I'm trying to find something nice to say about this bike, but I'm struggling. I came across photos of this Gladius special and it just proves you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Hi John,
 
I work for a company called Powertec Engineering, we build a V8 using two Busa's!
 
We also use Busa's in all the engines we supply to Radical Sportscars, and used to use ZZR's, as a result we are dealers for both Suzuki and Kawasaki Genuine parts.
 
I was wondering if you would be interested in using us to offer a 10% discount on genuine parts to your club members/ forum users, this could be anything from oil filters, air filters and spark plugs right up to engine parts, bodywork ext. A slightly larger discount would be available if enough interest was shown. 
 
We order from Suzuki everyday so can normally have any parts ordered in the next day and sent straight out, meaning parts can be delivered within 2 days.
 
Please let me know if you are interested.
 
Thanks
Dan
www.powertecengineering.com

Now sorted and thanks Dan. Go to Services and Offers on the main menu for details or click here
 

I came across this while cleaning out my magazines cupboard. The article came from a US Magazine “ Roadracing World” May 2005 and there was also a feature on a SV Racer who had had an engine failure. It makes for interesting reading. click here to download (2mb)

There is also a feature on the Motoczysz GP bike that was very interesting. Here is the site url http://www.motoczysz.com Now this is new to me, looks superb.

Regards,

Dave Loubser 

I'm still looking out for news on next years model details. I was a bit disappointed to come across a French article which shows that the 2009 model line up is much the same as last years. In fact so similar that I couldn't be bothered to download all the photos. The only exception was the blue S model which has a fancy white stripe down the centre of the bodywork. Looks like we get clear indicator lenses too. Is this the best Suzuki can do?

Looks like Suzuki US are going to import the Gladius from next year and drop the SV650n.  With the two bikes being so similar it makes little sense to try and sell both.

The rumour mill is also talking about Suzuki dropping the SV model altogether. With the lack of any exciting news on a replacement I can see how these rumours start.  Maybe the S will evolve into a Gladius clone too.  Let's hope they pick a better name though. John

I actually came across this news item last week. It was buried in a press release regarding the 2009 GSXR1000.  My heart leapt intially as I've been hoping for news of a updated SV650 to mark the 10th anniversary.  It soon became apparent that the Gladius is not an SV650 replacement. The press blurb talks about it being a cheap entry level bike that just happens to use the same V twin engine.  Saying all that, it might give a clue that there is a revised SV650 in the wings.

Not much else to say about this bike as details are thin on the ground at the moment. So enjoy the photos for now.

Like most people I have a few favourite bike websites. Here's a couple that you may or may not have visited.

www.fasterandfaster.net  and http://www.motorcycledaily.com/

John

Hi John

I am happy for all your users to get a 15% discount on all my website goods and to do this they need to type FORUM into the discount box in the checkout area when placing their order. It will show the discount before they submit.

I also do a couple of promotions during the year which reduces my brake lines down and I can always give you the codes as and when this happens (for example we ran a code in spring which reduced the brake lines down to £55, for a 3 line race set up)

We have more items going onto the website in the next month which will include brake pads, exhausts, radiator guards etc and I will email you again when they are listed.

Please can you let me have a link to show what you can do for me

Thanks again

John CMS

Offer is here and via the Services offers page (see left hand menu)

13 September 2008 - Autumn.

I hate autumn. I don't really but I see it as the end of summer and only winter to look forward to. This year was particularly gloomy due to the worst summer I can recall. I don't think I went to any events this year without getting wet or cold.  Things were looking quite chipper up to mid June and then it all went down the tubes (or drains).  Our two day football tournament was the start. Monsoon rain on the Saturday, I was so wet and cold by the end of the day. The following day was gales, gazebos were wrecked and our footballs are still being found in neighbouring counties. It was only slightly better for the AR in July. We managed to dodge a lot of the bad weather on this weekend, a couple of showers on the Friday on the way down, Saturday was great apart from the last 30mins of the rideout but we didn't care then as the rest of the ride had been great. The BBQ was a washout, as were a few tents. It didn't stop raining or blowing to mid morning on Sunday, but the ride home was mainly dry. I guess it could have been worse. So I'll write off summer 2008 and hope for better weather in 2009.

I've had to do the odd bit of maintenance on the bike in the last week or so. I noticed that there was a bit of rolling resistance when pushing backwards out of the drive. I suspected the brake pedal binding. It felt a bit stiff but I can't say it was sticking. I thought I'd take it apart and look anyway. I wish I hadn't started. I removed the rearset and turned it over to insert the allen key into the footrest bolt. It wouldn't budge. Time to take the rearset into the garage and then use a vice. I couldn't remove the master cylinder as one of the new button allen bolts were rubbish quality and just chewed up. Out with the drill. All my drill bits of the required size were blunt. Finally got the cylinder off and stuck the rearset into a wood lined vice. Attached a large allen key to my socket wrench and pulled. Nothing.  Well I say nothing I did manage to put a nice barley sugar twist into my footrest. Argh!  I reversed the wrench and untwisted my footrest.  At this point I took out a can of WD40 and sprayed it around the brake lever pivot and I managed to get back full movement . I then put the whole back together again and went off for a lie down.  I'll have another go in the future. I've got one of those 12v powered impact driver drill things that are meant for car wheel nuts. I might try it on this footrest.

I've just noticed that they rear tyre is getting a bit low and the handling a bit odd recently. Looking at the profile of the tyre I can see why. It's square.  I do a lot of my miles these days up and down the A5 to Oswestry, not so many bends compared to my old route.  The MOT was due in June. The bike passed despite the fact that I forgot to put the baffle in the Scorpion beforehand ;-)   Apparently my head bearings are a bit knotchy (and may also account for the odd handling) but I can't feel anything. The rear shock may also be leaking along with some play in the rear suspension link bearing. So some more things to look at over the winter months.  I think the shock is okay, the oil on it's surface I'm sure is from the chain, but it does feel a bit to bouncy at the rear end lately.  When the shock on my old SV went, it was pretty obvious, the oil was everywhere, whereas on the current bike it's only apparent on the side facing the chain.   Another thing that was bugging me was the scottoiler. I never actually fitted this one, as it came with the bike. The oil pipe was run on the underside of the swingarm and clamped with glue and zip ties, not pretty. It also meant that it got in the way when removing the rear wheel. I always managed to bend the dispenser out of position and then spent ages trying to bend it back into the right position. I ordered some spares from Scottoiler to sort this problem out and get a better solution. I now have the tear shaped plate that attaches to the axle. The pipe is clamped to the end of this and I can now get the oil exactly where I want it by simply sliding the pipe. This solution also means that removing the axle nut allows me to flip the whole Scottoiler gubbins out of the way when removing the rear wheel and it looks a lot better too.

I managed to miss Ed's Marches Meander rideout in August. I'd returned from France the previous day and was up for a break from the family. Unfortunately I got one of those calls from an old friend who was over from the Isle of Man for the weekend. She was staying in Ironbridge and wanted to drop in, it seemed a bit bad mannered to say sorry I'm busy. Still, it looks like Ed is organising another for Oct 4th. Lets hope the sun comes out for that.

Keep the shiny side up

John