By Ian Krender – Suzuki Champion
Few bikes have excited me quite as much as the launch of the new Suzuki SV-7GX.
Indulge me for a moment and cast your mind back to the autumn of 2002. Tony Blair was Prime Minister; you could get a doctor's appointment before rigor mortis set in, and petrol cost about 70 pence a litre. England seemed a more optimistic place. You didn't need a second mortgage to dine out, and a younger version of me, having just turned 32, had passed his Class A motorcycle test.
Passed, yes, though the examiner did scold me for running a red light. There was a perfectly good explanation, which I have subsequently bored many colleagues and customers with. Just ask if you venture into Bridge. But bring Ovaltine and a sleeping bag.
With my full licence safely acquired, the question was what my first proper motorbike should be. A Yamaha R1 caught my eye in Farnborough's now-defunct Motorcycle City. Unfortunately, the eye-watering insurance quotes rather dampened my aspirations. In retrospect, probably not a bad thing. I'm still alive, with all my (albeit arthritic) limbs intact.
I looked around the showroom like a child in a sweet shop. Nearby stood a used (or pre-loved, as we're apparently obliged to call them now) Suzuki SV650 S, in an almost identical shade of metallic blue to the R1. It looked rather bulbous compared with today's model, but that was fashionable at the time.
My decision was made.
After paying the deposit, I collected it a week later from an enthusiastic salesman whom I seem to remember supported Reading FC. He was harmless otherwise. Bitter, yes, but mostly harmless.
And so I took ownership of my first motorcycle that didn't sound like a hairdryer.
It took me to Scotland, London, Cornwall, the Cotswolds and Snowdonia. My love affair with that bike lasted five years and 22,000 miles. Then the world of BMW touring bikes opened up, but that’s another story. Let's not blaspheme.
Instead, let's focus on the joyful weekend I've just spent with the spiritual successor to my beloved SV650: the new Suzuki SV-7GX.
An old friend, pleasantly improved
First, the engine. That trusty 645cc V-twin.
Imagine reconnecting with an old school friend who suggests meeting for a pint at your former local. You remember the taste of your favourite ale (mine was Courage Best), familiar and delicious. The pub is largely unchanged, but it's been redecorated and tastefully modernised. Somehow, everything seems a little better than you remember, even though the scampi is no longer served in a basket.
That pub analogy rather neatly sums up the SV-7GX.
It retains the spirit of the original but improves upon it in almost every respect.
The 650 V-twin has been updated and fettled, but thankfully hasn't lost its character. It remains wonderfully tuneful, delivering smooth, willing power throughout the rev range, with enough torque to make constant gear changes unnecessary. Not that changing gear is a chore, thanks to the standard-fit bidirectional quickshifter, which makes the whole business almost effortless.
There's something immensely satisfying about an engine that doesn't need to be thrashed to deliver an enjoyable ride. The SV-7GX has that quality in abundance.
Back on familiar roads
I took the bike back from Exeter to my village near Newton Abbot, via Starcross and Dawlish—my normal commute.
It was a joy.
At night, the headlights provided ample illumination, while the small but crisp TFT display offered a clear, easy-to-read view.
The brakes aren't quite as aggressive as those on, say, the Triumph Trident 800 (one of my favourite demo bikes at Bridge), but I soon came to appreciate their progressive nature. They're predictable, reassuring and entirely in keeping with the bike's character.
On my second day, I headed onto Dartmoor, where the SV-7GX felt completely at home on the winding country lanes. Despite its 211kg kerb weight (up 20kg on my iteration), it felt reassuringly manageable, changing direction willingly and inspiring confidence through the bends.
It handled the dual carriageway effortlessly, too. The fairing deflected most of the wind, although there was some mild buffeting above 60mph. Nothing especially dramatic, though, and certainly not enough to spoil the experience. For the record, I kept the adjustable screen in its lowest position throughout my test.
I'd have no hesitation in taking this bike on a longer tour. Indeed, I think it would make an excellent long-distance companion.
Rumours suggest cruise control may become available as an option in the future. If that happens, it would be a very welcome addition.
So, where's the catch?
Suzuki has adopted an exceptionally aggressive pricing strategy with the SV-7GX.
Prices start at just £6,999 on the road, although if you fancy something other than plain white, you'll have to find the princely sum of another £400.
Naturally, my first suspicion was that Suzuki must have cut a few corners to achieve such a competitive price. But where?
The build quality is excellent, and the bike benefits from Suzuki's impressive service-activated warranty scheme, which covers up to ten years or 70,000 miles, subject to the relevant servicing requirements.
Admittedly, you don't get the endless suspension adjustments found on more expensive motorcycles. The front end, for example, makes do with traditional 41mm telescopic forks.
But I'd argue that when a motorcycle is this well set up straight from the factory, that's more than sufficient.
And, to my eyes at least, it's a remarkably handsome machine.
Would I buy one?
In a heartbeat. In terms of options, I'd add heated grips and some luggage, and that would be about it.
Finished in the optional blue-and-white colour scheme, I think it looks absolutely gorgeous. The SV-7GX succeeds because it doesn't try to be something it isn't. It's an honest, enjoyable, thoroughly capable motorcycle, with a wonderfully characterful engine at its heart.
More than twenty years after buying my original SV650, I found myself rediscovering exactly what made me fall in love with that bike in the first place.
And that, perhaps, is the highest compliment I can pay it. We have an SV-7GX demonstrator available, so if you'd like to experience one for yourself, please get in touch.
At the time of writing, we also have one available for sale in the showroom, with further deliveries expected early next year.
Please give me a call if I can help. I'd be delighted to talk you through the bike — and I promise not to tell you the full story of that red traffic light.
Unless you bring the Ovaltine.
Bridge Motorcycles Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (their registration number is 313486). Permitted activities include acting as a credit broker, not a lender.
We can introduce you to a limited number of finance providers. We do not charge a fee for our Consumer Credit services. We do not act as a financial adviser, or fiduciary. We act in our own interest, whichever lender we introduce you to, we will typically receive commission from them based on either a fixed fee or a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow. Any and all commission amounts will be fully disclosed to you as part of your sales journey. You will be required to give your fully informed consent to our receipt of this commission. By doing this, you acknowledge that you understand our role as a credit broker, and that we will receive a financial incentive if you take out a loan from a lender that we introduce you to.
All finance applications are subject to status; terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18s or over, Guarantees may be required.
