Suzuki Gladius 650 SFV motorcycle test

Menus

• Discovery
• In the saddle
• Contact
• In the city
• On the highway
• Departmental
• Road holding, suspensions
• Brakes
• Duo
• Convenient
• Consumption during the test
• Conclusion

The
Gladius is the new Suzuki 2009, directly from the SV: a V-Twin 90 ° 72 horsepower come to give a boost to the bi family and compete with the famous ER6N which seized the segment. The engine has, however, been thoroughly overhauled: crankshaft inertia increased by 5%, modern injection, SCEM treatment on the cylinder liners, single spring for the valves, radiator exchanged for a water / oil exchanger… Apart from the engine which immediately recalls its origins, the look of the SFV (code name for the Gladius) is truly innovative and does not borrow any style or appearance from anyone. Steel frame, new shock absorber, smaller master cylinder and calipers, wide rim, adjustable fork in preload and more than 7 kilos compared to the SV … it’s a real new bike with its own look and a good dose charm.

Discovery

The Gladius first surprises with its two-tone livery: white and blue (triton), white and pink (magenta), black and metallic green … extended to the trellis frame in steel tubes. The curved lines contrast with the straight lines of its older sister SV. The oblong lighthouse gives a touch of femininity. Even the matte black pot, clad in chrome sports soft shapes.

Approaching, we discover a latest generation counter, reminiscent of the GSR, with gear indicator engaged. The tachometer is analog, but the digital counter on the right. 6 diodes on the left warn of the essentials: fuel, neutral, high beam, injection … We note the warnings on the left at the stalk. We choose to display the time or one of the two partial trips. We just regret suddenly a real fuel gauge. Everything is easily readable, including under the sun and at night, when the meter turns orange..

At the rear, the two rounded passenger handles provide a good grip while integrating perfectly into the general line of the machine.

The mirrors are wide and wide apart provide excellent visibility.

In the saddle

The weight is reminiscent of the SV: a small template that seems easy to handle. With a saddle at 785mm high, the feet almost touch the ground for the 1.70m rider.

The almost wide handlebars fall naturally under the hands, offering that typical roadster position, almost straight and just slightly leaned forward..

The curved shapes of the tank ideally accommodate the legs. The bike tightens perfectly, being neither too narrow nor too wide.

Contact

The twin is snorting in a nice muffled and round sound, very present.

The
first turns of the wheels are done naturally. The bike seems light despite its 202 kilos, all full. The twin purrs
and reacts to the slightest solicitation with a kind, immediate and healthy reaction.
Rather soft, the twin takes gently on a trickle of gas, from 1500 rpm, even in 6th at 45 km / h. On the first reports, it climbs briskly to the red zone, with a sharp acceleration above 7,000 rpm and without slackening up to the 10,500 rpm of the red zone..

In the city

The Gladius is a treat in town: light, easy, handy … it slips into a pocket square effortlessly. It extracts particularly well from traffic without ever frightening or inciting to commit follies. The engine does not knock, even at idle in 6th gear, at 1,500 rpm. Everything reacts quickly and gently. The acceleration is both ‘smooth’ while reaching the red zone very quickly. It is quite possible to stay in first (or second), while the first climbs briskly and without complaining up to 80 km / h … already way too fast for the city !

The gears lock effortlessly and the gearbox is really easy on a daily basis.

On the highway

The twin cylinder stabilizes at 6,000 rpm at 130 km / h … just the speed where it goes frankly at the solicitation of the right handle. It then takes its turns easily at a rate of 20 km / h every 1,000 rev / min being able to exceed the symbolic bar of 200 km / h (theoretically, because for the license …). That said, the non-existent protection already makes it difficult to keep an average of 150 km / h. Its ideal speed on the motorway is therefore that authorized by law … on the other hand, in case of need to overtake, it does it very well and very quickly..

Despite its featherweight of 202.8 kg all full, the Gladius holds the highway well and only the lack of protection from 150 km / h lowers the pace because the machine keeps perfectly calm and safety well above.

Departmental

The Gladius finds its arena back on small and departmental roads. It is still possible to roll up on the 6th but the bike becomes playful on the 3rd and 4th gear which then go up to 110 and 140 km / h respectively, already far too fast for the law.

But this is where it reveals all its ease of driving, particularly natural. She drives practically with her legs, her hands barely resting on the handlebars. In short, it requires absolutely no effort to chain the virolos, including tight ones. Particularly neutral, it is content to follow the road.

The most striking is then its ability to quickly titillate the red zone … the first arrives at the switch in a few seconds at 80, similarly followed by the second at 110, the 3rd at 140 and the 4th at 170 km / h … Each time, it seems that she could go even higher! And despite this ability to titillate the red zone without any effort, the acceleration is controllable without ever shedding the front. Suddenly, we shoot in without asking questions and without any apprehension.

Suddenly, the Gladius is already the easiest motorcycle to ride for a beginner in the 600 category. Supple, smoothly, pleasant even on rapid downshifts and despite the twin cylinder, it is almost as smooth as ‘a 4 cylinder. And yet, by staying in the towers, it allows you to ride relatively hard.

Dunlop Qualifiers hold on well and build confidence.

Road holding, suspensions

The suspensions turn out to have the perfect balance between firmness (without harshness) and perfect smoothing of road defects. The whole is rather comfortable even on long journeys while the behavior remains very good in more muscular driving. Conversely, the saddle admits its limits more quickly: around 150-200 km … the rear end then asking for mercy..

Brakes

Braking offers a good feeling for lack of bite. He does not surprise and even asks to be energetic to reveal all his power. It is then effective. The rear brake makes the motorcycle particularly good. Easy for a beginner who risks little blocking (no ABS), he deserves a little more power.

Duo

The long saddle offers a pleasant duo … The twin loses a little in pick-ups and character, but suddenly, the driving is more curvy, to the happiness of the passenger.

Convenient

The space under the saddle is very small … to just make room for a small U-lock and more…

The tank is made of metal but only on its central part. Suddenly, the magnetic bags whose magnets are rather at the end do not work. On the other hand, the Gladius offers plenty of possibilities for grabbing turnbuckles and a big bag at the back..

The crutch falls under the foot naturally and is easily put into place.

Impossible to slip an anti-theft device in the front wheel; only solution, slide the lock into the rear crown with one of the 5 rear wheel spikes.

Consumption during the test

The Gladius turns out to be a camel with a minimum consumption of 4.2 liters, at a stabilized speed on the national road (110 km / h). Consumption rises to 5.5 liters on mountain roads at a more sustained pace. The average of the test having been just below 5 liters. Suddenly, despite a small tank of 14.5 liters, the Gladius allows almost 300 kilometers of autonomy … even if the reserve indicator lights readily around 220-230 km. Well seen, it then flashes and is not content to be lit, while a specific partial trip increases the number of kilometers traveled since the setting on reserve.

Mini: 4.2 l. – Maxi: 5.5 l – autonomy before reserve: 220 km

Conclusion

The
Gladius is a real novelty that suddenly ages the SV, both in terms of looks and behavior. Easy, light, flexible, the SFV is easy to handle and immediately establishes itself as the ideal bike for beginners. Almost quiet under 6,000 rev / min, it offers a clear gain in vitality and fishing above revealing a personality that only asks to be whipped to give its full potential, while being usable at all speeds. The proven engine should reassure about its reliability and longevity. In the end, the Gladius turns out to be a success that should undoubtedly be a hit in sales..

Strong points

• easy handling
• motor character
• cycle part
• line

Weak points

• absence of ABS for the moment (planned for 2010)
• no fuel gauge

Competition: Ducati Monster 696, Kawasaki ER6N, Suzuki SV 650, Yamaha XJ6 N

Gladius technical sheet | Your
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