The Motorbike The Machine Missed

[Ginger]

The world of sportbike publicity is simple and formulaic: build a bike that goes around a racetrack fastest in it's class and carries at least one new design feature (nothing crazy, mind you, just be the first to move the exhaust a foot from where it used to be) and you've got a winner. A bike like the CBR600F4i disappears in the sea of press swarming over the RR; the world's first real motorcycle active traction control system (see: BMW) was forgotten by journos (or was it ever covered?) when Suzuki plopped a map selection switch on a GSX-R; shortcomings of belt drives, which most people can't even actually name, damn them to the back of Buell shops while chains rule the garages of street riders, the guys that would really benefit from them. It might not be too much of a strech to say that the sportbike world is chock full of luddites, but a strange breed indeed.

Innovative technologies that help motorcycles go faster around a race track are piled high with accolades... Yamaha's EXUP, Ohlins trickbits, 520 chains, magnesium wheels, dual compound tires, fly by wire throttles, cylinder case venting, and on and on and on and on. But what about techologies that make these our two wheeled toys easier to tolerate everyday? BMW's traction control, ABS that actually works... or what about bikes that are designed with more purpose than the racetrack?

Suzuki might just be on to something with their 2008 lineup... something that's more than just a race track. In 2007 the Nippon manufacturer breathed new life into the venerable SV650 line by adding an ABS option. As the SV is often billed as an excellent beginner bike, peanut gallery please be silenced, it makes a lot of sense to leave the panic front wheel lock ups and flips behind. Maybe this technology will make it's way to an option the GSX-R lineup so green riders on plastic bikes will have one less tool to kill themselves with. In 2008 the RMZ-450 will be fuel injected, a logical step in trickling the technology down to their other single cylinder motos: the DR650, the DR-Z400, and hopefully very soon the DR-Z400SM. Dirtbikes that don't require rejetting in the shade, or won't gum up in between uses? Cool. And one more thing....

For 2008 Suzuki is introducing a brand new bike: the GSX650F. A 656cc, fuel injected four cylinder with geometry and ergos lying somewhere very pleasantly between the GS500 and stolid GSX-R. Excellent beginner bike? It definitely has potential.... and if it can assume the fun factor of the SV it could also be a great bike for experienced riders. And it seems like it's gone pretty much completely overlooked. Oh, and it's only $7K brand new.

Somebody go test ride it, please?

[Mike]

sounds similar to an f4i?

[.RJ]

sounds similar to an f4i?

+1

I'll keep my honda

[Ginger]

For intent - most likely yeah. It's probably got more midrange grunt thanks to the extra 50cc's, something the F4 got away from during the transition to the F4i - unfortunately it made the Honda a more focused motorcycle in the search for horsepower numbers. 2006 was also the last year of the F4i. The F4i had an MSRP of $8,499 while the Zook has one of $7,000.

Similar to the F4i, so? That doesn't mean it should just be glossed over.. I've, so far, been impressed with the motorcycles Suzuki builds.