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Suzuki Gladius 650 vs. Yamaha FZ-07
Last Post 05/05/2015 06:46 PM by abe dashner. 38 Replies.
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jmdirt

Posts:775

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08/20/2014 10:04 PM
I rode a Suzuki Gladius SFV 650...WOOOHOOO! Fun bike! If I can find 60 minutes this weekend, I'll ride a Yamaha FZ-07.



As some of you may remember, I commute on a Kawasaki Vulcan 500. I've been toying with the idea of a naked sport bike for a while...we'll see.



http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modelhome/708/home.aspx



http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/SFV650/2013/SFV650.aspx
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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08/21/2014 07:25 AM
Didn't know we had a 22 year old on this forum!
But seriously, if you ride one of these donorcycle rockets, be careful.
jmdirt

Posts:775

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08/21/2014 10:09 AM
My first reaction to your post was "I'd love to be 22 again" but on second thought maybe 32 would be better. Funny story, the one I rode belongs to a 72 year old (he's selling it to get another cruiser).

Even if I do get a naked sport bike, I won't change my driving style (much because I don't want to get tickets, and I don't want to end up in the ER. Unfortunately because most of the people who ride these do behave like 22 year olds, the insurance is more expensive than my cruiser.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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08/21/2014 12:46 PM
If you like getting off pavement and have some good gravel roads to explore in your area, consider a dual sport or adventure bike. More comfortable position, and can take you places a sport bike can't.
stinkyhelmet

Posts:94

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08/21/2014 02:34 PM
On paper, I like the Yamaha. $1000 cheaper, 50 lb lighter, fatter tire in back, slightly more CCs and a shorter wheelbase. Brakes are comparable. It appears a little less "naked" then the Suzuki but the chopped exhaust is nicely done. Take the $1000 and get matching leathers and helmet :-)
Yo Mike

Posts:338

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08/21/2014 03:39 PM
Cycle World had a mini review of the Yamaha: they loved it. I sort of like it, but it has one serious design flaw: NO CENTER STAND.

Why? Due to the muffler configuration. Same thing with the FZ-09, but I saw on a FZ-09 usergroup that there is a company in Germany that manufacturers centerstands for the 09, and hopefully for the 07 as well.

Me, I find a centerstand handy when parking the bike for more than a few minutes, filling the tank, checking the oil, working on the bike, etc, and cannot justify the weight savings of a fugly, shrunken exhaust as a trade off to functionality. And if one cannot lift the bike onto the c-stand in the first place, one either needs more muscle or a smaller bike.

Either of those bikes should provide an excellent ride. I prefer the ergonomics of a 'standard' motorcycle to cruisers or crotch rockets.

Gas tank on the 07 seems small, at about 3.7 gal, but would be OK if the claimed 58 mpg was accurate.

Have you seen the Moto Guzzi V7?

longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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08/21/2014 09:08 PM
or a versys . . .
Dale

Posts:1767

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08/21/2014 09:39 PM
Geez, for the same money you could buy a carbon bike with Di2 Ultegra
jmdirt

Posts:775

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08/21/2014 10:54 PM
lsd, did my brother in-law put you up to saying that? He's been on me for years to buy a dual sport. He just bought a new Triumph Tiger this spring (he usually has a least three bikes in his garage). I've actually thought about getting a super moto, and have a set of slicks for my daily commute, but also have some DOT knobbies for dirt road adventures. I've been riding dirt bikes since '72 so a super moto should feel good.

stinky, the Suz I rode has 570 miles on it and he wants $6K so its actually $1K cheaper than the Yam. I have gear already.

Mike, I've seen 'em all.
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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08/22/2014 06:52 AM
Sounds like a superduke for you, or a DL650 if your brother in law has any say . . .

Dale, if you ever come to the throttle twisting dark side, you'll understand.
pretender

Posts:46

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08/22/2014 07:44 AM
as a featherweight (back down to fighting weight at about 135), and only taking up about five and a half feet of verticality, i've got my eye on a CB500X. mainly due to it's light off-road capabilities. basically the same bike as the naked 500F, just with some more travel. i've ridden a versys, might go that route or a beemer 650 as they can be had used with low mileage on a fairly regular basis (the hondas have only been out for 2 years now- finding a used one isn't easy, but can get out the door under 7K on a new one). OR... may just trash that whole idea and get a bonnie. the off-road part i'll be doing willl be REALLY light- mainly just getting to the campsite after 6-7 hours of backroad.

got a put a new roof on the house, though, before i can justify pulling the trigger on any of em.
Dale

Posts:1767

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08/22/2014 07:47 AM
HA! I do some work in the powersports industry and drool on a regular basis over so many bikes it's insane. Spent all day last Friday and Saturday helping out at the grand opening on a new Indian franchise.

It's a BMW 800G GS I'm jonesing for… that or waste all my time and get a bobber kit for some older single cylinder Suzuki or something.
pretender

Posts:46

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08/22/2014 07:54 AM
i bet. that 800 is nice- just way more bike than i need (both in $ and in HP). we grew up with a pile of dirt bikes, atvs, and various other motorized contraptions on hand at all times. got the itch for speed and air early. which is probably good, seems like i got that out of the way. i don't need to go that fast at this point, mainly just wanna enjoy some nice cruises out to big bend or the san juans with no particular urgency attached.
stinkyhelmet

Posts:94

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08/22/2014 09:59 AM
I used to ride Suz DR650 dual sport with 17" rear 21" front with knobbies. I built up a second set of wheels with stock hubs and 17" excel road rims and found some Michelin Pilot race takes offs 120 front/180 rear....OMG ....so much fun!.....rarely put the knobbies back on. The bike was a little heavy for supermoto but still a ton of fun.

A center stand sure would have been nice to make wheel changes easier
longslowdistance

Posts:2881

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08/22/2014 11:57 AM
Pretender, definitely check out the current wee strom 650. Great bike for touring and exploring. Owners are happy. Not as much for the honda.
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