Suzuki For 1994: Out With the Old, In With the New
SUZUKI FOR 1994: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
ROUNDUP
NEVER MIND THAT Suzuki's GSX-R750 was all-new last year. It's received a makeover for 1994 as the result of a much-needed horsepower-finding/weightloss program. Only one problem: Details about this much revised GSX-R750 have been slow to arrive.
Early reports out of Europe indicate a claimed dry weight of 439 pounds-if anywhere near accurate (but claimed weights from factories seldom are), that’s 24 pounds less than the ’93. While
the weight has come down, the price has gone up-to $8099, an $800 increase, at least partially the result of the rising value of the yen. The bike will be available in a white/blue or silver/ pink paint schemes, with graphics more subdued than those of the past two model years.
Hot on the heels of our last issue-which announced Suzuki’s plan to bring the RF600RR and RF900RR to the U.S. in ’94-comes news that Suzuki has pared the rest of its streetbike line, eliminating five bikes in an apparent attempt to avoid class redundancy.
One of those that’s gone is the GSX-R600, leaving the Katana 600 ($5499)and RF600 ($6399) to fight for market share in America’s most popular class. The RF600 will be available in either red or black paint. The RF900, meanwhile, will be offered in red or blue and will carry a price tag of $8099. This bike’s specs remained unavailable at presstime.
Entry-level buyers will no longer be seduced by the sexy Bandit 400, as it too has been dropped for ’94, leaving the
GS500E ($3649) and the GN125E ($2249) to take up the slack. The VX800 has also gone missing, opening a broad gap between the Katana and Intruder series bikes.
With the advent of the sporttouring oriented RF900RR,
Suzuki has seen fit to drop the Katana 1100 and the 1100G standard. The GSX-R1100 maintains its position at the top of the company’s performance chart with new graphic treatment and a $900 price hike to $9099. -Don Canet
