News – EICMA news: goodbye Suzuki Gladius, hello SV650 2016 again! – Used SUZUKI

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EICMA news: goodbye Suzuki Gladius, hello SV650 2016 again !

News - EICMA news: goodbye Suzuki Gladius, hello SV650 2016 again! - Used SUZUKI

Discovered in 1999 and replaced ten years later by the Gladius, the SV650 is one of Suzuki’s greatest successes. In an attempt to reconnect with this prestigious past and make people forget the failure of the "Glaive", the Hamamatsu coat of arms relaunches in 2016 its sparkling twin-cylinder roadster in an improved version..

Discovered in 1999 and replaced ten years later, the SV650 is one of Suzuki’s greatest successes. In an attempt to reconnect with this prestigious past and make people forget the failure of the "Glaive", the Hamamatsu coat of arms relaunches in 2016 its sparkling twin-cylinder roadster in an improved version.

Suzuki sheaths his Glaive and brings out the heavy artillery !

"It is both a return to basics but also a way to cut oneself off from the Gladius concept", answered us bluntly Dominique Li-Pat-Yuen, Suzuki France marketing and communication manager, when MNC asked him about the reintroduction of the iconic SV650 roadster to the catalog.

With this explanation, the French subsidiary recognizes the obvious: despite its dynamic qualities and a price "flush with the daisies" (currently below the € 6,000 mark with ABS!), The Gladius has never managed to maintain the glorious torch lit by its elder.

The fault of a design rather "tartar" and a communication with very feminine accents at the beginning of its marketing. Not to mention its failed silencer, its marble saddle or its "light" front end….

Hence the withdrawal of the Gladius from the Suzuki offer and the return of the SV650, copiously updated for the occasion. Starting with its engine: still a V-twin type set at 90 ° and 645cc of displacement, it develops 4 more horsepower (76 hp at 8500 rpm) on this "new-old" model. 

The maximum torque value remains fixed at 64 Nm at 8,100 rpm, i.e. a significantly higher engine speed than before (the Gladius reached 64 Nm at 6,400 rpm). Probably the price of upgrading to Euro4 standards applied to this new model. Aesthetically, the 2016 SV650N refers directly to the old models before the "Gladius era", a feeling reinforced by the use of a rather classic round headlight.

140 new parts and smart technologies

The tubular steel trellis frame appears to have been rolled out identically, as do the non-ostentatious peripherals such as the non-inverted fork, the basic square section swingarm and axially mounted brakes.. 

However, a lot of updating work has been done by Suzuki which claims "140 new parts and components" (engine and cycle parts included) and especially "8 kg" less than the Gladius. Or a full weight of only 197 kg with ABS now mandatory on 2016 models.

The seat height – hopefully more comfortable! – remains fairly accessible (785 mm), while the instrumentation is new and entirely digital. 

In addition, Suzuki announces the introduction of two new interesting technologies: the first, called "Low RPR Assist", consists as its name suggests in assistance at low speeds, probably via an action on the injection to optimize the quantity of mixture introduced into the engine. 

According to the manufacturer, this device would facilitate starts and "changes at low speeds" and also reduce the jolts felt with a twin cylinder whose speed is allowed to fall too low. "In a way, it’s like slow motion that automatically adapts to conditions," Dominique Li-Pat-Yuen reveals to us. No more anxiety about stalling for beginners and candidates for a driving license, especially during the dreaded plateau test !

In addition, a simplified starting system makes its appearance: this "Suzuki Easy Start" allows the water-cooled twin-cylinder to be started with a single press on the "Start" button, thus avoiding keeping your finger on the starter until start-up. This practical device was introduced last year at Suzuki on the GSX-S1000.

Finally, the emblem of Hamamatsu announces a reduced consumption: "the best of the segment", rejoice the Japanese engine manufacturers by reporting a very limited 3.84 l / 100 km. Not bad if this is true in real conditions! Remember that during our, MNC had managed to go down to 3.61 l / 100 km by winding as peacefully as possible. 

Around € 6,500 at the start of 2016

Questioned by MNC, the French subsidiary reveals that the SV650 will land in dealerships at the start of 2016 in white, blue, red and black. She (re) will take the place of Gladius, "which will disappear in the very short term from our network", we are told. In other words, once the stocks are gone !

The price of this 2016 novelty will be, according to our information, "slightly higher" than that of the Gladius, currently on sale at € 5949 with ABS. Justified by Suzuki France by the "progress made on the SV650 2016", this inflation should be moderate in order to keep the price as competitive as possible against the references of the segment, in particular the MT-07 at € 6,499 with ABS..

Recall that Suzuki had reintroduced last year the semi-faired version of the old SV650, the, whose importation had ceased in France but continued in other countries, in particular Germany or England. Logically, this "S" model should in the near future benefit from all the improvements made in 2016 to the new "N" version (like Naked). Stay connected !

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