Suzuki Gladius

Suzuki Gladius

After a decade of superlatives, Suzuki rethinks the SV650

DAVID EDWARDS

DANGEROUS TERRITORY THIS, REMAKING ONE OF THE GREAT motorcycles of recent history. Introduced in 1999, the SV650 won instant acclaim, somehow managing to be all things to all riders. Beginners were drawn to its light weight and user-friendliness; experts loved its flickable chassis and rev-happy motor—more than a few SVs ended up going club roadracing.

After an update in 2003, now comes a major re-do. Have to say, we were skeptical. First, there's the model name. Gone is the studly alphanumeric designation, replaced by. . . Gladius? We're told that's a type of Roman sword, particularly good in cut-and-thrust battle. Okay, but around here it soon morphed into Gladys, or worse. "So, how's that Happy Buns 650 treatin' ya?"

Gone, too, is the old bike's aluminum frame; instead there's a tubular-steel trellis, which helps explain why the Gladius gained 14 pounds over the naked `08-model SV And those alloy-looking lower frame pieces? Sadly, just plastic cladding.

Then there's the website. Log on to www.gladiusstyle.com, a trendy desti nation where Gladius fans can, no kid ding, download tunes tailored to the color of their bike ("What goes with Metallic Triton Blue/Glass Splash White?") or even get fashion advice in riding gear. Female riders.. .well, we presume, are told that a leather jacket is a wise choice, but ". . .to avoid giv ing such a hard image, the jacket is teamed with a soft silk blouse for innerwear and culottes for bottoms to produce a light and active look."

What's going on here? Is the Gladius merely a beginner's bike-or, dare we say it, a chick's bike?

Yes. And no.

Returning to the frame, yes, it's heavier but it's also cheaper to produce-the Gladius rings-in $500 less than the remaining SV65OSF and V-Strom 650. Perhaps more importantly to new bies and shorter riders, the steel frame drops seat height by 1.7 inches. Being able to flat-foot at stops is a major confidence builder. As re-tailored, the Gladius' riding position is perfect for sub-6-footers-nice, comfortable knee bend, natural reach to the mid-rise tubular handlebar. Taller riders looking for more legroom can order an optional inch-taller saddle.

In case you're wondering, the new chassis still knows its way around corners, and the suspension-preload-adjustable front and rear-is well-sprung and well-damped. Front brakes are simple two-piston jobs but have excel D `~ A I KI lent feel and are up to the task.

BARGAIN BIKES

Let's talk styling. It's the outcome, says the development team, of a "full-immer sion stay in Europe' which has to beat

all heck~of toiling away in a Hamamatsu cubicle. While there are some excesses (that ray-gun muffler, for one), the overall look is rounded, organic, inviting, memorable. Signature items? The plastic sidepanels that sweep forward to cover the fuel tank's sides, leaving a center stripe of metal exposed for a slimming, two-tone look. And, finally, proof that Suzuki has colors other than dark blue and slate gray in the paint cabinet!

Paradoxically, the styling licks heaped upon the exhaust system led a better-running motor. To get the look the stylists were after, the R&D team resorted to unequallength headers, usually undesirable, but here it resulted in increased torque output from the liquid-cooled, eight-valve, 90-degree V-Twin. Hmmm. Staggered-length intake fun nels also boosted midrange. In fact, the Gladius makes an impressive 6 more foot-pounds of torque than the last SV650 we tested. That added oomph, a heavier flywheel and a redesigned clutch-release mechanism (now a cam-type instead of ball-screw) with light pull and broad engagement means the Gladius is practically unstallable.

With that taken care of, the engineers won back some horsepower with single valve springs in place of double, nested units (less inertia, reduced mechanical loss) and with higher-lift camshafts. Result? Even with its extra weight, the bike is quicker at the dragstrip than every SV we've ever sampled, save for last year's 11.99-second rocketship-and then it loses out by less than a tenth. Good as it is down low, the redone motor still lives to zing from 7500 rpm to its 10,500-rpm redline. -

In short, the new and fashionable Gladius retains the SV650's good DNA and desirable traits. ______ Excellent choice for beginners, excel lent choice for women, and we like it, too. We draw the line, however, at soft silk blouses and culottes...

ink SV650 )Exce lent

SUZUKI GLADIUS

Price $6499 Dry weight 426 lb. Wheelbase . 57.2 in. Seat height 30.9 in. Fuel mileage 53 mpg 0-60 mph 3.6 sec. 1/4-mile 12.08 sec. @ 105.83 mph Horsepower 68.0 hp @ 8450 rpm Torque 48.7 ft.-lb. @ 7500 rpm Top speed 121 mph

Su2uki discovers color! More torque, just as quick Fully faired SV65OSF and V-Strom 650 adventure bike still available

Over-styled for some Only skinny magnetic tank bags need apply Euros get an ABS option. Why not us?