(http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/logo/500/SFV650K9.jpg)
I like it!
Me likey.. any other colors?
Nice!
Is Gladius the best name they could come up with? It sounds like the name of a Log Cabin Republican member.
I hope this means that the era of the black frame, black engine is over.
Yep, I was just looking at Suzuki's website it sure looks like 2008 is the last year for the naked SV650. Actually the specs for the Gladius looks similar to the N SV650 with the exception of the trellis frame, a smaller gas tank and a little more weight for the Gladius. Of course the weight difference may just be on how they measure it too. I don't really care for the name nor exhaust but it looks pretty good, I think.
Tony
Quote from: Juan1 on October 01, 2008, 09:33:19 AM
Nice!
Is Gladius the best name they could come up with? It sounds like the name of a Log Cabin Republican member.
I hope this means that the era of the black frame, black engine is over.
Yeah, serious brand identity crisis over at Suzuki. My thoughts. (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=43845.msg498143#msg498143)
Serious fenderectomy candidate. That's about the only nice thing I can say about this POS ... I wanna buy a naked aluminum framed SV right now so I dont have to regret this turkey's appearance on the market.
Cool.
Buddha.
"Galdius" comes from Latin for "sword," but that doesn't make me think of 'gladiolus' any less, which isn't very studly.
Cute, but the suspension still sucks.
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 01, 2008, 10:01:09 AM
"Galdius" comes from Latin for "sword," but that doesn't make me think of 'gladiolus' any less, which isn't very studly.
Cute, but the suspension still sucks.
Or "Gladys"... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Yes, definitely not a name for a tough guy's bike. :laugh: :laugh:
Just "SFV 650" is better IMHO.
Not bad, but i like the SV - both Mk1 and Mk2 - better. This seems to be a copy from a Monster 696 and/or a Brutale. :dunno_white:
Let's see what happens when it hits the shops.
Quote from: Yev on October 01, 2008, 09:32:04 AM
Me likey.. any other colors?
(http://www.suzukicycles.com/images/ProductImages/colorVariations/500/SFV650K9_Black_000000.jpg)
Blue/White and Black
That headlight ... I anticipate a lot of people will be dumping it for the standard good old round one off the old SV.
Cool.
Buddha.
Are the specs listed anywhere?
I fear this is Suzuki's attempt to bring in the new rider. It has the signs: low price tag, fuel efficient, low grade components, cheap parts. If this is the strategy I have no problem with it, but I really liked the aluminum framed naked SV.
what do you do if you want to upgrade the exhaust? Seems like that would get really expensive with a system like that....
Quote from: Juan1 on October 01, 2008, 11:14:38 AM
Are the specs listed anywhere?
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/SFV650K9/Specs/Default.aspx
Gladius - its french ... it means headlight like a potato ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Not a bad looking bike... I don't like the headlight though..
Quote from: The Buddha on October 01, 2008, 01:45:43 PM
Gladius - its french ... it means headlight like a potato ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Potato, potato, potato :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Would that make it a french fry?????????????????
:laugh:
i dont care what you guys think that thing looks hawt! def needs fenderactomy. im trying to decide on a bike to transistion me from the gs to a 600 ish bike. that seems like a good candidate. i like the naked style and the headlight.
Quote from: The Buddha on October 01, 2008, 01:45:43 PM
Gladius - its french ... it means headlight like a potato ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Or is it po-tah-to?
Let's call the whole thing off.
Quote from: The Buddha on October 01, 2008, 09:43:42 AM
Serious fenderectomy candidate. That's about the only nice thing I can say about this POS ... I wanna buy a naked aluminum framed SV right now so I dont have to regret this turkey's appearance on the market.
Cool.
Buddha.
dude I've been trying to snatch up a red '06 naked SV 650 for a while. They are rare as hell. With crap like this coming out the classic look of a naked bike will vanish quickly.
:icon_rolleyes:
nice looking bike, 5 spoke wheels ? cool, they look light.
the headlight has to die though, give me a sv light on it and blamo- done !
fenderectomy ? nah, i still haven't cut mine. i like the stock look of things. they look new longer :)
Potato, potato, potato
Would that make it a french fry??
I agree im w/ the trusty 7" round.
*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.
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. :cry:
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...
Quote from: makenzie71 on October 01, 2008, 09:45:28 PM
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.
Quote from: bobthebiker on October 01, 2008, 10:38:45 PM
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. :cry:
Dan
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.
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!
Quote from: Juan1 on October 02, 2008, 09:33:31 AM
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.
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 01, 2008, 03:15:46 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on October 01, 2008, 01:45:43 PM
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
Quote from: ohgood on October 01, 2008, 03:49:51 PM
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 ... :icon_twisted: ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: Pigeonroost on October 02, 2008, 09:53:14 AM
No it is NOT French. It is Ebonics! He be "gladheass" on a' Gs500 stead o' dat POS!
:laugh: :laugh: :thumb:
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.
Quote from: Pigeonroost on October 02, 2008, 09:53:14 AM
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 01, 2008, 03:15:46 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on October 01, 2008, 01:45:43 PM
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
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
:thumb:
Looks like an ER6n with a slightly very slightly different headlight. Nice tho
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....
Quote from: The Buddha on October 02, 2008, 09:50:31 AM
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.
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 :dunno_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
Quote from: bobthebiker on October 02, 2008, 07:21:29 PM
Quote from: The Buddha on October 02, 2008, 09:50:31 AM
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.
Quote from: The Buddha on October 03, 2008, 08:10:53 AMI'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.
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2mnkv1l.jpg)
How much does the Colin Edwards addon cost?
Quote from: The Buddha on October 02, 2008, 01:00:58 PM
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
...
Cool.
Buddha.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA
LMAO
One of the funniest things I've come across in this msg board...
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 03, 2008, 10:16:56 AM
Quote from: The Buddha on October 03, 2008, 08:10:53 AMI'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.
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2mnkv1l.jpg)
How much does the Colin Edwards addon cost?
I think it comes with a free colon polyp. :laugh: ... as well as back ache, wristache, butt ache ...
Cool.
Buddha.
As a trackbike!
Although, if they stuff that engine in the FZ1 - I'm on it like stink on... you know.
The engine is already legendary, it's no potato, patato by any means. Nothing but pure linear powerband up it's redline, I own a V-Strom too. All 90° V-Twins have perfect primary balance...I need to see this in person though?
Primary balance - waaaaaaaaay over rated ... OK yea race bike and blah blah blah ... esle its really a marketing gimmick. Power ... remember we all in here took the GS over the EX500, so we are not hungry for the power of the SV. We want simplicity and ease of maintenance and what not.
Parallel twins have 1 head, 1 valve cover, 1 cam chain tensioner, shorter front to back and are more compact for access and packaging as well as have inherently more front weight bias.
90 V twins basically have primary balance ... The SV still IMHo had one thing going over the ER ... frame. This crap is losing the best thing about the SV.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: The Buddha on October 03, 2008, 12:45:12 PM
Primary balance - waaaaaaaaay over rated
Remove the counter balancer
(band aid) from your GS parallel twin and get back with me on this.
Built in balance is a good thing, don't kid yourself.
Don't get me wrong, I love my GS, but I think they are looking to capture the edgy entry level crowd with the Gladius?
Yup ... the edgey really really ghey entry level crowd.
You know Gladiator is the ghey's favorite movie right.
And yes the counter balancer eats power ... however a Vtwin still has a larger penalty ... a whole other cylinder, a whole second head, a whole extra cam chain and an extra 2-3 inches longer crankshaft + many more ...
If I have to lose my counterbalancer, you lose your second cam chain tensioner and get back to me ... even stevens ... not even close, I am going very easy on you ... just 1 barely 5 Oz part. You have plenty more worthless crap banging around in that motor ... that has to be there just cos its a V twin.
Cool.
Buddha.
Budda relax, it's just an internet discussion forum, reread your last post, and remove every line based on your opinion. Then add a line based on something factual...you take yourself waaaaaay too seriously my friend.
I'll take a torquey v-twin any day. The only thing keeping me from getting an FZ6, other than funds, is that it has an I4 rather than a V twin.
Keep your in-line buzzboxes for mixing paint and impressing the girls at Dairy Queen on Saturday night. :icon_razz:
I'll be keeping all 649cc's of my beautiful 90 degree wanna-be (but better) Ducati engine, thank you!
Exqueze me, but the girls at the Dairy Queen whip off their panties and throw them at me when I go by.
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 03, 2008, 07:52:46 PM
Exqueze me, but the girls at the Dairy Queen whip off their panties and throw them at me when I go by.
this post is worthless without pics.....
Quote from: werase643 on October 03, 2008, 10:48:33 PM
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 03, 2008, 07:52:46 PM
Exqueze me, but the girls at the Dairy Queen whip off their panties and throw them at me when I go by.
this post is worthless without pics.....
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Oh dear.....the UK bike press are already calling it a girls bike...... and its not even on the market yet :laugh:. I said in another post that this bike is going to go down like the Titanic did and I am more than certain it will now.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/september/22-28/sep2508-suzuki-gladius-launch-first-pic/?&R=EPI-103114
EDIT: Scroll down the page.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Now that I've read this thread, I'm just going to keep saving up for a MONsterrrrrrrr.
Quote from: sledge on October 04, 2008, 09:05:37 AM
Oh dear.....the UK bike press are already calling it a girls bike...... and its not even on the market yet :laugh:. I said in another post that this bike is going to go down like the Titanic did and I am more than certain it will now.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/september/22-28/sep2508-suzuki-gladius-launch-first-pic/?&R=EPI-103114
EDIT: Scroll down the page.
I read that also :laugh: :laugh:
Oh dear, guess Suzuki UK just lost THAT market :laugh:
Quote from: werase643 on October 03, 2008, 10:48:33 PM
Quote from: Roadstergal on October 03, 2008, 07:52:46 PM
Exqueze me, but the girls at the Dairy Queen whip off their panties and throw them at me when I go by.
this post is worthless without pics.....
Yep, must post pics.. ;-)
Quote from: Juan1 on October 03, 2008, 05:58:04 PM
I'll take a torquey v-twin any day. The only thing keeping me from getting an FZ6, other than funds, is that it has an I4 rather than a V twin.
Dude ... V has nothign to do with torque Torque comes form the fact that twins have higher rotating mass and whatever than 4's. Singles make way more torque than twins, and ther aint no such thang as a V single.
That is a fact.
V twins if anythign have smaller counterbalancers really, it makes power more than torque. V twin = torque is a lie perpetrated by harley, looks like we have swallowed it well ...
Cool.
Buddha.
I don't know, I have actually ridden a Motto Guzzi, HD, SV, V-Strom, Super Hawk 996 and Aprilia, if that was a myth I felt, myth is AWESOME!
And that myth you felt was awesome was because you have not ridden a corresponding parallel twin like a laverda or a non V twin BMW R bike.
There was a bike called a laverda ghost 668 in the mid 90's. It was air cooled and not very high tech ... that bike actually felt and ran and handled so similar to the SV ...
Compare apples to apples and the parallel twin will kill the Vtwin in all aspects regarding maintenance and component costs for replacement and repairs and break even with it for performance ... and the 800 BMW is another case in point ... its heavy and more touring oriented ... but it is torquey ...
I dunno how else to put it ...
I guess the 1100 BMW R series - R1100R will be comparable to the 1100 guzzi whatever that standard the made was called ... was red and black (daytona ??) - and we can look up past magazine test or numbers for the 2, I think they were aimed at the same target market and had the same goal.
You have ridden a bunch of V twins for which there is no parallel twin. maybe the TRX 850 in europe or the TDM 850 in the 1-2 years in US ... Yea ducati 851 and TRX 850 ... we could compare those 2 I believe they may have been made in the same years.
I know this well from the V4 vs I4 arguments of the eliminator vs the madura, magna, Vmax ... the eli was a 1000 CC at its biggest. The others were 1100 and 2 1200's ... and the eli has 1000 cc because it only needs that 1000 to wallop 2 of the other 3 ... V does not do much other than make the argument that its a V ... BTW most of the ones you said are not 90 degree ... aprilia is 60, Guzzi is 45 transverse, HD is 45, the others are 90 ...
A parallel twin buit for the same target as a V twin with the same quality of design engineers and same type of materials will very much perform on par with the V twin in real world and be easier to maintan and cheaper to make. Here dont compare an EX500 type to a GS500 ... not similar technologies at all ...
The vulcan 500 is a parallel twin, honda 600 shadow is a V twin, both water cooled, both chain drive and a 600 shadow will be left beaten and bloody by a Vulcan inspite of the 20% extra displacement ... arguably they are designed for looks vs performance in the vulcan ... OK. The hypothetical ... I think the Guzzi vs R 1100 R BMW is the closest we can get. V vs non V.
Dont confuse what a V twin will do because its a twin with what it will do because its a V and attribute one to the other ... that is harleys whole marketing game. You call it a myth, they call it mystique ... same BS.
Your riding cannot be counted as you are biased, neither will my riding ... we have to use a magazine or a review from somewhere. Or paper specs from the factory ... there is bound to be similar BS from either factory on that one it will cancel itself out.
Cool.
Buddha.
Iv ridden allot of different bikes, trouble is more often then not it's in different decades. The Parallel Twin, V-Twin same cc side by side comparison, no I have never had much of a chance with the limited availability of different P Twin sizes at my disposal. I do know that in a I4 to P Twin comparison the I4 is smoother and the P Twin is more responsive. I do know one other thing for sure..every time you add another cylinder you create more cylinder drag and then you have to sacrifice a bit of HP to overcome this internal drag. This is why a 500cc Twin will always be more responsive than a 500cc I4. So on this premise without looking at any specs I totally buy the idea that a thumper can have more torque than a V-Twin. :cheers:
Quote from: tripleb on October 01, 2008, 11:30:34 AM
what do you do if you want to upgrade the exhaust? Seems like that would get really expensive with a system like that....
Cut and weld my friend :thumb:
Would the Ninja 650r be a good comparison to the SV650? If so, there's this dyno: http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/650hp.jpg
Quote from: Juan1 on October 06, 2008, 11:50:14 PM
Would the Ninja 650r be a good comparison to the SV650? If so, there's this dyno: http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/650hp.jpg
Thanks for the link. Was there a torque curve comparison?
Quote from: Paulcet on October 07, 2008, 04:53:37 AM
Quote from: Juan1 on October 06, 2008, 11:50:14 PM
Would the Ninja 650r be a good comparison to the SV650? If so, there's this dyno: http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/650hp.jpg
Thanks for the link. Was there a torque curve comparison?
That was easy...in the photo link I replaced the "hp" part with "torque" and guess what popped up?
http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/650hp.jpg
http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/650torque.jpg
(http://photos.motorcycle-usa.com/650torque.jpg)
Yea the kawi-ER and sv are good comparisons except the SV was a bit more targeted as a race bike, ER was a commuter. The steel frame vs aluminum gives me that notion.
SV prolly is more agressively cammed and higher compression prolly. I have a magazine article I can check into.
Cool.
Buddha.
And why do they start all these at 4K ... do these things not run under 4K ??? I cant find my mag now ... may have given it away to a neighbor.
Cool.
Buddha.
BTW I had this XS 650 from like 81, It was old, looked ancient, and had a kick starter and a set of points that would have made grampa proud.
It would out run my friends V-star 650 easily ... just dont hit the brakes or try to turn ... not only was I saying it will out run the v-star ... so did he ... and the XS was heavy. Almost as much as the v-star.
Then the savage 650 1 cyl will cream the v-star and the shadow 600 and its 1 cyl. Of course its light as a feather and lighter still after I chopped/drilled the spot welds holding the inner bracing off the rear fender and tossed the grab rail. Lost 30-40 lbs easy no kidding. That and some other mods got it under 300 lbs from the 340 lb stock weight. Rear seat, dumbass buck horn bars replaced with aluminum drag bars and aluminum risers, exhaust can with a straight thin SS pipe crushed at the tip for a fishtail look ... exhaust carrier bracket - dont laugh that was heavy enough to use as a towing rig, I dont think it weighed 300 with a full tank of gas. Again the motor was so light to start with. Imagine a 650 motor that is a good 30 lbs lighter than a GS motor.
I plan to repeat these ideas except the fender drill out part on this blue one I am working on.
The bike I did that severe weight loss on is now a chopper with a KX500 front end and an aluminum 90 wide front wheel. I cannot imagine what a 300 lb chopper will be like. Have to ride it ... bad.
Cool.
Buddha.