American Suzuki introduced 14 new or revised 2008-model motorcycles and ATVs today at its annual dealer meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, and among the new models was a thoroughly-revised Hayabusa, the much-anticipated B-King muscle bike and a new entry-level sportbike, the GSX650F.
Although it looks very similar to the existing Hayabusa, the new GSX1300R is full of revisions, especially its engine. The ram-air-fed, liquid-cooled, DOHC, inline Four retains the same bore, 81.0mm, but gets 2mm more of stroke, up to 65.0mm, for an increased displacement of 1340cc.
The engine has four titanium (intake and exhaust) valves per cylinder, a compression ratio of 12.5:1, revised cam specs, Suzuki Dual Throttle Valves (SDTV) in the 44mm throttle bodies, two multi-hole fuel injectors per cylinder, a three-way Suzuki Drive Mode Selector switch and Suzuki’s “most powerful, most advanced digital fuel injection and engine management system” controlling it all.
In print, Suzuki claims a 12% increase in peak power and torque output for the new Hayabusa, and American Suzuki Vice President, Motorcycle and ATV Division Mel Harris told his dealers this equated to 195 horsepower, presumably at the crankshaft.
The GSX1300R also gets a revised twin-spar aluminum frame, a more rigid swingarm, a beefier rear subframe, fully-adjustable KYB suspension, radial-mount four-piston Tokico front brake calipers and more aerodynamic bodywork. Wheelbase is 58.5 inches (1485mm), rake is 24.2, trail is 98mm/3.9 inches, dry weight is 485 pounds and suggested retail price is $11,999.
The B-King is a limited-edition streetbike based on a concept bike that was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001 and created so much demand it was put into production. The B-King shares the new Hayabusa’s 1340cc engine, but it gets a unique chassis and very unique styling.
Its twin-spar aluminum alloy frame is composed of five “precision cast” pieces, and its braced swingarm is formed with three “pressure cast” pieces. KYB supplies the three-way adjustable suspension (front and rear), and Nissin manufacturers the radial-mount four-piston front brake calipers. Rake is 25.5º, trail is 107mm/4.2 inches, wheelbase is 60.0 inches, dry weight is 518 pounds and claimed dry weight is $12,899.
To fill the entry-level sportbike gap left when the Katana 600 and 750 were discontinued from Suzuki’s product line last year, Suzuki has developed the fully-faired GSX650F, which is powered by a liquid-cooled, inline four-cylinder engine displacing 656cc with a bore of 65.5mm, a stroke of 48.7mm and a compression ratio of 11.5:1. Each cylinder has four valves per cylinder, which are actuated by double overhead camshafts, which are in turn driven by a centrally-located cam chain. The engine is fed by 36mm throttle bodies equipped with SDTV and controlled by a 32-bit, 256kb engine management system. The engine is backed by a six-speed transmission, which transmits power to the rear wheel via a roller chain.
The GSX650F’s chassis is based around a tubular steel double-cradle frame. KYB supplies the spring-preload-adjustable 41mm forks and the two-way-adjustable rear shock. The dual front brake rotors measure 310mm and are grabbed by four-piston Tokico calipers. The 3.50 x 17.0-inch front and 5.00 x 17.0-inch rear cast aluminum alloy wheels come shod with 120/70-ZR17 and 160/60-ZR17 Bridgestone BT011 radials, respectively. Wheelbase is 1470mm (57.9 inches), rake is 26º, trail is 108mm/4.3 inches, seat height is 30.35 inches, claimed dry weight is 476 pounds and the manufacturer suggested retail price is $6999.
Suzuki plans to introduce updated versions of the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 in October.
Look for more on these and other new Suzuki models in upcoming issues of Roadracing World.
