The Suzuki Touring Bike That Offers The Best Value In Its Segment
Riders with deep pockets get to have multiple bikes in their garage. One for the track, one for off-roading, one for commuting… You get the point. Not all of us get to enjoy that luxury, though. Motorcycles have gotten expensive, and maintaining multiple motorcycles is a time- and cash-consuming affair. For most of us, the logical way to go is a one-bike garage.
That’s why middleweight sports tourers make so much sense. These bikes combine the nimbleness of nakeds and long-distance comfort of adventure tourers, making them among the most versatile bikes you can buy today. Noticing the popularity, Suzuki has just entered the segment and blown all of its competition out of the water with a lip-smacking MSRP.
The Value-Oriented Middleweight Touring Segment Isn’t Too Populated
While the middleweight adventure bike segment is getting crowded, the affordable side of the middleweight crossover or sports touring segment is pretty vacant. You have very few options here, especially when being value for money is a priority. The most popular one is the Kawasaki Versys 650, starting at $10,399. Powered by a 66-horsepower 649cc parallel-twin, this is among the most versatile and reliable bikes available today. It can handle everything from commuting and cornering to touring, making it a terrific pick for a one-bike garage.
The Triumph Tiger Sport 660 is another excellent option, offering nearly 100 horsepower from its 660cc inline-triple engine, along with ride modes and cornering-enabled ABS and traction control. Starting at $10,445, the 660 offers a unique riding experience that combines parallel-twin versatility with four-banger top-end performance, thanks to its three-cylinder engine. While the Versys 650 focuses on striking a balance, the Tiger Sport 660 leans heavily toward sportiness and lightness.
Then there’s the $9,499 Honda NC750X DCT, which is the antithesis of being sporty. The NC750X features a 58-horsepower, 745cc parallel-twin, simple underpinnings, and an almost maxi-scooter-ish design. The bike also gets DCT and integrated storage where you’d expect the fuel tank to be, making it a versatile, easy-to-live-with pick for those looking for an easy-going tourer that can handle both commuting and touring.
Speaking of cheap, that brings us to the newest player by Suzuki. It brings legendary reliability and character in a versatile package inspired by the GSX-S1000GX+. And it’s significantly cheaper than the Tiger Sport 660, Versys 650, and NC750X, costing under $8,500. More impressively, this is thoroughly modern and doesn’t cut any corners.
The Suzuki SV-7GX Is The Value King Of The Midweight Touring Segment
Suzuki unveiled the SV-7GX last year, and it’s now made its way to our shores. The Japanese manufacturer says this new middleweight tourer (or crossover, as Suzuki calls it) combines everyday usability of a naked bike with the versatility and comfort of an adventure bike. Inspired by Suzuki’s liter-class crossover (the GSX-S1000GX), the bike is a pure road bike, not an off-roader, and focuses on being compact, approachable, and full of character.
The SV-7GX’s underpinnings will look familiar, as it carries on the legendary SV650 platform, including its 645cc V-twin and trellis frame. It should offer the same levels of character and cockroach reliability as the SV650 and the V-Strom 650. It adds to that with upright ergonomics, adjustable wind protection, bidirectional quickshifter, and multi-level traction control. It’s not the most feature-loaded bike, like its liter-class sibling, but it’s hard to fault, especially when you consider its price tag.
Pricing Starts At $8,399
The Suzuki SV-7GX takes on its elder sibling, the GSX-S1000GX+, but while the liter-class crossover is packed with features, including electronic suspension, the SV-7GX is more bare-bones. As a result, it comes in at $8,399 for the plain white version, the SV-7GXV. The SV-7GX with graphics starts at $8,599, offering you the choice between Pearl Brilliant White/Metallic Triton Blue and Pearl Matte Greige. Online reservations for the bike are available until July 31.
This starting price is the big picture here. The bike slots well below its already well-established rivals, undercutting both the Tiger Sport 660 and the Versys 650 by around $2,000. Yes, the Tiger Sport 660 has a more powerful engine and better electronics, while the Versys 650 gets integrated storage, but the base price of the SV-7GX makes it hard to ignore. That’s especially when you consider the legendary V-twin experience, which is rare in the middleweight space, regardless of the segment.
Legendary V-Twin Engine And Chassis Engineered For Versatility
Diving deeper, the SV-7GX carries the legendary SV650 platform, which has proven itself over the past 25 years. At its heart is the renowned 645cc 90-degree DOHC V-twin, which has become a cornerstone of Suzuki’s engineering legacy. On the SV-7GX, the engine produces 72 horsepower and 47 pound-feet of torque, which is six more than the Versys 650. The engine is celebrated for its smooth, tractable torque across the rev range, lively character at the top end, and bulletproof reliability.
The engine hangs in a lightweight tubular-steel trellis frame designed for rigidity, a low center of gravity, and slim proportions. Suzuki claims this frame offers agile, predictable handling. Suspension duties are taken care of by a 41mm fork up front and a preload-adjustable link-type monoshock at the rear. This suspension offers a long-ish travel of 4.9 inches front and 5.1 inches rear. Braking comes from dual Brembo 4-piston calipers up front and a single Nissin 1-piston caliper at the back.
Upright Ergonomics To Suit Various Riding Conditions
As with the frame, the bike gets upright ergonomics that add to its versatility. Suzuki says the riding triangle is tuned to offer confident control and lasting comfort, starting with a low 31.3-inch seat height, raised handlebars, and narrow midsection. At the front, there’s an ADV-like cowl with an adjustable (with tools) windscreen, which should offer weather protection; it’s complemented with knuckle covers. The bike tips the scales at 465 pounds.
Adequate Electronics For The Price Bracket
The bike features a 4.2-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity, a bidirectional quick shifter, ride modes, and cruise control. There are also ABS, traction control, Low RPM Assist, and Suzuki Easy Start System, which should make the whole experience easier and safer. The electronics package reflects the bike’s overall philosophy of being an easy-to-ride motorcycle that can handle everything from weekday commutes to weekend escapes, whether it’s on a highway or a canyon road. All at a price that’s lower than Suzuki’s own dual sport, the DR-Z4S.
Source: Suzuki Cycles
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