My new ride of the two wheeled sorts.

[psychowarden]

Just this last Friday, I picked up my brand spanking new, 0 miles on the odometer, 2009 Suzuki Gladius SFV650. It's the replacement to the tremendously successful SV650.

It rides butter smooth, and has plenty of power to get me out of sticky situations with on ramps as I discovered today. It's really hard having this bike and keeping the RPM under 5-6k for the break in stage. I've got about 150 miles on it already.

Enough chatter, here are the pics.

The bike sittin in my driveway, waiting to be ridden.


On my 2 hour ride today, took a break to stretch my legs.

[neppo1345]

I've been trying to talk myself into either an sv650 or an FZ6, however I can't seem to do it because of Ohio's extremely short riding season and the lack of a garage.

One day, one day.

Nice bike though, I'm extremely jealous.

[DevilMan]

Just for the record I do NOT recommend that whole break in stage thing.... I've ridden my entire adult life, and I've worked in bike shops for several years as salesman, wrench, parts, manager, etc...

If you hold that throttle at 4500 for miles and miles you are going to NOT go over the 5K mark, but you are also going to wear a land/shelf/lip into the inside of your cylinder. You are also not going to stretch out the connecting rods as they won't be moving as fast now as they will in the future when you are running at the higher RPMs.

I'm not saying ring it's neck WFO the entire time. What I am saying is start it as you get used to it and get it up to speed in all the RPM's that you'll ever be in. Do NOT keep it pegged out for long periods in any gear. Keep the shifting continuous, keep the RPM's varied and keep the bike going in just the same manner as what you'll put it through later on.

Oh and shiny side up helps!

That said, everyone can be an armchair quarterback... I've had to do the shakedown rides on more than one brand new out of the crate bike. And I didn't baby the bikes. I want to know that if anything is going to come loose, it'll do it under me, not under the guy who buys it.

Best of luck and welcome to the 2 wheel crew.

DM

[psychowarden]

I've heard that from a few guys. I am riding it pretty close to what I will be when it's "broken in" I keep it right about the 5k mark, and usually with the speed I'm at, it falls right around 5k anyways, but it's gone up to 7k or so. I've topped it at 90mph so far hehe.

This is my second bike, it's a really really big upgrade from what I was riding. A 1981 XS650.

[DevilMan]

The main thing is to keep it varied. Don't hold it at one RPM/speed for long times. Down shift and rev it up some, up shift and lug it... Keep it up and down the RPM range.

Enjoy the ride man!

DM