Endurance test interim result: Suzuki SFV Gladius

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Endurance test interim balance of Suzuki SFV Gladius

Conclusion after 30,000 test kilometers

With the Gladius, Suzuki is targeting female buyers: low seat height, easy to drive, uncomplicated to use. And so, conversely, the lively 650er has earned the reputation of being a girl for everything on the first 30,000 kilometers.

Both the Suzuki Gladius product planner Yasuhiro Mori and the designer Yoshinori Kohinata are around 30 years old. The two young Japanese represent the generation of the target group for their product: young people. Mori-San said in an interview: "In order to achieve a wide range of satisfied customers, we focused on designing a lightweight, affordable motorcycle with a sophisticated design that was also suitable for women and novice drivers."

W.You can always argue about the latter. And when the Gladius was in the MOTORRAD underground car park for the first time in March 2009, the opinion was divided: While the conservatives associate many design elements with deodorant and shower gel packaging, open-minded, but above all young contemporaries of the Design really impressed. Although the engine is basically an old acquaintance who has already done its job well in the SV 650 and V-Strom, the editorial team nevertheless agrees to subject the Gladius to an endurance test. On April 6, 2009, MOTORRAD took over a test motorcycle with a total of 2647 kilometers, which had previously been put through its paces in a comparative test and unfortunately came in last. In direct comparison with the competition Honda CBF 600, Kawasaki ER-6n and Yamaha XJ6, the ergonomics of the Gladius is not optimal, the chassis is tuned too soft, the spring elements do not respond very sensitively and there is no ABS. In fact, the ABS for the Gladius was only available from summer 2009. After all: Despite the ungrateful last place, the Gladius won the engine classification.

Endurance test interim balance

Suzuki SFV Gladius in the 50,000 kilometer test

j.kuenstle.de

Small, smart, eager to travel. Regardless of whether it is Lake Garda, Northern Germany, the Apennines, Tyrol or the Fichtel Mountains: The Gladius turned out to be a reliable companion.

A total of 38 different pilots from fat to thin, from large to small moved the little canyon runabout over the first 30,000 kilometers. The narrow, strangely cranked handlebars were a thorn in the side of sporty drivers, while tall drivers complained about the low seat height.

Fleet manager Rainer Froberg is nevertheless satisfied, because the machine only needed ten months for the first 30,000 kilometers and was considered to be unproblematic and reliable. Apart from a set of chains, the steering head bearing, which had to be replaced under warranty when the odometer reading was 29509, and a set of brake pads for the rear single-piston floating caliper, no parts were replaced. There were also no unscheduled workshop visits. However, the short 6000 inspection intervals are expensive: So far, 1350 euros have been paid for six inspections. The competition is set up differently, other bikes only have to be checked into the workshop every 10,000 kilometers. The average fuel consumption was around five liters per 100 kilometers. The machine is content with 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers in touring mode, but also consumes up to 6.4 liters when fully loaded on the motorway.

On behalf of all drivers, an experienced driver who would have liked to have had the BMW K 1300 GT for his vacation, but had to be content with the Gladius, wrote in the logbook: “With the Gladius you might not get what you want, but that, what you need."

Sdun

Christopher Ost, volunteer

I have seldom been so quick traveling with a motorcycle, this V2 is top notch. Turns up snot, pushes damn well and sounds really pithy with the Yoshimura Evo pot. Brakes and chassis provide an acceptable performance, but it’s not enough for the maximum battle line. The best thing: when you drive yourself, you don’t have to see so much of the messed up design, you can just enjoy the ride.

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Gert Thole, test chief

As you know, we tend to do so, to transfigure the past. But wasn’t the good old SV 650 from 1999, the one with the welded aluminum lattice frame, a great little machine? The Gladius has now been refurbished with lots of plastic. But it is of little use, because the still fantastic two-cylinder engine is offset by toothless brakes, cramped ergonomics, at least for tall drivers, and a sluggish chassis set-up. Is that the progress?

Bjorn Gramm, MOTORRADonline.de

A round thing should the gladius be for beginners? I can only say: Mission accomplished! The twin’s performance is linear and user-friendly, and that sounds surprisingly good. I hadn’t expected such a deep rumble beforehand, the little Yoshimura trumpet makes really good music. In the dry, I trusted the handy chassis and the Metzeler Roadtec Z6 very quickly – but in the wet the feedback is very blurred.

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