SV Racers I have a Question Please...

[MAZZ77X]

My son will be racing an SV Supersport Legal bike next season.

Question is has anyone been on the Suzuki Gladius? I want to know if a Supersport Legal set up Gladius 650 is equal to the same set up SV. In other words has any one run a Gladius with any success and are they as good a race platform as an SV or should I stick with what's proven. The only attraction to the Gladius for us is the physical size of the bike as my rider is very small.

Thank you, Anthony

[Burt Munro]

No info on the Gladius for you Anthony.  However I do know of a young lady in the Midwest Region who raced an SV for several years who is only 4'10. In fact her number is 410. Becka comes on here occasionally and could give details on what modifications she made (if any) to make the bike work for her. I'm sure there are a couple of people who are more famiiliar with her bike than I am who could chime in here too.

[apriliaman]

I haven't seen anyone race it yet.So I don't know about that one.

[twilkinson3]

The one basic mob I would do is cut the stock sv seat foam down to almost nothing, I've got a 30in inseam on a good day and I can stand over the bike flat footed with just that little change

If you can find a way I would stick with the SV, while they share most parts there are some they don;t and there is a mass of sv parts to be had in the grey market, not many gladius ones - just my 2 cents....

[Farmboy]

Industry mags all rated the Gladius as softer-edged than the SV.

You could run a race tail with no pad, and possibly mod the subframe, other than that???  ... you certainly can't lower the bike by shortening the suspension.

Beckah's biggest mod was to start the race with her butt completely off the seat with the very tip of her toe on the ground and then pull herself onto the bike as she accelerated like a bat outta hell when the flag dropped. Beckah totally kicks ass.

Have you considered a Ninja 250 for UL Thunderbike? We're trying to get the class going, there are now 7-8 bikes here in the MW. Cheap bike, cheap tires, huge learning curve...

[clarustnb]

I can't find a picture, but that type of start works off well enough for Pedrosa.

[bruce71198]

That starting method has been working well for me once I mastered it...

[Jwhite316]

That starting method has been working well for me once I mastered it...

LOL!!! I agree that the Ninjas are the way to go, especially for a smaller rider.  Jody started out on a ninja and jumped up to an SV this past weekend.  I believe he turned the fastest time of all amateurs LW bikes.  Start on the ninja!!

[bruce71198]

I cant imagine the gladius being a better choice. If you look at the published specs it is a little lighter has less rake slightly more trail and 1 inch lower seat height other than that they're pretty much even. The big advantage to the SV is parts availability. Most of the ones shipped over here are either racebikes or will be race bikes before they meet their final demize ! No need in reinventing the wheel trying to set up a gladius when an SV racebike is only a couple grand away !!