My Triumph's new stable mate, the Gladius

[Rincewind]

My wife started riding last year on a old 95 Suzuki Savage. While that bike has a certain basic charm with its single-cylinder and belt-drive, I have been after her to get a more modern machine with better brakes.

The weekend before last I shared with her a 09 Suzuki Gladius for sale at a local dealer. All the other bikes I had suggested faded away as she focused on that Gladie. Suzuki only imported them to the US for one year, so they are a bit rare. She loved the color and design. I think Suzuki has some female engineers on staff because she usually likes them the best.

One week ago she went to have a look, and wouldn't you know she bought it even though it was only 41°F outside.



So it's not a Street Triple or a Triumph, I'm ok with that. We have a number of nearby Suzuki dealers, while my main Triumph shop (45 mins away) has just recently closed. I have been riding the Gladie myself as time allows and I've developed an affinity for the thing.

The suspension and brakes are not the same level of performance as my StripleR, and the HP output and rev limiter are not as high either.  It has standard rather than inverted forks, but came with some nice fork protectors.  Where the Triumph has an all metal fuel tank and frame, the Galdie has a half-plastic/half-metal tank.  There are a lot of extra plastic bits such as covering part of the otherwise nice blue trellis frame. The tires are a size smaller than the Triumph, so they should be slightly less expensive. The handling on smooth roads is very good, though not as good as the Triumph when pushed harder.

There's something about that 650 vtwin that is downright charming. Where the triple whirls and whistles, the vtwin purrs and thrums quite nicely and even has a respectable redline at about 10,500. The seat is a bit wooden, but overall I'm impressed. It's too bad that Suzuki is no longer bringing these bikes to the US. I'm happy that one has landed in my garage, and I look forward to more rides on it. It seems that my wife can not get enough of it, and I'm quite happy that she has become so enthusiastic about riding bikes.

[Sport-Touring]

[caddydaddy]

My Mom has that bike in the same color.  It's a fun little bike, good power and handling.  Not quite the punch of the 1050 on my Sprint, but still enough to be fun!

[919]

What a great looking bike!  Too bad the market is tough on nakeds here in the US as that is my favorite style.  

I wish my wife could understand why I ride and was at least somewhat interested.  You're a lucky man.

and congrats to your wife on her new bike, she has good taste.  

[Giaka]

Sweet bike! I am one of the oddballs who actually thought the gladiolus was a decent looking bike.  If it had a different name or said Ducati on the side I am willing to bet it would have been nothing short of pure AWESOMENESS among the STN crowd.

[ConPilot1]

You do realize this all just increases her hotness factor, don't you??


I think it's a great looking little bike. Not big into blue bikes, but it's nice mixed with the white.

How's she doing with the power/performance jump? That's quite an upgrade over the Savage.

Nice pics. The last one looking down that SEPA farm road is awesome.

[McRider]

When I first saw that bike, I thought Suzuki had mis-named it.  It should have been called the Hideous.  Now I'm beginning to understand who it appeals to.  

[JReazor]

A Suzuki twin and a Triumph triple? That sounds like an excellent combination.

[Liquidsilver]

Very cool!   Love to see the ladies out riding!   Mine rides dirt bikes with me, and I'm just as happy that she only rides street 2up with me... but that's just great!  
 
And that bike is just a restyled SV650 with a silly name... a great bike no matter who you are.  (unless you have small penis issues)

[rbwilliams2]

You should consider upgrading the suspension. I had an SV-650... probably the same suspension. For a total of a couple hundred bucks, I put an eBay shock from an GSXR on it. Then Racetech springs and gold valves in the forks. Simply amazing!

That little bike was a joy to ride.

[Rincewind]

Sweet bike! I am one of the oddballs who actually thought the gladiolus was a decent looking bike.  If it had a different name or said Ducati on the side I am willing to bet it would have been nothing short of pure AWESOMENESS among the STN crowd.

Last summer I test rode the Hypermotard 796, Dorsoduro 750, and Guzzi V7 back-to-back.  This SV engine very much reminds me of those Italian engines, particularly the Aprilia.  Also the styling is very similar to the new Monsters.  So I call it my Japanese Monster.  It's a very similar experience.

Middleweight sporting v-twins are fantastic street motors, even though they don't light the world on fire like my 675 or a 600 I4 sportbike.  But while they don't loft the wheel as quickly, they do pay back in character.  The sound on over-run is throaty and rich, and it provides more engine braking than my triple.

[atadaskew]

Great bike, congrats!
I think the timing of that bike's release is what doomed it - just as the economy popped.

[Rincewind]

You should consider upgrading the suspension. I had an SV-650... probably the same suspension. For a total of a couple hundred bucks, I put an eBay shock from an GSXR on it. Then Racetech springs and gold valves in the forks. Simply amazing!

That little bike was a joy to ride.

Thanks, the Gixxer shock is on my personal list of wants.  The OEM shock beats me up on poor roads.  I have joined SVrider to do some research.  

[JReazor]

Thanks, the Gixxer shock is on my personal list of wants.  The OEM shock beats me up on poor roads.  I have joined SVrider to do some research.  

I did the whole Racetech deal up front and a Penske Sport shock out back. It turned my SV in to a whole different bike. You're welcome to take it for a spin if we can manage to end up in the same place at the same time at some point.

[sportrider]

Nice ride!  

[Royal Tiger]

I believe it only came in that one color.

It got blasted when it came out because it did nothing to improve the SV650N.  It might even be heavier.  It did test well with the female demographic.  Anything that gets the ladies out riding is a good thing!  I wish her lots of luck with it.  

[Rincewind]

I believe it only came in that one color.

It got blasted when it came out because it did nothing to improve the SV650N.  It might even be heavier.  It did test well with the female demographic.  Anything that gets the ladies out riding is a good thing!  I wish her lots of luck with it.  

In the US it is only one color, but in other parts of the world they have come in black as well as a nice funky green.

I believe the weight difference is slight, and likely to do with the steel trellis frame which replaced the SV's aluminum frame.  I plan on reading up to find the other differences.

I did the whole Racetech deal up front and a Penske Sport shock out back. It turned my SV in to a whole different bike. You're welcome to take it for a spin if we can manage to end up in the same place at the same time at some point.

Thanks, I bet it's super sweet.  I think it comes down to it being her bike, so suspension tweaks will not be for awhile.  She is insisting that I install blue LED ambiance-type lights ASAP.  

[JReazor]

In the US it is only one color, but in other parts of the world they have come in black as well as a nice funky green.

We got the all black one here as well. My brother had one for about 2 weeks.

[Rogue]

Great bike, congrats!
I think the timing of that bike's release is what doomed it - just as the economy popped.

Suzuki gave up on the Gladius way too soon.

[Kootenanny]

Here's one I saw at a dealer last summer--looked good enough that I took a few pics:

[nevinfs327]

I absolutely loved the black-on-black scheme they had.  

There's one just like this on my block - looks good...and definitely like a Monster copy.

Twin-powered bikes always feel more like traveling companions than appliances...maybe because mine have always been a little rough around edges with deeper vibrations, more noise, etc.  Not to knock the Triumph triple by any means - great to have (at least) one of each in the garage