Words/pics by: Chris Moss/Mike Weston
Unless you’re truly loaded, cost has to be one of the most important issues in life. It doesn’t matter whether you’re buying a sandwich, holiday, or house, price is an issue that must be considered first and foremost. If that’s fair and proper, then a deal is much more likely to be done. Suzuki is synonymous with good value and low cost, and it’s the primary reason why it’s selling so many bikes this year.
The Japanese firm has just done it again with its new GSX650F. It costs just £5000, and for that you get a highly competent sporty little number that’ll make both you and your bank manager happy. The GSX is essentially (though Suzuki’s marketing people are at pains to dismiss the idea) a faired version of the Bandit roadster. Perhaps they don’t want to detract from the GSX’s intended racier image. But let’s ignore the men in suits and stick with the more obvious logic. Using the Bandit 650 as a base, itself a bloody good bike, the F features a few subtle changes that alter the style and attitude of the bike enough to make it appeal to a new bunch of riders. The sexier GSX-R styled clothing and clocks, minor revisions to the engine and its management, and the new one-piece seat don’t sound like they add up to anything more than a slight cosmetic makeover. But in the same way your missus can look more appealing with just a bit of face paint and a new dress, the Suzuki has managed to make the 650 more aesthetically attractive and distinct.
It’s true the detailed pampering hasn’t made the bike feel too dissimilar to live with, and that’s good news. For a start the engine performance is still a real asset, with the in-line four providing fun and impressive flexibility in equal measure. Going faster isn’t as rev dependent as it can be with full-on sporting middleweight engines, and as long as there is a few thousand rpm showing on the new style tacho, then the GSX’s smooth and eager motor is always good to go. The handy digital gear indicator confirms this is the case even in the higher ratios, and once it’s in its mid-range the 650 behaves as though it’s even bigger. I’d swear the bike has slightly lower overall gearing as it feels so responsive. Whatever the reason, the Suzuki engine’s friendly manners will be especially useful to novices, and the sort of flexibility the in-line four has is one of the reasons why the bike will be so attractive for newcomers. Exactly the sort of riders it’s aimed at.
But even speed-greedy old hands like me won’t be disappointed with the power. Aided by a new ECU, the motor can hang onto its revs for longer, which doesn’t actually bring any more power or speed. But it does give a useful over-rev facility and helps to make the bike sound and feel more exciting. Set its adjustable rev warning light near its 12,500rpm red line, and the GSX is fast enough to thrill. With a maximum of around 135mph possible, it should easily be quick enough for its typical customers. I had an early-morning blast on the bike when the fields were still white from overnight frost, but I still had a laugh on it. And the cold conditions highlighted another couple of benefits of the bike.
One is the friendly (there’s that word again) nature of the handling. With an upright riding position and tall bars, the Suzuki is easy to dominate and control; making the ride feel more assured and less edgy than it can do on a focused sportsbike. And if you are unfortunate enough to start losing grip then dealing with a slide is far easier. Decent quality suspension and tyres reduce that possibility however. As do the brakes, which though identical to the Bandit’s, feel improved because of what feels like a stiffer fork action. There’s no ABS on the GSX, and no option for it either, which might upset some potential buyers. Mind you, the bike is lighter and cheaper for it, so it’s not all bad.
The second clear advantage underlined by the cold air temperature is the protection offered by the fairing. Not only does it look stylish and racy, but its ability to help you stay warmer and drier helps increase the Suzuki’s versatility. It’s not exactly tourer-like in this respect, and you’d have to tuck in a bit to get full shelter, but the additional comfort is noticeable. Rubber mounted bars add to the civility and both the comfy seat and decent-sized tank allow longer non-stop trips – again not always permitted by more uncompromising sportsbikes.
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