Middleweight all-rounders
Kawasaki’s new Z650, Yamaha’s MT-07 and Suzuki’s SV650 punch well above their weight. Where better to take them than Leicester?
SSOME SAY THE greatest underdog story ever told happened just 12 months ago. By winning the Premier League title Leicester City defied 5000-1 odds and caused a potato crisp salesman to strip to his pants on national television. The idea that a bunch of relative unknowns could beat established, experienced and proven rivals to such a prestigious prize seemed absurd – like Hyosung winning the Motogp title, or an extra from Home Alone 2: Lost in New York becoming the leader of the free world.
But another tale of equally unlikely success was written by Suzuki in 1999, when an anonymous parts-bin roadster became one of the biggest-selling bikes in Europe and went on to reshape midcapacity motorcycling. The SV650 was outgunned from day one, a twin launched into a fanatically four-cylinder world. It was down on power compared with rival Honda Hornets and Yamaha Fazers, but two decades later has proved it had more staying power: only the SV is still with us.
The other factories quickly cottoned on to the SV650’S success. Kawasaki’s ER-6N was the first to tackle it head-on, though for 2017 a change of name and frame sees it evolve into the new Z650. Meanwhile the modern measuring stick for middleweight twins is Yamaha’s MT-07, which followed the SV’S footsteps in becoming Europe’s second-biggest-selling bike in its first year.
To see how this trio of two-wheeled Davids compare, testers Jimmy Doherty, Simon Hargreaves and I have rounded up Kawasaki’s new hope, Yamaha’s class leader and Suzuki’s original overachiever and headed to Britain’s current home of underdog success. Though while all that sounds romantic, the reality of trundling through Leicester on a Wednesday morning isn’t exactly glamorous.
At least Suzuki’s SV650 makes light work of heavy traffic. Just as in 1999 it feels slim, agile and punchy – responsive without
“We want to see how this trio of two-wheeled Davids compare”
“The Kawasaki isn’t a restyled ER-6. It’s fundamentally new”
ever overreacting. Mechanically and dynamically this latest version of the SV is heavily based on the Suzuki Gladius that preceded it, less several kilos of plastic flab. The smaller fuel tank feels slim between your knees, the low seat height reassuring, and the 645cc V-twin (pepped up with a few internal tweaks) has a welcoming, encouraging spread of smooth, purposeful drive from little more than tickover.
Gears shift easily, the clutch bites smoothly, and the brakes have a gentle touch that never threatens to send you over the handlebars. The overall sensation is one of simple, easy-going motorcycling. On paper it’s the longest, heaviest bike here with the laziest steering geometry, but in practice it doesn’t feel sluggish when slipping between cars.
You could ride an SV across town every day with no hassle or problem (and probably leave it in a parking bay next to another SV). But that’s part of what makes it hard to bond with: there’s something slightly generic and nondescript about the current SV650, something that makes it easy to forget. In wanting to move away from the Gladius’s controversial curves and back to a familiar, traditional look (round headlight, exposed trellis frame, minimal bodywork), perhaps Suzuki have gone too far in cutting out any unique flair.
Maybe that’s why this test bike wears the £749 ‘Café Sport’ accessory pack, which adds a flyscreen, two plastic side-panels, some wheel stickers, a ribbed seat and some other cosmetic frills. Unfortunately, this bolt-on character isn’t doing much of a job of convincing me, nor fellow testers Simon and Jimmy. “I can’t get past the SV’S looks,” says Simon. “It’s just so cheesy.”
If anything, it only draws the eye to the SV’S general sense of unfinished detailing. There are a few too many stray wires and cables and hoses strewn about the bike – especially looking at its right-hand side. The styling is too inoffensive to be called ugly, but it’s like a low-resolution photo: from a distance it’s all right, but zoom in closer and things quickly get messy.
The same can’t be said for King Power Stadium, Leicester City’s home ground. Last night, despite another plucky
performance, the Foxes were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by Atlético Madrid – I’m half expecting the ground’s surrounds to be piled high with discarded bottles and the streets stained with tears (among other fluids). Instead we arrive to discover nothing but a spotless, almost disappointing calm.
The Z650 has a similarly impressive air of neatness to it. This bike is not simply a restyled ER-6N, but a fundamentally new bike right down to a completely new steel-trellis frame. And, like the King Power Stadium cleaners, it looks as though Kawasaki have taken the time and trouble to tidy up all the odds and ends they don’t want left out on display. Even the shapely flanged bar ends are