Spotted in Rome
Ian Kerr takes a peek at the new Suzukis
While the UK continued to reel from extreme weather conditions and terrorisms attacks, Rome sizzled in warm sunshine and style. There is no doubting that this capital city is at the top of the cool list. Not in the heart of the city with its magnificent historical architecture, but in the cool of the Cinecittà Film Studio's that Suzuki unveiled the gems of their 2008 range to the assembled European press. On a studio floor that has seen a few legends tripping across it in the past, a new type of legend rolled out into the spotlight for the first time as a production model - the B-King!
The B-King
First seen as a prototype way back in
2001 at the Tokyo Motor Show, the
Suzuki B-King has never been far away
from the news pages of motorcycle
magazines worldwide. Highly distinctive
in its design, styling and execution, the
production model may have lost things
essence of that stunning 2001 bike
remains.
It is the world's most powerful naked motorcycle with around 184 bhp at the crank of its retuned 1340cc Hayabusa engine.
This of course is packed with all the latest Suzuki engineering to give not only power, longevity and of course be as green as you can get given the power. Look through the specs and you can get a good scrabble hand given the number of acronyms that proliferate the engine's explanatory text - most of which we already know, being that the systems are used on most of the current range!
The liquid-cooled across-the-frame-four has something quite unique to Suzuki road bikes though and that is a tank-mounted switch called the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS). when in neutral to adjust the engine's power output to suit riding conditions. The dashboard will display which setting is currently selected at any time.
Basically the lower of the two settings cuts the engines power delivery and will make it safer in poor weather or road conditions when you do not need so much power on tap!
Ex BSB rider and British Champion John Reynolds was present at the launch and having ridden the bike was full of praise for the system and feels it will be a useful safety aid and is not a sales gimmick. The massive engine is wrapped in an advanced aluminium-alloy frame with fully adjustable inverted forks at the front and a single fully adjustable shock at the rear. Radial four piston brakes with differing piston sizes to equalise the braking force, grip the front discs which are mounted on new three spoke rims which emphasise the bikes aggressive stance.
Despite it being based on the Hayabusa, the B-King gets a wider rear tyre and despite its lack of bodywork actually weighs in at 15 kg more, its total dry weight being 235kg, or 518lbs in old money!
The bike comes in black or silver and whether you like the looks or not, you cannot help but notice it and it is easy to see why it has become a legend long before it has become a production reality. Unfortunately we got no chance to ride it and therefore I can only look forward to the experience, which given the specification can only confirm the legend!
Hyabusa
Next up was the 2008 Hayabusa, the bike
that started the whole performance
aerodynamic debate way back in 1998. It
grabbed the headlines then and this new
bike is sure to be making them again given
that the engine is reworked, has 1340cc
compared to the original 1298cc and a
whole host of other improvements.
Suzuki have understandably just evolved the bike and not radically altered it and why should they as it is still one of the best sellers they have in the range. Even the current model beats the new Kawasaki ZZR 1400 in the sales war and there is a whole industry set up to provide tuning parts for the bike.
So the new bike is instantly recognisable even with the new colour schemes, which will no doubt polarise a love hate opinion from riders just like the original did. Named after a Japanese peregrine falcon, which is renowned for its aerodynamics, this new model has been made even more slippery.
This in the main is thanks to the slightly wider fairing, the rear indicators now being integrated with the rear bodywork and the petrol tank sitting lower to allow the rider to get down easier below the new higher screen.
In terms of the engine, it may have the same looks and casings, but a read through the internal specifications shows that it is brand new, with virtually every component having been worked on.
However, they have obviously taken note of the tuning industry and kept things like the separate barrels to aid increases in capacity for those who must have more! The engine management system allows three different maps to be selected by a handlebar mounted switch, which as mentioned above, has a practical application rather than just something to keep the technically minded happy!
The frame remains the same to allow aftermarket items like longer swing - arms to bolt straight in, although there are a few subtle changes like a stronger swing-arm and rear sub-frame for increased load carrying capacity. Chassis dimensions and measurements like wheelbase remain the same as before.
At the front, new upgraded KYB inverted 43mm cartridge forks now have a diamond coating to improve reaction times and prevent stiction. These like the rear KYB shock, are fully adjustable in every respect. Brakes are top flight radial mounted Tokico callipers gripping smaller discs (to reduce un-sprung weight) than before.
So in essence the new Hayabusa is the same only better to enable it to remain at the top of the ultimate sport category and more than capable of remaining there for some considerable time. Like its predecessor you will either love it or hate it, but you will never ignore it!
GSX 650F
Next up was the GSX 650F which for many
riders will be the most interesting model in
the new line-up, combining the looks of
the sporting GSX-R range with the
practicality of the Bandit range. Or, put
another way, for the first time in the
history of the Bandit, it now comes with a
full fairing!
It should be stressed that this is not just a set of lowers added to the existing halffaired version, but a totally new design that eschews the sporty looks of the GSXR range.
Underneath you will find all the factors that make the Bandit such a good practical bike, a bullet proof, unstressed engine mounted in a steel cradle frame. This is suspended at the front by conventional forks with pre-load and a multi-adjustable rear single shock.
Throw in a set of twin four-piston front brakes and single disc rear and you have relatively low running costs on a bike that looks good and is capable of running, up to a point, with the top class 600cc sports bikes.
This is a bike that will find lots of interested buyers who may not want a fullon GSX-R machine, but want something a little more exciting in looks than a standard Bandit. On paper and it must be said, that in the flesh it is a good looker and a very sensible addition to the Suzuki range, especially if they can get the price right!
The C1800R
The next bike that rolled through the dry
ice on the stage though, brought a
question mark with it. The C1800R is a
derivative of the amazing M1800R which is
a bike that must be ridden at least once in
your lifetime. This unique and fun machine
has been turned into a Custom
reminiscent of a Harley.
Certainly it has style, sophistication and given its basis, longevity, and fun. However, throwing a another Japanese Harley clone into the market seems a strange decision, given that the M1800R is selling so well thanks to the fact it is different and stands out in every respect. But, hey, this new model with its slightly different styling and larger petrol tank capacity will no doubt appeal to some! Certainly when you look through the specification and see things like linked braking systems, shaft drive, digital fuel injection, it should be easy to run and maintain as well as being very safe. Looking at the bike afterwards, showed that it does have a quality and finish and the looks will definitely appeal to the cruiser traditionalist.
Sweet Sixteen
Last up was the strangely named Sixteen,
a scooter-based machine with sixteen-inch
wheels, hence its name. However, this
could prove confusing for the UK market
as it only comes in 125cc and 150cc
versions and not 50cc!
In looks it is not radically different from
many similar machines on the market. A
fuel injected engine, combined disc
brakes, an upright riding position, minimal
weather protection and good under-seat
storage sum up this latest addition to the
Suzuki scooter range, which is available in
four colours.
This was the last bike to be revealed although our press packs told us we should have also been looking at a new RM-Z 450 motocrosser. Certainly Suzuki staff also thought the same, but it was not there in the flesh, so all I can tell you is what the press pack says.
It is a first for production motocross machine to have fuel-injection as standard. It uses the fuelling technology developed for Suzuki's on-road GSX-R range on the liquid cooled single. The new RM-Z450 features an all-new frame and bodywork with many parts having been lightened and the suspension has been improved. It is expected to arrive in the UK at the end of the year.
So the bottom line is that Suzuki has got in first with some interesting machines carefully targeted at increasing their market share. Hopefully it will not be long before we get the chance to ride them and be able to give a fuller report on whether they are as good as they look on paper and in the flesh away from the capital of cool!
Words and pics: Ian Kerr
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