharp looking bike in person. to bad the only one they had in stock was purple and white 

still sharp looking. its kinda got a cheap feel to it. dunno how to explain it. just feels "cheap"

still sharp looking potato machine

[The Buddha]

The ER650 was a great bike, but for its steel frame ... this POS isn't a parallel twin and it is now steel framed ... way to go kawasaki ... thanks for killing our next upgrade ...
Cool.
Buddha.

Actually, the ER650 is a paralell twin, same as the EX650, and versys. cosmetics are the only difference.

By "this POS" I meant the gladiolius ... not the ER/EX/versys ... I have been drooling over the ER forever ... just waiting for the aluminum framed model ...
Looks like kawasaki infected suzuki with the steel frame ailment ... I dont see how a Vtiwn is the right step up form the parallel twin of our GS ... I'd take a inline 4 over a V twin ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[Roadstergal]

I'd take a inline 4 over a V twin ...

I'm still waiting for the Big Bang, baby.

It might be bad, though, because I have a feeling that once I test-ride one, I'll want it.  Chunky middle and all.



How much does the Colin Edwards addon cost?