Suzuki Sizzles In '08

SUZUKI SIZZLES IN '08

ROUNDUP

THERE'S USUALLY A LOT of drama accompanying motorcycle product intros, with more sizzle than steak being the norm. But at its annual dealer meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, Suzuki rolled out no fewer than six new or heavily revised models.

The biggest sizzler, of course, is the 2008 Hayabusa. It's not an all-new bike but is significantly reworked. Leading the way is a big power increase, thanks to a bump in compression and a 2mm bore job that ups displacement from 1299 to 1340cc. Claimed output is

nearly 200 horsepower and 110 foot-pounds of torque at the crank “with ram-air in full effect.” An updated fork with radial-mount brake calipers and slippery diamondlike coating on the sliders complements new instruments and restyled bodywork. The latter retains the iconic looks that make sure you don’t mistake a ’Busa for anything else, as well as offering improved aerodynamics, thanks to plenty of

wind-tunnel time during development. The new ’Busa also gets the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) that debuted on the GSX-R1000 last year and allows the rider to tailor engine output to various riding conditions using a handlebar-mounted rocker switch to select among three power maps. Having had ample time to benchmark Kawasaki’s ZX-14, could Suzuki engineers have unleashed the $11,999 ’Busa with anything but class-leading performance?

Hamamatsu also tossed the ballsy B-King on the barbie. First shown as a supercharged concept bike at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show, this supernaked is now available in the U.S. with a remarkable resemblance to the show machine. While the Transformer styling made the showroom, the supercharger did not. But who needs a blower when you get the

1340cc Hayabusa motor, even a slightly detuned one? It also gets S-DMS (with only two settings), and Suzuki claims the King will be the most powerful standard streetbike on the market (expect more than 150 hp delivered to the 200-section rear tire). The $12,899 machine is limited-production, with just a few available to each dealer.

Over in Cruiserland, the Boulevard lineup was lacking a classic-styled, really big-bore machine. So this year the burly 109-cubicinch (1783cc) liquid-cooled V-Twin was sourced from the M109R and cloaked in traditional American styling highlighted by valanced steel fenders, a hardtail-look rear end, 16-inch cast wheels and a wide fuel tank, creating the C109R ($13,799). It

has shaft drive and should be a good traveling companion, especially if you opt for the C109RT ($14,999), a touring version equipped with a windscreen, bags and passenger backrest. Both bikes are outfitted with linked brakes.

Not every rider is looking for a big, bad cruiser or the most powerful standard on Earth. For more sportingly practical folks, Suzuki has produced the GSX650F. It’s essentially the Euro-spec Bandit 650 with a full-fair-

ing styled like those of the bigbucks GSX-R sporters. But that bodywork isn’t hiding a stripped, low-performance budget bike. This GSX (don’t call it a Katana) has a liquid-cooled, dohc, 656cc, four-cylinder motor with fuel-injection, sixspeed gearbox, hydraulic clutch and other modem touches. A steel-tube, double-cradle frame is updated with a preloadadjustable 41mm fork and a preload/rebound-adjustable shock with a linkage. Brakes use dual four-piston calipers in front. Sounds like a solid meal for $6999.

There was also a Big News dirt model unleashed, namely the heavily updated RM-Z450.

Supercross champ

Ricky Carmichael m| himself rode it onto the stage to cheers, but the attending dealers were just as enthusiastic about the fact that it features fuel-injection (a first for a Big Four MXer) and an all-new frame for 2008. The bike is kickstartonly and there is no batterythe Keihin EFI system runs off of the alternator. Other updates are wave-style brake discs, new pegs and Renthal aluminum handlebars.

Plenty of sizzle but there’s also lots of steak, ensuring that Suzuki fans AIL won’t go hungry this RBy year. -Gabe Ets-Hokin Jo*.