Yes, my dealer in Frazer, PA told me it was discontinued about two weeks ago. Check the website...it's gone. This is a VERY rare bike. I've only seen 2 on the street in 2.5 years. And no more coming.

 

If you check the American Suzuki Motorcycles site, you'll see the 2009 Gladius still listed as the current available model. The cost of development compared to the gain for North American mottorcycle models is slim. Suzuki has been putting its capital into its 4 wheel offerings, especially the Asian (Indian) market. They're also building a new moto plant in the Phillipines. Suzuki has been cutting back on new models for years. There have been recent models years when no new GSXRs were offered. Between the worldwide economic downturn, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the sluggish US economy, there are good reasons for Suzuki to prune its product line, even temporarily. However, Suzuki just introduced a re-vamped DL650 V-Strom, so they still have a commitment to the 644 V-twin. If they haven't given up on the engine, they haven't foreclosed new SV or SFV models somewhere down the line base on it.

 

Maybe if it was named differently from the start, it would have been the SV replacement.

The engine, chassis and stock performance, all are above the SV's.

It's a shame how poor naming and marketing stradegy screw up a fine vehicle.

 

Wow. I know I haven't seen many of them, and I didnt even like the Gladius all that much, but I'm kinda shocked. I still remember the big marketing push that happened when the Gladius first came out. Seemed like they really spent big bucks to make it a success, but I guess it must not have been selling very well.

I don't mean to bag on the bike...cuz it is basically identical to my '07...but I think the bike got a little over-styled for it's own good. It's the first bike I've ever come across that as soon as I saw it, I IMMEDIATELY wanted to take stuff off of it (radiator shroud, exhaust heat shield, etc). The other generations of the SV have a more minimalist appearance that I think suits a bike that's so economically/value focused.

Markets/customers/things do change, and it could just be that the Gladius is a victim of the changing bike market. But honestly. Look at how great the Triumph Street Triple is doing! You've gotta believe Suzuki could just take the 1st gen bike, offer it with a cool new color option (like a BLACK frame would be awesome), stick an old GSXR front end on it (that means upgraded brakes too!), upgrade the shock even a little, and then sell a bajillion of them at more like the Street Triple price. If the performance still wasn't close enough, then just bore it out to 700cc or make a couple tweaks to get some more HP or something. Anybody else feel like Suzuki tried WAY too hard to make life difficult for this bike? Maybe they just don't make any margin on it- could be as simple as that.

I know it's easier said than done...but c'mon man! The guys at Suzuki already have all the parts all built, designed, and tested out. All they'd have to do is grab the right parts outta the parts bin.

Sigh.

 

 

Thank god, that thing is hideous without a lot of work; bring back the real SV.

 

You're right... I mean why wouldn't someone want the Gladius over the SV650. I mean its not like the Gladius heads flow better and make more power than the SV. It definitely wouldn't be that the overall look of the bike may appeal to people (such as myself) than the SV. Nah, none of that could be the reason... :sbmfacepalm:

 

It would be a loss for Suzuki to drop gladius from the line up since it is very refined as far as the drivetrain goes. It'll be okay with me, sale flop means nothing but a collectible like my cb350f.

 

I actually like the Gladius, it's really a redesigned SV650 that was unfortunately marketed wrong.

I can see what they were thinking, "lets make it more mainstream and make it more attractive to females!" Sounds logical right, but it didn't catch on.

It won't take much to "fix" the bike in my opinion....
___________________________________________________

1. Drop the Gladius name. I know the bike is called the SFV650, but it just doesn't roll off the tongue. How about SV650?

2. Drop the artsy muffler/rearset thingy, go back to a traditional rearset.

3. Get rid of the artsy radiator covers and headlight covers.

4. You can have any color combination you want, just as long as it's black, or maybe blue, but only 1 shade at a time.

5. Come out with an S-model, for the "almost looks like a sportbike" types like myself.


That's about it, it will be a big seller again, trust me.

 

Well we have 2011 models in the showroom here, but who knows? I guess bike sales like many things have been slow over the past couple of years. Cant imagine Suzuki dropping that vtwin engine tho.
http://forum.svrider.com/album.php?albumid=198

 

The bike's style grew on me. I can see why it didn't appeal to as many as the SV650N. It's interesting, I'm looking at the 2011 Gladius on the Canadian Suzuki website and they removed that plastic engine cover piece. If they tinker with the Gladius a bit, give it a bit more muscle, add a bit of streetfigher look to it, stick with the V-twin engine, just offer an all black or all blue frame version (yes, forget the 2 color scheme), I think they will have a winner. Above all ... get rid of that hideous white and burgundy combo.

 

Their definitely not dropping the engine, the new V-Strom got it(though modified for more power in low and midrange at the cost of high range) and there's going to be a bigger version as well I heard, going to be announced at the end of 2011/beginning 2012.

 

Based upon the reactions and comments posted right here on this forum over the past few years, it's pretty obvious that you will never make everyone happy with a single product.

Some like the Gladius styling some do not. There are actually a few people "gasp" who like the offered color combos. Many will agree the name could have been better chosen, and almost everyone agrees the marketing was dreadful. Whatever.

Point is, there will always be haters. People resist change by default. Whenever a new vehicle design update rolls out, the enthusiasts and purists all cry foul & curse the manufacturer for their horrible design. You simply can’t make everyone happy. If Suzuki only offered the colors blue and black, a bunch of people would b!tch and complain because they wanted RED.

I think it would be a shame for Suzuki to drop the SV lineage completely, but let’s face it folks: With the current economic recession we’re experiencing worldwide, it just isn’t feasible for manufacturers to carry many multiple model lines, especially the ones with stagnant sales. Why crank out thousands of bikes, if nobody is buying them? It makes no sense.

There will always be a following for naked sport bikes. Look at the new 2011 GSR750; obviously Suzuki believes they will sell. If Suzuki believes there will be a profitable market for a V-twin sport/standard, they will keep making it. If poor sales dictate otherwise, they will axe it from the lineup, plain & simple. Just because you have a small, rabid following of enthusiasts for a particular model, it does not mean continued success for that model. Look at Buell. Or Big Dog. Or Indian.

One thing is certain, you can buy, ride, and keep your SV or SFV as long as you want, and enjoy it as many years as you like. Even if it is no longer being made, you can still enjoy it.

 

I really didn't care WHAT the bike looked like.....I got it for the motor. And I'm still happy I own it. Less the exhaust and frame covers, I think it looks okay and no one's ever laughed at it. But I sure smile when I roll out of curves and apply that torque without downshifting...

 

In the latest Cycle World magazine, that came in the mail last week, there is an article on the 2012 Suzuki V-Strom 650.

A quote from the article is " The updated engine is based on that of the now discontinued Gladius."

They did not specify if it was discontinued across the board or just for the USA.

 

Yep, read the same article earlier this week and caught that little sentence......

 

It must be US only as the Suzuki GB website still has it.

After a quick check on www.howmanyleft.co.uk (which checks the DVLA's database) the Gladius K9 and L0 has outsold the GSXR 750 and 1000 K9's and L0's, Bandit 650 and 1250's and it looks like its outsold the CBR600RR and CBR1000rr as well.

So in Britain it looks like the Gladius has been a sleeper hit as Suzuki sales have been in the toilet.

 

so does that mean the re sale value will jump up?

 

lol i doubt that devenob, still, hang on to it long enough and it will

http://forum.svrider.com/album.php?albumid=198