2009 Suzuki Gladius: like an SV650 but cheaper

nice picture a la gap commercial

I thought the stock SV650 already had cheap running gear!

Looks a little ghey.

looks like the recent kawasaki er-6
i like the 2tone color scheme

What a step foward. Like a SV650, only cheaper looking and with a rodent name. And a sperm headlight.

Hate the colors and exhaust, not fond of the headlight but overall looks like a nice bike. More in line with the original SV than the techno transformer current model.

If the price is right and alternative color schemes are available (or this one looks better in person) I might think about it instead of the new Bonney.

The SV always worked as a good starter bike, but loose the streetfighter headlight and put back on the classic round light.

LOL at their marketing.

Remy, I don't even know where to start at that. Im going to soak in Mr. Dancypants and his dancypants moto for a while and wait for the mini-site to go full blown before I make any judgments.

I assume Suzuki won't limit the wet dancing version to just this model.

Sofa king refarted!

enough with v-twins they all suck! par twins are better balanced and lighter.

the person that thought of the setup in the second picture and all those that approved it's use should have their heads caved in with a bat.

I think it looks like a better beginner/everything bike than the FZ6R or whatever it was called.

Meya, I want to see you back that comment up with facts, 'cause that's a bold statement.

whats running gear?

Ignoramus: the SV650's 650cc v-twin.

Silver trousers... never a good look...

As a full fairing SV650S owner, I like it!

But I agree with the headlight. Just go with the classic round headlight!

it looks like a cheap chinese replica of the brutale,especially in the hedlight department

the question is HOW CHEAP will it be? it does look better than the naked sv650 that's for sure

I don't understand...

Everyone think it is ok for europeans manufacturers to copy (or to get inspired by) the japanese bikes, but when a japanese manufacturer wants to take advantage of the european style (because it does look like the ducati, brutale and many others) everyone say non-sense about it.

I believe it is a well designed and should be well fitted for it's market. Young looking, easy to ride, trust-worthy engineering and affordable pricing.

>>par twins are better balanced and lighter.

>>Meya, I want to see you back that comment up with facts, 'cause that's a bold statement

PTs have a single cylinder casting and single head and valve train, which is always going to be lighter than a Vtwin which has two of each. Assuming they are manufactured similarly.

PTs are shorter front to rear which allows greater freedom in its placement inthe chassis, which allows for better balance.

>>But I agree with the headlight. Just go with the classic round headlight!

Personally I hate those modern looking round headlights. I want something classic like a candle in a brass container.

Caving in the head of the guy who dreamt up the second picture seems a little harsh....second thought maybe not.

is it a 2 cylinder?

Suzuki has lost it!It's ugly and would never buy one.

I think my 1st generation SV650 looks better than its successors, but even this "Gladius" looks better than those hideous BMW's and Buells.

Plus it's a lot cheaper, and it has Japanese quality, and lots more dealers.

Important considerations never presented in these stupid reviews.

I think that people are missing the market for this bike. A classic round headlight is just that, classic. You can get that on many other bikes. This is a stylish entry level bike. Note the "lower seat height" from the SV650. This will appeal to women riders who want to step up from the scooter they've had for the last two years.

While I would rather a naked SV, I showed this bike to my wife. She really liked the way it looks, and one may be in her future. (esp. the white/blue color scheme)

Errrh! The Gladius is NOT cheaper than the SV650. It's five hundred bucks more.

As soon as it is here I'm getting one, I think its perfect for the novice rider like myself and its a suzuki.....

First before making comments on balance, understand that the balance of a bike and the balance of an engine are two different things. PT’s are harder to balance than V-Twin it’s got to do with the harmonics of the cylinder placement. With that said a bike with a V-Twin can actually have better balance than a PT. Before saying things like that speak to engineers designing and making engines not saying that I’m an expert but the professors at my university are.

On the bike itself, it looks good and if they do a 1000cc, it may be my next commuter

And apologies to those that I’ve just bored to death

wow - finally a bike made for girls!! I am a chick rider and there are no girly bikes out there for us. LOVE the pink I am first in line when they are released in Australia, its a hot looking bike. Thanks Suzuki for finally developing a bike for the female riders out there.

I agree with first in line. It looks like my husband's Aprilia Shiver!! That is a great bike, but a little tall for the ol'girl. I've been saying that motorcycle companies are missing the boat with all the new FEMALE riders. Something light, powerful, colorful, comfortable that has lots of accessories... I want to beat a guy off the line, but I don't want to look like him! Viva la difference!!!

I hope it can be lowered; the bike looks perfect for a short rider like myself! As long as the bike rides well and I can get my foot on the ground, then I don't care how lame the advertising is!

Looks OK for small people, but not so good for bigger people with long legs. An engine with another 50 or 100cc would have been good because this bike weighs about 25kgs more than the SV 650. Why is there not a full alloy frame?

Sorry I was wrong Gladius 202kg/446lbs
SV 168kg/370lbs. 34kg/76 heaver than the SV. For that extra weight you have to pay $500 USD!!

There are already plenty of tall bikes for bigger people. Try finding one for someone with less than a 30 inch inseam that has enough power to get out of its own way and doesn't look like a chrome-encrusted barge. Why do they make lowering kits for bikes and why do people have to get seats shaved? Because those under 6 feet tall want performance bikes. Anyone can touch flat footed on a cruiser. I just need a toe on the ground and I'm willing to give up a little maneuverability to do so.

The marketing is lame...If I got one, I would say it is like an sv, I wouldn't say I had a "gladius."

I have 5600 miles on my 08 sv650, and think suzuki has dropped the ball. Gladius is a terrible name, especially for anything under 1000 cc. If you're replacing/restyling the SV you should make it better performance and value wise, not just Target store commercial wise. Yeah, it looks good because its styled after the Duc Monster 696, Bimota Delirio and MV Brutale. But its ~100 lbs Heavier with Way less engine/chassis. HELL, next to the latest naked SV it about 100lbs heavier for about $1000 MORE! what the XXXX?

I believe the looks of new Japanese sport-bikes are radically changing. I actually like the look of this naked bike, and yeah, it does resemble a Duc in the frame area. Thats not a bad thing, is it? I don't think so. I like it.

What's not to like? I'll bet the advertised weight is on-the-money, not understated as one often finds. More choices in well made bikes--eets a goood theeng! I'm old enough to remember when rock 'n roll was taken over by disco and practical motorcycles were supplanted by cruisers, cruisers, everywhere. Gladius?--shouldn't that call for something like the truck commercials--dodging giant pendulums and driving through exploding buildings? Unless that silver-panted kid in the add means..oh,no! Can't be! The return of disco!

Very nice, as the owner of a naked 2003 SV, w/30,000 miles I would buy one. looks like the Ducati Monster, like the colors, and the smaller radiator, more stylish exhaust,Is my beloved SV doomed ?

Don't worry, SV aficionados. If your worthy mounts are discontinued, there will still be parts aplenty for your treasured classics. A few months ago I found a '78 Kawi KZ650 for a song. A little tinkering and this old goat has a ton o' fun humming machine. You don't see many of them, which is kinda cool, and parts aren't too hard to find. In 20 years, why, I'll step up to one of them SVs you whippersnappers will have parted with. When I'm 90 I'll get one of these here Gladiolas, Spatulators, er...Platypusses, or whatever you call 'em.

I've just seen one of these in the flesh & the experience didn't do anything for me. The bike is obviously not aimed at anyone who is in the least bit "traditionalist" in their thinking of what a motorcycle should look like. Suzuki promote this as "Fashion" meeting "Technology". To my mind there's simply too much "fashion" here. It's a bit like your favourite chicken pizza that's been garnished with strawberrys & cream. Apart from the black one tone option the two tone colour options are hideous - I can't help thinking that with all those white blobs there's some Orca's out there missing their spots. Suzuki may need to try again if they're not going to disenfranchise a big % of their potential market for an updated SV650.

I think this bike is bitchen. I just saw a Hot looking FZ1 fixed up by Yamaha of Italy on Motorcycledaily.com and looked around for something similar and just so happened to run across the Gladius it rocks and the head light looks way better than some old looking, sticking way out round thing with air space behind it. I just hope it doesn't lose any performance, other than that, Right on Suzuki!

Not so much of a weight differance between the SV and the Gladius. SV spec is dry weight and Gladius spec is curb or wet weight (fueled, olied and coolant), guess they must be close to the same weight?

This will be the only non-BMW mid-sized bike available in the US market with ABS. WTF is up with that? For that reason alone it's on my short list. In Black. Not fuscia and cream. Oy.

Toss on some bags and a windshield and it should be a very good commuter.

While I applaude Suzuki for holding strong the the V-twin engine, it's a shame they had to harvest it from the SV650 and leave it for dead. This is one of the worst things Suzuki has done in a while. BOO SUZUKI!

Saw the Gladius at the Cycle World Expo in San Mateo this weekend. I own a '98 Monster 900; if it was gone tomorrow, I'd consider this bike. If there was a 1000cc version, it'd be game over, absolutely. Arrow makes a pipe for the Triumph Speed Triple that'd be great on this bike (and make it a bit more butch), and metro-sexual marketing and packaging aside, it's got awesome potential as a first bike, lively commuter, and when they put the SV1000 engine into it...Yee-frikkin'-haw!

See it in person - I did at the motorcycle expo in San Mateo last weekend (12/21/08). It's much better looking. It looks like an old Duc. The new Ducs are well. . . like that other guy said 'ghey.'

So the "Gap" add sucks,
Big deal. Suzuki saw a new market (Broke @$$ people like me that are trying to save a buck on gas). They probably don't know anything about bikes and this one (ghey add and all) is appealing to them...Good marketing!
Once they get their foot in the door with the new riders, all they have to do is drop some Lbs. and put some decent power in it (1000cc's). And all the rookies who bought the first 650's will be lining up with the rest of us to buy one of these faster, lighter, more reliable, Japanese Hooligans

BTW,
They got rid of all the fruity colors and just left the Black and White/Blue ones.

Oh yeah, change the name too!

Who said to is available with ABS brakes? If it were I might consider it. But if you check it out you will find out that it does not offer ABS....at least in the U.S.

Get rid of the funcky looking plastic radiator end covers, paint the bike a "solid" color (red or blue), and put ABS brakes on it.........and maybe!

As the owner of an '05 naked SV650, I hated this replacement bike in the beginning. Hated the name (still do), hated the frame, hated the color combos (still do), hated the slanted-back headline housing. But the more I look at it in pictures, it's growing on me. The frame is Duc-ish, for sure; that's not a bad thing. I guess that loving my bike so much -- a blast in the curves, great torque, reliable, etc. -- I just didn't want it to ever change. But as I say, the new one is growing on me. But $500 more? Ridiculous, I say. So keep the design, come up with nice solid colors (black, yellow, silver), change the name, and drop the price a bit!
(Oh, and I've noticed that, after having been on the Suzuki site initially, the Gladius no longer has a "page" there. What's up with THAT? Has Suzuki changed its mind????)