Suzuki Gladius/sv650 or Kawasaki ER-6N?

[Russ]

I'm upgrading from a cruiser, so i'm not that all accustomed to performance, but i want something a little faster then my Vstar 1100 but i don't like the full fared look or leaning forward of superbikes.

I'm trying to deside between a Suzuki Gladius or aKawasaki ER-6N and don't know enough about them to make up my mind.

They say the vtwin of the Gladius has more torque at low end, but is that what i really want? would that make it less safe to ride then the parallel in the ER-6n that needs to be revved up to get it's power.

Also, how week is the Kawa at low revs? Am i going to have to worry about revving it up just to do starts and to pass cars, or does it have decent power all the way through the gearing?

And finally, i'm a long legged 6'1". which bike do you think i would be more comfortable on? I would be planning on mainly commuting on these bikes, but doing the occasional 4-6 hour road trip on them.

oh, and that reminds me, how do these bikes deal with passengers?

Thanks

 

[Dani G]

There is no safety issue associated with either of these bikes.

The main difference between them is that the ER-6 has a good engine and the Gladius has a GREAT engine. It is one of the all-time great motorcycle engines with both low-end torque and decent horsepower. There's nothing intrisically wrong with the engine in the ER-6. Like all vertical twins, it actually has good low-end power, just not as much as the Gladius.

In the end, the riding experience is not that different: either one is an excellent choice.

 

[Hypnotic]

Gladius is quite a small looking bike, though it's nice. It apparently has the same v-twin engine that came out of the sv650. But I hear it's somehow not as peppy, but a nice easy ride. It also looks fairly low down and designed for people who aren't that tall. I have never ridden a gladius or an sv650 but I've stared at both in length at dealers and read multiple reviews.

I have done a lot of riding on an er6n and it's a nice bike. It's peppy, and has good accerlation & torque. Admittedly I never really opened it up to feel what the top end was like. I think I was riding a 2006 model er6n and it didn't have a petrol gauge (kawa trying to save money by cutting corners), and there was an issue with revving the engine before it had warmed up and slowed in revs. Apparently on that model (new models may have this issue rectified) it can cause engine damage. There's a great two piece seat on the er6n with grab handles for a pillion. You definitely will not have to worry about passing cars at low revs, or higher revs. It has a reasonable amount of punch that you'd expect in a twin 650cc bike. On paper it'll do 0-60 in about 4 seconds and has a top end of 130mph, so it's not bad.

I looked at both bikes, including several others and eventually sided with a new z750, which is realy nice to ride. The inline 4 engine is smooth and revvy (like a sports bike) which is satisfying. It has a decent amount of torque and pulls really well. It's faster than the 650 counterparts whilst being very manageable, looks seriously cool, and is a great bike to ride. It's also taller and would do well with your height. It's really my first choice for bikes in this price bracket. The only issue with the z750 is, which is touted as a naked sports bike is that the seats are uncomfortable and there's no pillion grab rail.

Both can be remedied, however, a ventura luggage system will come with a grab rail for when you don't use the additional luggage, and you can get a decent full length gel seat. I've to buy the seat myself but need to as I regularly do 200+ mile trips and don't like having to stop every 50 or so miles to allow my ass to come back to life.

If it was definitely only between the gladius and the er6n, personally I'd go for the er6n. To me the gladius is cute, nice etc. but looks small and unlike a "real" bike. I can't quite explain it, but it doesn't have that mean edge. I'd say the same about the ducatti monster - stylish, etc. but really small.

Good look wtih your bike shopping!

 

[It's That Guy]

It's obvious that these bikes are marketed in direct competition. They are almost the same bike, just from different manufacturers. Given the choice myself I would pick the Suzuki because I like the 90 degree V-twin with 'perfect balance'. Side-by-side twins have vibration problems, though I understand the Kawi has this under control. In any case they're both twins, and they have more in common with each other than either does with a 4-cylinder engine.

I also think Suzuki is a little better. But that is also personal preference. All the Japanese mfgrs are very good.

And I admit that these are my personal preferences, YMMV.

You should look closely at both bikes, sit on them, see which seems more comfortable for a long trip, which you like the look of better.

They both should have sufficient power, and nice wide power bands. Twins of every kind make good torque at low speeds. Both should be fine for the occasional long trip. Both have the power and load capacity for two-up touring, though there might be a big difference in back-seat comfort. Back in the 1960s, when I started riding, the Triumph Bonneville 650 was considered a 'big' bike, but it was just about like these bikes in size and weight and power. Triumph used to advertise that it was the first British bike that could carry two people and luggage on a long trip.

I saw another question from you earlier (I think it was you) about power. Don't be afraid of power. I ride a Honda ST1100 with 100 hp, and it is considerably more power than I ever use. Once in a while, when I have room, I will drop down two gears, goose the throttle, and go from 60 to 85 or 90 in about one second. Then I slow back down and to back to my usual safe, boring riding style. 8^) You don't have to use ALL the power a given bike has, in fact it will last longer if you stress it less. My ST has 60k miles on it now and has never needed a valve adjustment, and I think this is because I seldom drive it over 4000 rpm.

Both these bikes are around 60-65 hp. That's enough for a spirited ride, enough to pass with confidence on the freeway, in fact either of these bikes will accelerate faster than just about any car. Enough to be fun, but not so much that you can't control it.