The Hyosung GV650 Aquila is a cruiser built around the same V-twin engine that powers the GT650R and GT650S sport bikes. Where those use a chain, the cruiser has a belt, and its five-speed gearbox, relaxed riding position and long fuel range made it the flagship of the Korean range.
Hyosung GV650 at a glance
| Maker | Hyosung Motors & Machinery, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Type | Cruiser |
| Presented | 2005 |
| Production start | 27 January 2006 |
| Engine | liquid-cooled V-twin, shared with the GT650R and GT650S |
| Power | 81 hp; 70 hp at the start of production |
| Top speed | about 200 km/h |
| Weight | about 220 kg |
| Final drive | belt |
| Gearbox | five speeds |
| Rev limiter | 10,500 rpm, no rev counter fitted |
| Fuel tank | 16 litres, 5-litre reserve |
Built from the English Wikipedia article on the GV650, with the 650 section of the Italian article on the Aquila for production dates and performance figures.
History of the Hyosung GV650
The GV650 was presented in 2005 and entered production on 27 January 2006, becoming the largest and most expensive model Hyosung offered. Its 647-class V-twin is the same unit used by the GT650R and GT650S sport bikes; the general layout echoes the Suzuki SV650, but the dimensions of practically every part differ and no components are interchangeable between the two engines.
In the cruiser the engine drives through a belt rather than a chain, and the gearbox has five speeds instead of six. The rev limiter cuts in at 10,500 rpm but, unlike the sport bikes, the GV650 has no rev counter at all. In production terms it was a straightforward machine assembled in South Korea, which allowed a price well below the Japanese cruisers of similar size.
The liquid-cooled V-twin gives the bike a top speed of about 200 km/h, and at roughly 220 kg it has a good power-to-weight ratio. Power was quoted at 70 hp when production began and raised to 81 hp from 2008. The GV650 shared its engine family with the GT650 and sat at the head of the Aquila cruiser line above the 125 and 250 versions.
Design and features
- Belt final drive: quieter and cleaner than the chain of the GT650 that shares the engine.
- Long range: a 16-litre tank with an unusually generous 5-litre reserve.
- Simple instrumentation: two separate trip odometers plus a total, and no rev counter.
- EFI versions: white LCD instruments, a red FI fault lamp and ECU error codes readable through an optional diagnostic switch.
- Everyday details: the engine can be started on the side stand in neutral, and the headlamp is always on, as US and Canadian rules require.
Hyosung GV650 versions
- Carburettor models: green LCD instruments, the earlier specification.
- EFI models: white LCD instruments with a fuel-injection fault lamp.
- 30th Anniversary GV 650 / DME (2008–2009): limited edition with a red frame and red wheels.
- US-market bikes: factory-fitted orange side reflectors on the radiator cover and red reflectors beside the rear plate.
The GV650 shares its engine with the GT650 Comet sport bikes and sits at the top of the Aquila range; the smaller GV250 uses the same fuel-injection system.
Sources
- Hyosung GV650, English Wikipedia: engine, drive, instruments, tank and reserve
- Hyosung Aquila, Italian Wikipedia: presentation, production dates, power, weight, top speed
