Promo Vid of Kawasaki's NEW Z800

[mister]

As the video begins, do not switch off thinking "What has this got to do with a motorbike, must be the wrong video". It's Kawasaki being Creative.

As far as promo videos go I think it sucks balls. See for yourself

http://youtu.be/fXD2jNzjh28

Oh, this is their longer "isn't our bike wonderful" video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIBMoi_0bLQ So full of advertising lingo and over exaggeration I can't be bothered watching all the way through.

Michael

[Twisted]

Looks good. Would like to see a few reviews on it to see whats different between it and the superseded 750

[peteGS]

Pass... now this would be more like the middleweight champ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r2JrSODDsk

[pave_spectre]

It looks like they made it from broken bits of other bikes

[Paulcet]

Suzuki tried to market the Gladius as a lifestyle accessory... Kawasaki wasn't paying attention to that utter failure, I guess.

[peteGS]

Suzuki tried to market the Gladius as a lifestyle accessory... Kawasaki wasn't paying attention to that utter failure, I guess.

That made me shudder.... what a good way to go and ruin what they did with the SV... 

[The Buddha]

Suzuki took a 1/2 decent bike, and made the one part that made it 1/2 decent (aluminum frame) and swapped it for crap.

Kawasaki OTOH, with the W800 is apparently tapping into the market for a cafe/standard twin left vacant by all the manufacturers except triumph. It has been working in australia, is it coming to US and will it be a success here ?

BTW The Gheydius was trashed thoroughly on all the SV related sites as well as this one, and only a complete moron ignores the web when trying to launch a product.

People on the interwebz will do for free what the companies spend billions on. However ignore them or piss them off or try to lead them by the nose like The Gheydius ad campaign did (it told the people on the interwebz that they were ghey), and they will kill your billion $$$ research and ad campaign for free.

Cool.
Buddha.

[Mechmech]

Outta curiosity, what's wrong with the Gladius? I saw one while walking 'round Barcelona the other day, and I liked how it looked quite a bit... even took a pic so I'd remember the name >.>

[DrtRydr23]

Outta curiosity, what's wrong with the Gladius? I saw one while walking 'round Barcelona the other day, and I liked how it looked quite a bit... even took a pic so I'd remember the name >.>

I don't think there is anything wrong with it really.  It supposedly has a good motor and is comfortable (based on reviews I've seen online).  It is supposed to be very fun to ride.  Maybe some cornering clearance issues and a soft suspension.  Some people don't like the steel frame.  Aesthetics is a personal preference.  I didn't like the looks at all at first, but as I see them more it is starting to grow on me.  The tank is a little small for commuting, which means more frequent fill ups but it is supposed to get good mileage.  One complaint that I've seen is less than stellar brakes, but they are still adequate from what I've heard (GS-like basically).

[cbrfxr67]

like the z800 but very annoying promo vid,....

[peteGS]

Outta curiosity, what's wrong with the Gladius? I saw one while walking 'round Barcelona the other day, and I liked how it looked quite a bit... even took a pic so I'd remember the name >.>

I don't think there is anything wrong with it really.  It supposedly has a good motor and is comfortable (based on reviews I've seen online).  It is supposed to be very fun to ride.  Maybe some cornering clearance issues and a soft suspension.  Some people don't like the steel frame.  Aesthetics is a personal preference.  I didn't like the looks at all at first, but as I see them more it is starting to grow on me.  The tank is a little small for commuting, which means more frequent fill ups but it is supposed to get good mileage.  One complaint that I've seen is less than stellar brakes, but they are still adequate from what I've heard (GS-like basically).

You don't think "Gladius" sounds a lot like "Gladys"? 

[mister]

Outta curiosity, what's wrong with the Gladius? I saw one while walking 'round Barcelona the other day, and I liked how it looked quite a bit... even took a pic so I'd remember the name >.>

I don't think there is anything wrong with it really.  It supposedly has a good motor and is comfortable (based on reviews I've seen online).  It is supposed to be very fun to ride.  Maybe some cornering clearance issues and a soft suspension.  Some people don't like the steel frame.  Aesthetics is a personal preference.  I didn't like the looks at all at first, but as I see them more it is starting to grow on me.  The tank is a little small for commuting, which means more frequent fill ups but it is supposed to get good mileage.  One complaint that I've seen is less than stellar brakes, but they are still adequate from what I've heard (GS-like basically).

You don't think "Gladius" sounds a lot like "Gladys"? 

PLus, you cannot release a bike like that, make it in purpley pink and not expect people to call it gaydius.

IMO. Regardless of what colors are available the bike should come in black. All bikes look better in black, the Glady is no exception. 

Also, I don't care if that bugger sips fuel. Don't give me a piddly little tank cause it won't even get me to test ride it.

It is said, half the battle of selling a book in a store, it getting someone to pick it up of the shelf to read the back.

My unprofessional opinion is, half the battle of selling a bike is getting people to want to take it for a test ride cause they think it will suit their purposes.

Small tank - no good for commuting, no good for longer weekend rides. I won't bother taking it for a test ride.
Pink/Purple - I won't be seen on one thank you, so I won't bother taking it for a test ride.

The above is how people think. You cannot force them to think differently. You can try, but hurt sales will be the result.

Michael

[DrtRydr23]

You don't think "Gladius" sounds a lot like "Gladys"? 

PLus, you cannot release a bike like that, make it in purpley pink and not expect people to call it gaydius.

IMO. Regardless of what colors are available the bike should come in black. All bikes look better in black, the Glady is no exception. 

Also, I don't care if that bugger sips fuel. Don't give me a piddly little tank cause it won't even get me to test ride it.

It is said, half the battle of selling a book in a store, it getting someone to pick it up of the shelf to read the back.

My unprofessional opinion is, half the battle of selling a bike is getting people to want to take it for a test ride cause they think it will suit their purposes.

Small tank - no good for commuting, no good for longer weekend rides. I won't bother taking it for a test ride.
Pink/Purple - I won't be seen on one thank you, so I won't bother taking it for a test ride.

The above is how people think. You cannot force them to think differently. You can try, but hurt sales will be the result.

Michael

Yeah the name is lame, and the color options as well.  However, the styling is something that some people could like while others will obviously hate.  Suzuki dropped the name in favor of just the SFV650, and it now comes only in black, see here.

It also had some pretty sweet color combos outside the US, like
or


That being said, I still don't know that I would buy one, mostly due to the small tank as mister said.  However, for me it wouldn't be too bad as I have a 20 mile commute to work 1 way.  I wouldn't mind a bigger standard-type bike, and it would be something that almost no one else would have in the area that I live in.

[john]

It looks like they made it from broken bits of other bikes

Ha ha.  It kinda does.  But I bet that motor makes the same power as my 2002 z1000 with less weight.  I shed 35 pounds off mine taking off the stock pipes.  It still handles like a fat pig, in fact it is a miserable bike to ride because it only goes straight well and wheelies easily.  Hopefully this 800 (middleweight really?) is more nimble.

[mister]

What my local Suzuki shop does with the Glady is, they remove the word Glady from it and change the exhaust - they did this since the bike came into their store. Makes the bike look less undesirable. They sell more.

[Snake2715]

Yeah the gladius looks like a bug or a transformer or something. The back fender just ruins it for me.