How Suzuki became the Walmart of Motorcycle Companies
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ก.พ. 2023
- A brief history of the Suzuki motorcycles and how they may be in decline
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Young man, I'll have you know that my V-Strom 650 is very....what do the kids say nowadays......lit?
I don't think I've ever heard the Vstrom called lit 🤣
Mine is also what he said
Close not lit but shit
As a guy that learned on a V-Strom 650: it's the bike you get before an R1200GS.
Surprisingly, I get a lot of compliments on my V-Strom 650 from non-riders
The fact that Suzuki uses proven technology is part of why I like them so much. My main bike is a 2012 DR650 that is mechanically identical to a 1996 model (they weren't cutting edge then either), and built like a piece of farm equipment. It's not flashy, it's not fast, but it starts every time, gets me where I need to go, can be easily maintained with basic tools, and didn't cost very much. As far as I'm concerned that's the best formula for a bike.
DR650 is the most reliable bike I can think of..
@@Stuntpool Mine will probably outlive me haha.
DR650SE is maybe the best trail ever built. The toyota of the motorcycle.
Hit the nail on the head. I just purchased a '06 RM Z450, did some minor maintenance... and boom. I now have a 60HP first kick bike which a blast to ride. And yeah... its basically identical to a '23 (kick, 450cc) but with zero emissions control and maximized power. Can't go wrong with 'em! (in the process of st. legalizing)
Another DR rider here. It does what I want it to do, and it's simple enough to maintain myself. It's never failed to do anything, street or dirt. And, the aftermarket is HUGE.
As a suzuki fan the fact they are the only company making a 750 supersport makes them top tier, fantastic bike
The 750 online 4 seems like such a great combination, I'm surprised only Suzuki kept making them.
But they are the only one not making a 399cc
@@MarquisDeSang that doesn't matter they aren't fun or super sports
@@radicalkonrad765 you ever Raced an old one?? 400ccm with almost 70 HP i4??
@@unknownname6519 those are different, I mean the new 300/400s with twins making little power are lame the oldies that revv to 17k+ are golden
Hayabusa is still a dream bike for me. In India busa became famous because it was featured in a movie 'Dhoom' back in 2004. Hope to own it someday.
You should've gotten it before 2020 because they were making it in India
I too wished to buy a Suzuki Hayabusa but all I could manage to afford is a Suzuki Gixxer
@old man strength Yes I know Hayabusa is also known as a gsxr 1300. Gixxer is a nickname given gsxr. Suzuki also launched a series of bike called Gixxer which is exclusive to Asia and South America
@old man strength that's kinda racist man, but i'mma let it pass.
@old man strength lmao
Suzuki builds bikes that really address the needs of the majority of riders at an affordable price. Like my ‘07 SV that just keeps running (53,000 miles on it). Fun to ride, gets me to work, fun on the track. The industry now is focused on high powered bikes to charge more. Most riders can’t handle the power. So sophisticated software (charge more) to reduce the power by 50%. And then a video game for gauges (costs more) when most riders really just need a speedo, tach, and a few lights (neutral, oil pressure, low fuel, high beams and signals). The riders (who often can’t ride can show off their fancy, expensive toys. Who cares? Just ride.
100% agree.
Spec sheet warriors have forgotten the other half of riding - the riders.
Chasing ever increasing performance specs is a losing game - the law of diminishing returns.
Also, as regular people keep losing ground economically, we'll need good bikes at reasonable prices.
Well said! I'll take proven technology over special effects any time, I love my DR650.
Right, most people don't need or want 200bhp in a road bike, 80hp of torquey performance in a sweet handling frame is so much fun and it doesn't threaten to bite you at every small riding error.
Suzuki definitely listens to its riders. I have a 2015 V-Strom 1000 that I had an issue on where at low speeds the air box would “cough” so to speak and it would cause it to stall. It didn’t happen all the time but there were a few times I was riding thru the parking lot of my job and almost went down because of it. I spoke to the dealer, then spoke to Suzuki about it. They had me bring my bike to the local dealer and like 8 guys from Suzuki Japan came in and interviewed me and had their engineer take a look at my bike then shortly after there was a recall on the ECU. I know I’m not the only one who has this problem because they wouldn’t do a recall for only me but I’d like to think I was the official decision to issue it.
wow thats alot of miles my 05 only has 12,000 miles
the sv650 being a fantastic and unusual setup is enough to earn my respect for Suzuki. And, in my opinion, Suzuki usually has by far the best color schemes, especially for sport bikes. I fully intend to buy an sv650 in the next couple of years
Top bike I did 35,000 km on mine. Spent a bit of money on the forks and rear shock absorber and it was a sweet thing. I had the 99 carbureted first model. Don't know if they put better forks on the later models.
A bike from 2000😅
@@kolour7611 its had some significant changes since then. Current generation came into production in 2017, and has had its brakes updated since then also.
@@FITNESSOVER45 Well, as great as the SV650 is, I'd say that's more than rider than the bike. Corners always seem to separate the men from the boys.
Lol colors by other 3 all better honda great red white blue done better than any one yamaha yellow black classic and kawasaki green rocks. Suzuki again bland like walmart
Over the last 45 years I have owned 36 Suzukis. Loved everyone. I am a true fanboy. Half of them I roadraced, the other half I rode on the street or dirt. Suzuki was as awesome as ever, until the great recession of 2008. I think that is where you can draw the line between the great Suzuki of old, and what we see today. I think their current strategy is to pull back from ICE engines, and get a jump start on battery electric bikes. I think they want to be the Tesla of 2 wheels. Time will tell. I think #37 will be a new V-Strom 1050 while I still can and don’t have to plug it in!
That’s an awful lot of bikes Craig did you just trade them or destroy them racing?
The new vstrom is mostly a more expensive version of the old model. I suspect the recent new parallel twin is the last new engine from Suzuki as it was under development before they made the decision to move away from western category motorcycles and just milk what they have. You have to remember Suzuki make 5 times more money from their outboard business let alone their cars
@@philtucker1224 didn’t destroy any of them racing. Sold them all in perfect condition, and bought another.
@@craigg4246 didn’t you get attached to them? (You didn’t seem to keep them very long?)🤔
@@philtucker1224 I can see where he's coming from, i'm on bike 32 and I've only been riding 18 years. Can't speak for Craig, but for me personally I never seemed to click with many of the bikes, tried all sorts and never found the perfect bike until I got myself a Triumph TT600...expensive to maintain, hit and miss reliability, and a mountain of "quirks" that you have to learn as an owner, have fixed and rebuilt the bike multiple times as it's been wrecked a few times through no choice/fault of my own...the latest being a woman driver pulling off her driveway from behind a big high fence, she did not even look, she just assumed it was clear and smashed into me side on, so the TT600 is now rebuilt again, as a tastefull streetfighter because I'm not buying a fourth set of fairings for it as it's clearly cursed, and I now have a limp to match my battered bike, BUT, it is the bike I'm attached to, lots of great memories and times. I'm of the belief that motorbikes are an emotional purchase. When it got wrecked again, I ended up depressed until I got it back on the road (the same woman has also since almost done the same thing to me again!)
Alongside my TT600 though, I recently got a 2nd gen SV650S to use as my daily work bike, such a reliable capable machine, no problems with it at all, it's the only suzuki i've ever owned oddly, never really gave them much thought until now really which I regret, spent so much money on bikes over the years, when I should have got an SV650 a lot sooner, I've found it more reliable than many of the "bulletproof" Honda's i've had too.
Still, regardless of what we all ride, stay safe, so many people don't pay attention or read the road more than the car in front of them, if they even do that.
I know COVID and other factors were in play but Joan Mir and Suzuki legitimately won the 2020 MotoGP. This did show that when they want to they can still humble the other brands. I've owned many brands over the years and truthfully the Suzuki's reliability was always far better than all the other's, apart from the Yamaha's I had which were as reliable. Reliability is paramount for me and I have felt the pain of being strandard at the side of the road with other more expensive brands which is why I've returned to Suzuki. I don't mean to offend it's just the truth of how it's been for my 44 years of riding.
In my expirience you can say that for all big 4 Japanese brands.
Never ever had any problem with Japanese bikes. First time I went with KTM tho, I sold it after less than a year. Leaking fork gaskets, water in dashboard, electircal problems, brake tubes seisure all in uder 15k km !!!!
I guess part of that is because Japanese manufacturing is still among the best if not the best in the world and most of those crucial parts are assembled in Japan instead of outsourcing that to India or Chine or where ever they are making all those BMWs and KTMs..
Suzuki in motoGP is notoriously unreliable I do believe maybe that’s changed idk
Suzuki has definitely had some great bikes. I'm not quite sure if I agree with the Walmart analogy, I don't see the Walmart pricing. Yes, the old GSXRs were a bit more hard edged, more of a track ready bike than its competitors at the time. I think that turned a lot of casual riders off. You would get beat up on long rides or daily use. The Busa was and still is nuts. Suzuki made a lot of great dirt likes as well.
Bandit didn’t even get a mention, piffft 😢
here u go amigo..
"Bandit GSF 1200 S !!!"
Ive had Suzuki cars and a bike,They just work and thats why they are successful....They made the groundbreaking Katana,GSXR 750 or the Hyabusa.......Not a boring manufacturer at all...
Never thought I'd ever own a Suzuki, but they released the GT and here we are. That bike is slammin'. No regrets.
Same.
I was in the market for a 650 and breezed over the SV, thinking it wasn't particularly exciting. In my region it's nearly $1000 cheaper than the other Japanese brands, and being on a budget, I figured, why not? Fast forward a year and the SV is an absolute peach! Light weight, good power and two decades of r & d have made it bomb proof. Not to mention, it (as well as the CB650R) is the only bike in the segment that doesn't have a parallel twin. The v-twin has great power delivery and such a good sound. Zero regrets.
I got a chance to demo the GT last yr & I was very impressed. Really liked it. The quick shifter was smooth & the engine just amazing. May be an older engine but it flat out rips! Might be time to trade my FJR1300??
I bought a GT this past September. I love the bike. The flexibility from city cruises to highway ripping. No regrets here only smiles.
@@grahamn311 Your SV650 is a great choice but youre sleeping on the MT07 if you think parallel twins are boring. If anything I'd say the CBR650 is boring. None of the hype of a inline-4 with all the disadvantages of one.
Yes, traditional twins are generally lame - but most of the new bikes are now crossplane/270-degree crank twins. They have substantially more character, torque and sound amazing. Aside from Yamaha's CP2 engine, the RS660 and new Hornet are also crossplane twins
@@180FiftyFive Oh, yea don't disagree with you on the potential fun of a 270 degree parallel twin. Only thing boring about them is that every bike in the segment now has one. Didn't think of the MT when buying because the Yamaha dealers in my region are kinda shit. And yea, inline-4's (especially Honda's) can be a bit dull until you ring them out, but man, you can't deny that the CB650R is a beautiful bike. I owned a CB400 Vtech a number of years ago, and loved it, so looking at the 650R, for me, was like upgrading to its modern big brother.
Don‘t forget the DR 650, the bullet proofed machine over 30 years.
The mighty bush pig!
I love my 2018 with bold new graphics, 😆.
Yeah but stupid emission laws killed it for us in Europe
All japanese bikes in that category are bulletproof, each has its own quirks
@@user-tm9ho3bm4v Yup. For dirt, get the Honda. For street/touring, get the Kawasaki. For a true 50/50, the DR is the one you want.
Loves my Bandit. It’s 1200cc’s of full grunt are all I need. There’s a good reason these engines are popular with drag racers, but stock with a little jetting, you get a 120 horse, 90ft-lbs monster that’s a docile lamb around town. Plus you can pick them up for like $2500 or less.
i ride a 06 bandit air oil cooled too
🐱👍🏿 its still in original 90hp setting i think 100 mainjet 15pilotjet...never been changed
All the ones ive found are beaten and/or stolen. Almost always buying off of a criminal.
@@DarkLinkAD lol…mine was thrashed…so I fixed it and made it better!
I love the old gs series. Cheap, reliable, easy to work on. Simultaneously a workhorse commuter and still a blast to ride on the twisty turns.
As far a "Sport bike for the street" as you put it, Suzuki still makes the best bike IMO. Lower rearsets, higher handlebars, more midrange torque than the competition. It's current 1000 is a little long in the tooth as far as electronic rider aids go, but it's still an amazing sport bike for the street.
In 1978 I was in the market for one of the new 1000 cc superbikes. I really wanted the Honda CBX but it was $4200 which was incredibly expensive. I settled for the Suzuki GS1000 which cost $2800. That was a great bike and I kept it for 6 years. Much later, in 1990, I bought a used 1979 Honda CBX in perfect condition. I sold it in 2004. I should have kept it.
wow 1400dollar difference between the two!!
that 1400$ difference in 1978 is a 6500$ difference today! that is massive!
Walmart is the devil. Being compared to wage slavery isn't maybe a good thing. Suzuki has something going for it by complete accident and that is that they are behind on all the electronic crap that is making riding well less riding. Most of their bikes don't have ride by wire throttles. You can get on and be the only thing controlling the bike. Pure feedback from direct controls. Their bikes are a decade old in design and feel like yesteryear. Some people still want that. If you want to feel times past Royal Enfield and Suzuki make bikes that can deliver a semblance of what you miss. Suzuki is the king of sport bikes from when they were peak.
I think you've got a good point honestly
I agree with you fully! I have Suzuki bandit 1200s that pulls like a train, looks good, easy to work on and very cost effective it just absolutly works! Yes it is a parts bin bike but, is that bad? You have knowledge of what parts you are using the bad and the good. Engine from Gsxr1100 tested brute of an engine with lots of useable power and reliability. Some guys like the gentlemen above stated, just want stuff that works. Cheap, accessible, less gimmicks and nonsense. Sometimes is good to not be part of the bandwagon parade, to be a rebel is to the opposite of the parade. Less is sometimes more.
Great episode Bart!
Small point. The Suzuki Titan 500 two stroke was not unruly. The Kawasaki 500 triple two stroke was unruly but fun. The Titan was bullet proof and dependable. I should know because I owned one .
Your videos are great and I'm a subscriber.
Thanks
Correct
Yes, a good friend owned a Titan 500 and it was relatively mild mannered. BTW: We went on a motorcycle trip from Lansing, MI to Silver Lake State park once with me on a Triumph 500 Trophy and another friend on a Triumph 500 Daytona and the only bike that gave us issues was the Suzuki when its shift lever fell off and was lost !!! => Consequently, we put the Titan 500 into 4th gear and stayed on the interstate to get home to minimize slipping the clutch. I have been driving a 1996 Suzuki DR650 since 2002 which now has 21K miles on it. It is a much nicer dual sport then the 1969 Triumph 500 Trophy and very reliable and easy to work on. The DR650 was totally redesigned for the 1996 model year and it is virtually unchanged for the 2023 model year (different engine base gasket and different colors now).
@@tomwells9677 I loved that era. I rode the 500 Triumph very enjoyable, I wish I had one now. I now ride a 05 BMW GS 1200 this bike fell into my lap.
@@Titan500J You may enjoy reading a book about a fellow who drove a Triumph 500 around the world in the 70s. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter's_Travels
Yes you are 100% I've a nice 1971 suzuki t500 j in mint condition. Goes really well. Fitted electronic ignition and it starts 1st touch of the kick start.
I am brand loyal to Suzuki. Been riding them since 1996. Thought about getting a Suzuki tattoo lol!! They still make really good bikes today. They don’t change them a lot but they don’t need to. They’ve reliable and stay at a good price range
I was gifted a heap of a GZ250 as a first bike. I'm more of a car mechanic (I drive an untold mile volvo 240) and rebuilding/tweaking it has been like fixing a lawnmower-bicycle-hybrid. Sure feels like the discount-farm-equipment of bikes and golly do I appreciate that. Having no motorcycle experience I found myself thinking "that just makes sense" throughout the process.
Only had my licence a year and my first bike is a ‘18 Suzuki TU250x. In a way it sums up your video. They made it for 25 yrs with no major change other than paint schemes. But still I love it. The perfect beginner bike, sweet looks, bulletproof and a lotta character. You could argue it predicted the neo-retro craze and Suzuki failed to capitalise on it. They coulda made 500/650cc versions and beat the likes of Royal Enfield to the punch.
I've always liked Suzukis, I just wish they had some more retro sportbike styles available for their bikes. Maybe a revival of their T-series designs would appeal to others as an alternative to Royal Enfield or Kawasaki's W800. This video is a great overview of the company, awesome video! (I'm new to the motorcycle scene, so idk what the market is like today mostly).
W800 is Kawasaki.
@@jimbecker6599 yes sorry 😂
totally. The GS line.
I want a Royal Enfield classic so bad but I'd settle for a partularly late 80s looking Suzuki GS500.
They should make a bigger TU-250, that would trigger so many classic boner
My first road bike was a '72 GT550. I owned two more '70s era Suzuki road bikes, including a '78 GS1000, but that GT550 remains my personal favorite.
I bought a 1987 GSXR 750 in 1991 and owned it for nine years. I probably kept it longer than I should have. Toward the end I would use it at scooter speeds to run errands and such. It was so uncomfortable I eventually stopped riding it. It was one of the coolest bikes I've owned. I'm in my sixties and bought a Grom a few weeks ago. I haven't ridden in a few years and am looking forward to some warm days.
I had a GS750- one of the innovations was the LED gear indicator. Everyone else was counting gears, but the GS told you which one you were in. Don't forget the 250 & 500 Gamma.
That is about the only Suzuki I like but I don't see the point of the gear indicator. If you are riding and need to change gear you either need to go up or go down. Why do you need to know what gear you are in?
I had both
Same on my shaft drive 1982 GS650G. That bike has more features than many under 700cc bikes today.
Another idiot light
I worked at a New Jersey Honda\Kaw dealer in the 80s and one of the guys in the parts dept, sold his ratted out Yammy RZ350 and got a new GSXR750 slabby for racing only. About 2 days after he took delivery, it was made ready for racing and he won a few races with that thing. The moment I saw it in the backroom was the moment I was in love with GXXERS and Boy did he get flack for buying a alternate brand than what they were selling, he would have gotten a decent discount too, but he knew what he wanted.
It is interesting to note, that in the UK at least, Suzuki's best selling bike last year was the GSXS 1000GT. One of those parts bin bikes in many ways but still great. Clearly that area of sport touring has not been completely filled by the likes of BMW with their GS1250's and other semi off road machines. Perhaps that niche is one that Suzuki might fill.
I mean there’s still the BMW R1250RS
The GT is a bit of a bargain. There seems to be a slight resurgence of sports tourers. I’d consider a Moto Guzzi V100 but would never consider a ADV style bike that everyone seems to buy these days (and then run them on the road 🙄
@@viktornilsson9259 For touring bikes being light *is* a detriment. You want a controllable brick to pierce that highway headwind and resist truck wake.
@@morri03 And it shows. Buzzy engine, geared too low, no remote preload adjuster for rear shock, non adjustable windscreen....but damn it looks good.
People hear GSXR engine and get a hard on. It has the same top speed as the Ninja 1000SX, and not much else that is better than the Kawasaki, the bike Suzuki obviously cloned with the GT.
I really hope that was meant to be a snarky internet hottake and not a serious statement.
Great video. What's missing from your history is the debacle of the Suzuki RE5, which almost bankrupted the company, I guess. Suzuki's reaction was to copy the successful DOHC platform of the Z-1, which started the 70s/80s UJM craze.
Suzuki should try to bring back the wankel engine by buying engines from mazda and installing it into a hayabusa🐱👍🏿
Copied yes but also improved upon, let’s not forget the GS was far better handling bike than the Z
@@rwd323 I've never ridden a bike from the 70s that had decent stock suspension. The big Zeds I've owned and ridden all had soft fork springs, poor shocks, etc, nothing that would bother you unless you rode the bike to the edge of its capabilities. Zeds were "stoplight racers", great in a straight line, not as great otherwise, though a change to lower, flatter bars, better springs and shocks really transforms them.
Suzuki motorcycles is no longer run by motorcycle enthusiasts - it's run by accountants and investment managers. They pulled out of MotoGP because they prefer to invest in EV technology for cars in India.
To me what Suzuki is means quality, dependability and reliability. I own a '78 Suzuki GS750E. It is a very fast, good handeling and comfortable machine. I also have a pair of Suzuki FA50's that are just fun. And the Katana wass flat out wicked.
Suzuki has always been a respected motorcycle brand, but the buying trends just change from generation to generation. I've heard good things about their quads. In recent years Suzuki has made advanced outboard engines that easily rivals the old established brands.
Interesting video. Here in Malaysia, the motorcycle market has always been, small displacement underbone motorcycle known for their practicality and rugged reliability. In the 90's when people wanted to buy small cc 2 stroke bikes to go to work or just to have fun with your friends during weekends, the obvious choice was Suzuki. Suzuki models like RC80 was known for their incredible reliability. The repair guys used to say Suzukis rarely comes to the shop except for tyre changes. Then there was the Suzuki RG Sports 110, RGV 120, RGX 120, which won races after races in every season they competed. They dominated the Malaysian Cup Prix tournaments during the 90's. You may laugh at the small cc engine but Suzuki knew how to get the best out of them. The primary competitor which was Yamaha at the time did have some great bikes but Suzuki was better. All changed during early 2000s when Yamaha released the 125Z and Suzuki didn't even bother to compete. Poor marketing techniques, releasing futuristic looking bikes way too early, unappealing 4 stroke bikes that made less 10bhp, not to mention high price Suzuki put on their bikes. At some point, around 2016 they closed the factory and couple of years later they came back again, releasing new models but the young crowd who bought their bikes in the 90's got old and moved on to other brands whereas the market is ruled by Yamaha among the new generation. Suzuki still can reclaim their throne by giving better package for the money. Yamaha MT-15 has USD forks, VVA engine and makes more BHP whereas similarly priced Suzuki S15 still uses telecospic forks and outdated engine.
Thats very interesting here in brasil they only sell high cc bikes, used to be the most affordable ones, now not so much, plus bmw and honda motorcicles own the market here, s1000rr is the most well sold sport bike miles ahead of others, suzuki has zero marketing here, very poor directed company, i have a hayabusa, but wow no spare parts or anything, even the suzuki stores here they dont know how to repair it
As a malaysian , i too grew up with my first bike the rg125... then got a walter wolf special but sadly lost it to theft. After that i got the rgv250 in '96. Should have kept that one. How i miss the 2strokes
@@muhammadfadhil4821 wow that's great in Brasil we mostly had Honda and a few Yamaha two strokes were rare, everything here was mas expensive, still is, i got a cbx250 Honda and a Hayabusa, very hard to maintain but seems like lots of people have motorcycle here now days, but motorcycles here only became reasonable price in around 2010
Belang/Satria/Raider R150 supremacy
@@Wesley1299.. i thought brasil famous for mopeds.. in Malaysia small cc bikes are the preferred mode of transport.. then in late 90 the gov imposed high tax on superbikes because its considered as luxury items. Still people still buy them😂. i used to ride a ducati 851, 916, cbr 600/ 900 then switch to HD. now i ride my scooter for work and klx450 for trail
I'm an odd ball middle aged quickly progressing to old fart guy. I love my 2007 FZ6 I bought new so much it took me 2 years to figure out what I wanted to replace it as my daily ride.
In June I bought a Suzuki DR650 and one of the biggest factors was the old school simplicity. That and I wanted something I could comfortably ride into remote places. I love the bold new graphics and lack of wizzbang tech.
I still have the FZ6 for spirited riding and the sound of it's 4 cylinder roar above 10k rpms.
My very first bike was and still is the Suzuki drz400sm, and I love the thing, I will probably keep it for many more years to come. The platform hasn't been changed for years and I'm not sure if it really needs to change. There's so much aftermarket support for these things that if you need to change something you can find a solution pretty easily. And the old school tech makes it pretty cool in my eyes and simple to work on. Though, I've recently placed a deposit on a new ZX-4RR though and I think it will be a great compliment to my drz as a second bike. Very excited for this summer so I can get on both bikes.
Had one for 30k. Needs improving big time! A 6 speed to start with, with a lower 1st to crawl around at low speeds and a higher top gear as its got the power to hold a higher gear with less revs. It’s a bit thirsty too. Maybe fuel injection is in order to as they are not cheap for a 20 year old design.
I am and i do , they were competing and WINNING races at the cutting edge of motorcycle racing last season. They manufacture motorcycles , stylish fast and competitive in terms of build quality and price point !Your argument seems bizarre ,and thats being kind
His constant anti Suzuki bias....must have been spanked by a Gixxer !
The standout bike back in 1985 was a GSXR 750 as seen at an expo in Durban on the beachfront, Was riding my archaic R100RS at the time, when I saw the GSXR talking to the Umpleby dealer guys. When I saw what I saw I knew here was a new generation of bike and that biking would be different from here onward...
Yes, agreed, the GSXR had so much more which others did not have at all. It formed the basis of what was to come. And, that was the consensus. I just could not see it. As a novice rider I was too focused on the Yamaha FZ 750 due in part to its half fairing and engine configuration.
I always loved Suzuki motorbikes. It's the only bike that I own that feels like they are made to grow on me.
Excellent breakdown. My first real bike was an 96 Bandit and that bike was all kinds of fun. I currently own an 04 FZ1 and while I'm an admitted Yamaha fanboy the GSX-S1000gt is probably going to be my next bike. I love the combination of sport bike looks with the insane ability to ride more than 20 min without the need of a chiropractor. Modern naked bikes have that appeal of performance and rideability too and people just woke up to the fact that true sport bikes are heaven on a track but hell when riding any length of time with buddies. The times they are a changin'.
Good video and I agree with your concluding comments. Some of the models I have owned that earned top choice for me were: SV650 in the light middleweight sporty bike category. DR650 in the middleweight dual purpose category. Burgman 400 in the maxi scooter category. Bandit GSF1200S in the light heavy weight sport touring category. Those were hard earned positions as I have two dozen bikes in eight categories, though I'm culling the herd to half that. Having ridden multiple 600's and liter sport bikes, I think the GSXR 750 was the Goldilocks one bike solution, addressing the lack of midrange power of the 600's and cutting the weight of the liter bikes. The GSXR 1000 was also a good alternative for just a little more weight and money.
Great content and editorial prowess in this video! I too am sad to see the demise of the sport bike market. It was a phenomenal run while it lasted.
I owned the original GSXR750 when it was first released and currently ride the latest version of the GSXR1000. There have been many brands, displacements, and engine configurations in my stable over the last 37 years. (19 different bikes in all) For the most part, all have been contemporary sport bikes. One of the reasons I chose the latest GSXR over others in the field is that it's NOT overly complex. There's no linked braking or ABS on my bike: just great handling, with prodigious power, and a riding experience that won't roast my nuts on a hot afternoon. Just ask any Panigale, RSV4, or R1 pilot about heat management and software gremlins. They might look space-age and produce more power, but they're not so easy to live with. On the street, their extra features and horsepower mean very little. The Suzuki runs cool and smooth with plenty of grunt. Sure, when I arrive at my local haunt, I seldom get a second look...and that's fine by me. The ole Gixxer meets or exceeds the prime requirements for ultra moto satisfaction. She's a competent platform, with 200+hp, and ample capacity to embarrass lesser riders on better bikes. Trust me when I tell you; it's more than enough for mere mortals. By keeping things less complicated, while still delivering an excellent riding experience, Suzuki has kept me in the fold. It may not have been their intention to be the Walmart of motorcycles, but their combination of price and performance is a great value and hard to beat IMHO. Cheers
I had an original first gen GSXR750 as well getting back into street biking riding now at 57 I went with a Yamaha R7 for the exact same reason of no fancy electronics or riders aids. It is a fun bike but I wish I still had my old GSXR for not only the retro nostalgia but because I still feel it is one of the best sport bikes ever made.🤘😎🎸🏍
Crazy how they still won MotoGP and piles of Super Stock 1000 races against Ducati, Honda and Yamaha.
The best bang for the buck, and they ALWAYS RUN. ALWAYS. Even the little 600 has more torque than the 636.
suzuki won motogp? when ?
As some have stated on here ill echo, suzuki’ lack luster approach to resist modernization of some of their “antiquated “ designs is a thing of beauty for us mouth breathing knuckle dragging mongeloids fed up with a world of computerized overpriced short lived pieces of hemroidal type everything. Washing machines, driers, refrigerators, coffie pots, hair driers, tractors, cars and trucks nothing is sacred or safe from the “advancements “ of environmental friendliness and technology. Except a suzuki dr650…. And a yamaha tw200, for now. Both of these models have been outdated for decades, but to those drawn to them that is exactly their allure. I love tinkering and modifying my dr, its simplicity is a breath of fresh air and the aftermarket support for a design that hasnt changed a bit since 1996 makes parts and accessories almost limitless and inexpensive. It is a beautiful thing and it wouldnt hurt my feelings if they kept offering it for 100 years. If i ever wear mine out i would absolutely buy another 20 years from now if was still able to ride.
I remember 1986 and I walk into a dealership and there was 3 bikes standing together in the middle of the shop, and to this day I can’t forget how excited I got when seen them, Suzuki gsxr 1100 a gsxr 750 and RG 500 all blue and white.
You absolutely right with an exception that you forgot something…definitely they are old fashion bikes but groom the other side they will never brake down, am speaking about the engines of the Suzukis
When I worked as a Suzuki mechanic back in 1965 we sold them out of a hardware store.
wow nice \m/
"excuse me can i get some size 12 spanners, holy moly whats that? a motorcycle?"
@FITNESSOVER45 Out of the Japanese bikes anyway.
Love your channel and this was a cool presentation :)
I'm looking at my aging Suzuki Intruder and think I need a new Suzuki Cruiser... which doesn't exist in small displacement anymore. Sadge.
Sold my 2000 VL1500 last April with 85k miles on the clock. If I see a C90 Boulevard for a good price like $6,000 with low mileage I would buy it.
The main problem with Suzuki (and Japanese brands in general) is the fact that they mastered a type of engine, the inline 4 which today is not so relevant anymore; and European brands always mastered the 2 cylinder engine (in various forms). For pure performance application the V4 seems to be a better layout (see MotoGP results). So Suzuki is in a bit of a limbo ihmo.
I bought a Walmart Suzuki --a new 2007 V-Strom DL1000. I am a large tall guy and it fit me good in the showroom. I added a Corbin seat and drove it as a sport tourer. I still have it now with around 38 thousand miles, and it has only needed oil changes, new tires, and one valve adjustment. This bike still feels fresh, crisp as the day I bought it. I am sure it will hang in there for years to come serving me perfectly.
86 gsxr was my first sport bike and my first race bike and I'll always love it. Fantastic videos
Owned a GT250, GT550, and a GS750. Never had an ounce of trouble from any of my Suzukis. They were all great bikes. But hey, I've loved all my bikes, not just the Suzukis.... so what do I know.
if you get the chance, try a gsx 750 es. i love that bike, and the amount of change between the gs750 and gsx750 is impresive
Being an older dude I’m sill skeptical of the new electronic controlled bikes ,for a couple reasons… it limits learning to control the bike when there’s traction control ,abs ,electronic suspension adjustments etc etc …then what about Maintenance and longevity of these electronics and repair costs of em, or is the bike rideable when / if the electronics fail…? I prefer having a more reliable platform that I can find real limits on, repair some issues myself ,and doesn’t cost close to the price of a decent car …I know in all these regards I’m in the minority…but m y take isnt alone..just got an 09 fz1,and am considering another bike down the road of similar lineage …like a gixxer from early 2000’s or a Kawasaki zrx1200 if anyone sells one near me ever….if not maybe a Kawasaki z series …or ninja ,something that has got bars not clip ons and is at least somewhat comfortable …ala gsx( no r) with bars and slightly more upright riding position….
I'm with you. I've loved my 2007 FZ6 since I bought it new and it took me 2 years to figure out my next daily rider. I got a DR650 last June and one of the big factors was the simple old school tech. I kept the FZ6 for spirited riding. Not as cool as your FZ1 though.
@@davidklementis5913 it’s all good … maybe I sounded a lil like a grumpy old man …. In the long run ,if you’re on 2 wheels , life is good 👍🏼
I own a 2007 GSF-1250 SA. (Bandit)
I bought it to commute around SoCal.
Today, it has over 233,000 miles on it.
It has never had any engine work.
It has never broken down.
Only basic maintenance. Such as oil changes every 3,000 miles. Even though I used Mobil -1 the entire time, I still change it every 3,000 miles.
I have replaced the chain about every 25,000 miles, replace tires as needed. and air filter annually.
It still runs like new.
I cant complain.
100% agree. I purchased my GSXS750 in 2021 because it was the best bang for the buck….then I needed a commuter to get to work on and I didn’t want to put all of the kms on the 750…..so I chose a GSX250 as it was the cheapest with all of the features that I wanted. Now I have added a CB1100 to the fleet as a weekend fun ride and I am blown away by the absolute quality of it. It seems no expense was spared….which shows you the mindset of Honda vs Suzuki.
I own a Suzuki Katana, but not the new one, the old one (which got replaced by the gsxr, as the Katana was at the time the fastest bike (at least on a straight line)).
It's a very interesting bike too, the modern riding position has been introduced by this bike (sit "in" rather than sit "on").
It may be a grandma now in the performance department, but she still is a head turner :p
Me too. Got a 1980s Katana. Still going after all these years. As you say, the riding position makes you feel like you sit _in_ rather than _on_ it, almost like you're wearing it and it's fun to ride too. Still get people coming up and commenting on it.
Suzuki Savage was my first motorcycle back in the early 90s. Loved that little bike. Would love to see them re-release that bike un-chopped. Would buy all over again.
Underrated bike. Amazing platform for custom chopper. Nobody else had a decent single that big in a chopper-ready frame.
The only analogy I get here about about this Walmart is 'talk is cheap' and '99% of riders will never achieve or reach the true capabilities of these superior engineered Suzuki's.
Nice video Bart on a grate Japaneses manufacture I thought you might of had the RG500 in there somewhere as it was around that same time yes no where near as popular but could be a good video to make of around the mid 1980's along with the RZ500 ..
This was great, I was not familiar with Suzuki's history before this. It would be great if you did Honda or Kawasaki like this too.
My first motorcycle was a 1971 TC90. My current motorcycle is a 2022 GSXS 1000GT+, named by one bike magazine as their choice for bike of the year. Suzuki has gone a different route in terms of sport touring bikes, which are far more popular in the rest of the world, you would do well to expand your scope of awareness outside of the US, we're not the only market for motorcycles. That said, you're spot on when talking value for money, and many people like it that way.
I really wanted the gsx-s1000gt+. Just love that bike. Nearest one in stock was 3 hours away. When I got there and sat on it, I knew there was no way. At 6’5” my legs are just too cramped on it. Feels like a 600.
@@craigg4246 I feel ya. I'm 6'2", and the primary reason why I went for it is that the ergonomics worked for me. 😕
Suzuki has always given Riders the biggest and best Bang For The Buck and have also always built the best transmissions on any motorcycle anywhere ever. As for Subway, no thank you as I don’t spend My money on anti 2A companies. The 1st GSXR Series remains one of The most beautiful and functional Sport Bikes ever created.
First video of yours I’ve ever seen and really great well researched, a couple of remarkable things that Suzuki has done in more recent years but for one reason or another was overlooked or not talked about much in 2012 they had the first fuel injected dirt bikes that featured “s-hac” and almost immediately became the standard for all others and still hasn’t been outdone until Yamaha introduced the mobile power tune for their bikes also the current gsxr-1000 is the first and still only bike to feature full true variable valve timing which is a pretty amazing jump forward for bikes
And I think they’d be smart to ditch their sport bikes and quads and invest into their off-road line up with new updated models of their current dirt and adventure bikes as well as adding a couple SxS ideally a utility and sport and maybe even a new adventure model or rally bike to take on the euro models
I don't think calling Royal Enfield budget bikes is true anymore. Sure, they are somewhat made to a cost, but the new ones are incredible machines
I'd agree, I think they're budget in the right areas and weirdly premium in others but the end product ends up being more affordable than just about anything else.
@@bartmotorcycle In India they're considered midrange-premium bikes BTW 😬, I wish to own one of them here (my dream bike is the orginal Z1 tho), but the average starting salary of the field I'm pursuing for is ₹300k a year (excluding taxes) which is ₹10k short than the cheapest interceptor on road.
Most people here ride fuel efficient 125-160cc commuter bikes which go 50 km/l while Enfields go 35
RE are truly fucking junk lol
They're definitely low tech in most regards. Their engines are comparable to what Japan was building in the 70s, they have nothing that compares to Japanese engine tech from the 1980s.
@@phillipbatho3213 The clutch on the 650 series are very refined, actually. But Bybre system they use was garbage for the class. In addition to the giga meh rear suspension. The current Royal Enfield engines are very good if overengineered. But cost cutting is inevitable with motorcycle of that price range.
That Suzuki kaleda or whatever it's called looks suspiciously similar to a Hungarian bike of the time called a D Csepel. We all know how passionate Japanese brands were about 'replicating' the style of European and American bikes. Even in the '70s it was common for Japanese manufacturers to copy American bikes, most commonly cruisers, in order to appeal to target customers so I think it's entirely possible that this design might have been copied also.
Really enjoy these videos! Would love to see one on the Katana!
I could afford a more glamorous bike but for me as a mechanically inept rider, I completely trust my bandit 1250 in a way I'd not trust a triumph or a bmw laden with electronics
I love Suzuki!!
my cat loves u too🐱♥️♥️♥️
Suzuki's rip everybody that rides one is always impressed, especially if they have an opinion before trying lol.... comparing to Walmart... Walmart is low end budget brand. You'd be wanting to compare it to Toyota or something. Good, impressive in some instances but def not as slick as BMW or Benz.
Barely mentioned was the 1966 250cc X6 Hustler. This 2 stroke street twin could smoke anything up to 60 mph. The original middleweight pocket rocket. Of course the brakes and handling couldn’t quite keep up. I went through a lot of fouled plugs too. Very entertaining for sure!
From knowing people with different Japanese bikes, my ranking is Honda/Yamaha for a tie. Then Kawa, then Suzuki as far as durability....
Not sure why you compare Suzuki to Walmart.
Walmart don't make a GSXR.
Walmart provides us with Chinese crap.
Suzuki provides us with very reliable sensibly priced fantastic motorcycles. Walmart is full of Chinese crap that won't last any length of time.
I traded a KTM Super duke for a Suzuki Vstrom and couldn't be happier.
What do you ride?
Overpriced Euro bike?
Out here riding the Kirkland motorcycle
Hey! Kirkland is more than a Costco brand! 😅
A great video, very interesting thanks for that.
I’m one of those Suzuki “fans” you mentioned. I recently bought a SV1000. I chose it over modern bikes because it’s a timeless and fun bike, (with a glorious V Twin). Exactly what I want right now. Its also a simple bike that is fun to work on and maintain. It’s my second SV. My first bike was a ‘74 TM125 that came to me as parts in a box. I assembled that bike with my father’s 2nd rate tools, a torque wrench and a TM manual. And amazingly, it worked. Then I rode RMs until I got my first SV. What stands out to me about Suzuki is that they build bikes I want to ride. Right now Yamaha bores me with their over engineering. Kawasaki is slightly more interesting, and Honda a little more so. I keep coming back to Suzuki because they always seem to have something I want. Can’t say the same for the other Japanese bikes. I do love many European bikes right now though.
Well what ever suzuki does, i hope that they dont change their core fundament of affordability and simplicity. Suzuki's aren't my favorites and the most fun bikes around because they are the fastest, have the best perfomance or what ever, they are the most fun because they make stuff that is so reliable it will outlive your children, so simple a person who has been lobotomized could fix it, comfortable enough to daily, fast enough to be fairly competetive and cheap enough that a broke AF high schooler like me can afford it, and then they make these bikes for 10+ years, mostly unchanged, creating amazing aftermarket and 2nd hand parts support for them. There may and probably are more fun bikes out there, but truth is you wouldnt F-ing send it like you would a suzuki
Oh yes, some poeple unfortunately have to get elder than 25, to get the truth.
Suzuki is one of the best motorcycle companies of all time. I own a 1991 GSXR 750 with about 18k miles and that baby starts every time and just runs. Not just runs but pulls like a FREIGHT TRAIN at anything above 5-6k rpm. It’s got a 4 into 1 yoshimura exhaust and jetted to match etc…I love that bike so much. It is just an example of Suzuki as a company. Always the best bang for your buck value company out there. Nothing about them is off brand, they are just as reliable as Kawasaki and Honda yet a lot of times cheaper. Don’t understand the hate they get
My brother brought home a new GSXR 1100 in black/red in 1988. Still the best looking sport bike I ever saw.
I put 85,000 miles on my year 2000 Suzuki VL1500 intruder (old C90 Boulevard). Bought it used with around 15k mileage in 2005. Rode in the rain and the ignition switch and dummy switch on the clutch started having contact problems. Regulator rectifier got wet and caused problems. Clutch pushrod seal leaked from age. Got me to work 99% of the time for 5 and a half years with 34 mile round trip commute. Best life of battery was 5 years then 2 years towards end. Sold it after 17 years ownership and got 30% of what I paid for it. Also clutch decompression cable needs its adjustment, but mostly oil changes, spark plugs, brake and clutch fluids, new clutch at 60k miles and tires. Solid bike. When I bought it for $7,000 in 2005 the best I could get was a used sporster. Oh BTW shaft drive and hydralic valve adjusters so my mechanic never had to open the engine except the right plate when the clutch got replaced. Had like 3 major crashes on it and the tank of a machine was saved by crash bars.
You could make a pretty strong argument that the K5 GSX-R 1000 is history's greatest sports bike.
why?
It's weird to see a clip from my local bike shop used in a videoessay like this, good stuff
I have a 2016 Suzuki GSX s1000f and the quality is amazing. Click click click everything works perfect.
My 20 year old RF900 still kicks a**. Last week, a fairly new Brittish V-Twin tried it on. When I was at the end of my first gear, he was looking for his third. Two bike length behind me. That's what bikes are all about, Holmes.
6:07. What made the first GSXR look so good was the dual headlights. This has to be one of the easiest things in the world to figure out, and yet every modern designer has got it wrong: You need 2 headlights on a sport motorcycle. It's the twin separate headlights which create the sporting look of a sportbike. You cannot have one headlight, because it never looks good, no matter how you do it. This applies to all motorcycles that have a front fairing. The single headlight is a 1960's look, and the twin headlight is what makes a bike look modern, and also beautiful. A single headlight never matches with the modern bodylines on modern bikes, and yet many companies continue to try (and fail) at using a single headlight, because they seem to be totally confused about how to design a bike. 1997 to 2002, was the best era of motorcycling for sportbikes, and it has still never been matched.
I grew up on Yamaha. Threw a leg over the TS185 back in the day. Bought Hondas when I could afford them, but Suzuki really got their act together and poured it on at the turn of the millennium…hence what I currently own. Their 2023 ‘Busa and V-Strom 800DE product are incredibly fine machines to ride.
Remember in the movie Platoon, when the sergeant strips the new recruits of all the unnecessary equipment, for obvious reasons--that's Suzuki.
I just don't think this channel gets Suzuki: take a tried and true awesome engine and build a basic, no frills bike around it and you have the essence of practicality and fun. Fun, because reliability is not a euphemism for boring, but Boring is a hollow pejorative for Reliability. Breaking down, hauling to dealerships, repair costs, time wasted etc that is what I avoid at all cost. I hear the same from boaters about Suzuki motors too. I am a practical idealist; and proud Suzuki Freak.
BTW I own an air-cooled Bonnie from early 2000s for the same practicalities.
I loved the TLR1000 but never got one. I still own the 03 SV1000S I bought new. Nothing like it is available anymore. Great fun, low price.
I went to my local dealer to watch the unveiling of the first GSXR 750 that my local dealer got in. They made a day for it, putting it up on a pedestal under a cover. When the cover came off people were blow away as deep inhales were heard as the covers came off and it took peoples breath away. The bike looked to our eyes like a GP bike of that day, right down to that tank vent hose. Anyone with the cash could purchase it. You look back on this bike with knowledge of the evolution of sport bikes and it distorts your view of the impact of this bike. But back in that day this was an unknown. Would someone actually want to ride this bike with its severe ergo's? Would something this lightweight actually hold up over time? Remember the Katana 1000 had come out and we all looked at it as the most uncomfortable motorcycle ever made. Then this bike hit the floor and it triggered the desire riders had never felt before. Do we want a street bike that looks like a GP racer and forces us to assume the position? Gorgeous? Yes! But this was truly bleeding edge stuff back then. This was way outside the market comfort zone. Sure they sold but sport bikes were not a thing back then like they became. They were viewed as uncomfortable and raw. Suzuki in the early 80's was seen the same way it is viewed today. Almost as good as Honda but less expensive. The design styling effort of the Katana was a sales flop. The GSXR was really a huge gamble. This was like nothing the market had seen. We weren't sure about it either. Yes it looked amazing but it also was released back in the day when people only had ONE motorcycle. When we saw someone riding one of these were admired them for there ability to put up with riding the thing. The current trend at that time was Japanese version of a cruiser motorcycle. The step seat, high handle bar, with inline 4, v-twin or V4's in Honda's line up next to the v-twin, raised letter tires and style cue that took aim at Harley-Davidson. The selling point was low price and reliability that the average guy could afford and maintain. All manufacturers were selling bikes in this category including Suzuki. The took a GS650 and put buckhorn bars on it and a stepped seat can called it the GS650L. These were the bikes selling at the time. This is the market that the GSXR was released into. Bold to say the least!
First street bike I ever got to ride was a 04 gsxr 750 with a race pipe on it. It was basically just a small straight through resonator down by the swing arm. I didn't know what gear to be in on a bike thst revs that high so it overheated after a 30 min ride. I had to wait a few min to start it. Later i realized I was short shifting every gear because the bike was so loud.
In Indonesia, suzuki was dying quickly, because of market changing from sport bikes to a scooter for daily use, and suzuki can't keep up with Yamaha and Honda, to bring a scooter that affordable, yes they did, but the design was not Indonesian taste. As an owner of GSX-S 150, I really love this bike, how the engine revs at 13K RPM without the limitter, 18-19 HP on stock condition. For a low cc bike and low end budget sports naked. It was great, and to be honest I'm not true fan of suzu, I have Honda and Yamaha before buying the suzuki, but Suzuki's build quality for me was the best, the engine performance was outclassed the competitors, but their design was really bad, never winning the hearth of anybody in Indonesia. The best way to judge the Suzuki's product was ride it, and That's it.
I recently picked up a dr650. Always been a Kawasaki fanboy, and I’ve always ridden “vintage” bikes. Even my 2021 Himalayan felt old. But I love this DR650. That being said your right. They are resting on old tech probably until they can leave ICE engines behind. I mean Christ it’s a 2023 and still carbureted. For some that’s good, but for “innovating” it looks bad. Like a dying company. Regardless. As long as folks are on two wheels then they have something to enjoy. I grew up in the 90s. I remember the super bikes of the era. And while the Busa is the gold standard of “what bike do I get” times are changing.
I had a 2004 Suzuki Intruder cruiser and absolutely loved it. I’m 60 now and my riding days are over.
I'm old enough to remember when Suzuki were innovators. Now they are a parts bin company. Nothing new or flashy, just rehashing of existing models.
Sad to witness.
My last bike was a gen 1 SV650S. I had it for years, every time I rode a newer or more powerful bike, I just kept going back to the value proposition. I had an 80km ride on one of the best motorcycle roads in Australia as my daily commute, and the SV was perfect. Bigger bikes just couldn't keep up in the corners. I sold it a couple of years ago, and only just bought another bike before Christmas - a 2008 naked Bandit 1250. The thing is awesome, pulls like a train, is stable, and is still fairly flickable for a relatively heavy bike. Are there better bikes out there? Yes, but Suzuki has always managed to find the sweet spot for value vs performance.
I own a 1988 GSXR1100 still love the way it wants to pull my arm from the handle bars!!
Wow I had in the mid 90’s a 1981’ish gs 850 that basically looked like that first 750 4 stroke from mid 70’s it was 15 or so years old with shaft drive and a lot of miles for a bike at that time (like 26 k if memory serves) and barely ran …so I got it or $600 or $650 and immediately sent to local shop and dumped another $G into repairs ….then Proceeded to finally take my license test on it , passed, the beat crap out of it for a couple yrs with no issues aside from twisting bars when I went head on wth a full size ram charger truck….more damage to ram charger than bike lol the bike was a tank , I called it the dinosaur cause it was old as one and as big .
🐱👍🏿
I rode MCs yrs ago. Suzukis and Kawis, from 650cc to 1600cc. Always fun. No problems.
Love this brand - Still own and regularly ride my Classic 1982 GS550M Katana and 1990 GS500 Both affordable workhorses and bombproof reliable.
There is nothing wrong with building reliable, oil tight, inexpensive motorcycles. If I had the room, I would have a Suzuki DR 650 parked next to my Triumph T 100 Bonneville. Some folks just want a motorcycle, not a status symbol.
The Suzuki X6 Hustler was the first giant killer circa 1967 , it really turned heads and kind of rebuffed the “Ring Ding” slur against them ! We can’t just ignore that bike !!