a twin and it sounds awesome . The worst I could say about the K5-derived lump is it feels / sounds slightly buzzy around the 100km / h mark , but it ’ s nothing really . The KYB self-adjusting , electronic front and rear suspension is excellent . Plush and controlled , I left it on the auto setting and never touched it . The riding position is all day comfortable , the weather protection great , but a tall rider wouldn ’ t complain about a tad more leg room . The front brake I decided didn ’ t like real wet weather ... perhaps the pads are hard and excess water reduces friction ? Under hard braking the rubber mounted bars rotate forward in the clamps . This feeling I didn ’ t enjoy , but got used to it . Harder rubber in the mounts would solve the issue . While the turn-in is a little on the slow side , in mid-turn the Suzuki is extremely planted and is a blast to punt through the turns . I ’ d happily put on wider bars for more commanding and effortless inputs . As an example , GS bars are substantially wider ... The modern cool looking small LED headlights are underwhelming in the
rain at night ... fit spotlights if you ride in these conditions often .
RIDING - ON TRACK Although the engine in this bike is from the legendary GSX-R1000 K5 , the GX isn ’ t a naturalborn track bike , as you might expect . That said , the combination of a strong motor and sticky 17-inch tyres allows it to certainly get a wriggle on . Tall suspension ( 150mm of KYB ’ s electronic adjusting skyhook stuff ) would suggest it ’ d be a bit wallowy into , through and out of the corners , but it isn ’ t . The SRAS ( see boxout of more info ) detects what ’ s going on with the supsension , brakes and throttle input , and firms it all up so it ’ s really quite predictable . Obviously it ’ s not a racer and doesn ’ t handle like one , but it ’ s a capable of turning in some quite quick laps for an ‘ almost adventure bike ’. It ’ s also fast . Very fast . The 2005 GSX-R engine has been in quite a few of Suzuki ’ s sports touring bikes over the years since it was retired from the GSX-R range . It ’ s quite welcome in the GX , and on the track it gets a chance to stretch its legs away from the restrictions of the road .
KIWI RIDER 33