On the road
B-ROADS
The GSX’S engine has been reworked to provide a power delivery that gives the rider confidence at any revs. The motor is based on the ’04/’05 GSX-R750 engine, but Suzuki has re-engineered the crankcases with ventilation holes to reduce pumping losses. It has also fitted a more refined fuelling system with state-of-the-art fuel injectors that allow greater combustion efficiency and emission control. Incredibly, Suzuki has managed to satisfy Euro4 regulations while also increasing the power over the previous GSR model – up from 105bhp to 113bhp.
Out on the open road, the GSX definitely gives the impression that it means business. The airbox has three inlets that produce a pleasingly deep growl as the throttle opens wider and the revs increase. If you bury the needle deep into the top part of the tacho, the bike accelerates through its rev range with uncanny stability. Sure, it’d be easy to describe the tune of the engine as somewhat flat, but that’s not a bad thing. While peaky engines have the potential to destabilise a bike on roads such as these, the Suzuki’s broad, usable power does no such thing. It has been tuned to deliver power in a way that feels linear, and benefits from a wide over-rev so almost every rpm is useful. This characteristic lends itself to keeping the bike stable and manageable, the upshot of which means you can attack bends with deceptive pace.
The bike is agile and carries its 213kg weight well, with impressively quick steering. Despite having somewhat budget, preload-adjustable-only suspension, the GSX-S750 has been well set up and gives good support for fast road work as well as decent insulation from bumps and ruts.
MOTORWAYS
Straight-line cruising gives you a chance to appreciate the new Suzuki’s LCD display, which clearly shows the speed centrally in big figures, and around which is the gear position, fuel level, revs and current time.
It’s also an opportunity to have a fiddle with the new traction control, a threelevel system controlled from a switch on the left bar. Mode one is for fast, sporty riding with minimal intrusion; mode two is a more general setting for everyday road conditions and will activate earlier than in mode one. The third activates earliest and Suzuki suggests it’s best suited for cold and wet conditions.
Testing the three modes in the real world, we found that mode three is
“On the road, the GSX gives the impression it means business”
definitely restrictive - if you open the throttle wide from walking pace, the system barely lets the engine rev up, it just judders and limits power output. Mode two offers an ideal amount of sensitivity for most conditions. For pure sport and track riding, mode one is ideal. Or you have the choice of doing things the old-fashioned way and turning the traction control off altogether.
The gearbox is smooth and precise with the ratios spaced evenly. Suzuki has modified sixth gear, making it shorter to give a bit more energy when in top gear and accelerating from lower revs. But that said, the GSX-S still returns an impressive 62mpg when cruising at 70mph.
There’s also very little of the footpeg and bar vibration typical of GSX-R models. Suzuki has clearly worked hard to dampen out the vibes through the seat, pegs and bars, with only a hint of discomfort chiming-in towards the very end of the 218-mile fuel tank range.
IN TOWN
The new GSX-S750 features an ISC (Idle Speed Control) system and Suzuki’s Low RPM Assist, which helps the rider execute smoother launching operation in the low engine speed range and also makes the bike easier to ride in stop-and-go traffic. The GSX-S’S low centre of gravity, wide bars and easy steering make it a breeze around city streets. There’s decent steering lock too, whilst the inclusion of ABS gives the nicely balanced braking system an extra layer of peace of mind.