Roadster – 2016 Suzuki SV650 test: return on investment – Suzuki in search of recognition

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2016 Suzuki SV650 review: return on investment

Roadster - 2016 Suzuki SV650 test: return on investment - Suzuki in search of recognition

Returning to the Suzuki catalog in 2016, the ‘new’ SV650 is a thoughtful and economical upgrade. Despite welcome innovations, this motorcycle with the famous surname cultivates a stripped down classicism, in opposition to the current trend. Test.

Suzuki in search of recognition

La Gladius … Its French name could have been rewarding if its Latin translation (sword) had not left a strange taste in the mouth. The name chosen by Suzuki to succeed the popular SV650 (N and S) has never evoked power or success, like for example the Fireblade – Blade of fire – Honda (read in particular our and our).

And the ambiguous positioning developed by the first very "girly" colors (among others the mauve and cream biton) did not work in favor of this pleasant motorcycle. Its somewhat bland design, the "plastoc" aspect of certain components and its really ugly silencer also contributed to the mixed success of the Gladius: 1127 copies were sold last year in France, far – very far – from the 4763 Yamaha MT-07 and 3278 Kawasaki ER-6s. In short, the succession of the OAS did not take…

To pick up on these best-sellers on the market, Suzuki is backtracking by reviving its SV650, in a way making new with old. But with "good old", because the SV line enjoys an excellent reputation (read) !

This roadster launched in 1999 is distinguished first of all by its engine, the only Japanese V-twin of this displacement. Praised for its versatility and its touch of madness, this 645 cc engine stalled at 90 ° marked the spirits and inscribed its name at the top of the charts.

Between the roadster (N), sports cars (S) and trails (V-Strom 650), some 410,000 units equipped with the famous twin-cylinder have been released since its creation. Not wanting to renew the odd made with the Gladius, Suzuki gives back to its replacement the codes, the style and even the original name !

Stalled in the catalog between the small Inazuma 250 and the sporty 4-cylinder GSR 750, the "new" SV hopes to flirt with A2 license holders as well as quads returning to the motorcycle, by combining ease and driving pleasure. A sign of the times, the roadster is no longer doubled with a sporty version with racing half-handlebars…

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