I agree, when it first came out I think it was ahead of it's time. Everyone who's ridden it has had nothing but good to say about it, including a Suzuki mechanic I know. On the bright side, they'll be available used and are a great used bike.
i've had two punctures in three months, discovered one this morning and seeing as its bank holiday no-one is open. I swear whenever it is fantastic weather or a bank holiday my bike plays up!!!
Bought one 3 weeks ago with 17k on it,a step up from my ER5,love this bike,keep the lowish its tame,,up the revs and this thing shifts,for me its a keeper for a good few years,,fantastic machine,all be it a newish rider,great review👍😀
Thanks for this review, I've been looking for a decent review on this bike since I bought one last year. I normally buy a load of crap so to hear your thoughts on the GSR, it's nice to know I've done alright for once! Love the vid's and reviews, nice one Russ, keep it up!
ahhh yeah i get ya- thats because russ is an instructor, riding one of the schools bikes. you can do the direct access route to ride any sized machine if you are over 24, but you have to have L plates on and be accompanied by the instructor as you dont have your license! hope that clears it up!
Really good, real world review of this bike. I've ridden a couple of early model 600 Bandits and didn't like them too much. This bike looks lighter and more fun to ride. If I had one I might change the rear sprocket to raise the gearing a bit for motorway use. To all you new riders out there, first of all, welcome! Secondly, don't rely on journalists' reviews (MCN etc) - stick to honest appraisals such as this one. Journos would slag off this Suzuki for being a riding school bike but that's actually a good thing if you think about it....
When you are talking about this fuel injection on bikes. I never fully understood what you were talking about, I took my CBT on Saturday on a Vision 50, holding at about 10MPH it almost felt lumpy? The bike was lunging forward badly like it just wanted to go. Is that what you are talking about?
As a fairly new rider, I don't understand the big deal about an aggressive riding position. I've got a 33hp CBR400RR, and I don't get any pain in my wrists, or feel heavy on my wrists, unless I've been riding in relatively straight for more than an hour or so. Going round corners is fine on my wrists, and I've spent 3 hours riding it with no pains at all. Mind you, the big problem I have with the bike is I can see nothing out of the mirrors.
Just ride them both, you will find an easy winner then. It's a personal thing. I love the look of the Z but also like the Thundercat (which is showing it's age a little now)
i like the look of this bike very much. I have seen the suzuki gs500f which is in some ways similar looking but ofcourse older and not as edgy and nice. I really cannot make up my mind on whether i like the naked look or with the front fairings on lol. I do however know for sure that the ducati's and triumphs look absoloutly beautiful without front fairings. That street fighter look i believe is what they call it.
Thanx for the response! (almost feel like talking to a celebrity) Btw I like your style of riding (not as aggressive and more gentleman like than some other motovloggers). I try to ride the same way with my motorcycle (GSX 400 T, small twin cylinder) .
You said something about the puncture you had in years... I just had one this week and the irony was that I saw the nail on the floor before it happened! I should've kicked it away from the tarmac... Lucky I saw it stuck in my tyre when I checked the tyre pressure literally just 10 minutes after that because I was preparing for a long ride... hence the importance of regular checks.
Do you guys do module tests and practices? I have a Hyosung GT 125R and would like to upgrade while the summer months are still here (I have a cold injury and have heated grips)!
Great vid man. I have a GSF Bandit 650s k8 model. I'm thinking of buying a GSXR 750 K8 or a GSXR 1000 K7 model. I'm not doing any track days. I want the bike for trips, for commuting, going to my job etc. I have read that the GSXR 1000 is more comfortable on the road that the 750. I can't decide what to buy ? Can you please tell me your opinion ? Thank you
for learners its 125cc 14.5 bhp- i remember seeing some figures about power to weight but i think that only comes into play when on the restricted licenses, as you can reduce the power of a bigger bike- whereas 125 is the limit for leaners.
Were you out with a student when recording this? Btw how does the radio system work with instructors? I'm looking to do my bike (I can already drive does that help when doing CBT ect?) and is the radio like a push to talk thing or always on?
Russ, is Nottingham not moving with the times and not allowing you to use the Bus lanes on bikes yet? London is VERY open to letting us use them now, it's great ;-) Anyway, yea about the bike..I never thought of them as aggressive but yea, I too am a sucker for a nice Dash. I love the lighty bits, I can't help it. Buzzy is annoying, my Divvy was very buzzy in 6th at 70. Gets so annoying. You said it mate, feels like it needs a 7th. Exhausts make up for everything though, looks pretty hot!
Most reviews I've read on the GSR say the fueling is a bit on-off. It's the least sold bike in it's class (compared to Z750 & FZ6 & Hornet/CB600F) in EU, probably because it was at the top of the price range.
Creepers are the worst!!! Nice ride, thanks for sharing. Where do you put your mic, if you don't mind me asking...or have you done a vid on it? I put mine near my cheek but with my Shoei helmet, it lets so much wind in!
The A609 is part of my daily commute and I hate that one section where you complained about the 'creepers'. I ride it now with my thumb hovering over the horn - in high vis in the dark winter months or bright daylight they never see me (don't look). Usually grabbing a handful of brake atleast once a week.
Interesting that you found the fuel injection spot on, I have a 2006 GSR600 and the injection between 4-5k rpm is pretty poor to be honest, makes it difficult to be smooth when filtering. Thinking about getting an exhaust and PC3 put on it, do you think this would cure that? Cheers.
How long has the test centre been at Colwick? have Gedling and west bridgeford closed down? why dont you use Chalfont Drive? Im sure its still open, and just round the corner from your shop...great vid mate
Looks like a really nice bike, although is it not too common? I haven't heard of it unlike the SV's and fazers, I'm torn between this and the SV at the moment and cant seem to find this on any of my local dealers websites
Can you believe i got glass in my tyre after just 300 Klms? Brand new bike and already second set of tyres. Never had a puncture in a car in 28 years driving.
@RoadcraftNottingham i currently ride a 2000 gs500 on my 33bhp A2 license, I've only had it a couple of months after moving up from a 250 but I need something either with solid panniers or one that can have them mounted easily. Any bikes you'd recommend?
I got myself this exact bike, waiting to get the license, and I was wondering how is it that most people find the throttle one and off and you riding it I could not see it jerking at all. Could you give me any tips regarding this bike and how to ride it more safely? Thank you
Hey, as usually love your vids, would have loved to have you as my instructor, but that' s another stoy; to the point: any complaints about the throttle feeling a bit " on/of" ? Maybe it's just mine ( or me for that matter), but it's kinda' annoyng. How can you tell if the engine mapping is ok just by ridding it?
Had one of these when I had my Street Triple in for service. Nice looking bike but I found it very dull compared to the Street. It had a heavy/dead feeling about it , and engine wise it was utterly gutless unless revved hard , but that was in direct comparison to the torque that the triumph triple produces. The gsr isn't a bad bike by any means, its just that some of the competition offer so much more IMO. I would advise any one to test ride a few bikes before choosing as the difference between similar looking bikes can be HUGE when you ride them.
Your reviews are great and you happen to have rode both the diavel and Aprilia v4r, I was wondering what the differences are speed and comfort wise, which would you use for London riding? Great vid as always.
thanks for uploading. I have brought the GSR 600R version (has 90 Hp with more midrange poke) 2 weeks ago and I love it! mine has remus cans that sound very loud! How do you find the throttle? because at slow town speeds mine is very snatchy also do you have an issue with your engine cutting out between gear downchanges? (especialy from 2nd to 1st). these are my only two niggles with mine. i think the engine thing could be to do with the exhausts :/ forgot to mention mine is 35Kw restricted :D
Great video. Do you know if this could be used as an A2 bike? I've just passed (yay) and I know I need a bike with 94hp max but restricted to 47hp. Would this be OK as I've found different figures on the Internet for its power. And I'm also not sure if the 94hp limit is for the power the engine produces or what's available at the wheel. Any clarification would be great and keep the videos coming!
I had a test ride on one not long after they came out, I thought the throttle was a bit jerky just when you opened it back up after rolling off the throttle, but I did think they will probably remap that at some point, so maybe that's been done now :)
good review as always. TMI on the family jewels and g-string front! ;-) I do like the underseat exhaust, very tidy. Have you ridden an ER6n? Seems like they would be rivals and be interesting comparison (you can borrow mine).
I've often thought about getting a bus to use the lanes any time too, but that means doing lessons and if I can't afford it for a bike then I'm sure a bus is out the question.
what is your opinion on the kawasaki zzr600? if youv never tried one then your opinion on kawasaki in general. I just got a used 07 zzr600 for my very first street bike. I am very familiar with atv's and dirtbikes so i was able to hope right on and ride around very easily which surprised me quite a lot. It is heavy for me since im new to the sport bike thing but i can hold it up pretty well. I havent had any experience with any other bikes so my opinion on this one doesnt really matter. I think its very comfortable tho compared to the gsxr 600 ive sat on. The handel bars are not as low and im able to keep my feet flat on the ground. I have yet to get my motorcycle license but honestly cant wait because i will drive the bike everywhere. My poor s10 pickup truck wont get much attention now that ive got a bike haha
I am also hoping to see RCN do a test ride & review of a ZZR600, I really like them, also his thoughts on the GS500, as I'm looking at buying one myself as a learner bike.. :P
Ice BoNeZ the gs500 is a nice reliable all round bike, it does the job well. The ZZR600 is slightly heavy but rides beautifully and smoothly with a great gearbox.
I have a 2006 GSR600 and i have a LARGE smile at every ride
I agree, when it first came out I think it was ahead of it's time. Everyone who's ridden it has had nothing but good to say about it, including a Suzuki mechanic I know. On the bright side, they'll be available used and are a great used bike.
One of the best reviews on this bike I've seen, and totally agree about the need for an extra gear, thumbs up from me
I came for the GSR600 review, but I stayed for the G-String
I am looking to buy this as my next motorcycle, but everybody is saying that it has a jerky injection, but as I se it all comes to the rider.
i've had two punctures in three months, discovered one this morning and seeing as its bank holiday no-one is open. I swear whenever it is fantastic weather or a bank holiday my bike plays up!!!
Bought one 3 weeks ago with 17k on it,a step up from my ER5,love this bike,keep the lowish its tame,,up the revs and this thing shifts,for me its a keeper for a good few years,,fantastic machine,all be it a newish rider,great review👍😀
Looking to get one of these for a2, cant wait ☺
did you mange then ?
Thanks for immediate reply, Russ. What would you say if you compare Deauville and Pan?
Thanks for this review, I've been looking for a decent review on this bike since I bought one last year. I normally buy a load of crap so to hear your thoughts on the GSR, it's nice to know I've done alright for once! Love the vid's and reviews, nice one Russ, keep it up!
Rear indicators are nicer than the norm too! Very cool that they match the front ones-ish :)
ahhh yeah i get ya- thats because russ is an instructor, riding one of the schools bikes. you can do the direct access route to ride any sized machine if you are over 24, but you have to have L plates on and be accompanied by the instructor as you dont have your license! hope that clears it up!
Nice :)
Just wondering what bike restrictions Learners have in the UK? Do you have a power to weight ratio like us in AUS?
Have to admit they got the styling bang on.
Really good, real world review of this bike. I've ridden a couple of early model 600 Bandits and didn't like them too much. This bike looks lighter and more fun to ride. If I had one I might change the rear sprocket to raise the gearing a bit for motorway use. To all you new riders out there, first of all, welcome! Secondly, don't rely on journalists' reviews (MCN etc) - stick to honest appraisals such as this one. Journos would slag off this Suzuki for being a riding school bike but that's actually a good thing if you think about it....
Yes, that sounds about right. Some do it more than others.
Hi. I'm curious your opinion of Honda Deauville. Hope you will create a video-review of this bike one day.
I don't filter at such high revs so wouldn't notice it. Try a higher gear to drop the revs, see what you think.
I've not noticed it to be fair. I tend to put it in 6th gear from 30 and it's sweet.
The exhausts look AND sound sexy. No bus lane use here yet unfortunately.
When you are talking about this fuel injection on bikes. I never fully understood what you were talking about, I took my CBT on Saturday on a Vision 50, holding at about 10MPH it almost felt lumpy? The bike was lunging forward badly like it just wanted to go. Is that what you are talking about?
Creepers are the worst! What would you recommend I cannot make my mind up out of the Yamaha Thundercat 600 or the Kawasaki Z750?
As a fairly new rider, I don't understand the big deal about an aggressive riding position. I've got a 33hp CBR400RR, and I don't get any pain in my wrists, or feel heavy on my wrists, unless I've been riding in relatively straight for more than an hour or so. Going round corners is fine on my wrists, and I've spent 3 hours riding it with no pains at all. Mind you, the big problem I have with the bike is I can see nothing out of the mirrors.
Have u rode the SV1000?
yes - What is it like in the cities and the vibrations?
Another excellent real world bike review. Why can't the motorcycle press do reviews like this?
Just ride them both, you will find an easy winner then. It's a personal thing. I love the look of the Z but also like the Thundercat (which is showing it's age a little now)
Very nice looking bike, would love to take one for a ride when i get the chance.
i like the look of this bike very much. I have seen the suzuki gs500f which is in some ways similar looking but ofcourse older and not as edgy and nice. I really cannot make up my mind on whether i like the naked look or with the front fairings on lol. I do however know for sure that the ducati's and triumphs look absoloutly beautiful without front fairings. That street fighter look i believe is what they call it.
Thanx for the response! (almost feel like talking to a celebrity)
Btw I like your style of riding (not as aggressive and more gentleman like than some other motovloggers). I try to ride the same way with my motorcycle (GSX 400 T, small twin cylinder) .
great vidio Russ,the bike looked alright,as ive said before ive got the v-strom and thats great to ride,ride safe mate.
You said something about the puncture you had in years... I just had one this week and the irony was that I saw the nail on the floor before it happened! I should've kicked it away from the tarmac...
Lucky I saw it stuck in my tyre when I checked the tyre pressure literally just 10 minutes after that because I was preparing for a long ride... hence the importance of regular checks.
Do you guys do module tests and practices? I have a Hyosung GT 125R and would like to upgrade while the summer months are still here (I have a cold injury and have heated grips)!
A little top heavy but really nice bikes. Make sure you check the oil level regularly.
Fantastic review Russ, keep em coming long time no hear.
Great vid man. I have a GSF Bandit 650s k8 model. I'm thinking of buying a GSXR 750 K8 or a GSXR 1000 K7 model. I'm not doing any track days. I want the bike for trips, for commuting, going to my job etc. I have read that the GSXR 1000 is more comfortable on the road that the 750. I can't decide what to buy ? Can you please tell me your opinion ?
Thank you
for learners its 125cc 14.5 bhp- i remember seeing some figures about power to weight but i think that only comes into play when on the restricted licenses, as you can reduce the power of a bigger bike- whereas 125 is the limit for leaners.
Very good and spot on review, whatever he said about the bike I can vouch it's true as I myself own one
Were you out with a student when recording this?
Btw how does the radio system work with instructors? I'm looking to do my bike (I can already drive does that help when doing CBT ect?) and is the radio like a push to talk thing or always on?
Hi roadcraft can you please tell me is it illegal for a motorcycle not to have mirrors in the uk?
Russ, is Nottingham not moving with the times and not allowing you to use the Bus lanes on bikes yet?
London is VERY open to letting us use them now, it's great ;-)
Anyway, yea about the bike..I never thought of them as aggressive but yea, I too am a sucker for a nice Dash.
I love the lighty bits, I can't help it.
Buzzy is annoying, my Divvy was very buzzy in 6th at 70. Gets so annoying. You said it mate, feels like it needs a 7th.
Exhausts make up for everything though, looks pretty hot!
That was one of the bikes I was thinking of getting. When are you going to do the v strom review?
Russ, can you eleborate on what you mean by "fuel injection mapping"? holding the speed in 4th gear, what r u looking out for?
Most reviews I've read on the GSR say the fueling is a bit on-off. It's the least sold bike in it's class (compared to Z750 & FZ6 & Hornet/CB600F) in EU, probably because it was at the top of the price range.
I think I'd choose this over the 750 version just for the exhausts!
Creepers are the worst!!! Nice ride, thanks for sharing. Where do you put your mic, if you don't mind me asking...or have you done a vid on it? I put mine near my cheek but with my Shoei helmet, it lets so much wind in!
The A609 is part of my daily commute and I hate that one section where you complained about the 'creepers'. I ride it now with my thumb hovering over the horn - in high vis in the dark winter months or bright daylight they never see me (don't look). Usually grabbing a handful of brake atleast once a week.
Interesting that you found the fuel injection spot on, I have a 2006 GSR600 and the injection between 4-5k rpm is pretty poor to be honest, makes it difficult to be smooth when filtering. Thinking about getting an exhaust and PC3 put on it, do you think this would cure that? Cheers.
The B king looks like an "inflated" version of this for sure. This is definitely better looking in the flesh.
I should do an upload just on creepers. They say they've seen you when confronted but we don't know that do we?
How long has the test centre been at Colwick? have Gedling and west bridgeford closed down? why dont you use Chalfont Drive? Im sure its still open, and just round the corner from your shop...great vid mate
One other thing, you let go of the throttle on that acceleration run just before real power
kicks in. There's a proper kick in the back at 10k.
i never drove a motorcycle before but i am thinking about learning, what do u recommand as a first bike ?
Looks like a really nice bike, although is it not too common? I haven't heard of it unlike the SV's and fazers, I'm torn between this and the SV at the moment and cant seem to find this on any of my local dealers websites
Can you believe i got glass in my tyre after just 300 Klms? Brand new bike and already second set of tyres. Never had a puncture in a car in 28 years driving.
@RoadcraftNottingham i currently ride a 2000 gs500 on my 33bhp A2 license, I've only had it a couple of months after moving up from a 250 but I need something either with solid panniers or one that can have them mounted easily. Any bikes you'd recommend?
I'd need to ride them back to back to make a real decision but the xj6 being newer felt newer
I got myself this exact bike, waiting to get the license, and I was wondering how is it that most people find the throttle one and off and you riding it I could not see it jerking at all. Could you give me any tips regarding this bike and how to ride it more safely? Thank you
I heard they can be restricted. You think they would be good for first ever bike on A2?
Are you going to test the kawasaki er-6n 2012?
Hey, as usually love your vids, would have loved to have you as my instructor, but that' s another stoy; to the point: any complaints about the throttle feeling a bit " on/of" ? Maybe it's just mine ( or me for that matter), but it's kinda' annoyng. How can you tell if the engine mapping is ok just by ridding it?
That's a relief when you wrote "I don't wear G-String". LOL
Do you notice a difference in car drivers when you ride with L plates on?
Had one of these when I had my Street Triple in for service.
Nice looking bike but I found it very dull compared to the Street.
It had a heavy/dead feeling about it , and engine wise it was utterly gutless
unless revved hard , but that was in direct comparison to the torque
that the triumph triple produces.
The gsr isn't a bad bike by any means, its just that some of the competition
offer so much more IMO.
I would advise any one to test ride a few bikes before choosing as
the difference between similar looking bikes can be HUGE when
you ride them.
Nice review Russ! So, your money (outside of teaching)... this or the XJ6 you reviewed?
Your reviews are great and you happen to have rode both the diavel and Aprilia v4r, I was wondering what the differences are speed and comfort wise, which would you use for London riding? Great vid as always.
I own a Busa but I am looking at one of these for my daily 12 mile commute. Looks well worth it. What's the mpg like?
I don't think I've heard of the 600 before, only the 750. Looks just like a mini B-King though.
thanks for uploading. I have brought the GSR 600R version (has 90 Hp with more midrange poke) 2 weeks ago and I love it! mine has remus cans that sound very loud! How do you find the throttle? because at slow town speeds mine is very snatchy also do you have an issue with your engine cutting out between gear downchanges? (especialy from 2nd to 1st). these are my only two niggles with mine. i think the engine thing could be to do with the exhausts :/ forgot to mention mine is 35Kw restricted :D
I'm looking to get one of these if they're legal on the new A2 license that is. I've done some research but I'm still not entirely sure.
Hi i have watched all you vids very good i am thinking about getting the suzuki GSR 600 when i pass my test is this a good bike for the first bike
Hi, mate. Have you ever seen the Suzuki GSR250 aka GW250 Inazuma in UK?
In your opinion, between the Bandit 650 (85hp) and the GSR 600 (98hp), whats the best for the starter driver?
...and I put my mic between the cheek pad and the helmet shell, push it lower down because I have a built in chin wind deflector under my helmet
Thanks for the extra info, all helps.
When I get the time. Looking forward to it. :-)
Great video. Do you know if this could be used as an A2 bike? I've just passed (yay) and I know I need a bike with 94hp max but restricted to 47hp. Would this be OK as I've found different figures on the Internet for its power. And I'm also not sure if the 94hp limit is for the power the engine produces or what's available at the wheel. Any clarification would be great and keep the videos coming!
Under seat exhausts gets me every time.
Nice Video Russ, do you ever get the chance to review any middle to heavyweight cruisers. Ride Safe Buddy.
Nice reviews, keep it up!!
I had a test ride on one not long after they came out, I thought the throttle was a bit jerky just when you opened it back up after rolling off the throttle, but I did think they will probably remap that at some point, so maybe that's been done now :)
good review as always. TMI on the family jewels and g-string front! ;-)
I do like the underseat exhaust, very tidy. Have you ridden an ER6n? Seems like they would be rivals and be interesting comparison (you can borrow mine).
If it has at least 90hp then it will be very quick. My ZZR600 had just on the edge of 100hp and that was quick.
wow love the pipes! hope they bring a faired version out?
Linz (bikerchickvids) had an 06 ER6n. Neither of us really liked it. Was really lumpy below 3k revs
Can your student hear you all they way? In other words, does he hear the full review?
DL650 or DL1000?
Did Patrick pass his test? :D
A few years now. All the other centres have gone
Just saw your response, much better than mine! ;-)
would agree about the low rev lumpiness (is that a word?!) and I haven't got much experience to compare it to anything else but otherwise I like it.
Would one of these be a good bike for someone who has never ridden before? :/
I've often thought about getting a bus to use the lanes any time too, but that means doing lessons and if I can't afford it for a bike then I'm sure a bus is out the question.
I will be sure to check it out
Good review mate, fancy a Drift Ghost too :)
what is your opinion on the kawasaki zzr600? if youv never tried one then your opinion on kawasaki in general.
I just got a used 07 zzr600 for my very first street bike. I am very familiar with atv's and dirtbikes so i was able to hope right on and ride around very easily which surprised me quite a lot. It is heavy for me since im new to the sport bike thing but i can hold it up pretty well. I havent had any experience with any other bikes so my opinion on this one doesnt really matter. I think its very comfortable tho compared to the gsxr 600 ive sat on. The handel bars are not as low and im able to keep my feet flat on the ground. I have yet to get my motorcycle license but honestly cant wait because i will drive the bike everywhere. My poor s10 pickup truck wont get much attention now that ive got a bike haha
I am also hoping to see RCN do a test ride & review of a ZZR600, I really like them, also his thoughts on the GS500, as I'm looking at buying one myself as a learner bike.. :P
Ice BoNeZ the gs500 is a nice reliable all round bike, it does the job well. The ZZR600 is slightly heavy but rides beautifully and smoothly with a great gearbox.
Awesome, thanx for your reply! :)
Is throttle response ok or on-off?
@@1minutecovers76 was good
My review includes the dual tip too. I'm also working on a discount for subscribers, won't be long. :-)
good review and it made me laugh when you were on about your crown jewels,but know what you mean.
Can you recomend me a 125cc bike, i'm a begginer?
i thought motorbikes were allowed in bus lanes