Suzuki GSX1250FA test

[Jetpilot5]

Kevin Ash tests the new GSX1250FA.

http://www.ashonbikes.com/content/suzuki-gsx1250fa-test

I have no idea if this bike will ever make it to the US, but I could live with either the blue or silver.

[MadMax96]

Not a bad looking bike.  I was kinda surprised to read about how it has more power down low than a C14 since it builds its power higher up.

Color matched bags would really make it look much more upscale.

[Jetpilot5]

Now that you mention it, I do notice that the side bags don't match.  Missed that before.  There is a color matched panel in the top box.

[FirstVtwin]

I WANT!!!

[Castaway]

Maybe it'll fill the void left by the transformed VFR?

[Yamadavidson]

Theres also a video on motorcyclenews.com  comparing the 1250 GSX to the Honda 1000, FZ1 Yamaha and the new VFR... and the winner is????????

[Jetpilot5]

Thanks!  I had not seen that video.  The GSX1250FA sure has my attention.  Hopefully it will show up in the US at some point.

[Canuck]

I have the Bandit 1250 SAE, which is what the writer refers to as the 1250 GT, which is what they call it in England. It's very, very similar as he explains. Instead of a single full fairing, I have an upper and lower fairing. Then there are a few other slight differences like the speedo and front suspension springs. It's easy to build yourself an SAE from a standard Bandit 1250 with accessories available from Suzuki even if you can't find an SAE. You can likely find a nice used 1250 with low mileage, and then you could have something very close to the GT for really cheap.

The side bags also come with the color inserts just like the topcase. I don't know why they would have pictures showing bags without the matching color inserts. That's not too bright from a marketing perspective. It's nice to have the inserts too, because if you scratch one up it's a lot cheaper to replace an insert than a hard bag. I appreciated this when I tried to squeeze through a tight space leaving a restaurant with hardbags on and misjudged the width. I got a lovely green scratch on one hard bag from a stair railing.

I really enjoy my Bandit. I've upgraded it a bit with heated grips, MRA Vario Touring screen, V-Strom handguards, and modified seat for touring comfort. Now it handles long miles in considerable comfort. The only thing it's not so good at is two-up riding. If you look at the pictures with a passenger on the bike, you'll see how uncomfortable it looks. The footpegs are just too high for a passenger, and when you put the topcase on, the passenger is pushed too far forward, making the knee bend even worse. My wife hates riding on the back.

[ScottB]

You could always ship one down from Canada.  We get them here in blue and black.

[Jetpilot5]

and when you put the topcase on, the passenger is pushed too far forward, making the knee bend even worse. My wife hates riding on the back.

Sounds like the top case issue might be cured.  The top box on the GSX1250FA is smaller.  This is from the Ash on bikes forum.

"but note the FA top box is smaller than the existing GT's because there were complaints (from me included) that the big GT box intrudes on the passenger space and can dig in their back. Simply moving it back wasn't an option as it upset the aerodynamics too much, so it's smaller instead."

Since I first read about the GSX1250FA's introduction last fall I've been pretty interested.  I've test ridden the Bandit 1250 and love the engine, what a stump puller, but I do a ton of highway miles and really like the wind protection that a full fairing offers.  The riding postion fits me well too.  The fact that it should be reasonably priced doesn't hurt either.

[Jetpilot5]

You could always ship one down from Canada.  We get them here in blue and black.

I know.  I've never understood how a manufacturer could make a case for bringing a bike to Canada but not the US.  I would think it would be available to all of North America or none of it.  Honda does the same thing.

[ScottB]

My guess would have to be that we have the same safety regs as some country where they already sell the bike, making it really easy to bring it here, and that they would have to change it somehow to bring it to the States.  Just my guess.

[Jetpilot5]

Possibly emissions testing too I suppose.

Any idea what they sell for up there?  The Suzuki Canada website just says "See your dealer" for price.

[ScottB]

Sorry... haven't really looked.  My local dealer doesn't currently have one in stock.  All anyone buys in the town I live in are dirtbikes, sportbikes and HDs (it's not a big town).  I'm something of an anomaly.  

I'll ask next time I'm there.

[Jetpilot5]

I'll ask next time I'm there.

I'd be interested to know.  Thanks!

[Canuck]

Bike prices are traditionally higher in Canada than the U.S., which made sense when the Canadian dollar was worth about 80 cents U.S. Now  the Canadian dollar is at par with the U.S., but we haven't seen an adjustment yet in the difference in bike prices. That could happen with the 2010 models though. For that reason, I think it would be way more expensive for an American to by a new bike in Canada.

[Canuck]

I checked a couple of dealer sites. Alberta Cycle www.albertacycle.com lists a new 2009 for $12,999, which includes the topcase. They are not showing any 2010 models on their website yet, which is odd, but sometimes dealerships do a lousy job of updating their websites. One other site I looked at said call for details for any 2010 models. Maybe the rapidly rising Canadian dollar is changing pricing rapidly so they don't want to post prices.

[Yamadavidson]

Only 2010s coming to the US are some of the dirt bikes, lots of leftover 09s around. I would imagine same in Canada.

[Jetpilot5]

The Suzuki Canada website shows a full range of 2010 bikes, which would explain why they have the GSX1250FA and the US does not.  No pricing info though.

http://moto.suzuki.ca/Product%20Lines/Cycles.aspx?year=2010

[packnru]

Sounds like the top case issue might be cured.  The top box on the GSX1250FA is smaller.  This is from the Ash on bikes forum.

"but note the FA top box is smaller than the existing GT's because there were complaints (from me included) that the big GT box intrudes on the passenger space and can dig in their back. Simply moving it back wasn't an option as it upset the aerodynamics too much, so it's smaller instead."

Since I first read about the GSX1250FA's introduction last fall I've been pretty interested.  I've test ridden the Bandit 1250 and love the engine, what a stump puller, but I do a ton of highway miles and really like the wind protection that a full fairing offers.  The riding postion fits me well too.  The fact that it should be reasonably priced doesn't hurt either.

You can use SW-Motech brackets from Twisted Throttle for the top case (as well as the side cases) as it sets the top case back further.  It's what I have on my '07 Bandit.

[mountainmotor]

With the Bandit 1250S being officially discontinued , i'm thinking this bike will be in the USA for 2011.

[Jetpilot5]

I hadn't heard that the Bandit was no more.  It would be nice to see the GSX in the States but nothing yet on the 2011 Suzuki website.