Suzuki's new Gladius (SFV650) shares some 696 traits...

[Popeye the Sailor]

The more I look at it with the Monster seat, the more I think it would pass as one to the casual observer.

Actually the casual observer would simply ask if it was "the new buell". 

[optiato]

Actually the casual observer would simply ask if it was "the new buell". 

Ok, so you have a point there. 

Though I've never been asked that, just "Who makes Ducati?"

[teddy037.2]

I'd take that zook over the 696.

*shock*

*gasp*

*alarm*

[bluemoco]

Remember the Photochopped pics of the "New Monster" we were seeing back in May of 2007?  The 'Zook looks MUCH like the pics we saw then.    

I found this pic on MCN:



The 'Zook:

[herm]

its better looking than the 696, sorta...

my mind keeps saying dolphin, or killer whale, when i look at that paint scheme though

[Giannis]

The original SV650 had a trellis looking aluminum frame. You always new what they were shooting for with the old one but this thing is a blatent rip-off of the monster. My question though is, who exactly is this bike for? Suzuki already makes a naked SV650 with the same engine and bargin bin hardware to keep the price down. Are they going to have two different newby friendly models that share an engine among other things?

And Gluteus... man I feel bad for the people who buy this thing, they will never hear the end of it.  

Have you ever seen the Shiver from Aprilia? It had Trelis/Cast frame combo for  the last 2 years



There are more bikes with trelis/cast frame combo before the new mostesr came out..

How about the Bimota Delirio? it's been in the market for the last 4 years...

How about this Yamaha, made back in 1987... A very early mix of Cast and Trelis frame...





Hard to be Original anymore... 

[Raux]

oooo really like that yamaha  what is it?

[Cucciolo]

check this out....  http://www.gladiusstyle.com/

Suzuki is trying to make this bike appealing to the Techno fashionista ...  turn on your speakers.. this is very funny!

[ArguZ]

All that shit looks the same those days.
Its really disappointing to see this lack of inspiration and form-follows-function styling.
Goo thing with Harley is , they stick true to what people love about them
I have to say that I really like the naked styling of the 90s bikes, most of them turned out great.
But this year...come one...its boring...girlish and modern is and uninspired way.
I want something iconic I can cherish and be proud of...also to drive something a little crazy without doing too much welding.
And i am really angry with Ducati for letting this slip out of focus.

[Raux]

are you kidding? HD was BLASTED for the V-Rod by traditional HD riders.

[Giannis]

are you kidding? HD was BLASTED for the V-Rod by traditional HD riders.

at least Harley keeps a big part of their lineup with traditional bikes....

[Giannis]

oooo really like that yamaha  what is it?

Yamaha SDR 200 google it.. fun single cylinder 2 stroke cafe racer from the late 80s...

[Giannis]

All that shit looks the same those days.
Its really disappointing to see this lack of inspiration and form-follows-function styling.
Goo thing with Harley is , they stick true to what people love about them
I have to say that I really like the naked styling of the 90s bikes, most of them turned out great.
But this year...come one...its boring...girlish and modern is and uninspired way.
I want something iconic I can cherish and be proud of...also to drive something a little crazy without doing too much welding.
And i am really angry with Ducati for letting this slip out of focus.

You are right, looks like everyone try to build the most futuristic looking bike those days, Age of Space Look i hope it goes away if a couple years and designs go back to more traditional forms in motorcycles.

[Howie]

oooo really like that yamaha  what is it?

200cc 2 stroke weighing in at under 300 lbs.

[flynbulldog]

Are you guys forgetting the Kawi 650R that was released about two years ago? It had a hybrid trellis/cast frame. Now the zook comes out...
What bothers me about these bikes is that they are all aimed at the entry level market, they are cheap economy bikes - none of them for serious enthusiasts.
Even the Aprilia Shiver is aimed at the entry level.

Sort of puts a label on that frame style as cheap and inferior. That's not what I want on a Ducati