Suzuki GSX 650F

Competition

Early Katanas competed with Honda CBR600F in the late 80’s and through the 90’s.

Both motorcycles were reliable, very well balanced and offered a good power to weight ratio, although Honda had a few more horses and a better acceleration.

Another rival for both the Katana and the CBR600F was Kawasaki’s ZZR600. The bike offered great road characteristics and satisfying power. It had the same amount of power as the CBR but it didn’t handle quite like the Suzuki.

The GSX650F isn’t really going to contend with its V-Twin Suzuki sibling or Kawasaki’s parallel-Twin Ninja 650R.

The GSX650F is purpose build as an entry-level machine and for seven grand is in the same category as the Yamaha YZF-R6S and Kawasaki’s ZZR600 for attracting new or lesser-skilled riders to the world of modern sportbikes-the difference, of course, is that Yamaha and Kawasaki didn’t implement high-tech on their bikes as Suzuki did.

The Suzuki GSX650F features all new full fairing design with styling cues taken from the high performance GSX-R series for a sport-inspired look with full fairing protection for the rider.

A compact fuel tank was designed for an easy reach to the handlebar with a narrow mid section while still retaining a full 5.0 gallons or fuel capacity.

Whether you’re on the back roads or on the open highway, you’ll appreciate the GSX650F’s comfortable design, including a more upright seating position that makes all-day rides a pleasure.

Technical

The engine is all new, compact, liquid-cooled, fuel injected, DOHC 656 is utilizing a bore and stroke of 65.5 mm x 48.7 mm and it features strong and easily accessible power and torque.

This bike is addressed mostly to beginners so it needed a very smooth acceleration. To achieve that, the engineers from Suzuki equipped the bike with Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve fuel injection system. Fuel injectors are compact and lightweight with 4-hole injectors for optimum fuel atomization and greater power output.

Cam profiles are chosen with an emphasis on low-to-mid range power output and help to deliver highly accessible performance that is well suited to an entry level rider, so Suzuki focused on the safety of the rider when creating the GSX650F.

Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) coated cylinders deliver high heat dissipation and allow for smaller piston to cylinder clearance and together with the piston rings which are manufactured with ion plating treatment using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) for a smoother surface, increases durability and reduces friction and oil consumption.

The new GSX650F keeps cool with a high efficiency radiator combined with a 190mm electric cooling fan controlled by the ECM and a high output water pump with a bearing-less design for reduced weight.

Suzuki mounted on this bike a very smooth new six speed transmission with a hydraulic clutch for crisp shifting in a variety of riding conditions.

The bike is not yet available for a test drive but we can anticipate the bike’s road characteristics, acceleration, and the engine’s tuning because we have the earlier Bandit 650, which is equipped with the same frame, and engine as the GSX650F. The bike’s engine is set up to deliver low-to-mid range power, which is very good because the bike will not always be ridden by experienced drivers and it has to keep its entry-level power and acceleration characteristics. The Bandit 650 is a very comfortable bike, with good maneuvering qualities which make it very good for winding roads and offer great riding experiences.

Conclusion

Here we have it! Great entry-level performance, cool looks inspired from the GSX-R series at a very good price. From December on it’s just you and the open road (only that you might need a warm jacket).