Suzuki Standard Reviews on Cycle Insider (4)
Avg. Rating

If you can get by it's funky styling, it's a great bike. Suzuki styled this bike more for the market in Europe. So it's not too hot here in America. But it has a nice smooth power delivery and handles great. It's a great bike if your looking to get back into riding and has plenty of power for interstate speeds.

When first purchased I thought the engine was too noisy and I still do. But I like the fact the bike is well thought out and simple. The valve adjustment is a snap. I like inserting the key to remove the seat, and large well for tools, papers, and such, under same. The battery placement is easy and simple to get at, take out and replace in winter. The engine is a little underpowered compared to my old Honda Rebel, but the fuel economy is better. I love the large fuel tank. The best mileage so far is 82.2 mpg. The worst is 65.3 mpg in the fall with high winds. Would I recommend one to a friend? Yes. Have I owned many larger motorcycles? Yes. The last was a V-Star 650. Big machines are all about hype. Want a fun machine? Want to enjoy the back roads of America? Take a trial ride on a 250. You'll love it! They are not Harley Davidsons, and they are not supposed to be. Always remember: It isn't how much you spend, it's how much you save.

I own a TL1000R and have over 87,000 miles on it. I have liked how reliable it has been. So I looked at this bike for a cheaper transport and I like twins. I bought this unit new and have liked it ever since. The stock seat is bad, very hard with no foam. Suzuki did this for short riders which is nice but I bought Suzuki's taller seat and was very pleased. It is not that much taller than stock but way softer. I also installed larger handle bars (7/8 to 1-1/8) and adapters. This helped out, too. My bike has great power for its size and turns like no other bike I have ridden. It reminds me of super motards. It's a great good looking bike and I would recommend it for a starter bike and for the advanced rider it is that good.

This bike is very popular in Europe and Asia. It's a cheap option of Ducati's Monster 696. In several reviews, it beat Kawi's ER6-N and Yamaha's XJ6 (not available here in the US). I did a two-month research before I bought it and got it at a real good deal. I looked at Yamaha's FZ6R, Triumph's Bonneville and the Kawi' ER6-N and decided to get the Gladius. I'm a new biker. I'm very pleased with this bike. I like the standard riding position and low seat height. It also has enough power to match the bigger bikes.