The Suzuki SV-7GX is basically an SV650 Sport Tourer with an updated engine – Jalopnik

The beloved Suzuki SV650, which we once called ‘the answer to everything on two wheels’, and its adventure motorcycle cousin the V-Strom 650 are disappearing due to Euro 5+ emissions regulations. However, at EICMA, Suzuki unveiled the SV-7GXa sports tourer that looks like a cross between these two models, with a Euro 5+ compliant version of the SV’s V-twin engine and a dash of Gixxer styling thrown in for good measure.

Suzuki describes the SV-7GX as:

…a crossover designed to provide unparalleled versatility to the middleweight class. Inspired by the spirit of the iconic SV650, it combines the sharp agility of a sports bike with the upright comfort and confidence of an adventure tourer. At its heart is Suzuki’s legendary 645cc V-twin engine, refined over decades for smooth, reliable power.

Although the new model name implies a 700 cc engine, Suzuki states outright that this is an updated version of the SV650 V-twin. Although Suzuki does not list performance specifications on its website, Motor.com reports a claimed output of 72.4 horsepower and 47.2 pound-feet of torque, comparable to previous models. It now features a ride-by-wire throttle, traction control and three riding modes, all made possible by the electronic throttle control, which will likely also make it Euro 5+ compliant. A low-speed assist function helps prevent stalling, and a quick shifter for both up and down shifts means you don’t have to use the clutch between gears. It’s great to see these modern improvements to a bike that has been around since the original SV650 was introduced in 1999.

While Suzuki probably means that the word “crossover” conjures up the same type of vehicle as an on-road crossover SUV, it’s also appropriate because the SV-7GX is essentially a cross between the SV650 and the V-Strom 650. This makes me wonder if between the SV-7GX and the V-Strom 800, there’s even room for the V-Strom 650 in Suzuki’s lineup. Or, with the SV-7GX filling the street end of the ADV spectrum in the same way 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?

Anyway, 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 disappeared in the first place was increasingly strict emissions standards, which 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 also opens the door to these other possibilities.