Who's getting excited about Suzuki?

[sweeney todd]

Wonderful supersports bikes, the awesome Busa but the rest of the range is worthy but dull IMHO.

The exciting stuff is happening elsewhere

[motormike]

I'm excited about owing a SV650s (I'm a noob).   My first MC experiences were on my friends' GSXR 750 & 1100 in high school (long time ago) so those bikes always have a spot in my heart.

[sweeney todd]

Bless ya maybe I'm just a gnarly old dude I'm not dissing anyone's choices it's just one upon a time you could argue Sook were at the cutting edge and maybe they still are in areas that are declining in popularity.

The cutting edge of new bike design is back in Europe and all the Japansese manufacturers are playing catchup............Suzuki maybe slower than the others?

Bandit, SV twins, Vstroms excellent bikes but all are years old can they keep tweaking the same formula, keep selling these bread and butter bikes and again produce a few ground breakers like they used to?

I fear for 'em if they don't tbh.

[Joe A.]

Bless ya maybe I'm just a gnarly old dude I'm not dissing anyone's choices it's just one upon a time you could argue Sook were at the cutting edge and maybe they still are in areas that are declining in popularity.

The cutting edge of new bike design is back in Europe and all the Japansese manufacturers are playing catchup............Suzuki maybe slower than the others?

Bandit, SV twins, Vstroms excellent bikes but all are years old can they keep tweaking the same formula, keep selling these bread and butter bikes and again produce a few ground breakers like they used to?

I fear for 'em if they don't tbh.

ARe their sales of the "bread and butter bikes strong?
 I think a good businees model would be to have strong bike sales of the everyman bikes that the majority of the market can enjoy and afford, thereby generating the cash for R & D and production of the exotic stuff. I don't know, just guessing. I do  agree with you about Europe though. Look at the once staid and safe BMW. They are building some pretty cool stuff.

[garry]

I think Kawasaki is the only one of the Big 4 that still has a pulse. The bikes that capture my attention are all Euro brands.

[FiremanBob]

The Weestrom is one of the best general-purpose bikes I have ever seen.

[falconati]

I think Kawasaki is the only one of the Big 4 that still has a pulse. The bikes that capture my attention are all Euro brands.

[BamaBiker]

I think Kawasaki is the only one of the Big 4 that still has a pulse. The bikes that capture my attention are all Euro brands.

The Euro brands are the only ones doing anything. The big 4 are getting left behind waiting for the economy to bounce back.

[kewwig]

My bread and butter Bandit 1250 has a Dale Walker Stage II kit in it and is anything but boring..........

[gritsngravy]

All the other makes need to take a lesson from Suzuki on how to make a fuel injected bike run flawlessly.   I've ridden a few gsxrs and a bandit 1250 that were incredibly nice.   My king is no exception, smooth electric like delivery, no hiccups anywhere.    Excellent driveability is worth getting excited about.  

[falconati]

You sound like somebody who hasn't owned very many makes.

[Lon]

I think Kawasaki is the only one of the Big 4 that still has a pulse. The bikes that capture my attention are all Euro brands.

I'd say Yamaha is doing OK too; WR250R/X and new V-Max come to mind.

I liked the new Honda VFR, but I don't think it made waves (at least not the "good" kind). CBR250R is kind of important: first entry-level bike with EFI and optional ABS.

I hope Suzuki refreshes the DR-Z400 (DR-Z450 based on RMZ450Z?).  The GSX1250FA isn't a bad bike, either - I'd say it competes head to head with the Sprint GT.  The problem is Suzuki stopped importing for awhile during the the bad economy.  That can't help market perception.

But, yeah -- overall, I'd say Kawasaki is making the most waves still (I don't own one right now, either.):

* Concours 14 - a refresh after just 2 years based on rider feedback.  Awesome.
* Ninja 250 - better handling (a bit more weight, too), better looks and aerodynamics
* KLR - Frugal, mile-eating adventure bike.  Revised for more street, less dirt, and more long-distance comfort.
* Versys - Mile-eating standard - EFI, great suspension (best of the Kawi 650s).
* Ninja 1000 - why are these in stock anywhere?

My $0.02

(Add: I've ridden lots of Suzukis.  We own two right now...)

[gritsngravy]

You sound like somebody who hasn't owned very many makes.

What's the matter, upset because something eye tal  e un wasn't mentioned?      Please regale us with your knowledge.

[falconati]

I'm just saying that you sound like a fanboy.  I've owned a lot of makes, and have regards for all of them.  You disregard things that aren't a Bking too easily, and it's comical.

[gritsngravy]

I'm just saying that you sound like a fanboy.  I've owned a lot of makes, and have regards for all of them.  You disregard things that aren't a Bking too easily, and it's comical.

What is this fanboy thing you are speaking of....must be "bad" judging from the context in which you use it.    Stating that the Suzuki's I rode had properly sorted FI makes me a fan boy?....Hmmmm     You might want to check out the Honda cb1000r thread where I actually discuss the merits of that bike with a board member that felt the Honda was underwhelming in all aspects of performance and should have more power.    

In fact, I never posted a  self serving " Hey I got a new bking, everything else is shit"  thread complete with pictures that is customarily done when a member talks about a new purchase.    

In 30 years of being licensed I've ridden many different makes and models and have always enjoyed  and appreciated various  bikes for what they are.      

[Lon]

Stating that the Suzuki's I rode had properly sorted FI makes me a fan boy?

There's something to that.  My wife's DL650 certainly has the best EFI of our stable - and among the best I've ridden.  Cold, warm, loaded, unloaded -- no snatchiness anywhere.

Come to think of it, the M109R also had pretty flawless throttle response, too.

[NoGear]

The only ones I've ridden that were "bad" were a large selection of Honda's lineup (they're probably better these days), the FJR I owned definitely has an of/off thing early in the throttle which kind of sucked, .............. The FJR's issue can be handled with a Power Commander or something, and the later ones had the ECU software modified. The '07 was better than the '06 and I'm sure that progression has continued.

Actually the FJR's problem is even easier to fix. Just bypass the oxygen sensor.  No more hesitation.

[madgsf]

Not me, I have a 2001 Bandit 1200s and it seems not much has changed at Suzuki since I bought it.  I still have a bad taste in my mouth from the headlight and oil burning issues that I will be looking at other manufacturers for my next bike anyway.

[MisterSmooth]

Hmmm.  I drive by a Suzuki dealer almost every day (Aurora Suzuki in Seattle) and haven't even walked in there for at least a year.

In general, they're good folks.  There just isn't a compelling reason to drop by.    I hadn't articulated this until I read this thread.

When I think of Suzuki I think sportbikes, I think GSXR.   The "new" GXSR 600 is in the stores, but it doesn't make any different power nor have striking stying.  Does not move the game on in any way.  That said, 600cc inline four cylinder engines and 600cc chassis geometry are pretty much optimized at this point so the engineering of all these products is pretty much the same.  Styling may be the way to distinguish an inline four cylinder 600cc product.  Or maybe with electronics, after all...

every manufacturer is making stupid power with the 1000cc sport bikes, including Suzuki.  The news is in traction control and ABS.  Suzuki, where are you?



The economy--I realize that has had quite an impact on all of the Big 4.  But Ducati and BMW are making hay in this economy, especially BMW with the SS1000RR.  RideWest in Seattle told me that's been their big seller:  A continuous string of $15,000 bikes being pushed out the door to eager customers.  


So marketing and innovation (in technological and/or design) can still sell bikes, even when the economy sucks.   But where's Suzuki?  

[gritsngravy]

Good for ducati & bmw for offering high tech & high dollar bikes in a down economy, hope they sell a billion of em.   I didn't catch the Euro super fan  fever despite a few demo rides so   I'm glad Suzuki continues to sell their relatively   simple machines for riders not needing or wanting 15k worth of golly gee wiz.