SUZUKI GLADIUS MOTORCYCLE: Unleashing the fox

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/06/2009 (6015 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Never mind that Suzuki’s newest middleweight V-twin has a slightly fey name, its moniker referring to a short, stubby little sword favoured by Roman soldiers. Similarly ignore for just for a moment longer the fact that the Gladius is by any estimation extremely "well put together." No, what you really need to know is that the new Gladius is very much based on Suzuki’s enormously successful SV650, the quintessential beginner’s bike that also doubles as everything from a touring mount to a quasi-serious race bike.

Originally sold as a runabout of modest performance and expense for those who had outgrown their first motorcycle, Suzuki’s 645-cubic-centimetre V-twin quickly found a following among the sporty set. They thought that with the simple addition of a performance exhaust system and some relatively easy suspension fiddling, the little Suzuki could seriously intimidate supposedly more sporting machinery. Indeed, in one of Team Rigor Mortis’ race track comparisons, the SV triumphed over more sporting weapons up to and including a 1,000-cc superbike. It has become the ultimate learner bike — easy enough to deal with while learning to ride and able to grow with you as one becomes more experienced. There was even a single-marque racing series to emphasize its universal appeal.

The one charge easily levelled at the SV, however, is that of its pedestrian styling. Whether outfitted with a fairing or naked with just a superbike handlebar, the SV was the very epitome of blandness. So, for 2009, the SV lineup grows to include the European-flavoured Gladius. Definitely Suzuki’s take on Ducati’s famous Monster, the Gladius’ design was penned in Europe — the Japanese firm finally discovering that the best way to emulate its competitors is to hire some of them.

So, what we have is a trellis frame a la the Monster, a swoopy BMW-like headlight, sexy two-tone paint and an exhaust that looks as if it was liberated from an old Bimota DB3 Mantra. Imagine the staid old SV650 as the girl next door and the Gladius as the decidedly foxier Megan Fox who moves on to the street. On initial inspection, they really are that different.

Underneath the skin, however, they are far more similar. Although Suzuki claims the powerband had been extended to even lower rpm, the 645-cc V-twin feels much the same. That’s not a bad thing as the middleweight has plenty of mid-range power. There may be only 70 horsepower on tap, but they are healthy stallions, with more than enough for sporty riding.

The suspension also makes the grade. In fact, the Gladius’ single largest performance advantage over the last SV650 I rode lies with its superior suspension. The front and rear springing is stiffer and the damping seems more robust. I doubt either the forks or the rear damper are up to the rigours of a full-on track session, but there’s plenty of control for sporty street riding. Ditto the brakes, which feature dual 290-millimetre discs up front clamped by twin-piston Tokico calipers.

Indeed, my biggest complaint regarding the Gladius is that it doesn’t come with Suzuki’s anti-lock brakes, which are such a boon to beginners and expert riders alike. The ABS system is generally such a low-cost item (usually around $500) that it should be at least offered as an option to the Gladius’ $9,199 suggested retail price.

And Suzuki should also bring in that neon green/pearl black version the Europeans get — it’s the bomb.

 

— Canwest News Service