Suzuki

Bikes used and abused by the gang, some for weeks some for years, with our views on the good, the bad and the downright ugly (these are only our opinions and we are happy you may not agree). Got a bike and you want to help us help others send in your photo and some words on whats what and we’ll look to add it.

B- King

Another favourite of Mickey T is the bike the bike press called the naked Hayabusa, the B-King. The big B was a bike that really split opinion, in standard form from the back there were two massive underseat cans that looked terrible but from the front it was something you thought had stepped straight out of a Transformer movie.

Using the Haybusa 1298 cc in line four engine this bike was a heavy weight in the naked market boasting to be the most powerful production naked bike built. Bulby even put a deposit on one before changing his mind and going for the blue Hayabusa that made him recognisable at many bike meets, why did he change his mind, when asked it was the sheer presnce and size of the B that made the little lad where he felt the busa was less daunting. Yeah we don’t understand either so go figure.

The B-king is a comfortable bike with a good hand , foot seating position, an easy to read centre instrument cluster gives all the information you need. In production from 2007 to 2012 we think it’s unlikely to make a modern return like the Hayabusa has last year however the B – King is now more popular than ever as it has a real cult status about it. Take Mickey’s advice and go ride one, if you can find one that is…..

Pro’s – Hayabusa engine, Fast, Comfortable

Cons – Standard exhausts, big and heavy. Wind protection

Rating – 8.5/10

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GSXS -1000F 2015/16

Suzuki were late coming to the market with this bike following Kawasaki’s Z1000sx both Juiceman and Bulby have either owned or still own this bike in this colour scheme. A very capable bike which is
comfortable as well as quick. Based on various parts from previous GSXR1000’s this bike has flat bars which take the pressure off the wrists for day long riding.

Pros – 150bhp. Day long Comfort. Will keep up with 1000cc sportsbikes. Yosi end can. Price new.

Cons – Lack of standard equipment ( heated grips, cruise, quickshifter) 2015/16 version no hard luggage. Yosi end can not standard and a £700 extra.

Rating – 8/10

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For a Youtube review click Here

GSF1250 Bandit

Suzuki’s big bore Bandit 1250 replaced the Bandit 1200 as the companies big muscle/naked bike and what a gem it is to. With an actual increase of 98cc the 1255cc water-cooled, fuel-injected engine is a tourque-laden peach. The 1250 Bandit’s frame and suspension have also been upgraded to give an easy to ride, comfortable well-mannered mileage machine that can also run in the twisties. A cheaper alternative to the GSX-s and Kantana it may not look as fancy but in the right hands will keep plenty of newer bikes honest

Pro’s – Torquey, relatively cheap and easy to work on big muscle bike

Cons – lacks some Kudos of other bike muscle bikes

Rating – 9/10

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GSX1300R Hayabusa (1999 – 2007)

The Suzuki Hayabusa, once the fastest production motorcycle in the world, designed in the wind tunnel for going fast, very fast and named after a bird in Japan that kills Blackbirds, the bike isn’t the
prettiest.

A massive cult following (particularly in the USA where Chrome parts and extended swing-arms are very popular) this particular version owned by Bulby was a 2007 , last of the generation 1 versions with 187bhp and speed limited to 187mph. Get yourself an early unlimited version (production started in 1999) and you have a genuine +200mph rocket-ship.

Pros – Fast and comfortable. The power to make two up riding a breeze. true biking icon, pub bragging rights

Cons – Long, low and heavy so don’t expect to keeping with sport bikes in the twistys. License looser as going fast is very easy. Looks

Rating – 9/10

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GSXR 1000 (2007)

What says most about this bike is that Juicey owned it for 7 years, yes, 7 years! Like us all we get bored of our bikes no matter how good they are but for him to have kept this bike for that period of time lays testament to just how good it was and if it wasn;t for age, the fact that we tour Europe and the weight on the wrists he’d probably still have it now and I;m sure he’d have kept it for weekend blasts if he’d been allowed to

Pro’s – Brilliant road bike, power, speed. True Hooligan machine

Cons – The design has been left behind by other manufactures

Rating – 9.5/10

For more information click Here

GSXR 1000 (2019)

This is a difficult one, Pats who owns the bike, loves it and everything about it. Juicey who has ridden it doesn’t like it at all which is funny as he had the earlier predecessor to this very bike. This comes down to personal choice, with Juicey have moved away from the head down arse up world of a sports-bike to then get back on one seems very alien, why would you when today’s sports tourer’s and naked’s are so very capable. And that’s it, the bike is very capable, its fast, well made and cheapish to buy if you have your heart set on a sports-bike

Pro’s – Price, TFT screen

Cons – Design, you know it’s a GIXXER. Not as cutting edge as other Manufactures

Rating – 8/10

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GSXR 750 (2006)

If you are in the market for a sportsbike and feel abit daunted about todays 1litre bikes there’s nothing better than Suzuki’s GSXR750. With a perfect blend of weight and power this bike was once described as the perfect sportsbike for the road. Now, that may have been a few years ago and Suzuki has been guilty of a lack of investment into this model but make no mistake this is a great machine

Pro’s – Some say the 750 is the perfect size for a road bike, nearly as light as a 600 with nearly as much power as a thou. Great Balance of usable power and weight, perfect for the weekend blast with your mates

Cons – Nearly bike – not a thou sportsbike. No suitable alternative as everyone else stopped making 750’s so lack of investment an developement

Rating – 9.5/10

For more information click Here

GSXR 600 (2005)

The Suzuki GSXR 600 is light and easy to ride with it’s 599 cc in line four engine making around the 110bhp figure. Like any good 600 you do find yourself being fully on it all the time to really get it to go but the baby Gixxer does this well and is easier to live with than say the more rev hungry R6. The bike is a good all-rounder if a 600 is what you’re after but with Suzuki still offering the 750 with more power for not a lot more money why would you

Pro’s – It’s a Suzuki

Cons – The GSXR750

Rating – 7.5/10

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DRZ 400SM

The D R Zeeee was released in two forms, the enduro and the supermoto versions. The 400 cc single cylinder engine being a great size and weight for both green laneing and hooning and this has given the bike somewhat of a cult following. The bike here is was built and owned by Major Woods from the ground up with high power motor, hand made wheels and sports exhaust all developed for so that it was a fantastic stunt machine in his hands

Pro’s – Light and agile, great for blatts on the twisty’s, the amount of stuff available to customize

Cons – Not for long distances otherwise nothing, needs to be modified

Rating – 8.5/10

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DL1000 V-Strom

Suzuki’s big v-twin was a cheap 105bhp allrounder capable of two up touring over long distances offering good comfort and range. Down on power against more modern machines from todays offerings this is a no nonsense bike that will do what you expect as long as those expectations are sensible. Suzuki has now updated the bike with the trend in ‘beak Shaped’ fronts, bright colour paint schemes ( namely bright Yellow) which offer something a little easier on the eye for a decent price.

Pro’s – Cheap and reliable, all day comfort, hard luggage

Cons – Styling, not the prettiest bike

Rating – 8/10

For more information click here

TS185ERX (Tess)

Speak to anybody who was riding bikes in the 80’s and more likely than not they either owned a TS or had a mate that did they were that popular. The late 70’s, early 80’s TS lost a lot of the chrome found on the early 70’s bikes and gained a more modern look for it’s time. Engine sizes were 50, 100, 125, 185, 250 and 400 so there was really a bike for every one. This particular bike originally started life in the red paintwork but underwent a strip and rebuild that saw bulby change it to the white with blue stripes you see here. Not an everyday ride anymore keep an eye out and you might it see it out and about on a sunny weekend in the Wiltshire countryside

Pro’s – 2 stroke, easy to work on, 80’s retro cool

Cons – Slow compared to modern bikes, 80’s suspension

Rating – 8/10

For more information click Here

GSXS1000 GT (2021 on)

This is the 2nd generation of Suzuki’s GSXS1000, the GT offers more power, revised styling and better equipment while meeting the latest Euro regulations. What appears to be the best alternative on the market for when Loll looks to change out her GSXR1000 as it has less weight on the wrists, better vision , improved comfort with integral luggage a test ride is very likely to follow before the 2022 season gets well underway.

Pro’s – Integrated luggage, more power that original, improved looks, Cost, Extra’s

Cons – Looks, calling it a GT bike

Rating –TBC

For more information click Here

Hayabusa Mk3 (2021 on)

This bike is included for one reason, because Bulby has a soft spot for the intercontinental Super-sports tourer that Suzuki has been producing since 1999 as he owned the blue Mk1 Busa shown above in this blog for 3.5years. The original bike, while having massive power was long and heavy which made it a handful in the twisty’s however was a true two up continent muncher. Realistically now none of the team are likely to move away from the upright seating position they now command on their current rides but Bulby is keen to get a test ride to see how the new bike compares to his old one. Test ride to follow once available

Pro’s – Familiar looks, power, improved brakes

Cons – Styling ( have they gone far enough in todays age), Colour schemes

Rating -TBC

For more information click Here