Iam, make no mistakes, one of earths biggest lovers of the SV, ive got plenty of mates on one and they all know why, cos they are literally, the perfect first bike. Make no mistake. So now the Gladius comes along .... What is it? whos it for? whats happening to the SV? .......................... well, its essentially an SV engine, with a new map to reduce CO2 (but increses actual green house gasses, totally stupid but meh) outputs, but with iridium spark plugs, takes the power output to about 75bhp, or 68 at the wheel. people proclaimed that "10% power increase will make it a better bike, tried and tested in minitwins". FIRSTLY minitwins wont allow its power output unless its detuned!!!! that aside, the engines been made less lumpy at low gears and revs, or people who cant slip clutches.... SO THEN .... Who's it for???? ................. THIS IS THE EASIEST QUESTION to answer, 2 people, both are new to biking, or new to 600+cc bikes - aka, guys who cant afford the new Ducati, been told too many scare stories to trust 2nd hand italian machinery, and women, who are womanly lol........... SO WHERE DOES MY BELOVED SV GO TO??? .... well, i dont actually know, its on the Suzuki catalogue for the next 2 years for sure (as if the gladius fails, it'l still have the existing SV to throw the new engine and parts into, right?), although, chances are it will be phased in as the male version of the Gladius to make an gender specific bike for the mass market, as guys prefer the "look" of a sportier bike, and girls like the unpretentious and friendly nature of a stylish naked............. FOR MY ROAD TEST......... i had 90% B road riding (known as "the gauntlet" where 35mph peg-scraping is more than possible), where i DO do 90% of my riding in fairness, its much tighter than an SV naked, geometry, minor suspension tweeks and new engine deliver a much more enjoyable experience, as the existing machine did feel fairly "unhappy" to be there. The styling is actually better in real life than the pics ..... i really like the seat unit and the semi wannabe-steel-trellis-frame is sweet, a black and gold version is only a year away for sure!!! Equipment aside, its the tyres, like the existing SV, which let the machine down the most BY A LONG WAY, throw even a pair of Conti Road Attacks (which cost £50 a pair less and do twice the milage) on there and the SV was transformed, better rubber is always a give away for budget bikes now, so just use he crappy (dunlop DT220's????) tyres to bed yourself in and your away!!!!!!........... ALL IN ALL, i think its a good bike, i have a lean to a SV, cos i own, thrash and love mine. But if i had a friend who says she wants to have the engine but not the boyishness, then its the Gladius all the way!!!!!!
