The beloved Suzuki SV650, which we once called “the answer to everything on two wheels,” and its adventure bike cousin, the V-Strom 650, are disappearing due to Euro 5+ emission regulations. However, at EICMA, Suzuki unveiled the SV-7GX, a sport touring bike that resembles a cross between these two models, featuring a Euro 5+ compliant version of the SV’s V-twin engine and a dash of Gixxer styling for good measure.
Suzuki describes the SV-7GX as:
…a crossover designed to bring unmatched versatility to the midweight class. Inspired by the spirit of the iconic SV650, it blends the sharp agility of a sportbike with the upright comfort and confidence of an adventure tourer. At its core is Suzuki’s legendary 645 cm³ V-twin engine, refined over decades for smooth, dependable power.
While the new model name implies a 700 cc engine, Suzuki flat-out states that this is an updated version of the SV650 V-twin. While Suzuki doesn’t list performance specs on its website, Motorcycle.com reports a claimed 72.4 horsepower and 47.2 pound-feet of torque, similar to earlier models. It now features a ride-by-wire throttle, traction control and three ride modes, all made possible by the electronic throttle control, which likely helps it meet Euro 5+ standards as well. A low RPM assist function helps prevent stalling, and a quick shifter for gear changes both up and down means you don’t need to use the clutch between gears. It’s great to see these modern enhancements on an engine that has been around since the original SV650 was introduced in 1999.
A crossover motorcycle
Suzuki calls the SV-7GX a “crossover,” a term it also applies to the GSX-S1000GX+, a softer, more comfortable Gixxer. Where the SV650 was a naked sport bike, the SV-7GX adds a fairing, hand guards, and a more upright riding position. That’s exactly the same formula Suzuki used to create the V-Strom 650, except the SV-7GX is even more road-oriented, with a similar trellis frame as the outgoing SV650 and 17-inch wheels front and rear. A 41mm telescopic fork with 4.9 inches of travel and a linked monoshock with 5.1 inches of travel are perfectly good for pavement, but not so much for dirt. The V-Strom 650 offers about an inch more suspension travel, and it’s not exactly an off-road beast, either (though, in my extensive experience as I own a 2011 model, perfectly good for maintained dirt roads).
While Suzuki likely intends the word “crossover” to evoke the same type of vehicle as a road-going crossover SUV, it’s also appropriate in that the SV-7GX is essentially a cross between the SV650 and V-Strom 650. This leaves me wondering if, between the SV-7GX and the V-Strom 800, there’s even room for the V-Strom 650 in Suzuki’s lineup anymore. Or, with the SV-7GX filling the road-going end of the ADV spectrum in a similar vein as the Kawasaki Versys 650 and Yamaha Tracer 7, could a new V-Strom 650 focus more on the dirty side of life as its current XT variants do?
Regardless, the SV-7GX also gives me hope for a future SV-7 naked bike, a regeneration of the classic SV650. The only reason the SV went away in the first place was increasingly strict emission standards, which have also affected models ranging from the Kawasaki KLR650 to the Suzuki Hayabusa, both of which have come back stronger than ever. The SV-7GX looks like a great evolution in itself, and its Euro 5+ compliant engine opens the door to these other possibilities as well.
