When they say “smoke and mirrors,” it’s usually a figure of speech. Not so at this week’s annual meeting of Suzuki dealers, held in Las Vegas, Nevada. In a hangar-sized ballroom inside the Mirage Hotel & Casino, six new street and off-road motorcycles models were rolled out on stage, accompanied by dancing girls (always appreciated) and jets of flame.
We’ve already told you about updates to the Hayabusa for 2008, so you know it’s been improved—more power, slicker aeros, better suspension and brakes—while not straying too far from the trademark “speed-beak, rounded-rear” styling. But sales persons do not live by $11,999 speeding bullets alone, so as exciting as the ’Busa was for the hundreds of dealers packed into the ballroom, other models were just as important.
First on stage was the ballsy B-King. It first showed as a concept bike at the 2001 Tokyo Motor Show with a supercharged motor. Now it’s available as a U.S. model in most of its Tokyo glory. Okay, it lacks the blower, but who cares? It gets the 1340cc Hayabusa motor, except without ram air. Expect more than 150 hp delivered to the 200-section rear tire. Like the GSX-R1000 and new Hayabusa, the King gets a Suzuki Drive Mode Selector—a rocker switch on the handlebar that adjusts ignition mapping to keep power manageable for different conditions. Only difference, the B-King’s S-DMS switch has two positions instead of three. Suzuki claims it will be the most powerful standard streetbike on the market, but not every manly-man who wants one of these 518-pound (claimed dry weight) musclebikes can have one. It’s a limited-production vehicle and is priced $900 more than the ’Busa at $12,899.
The acme of Suzuki’s Boulevard cruiser lineup was lacking a classic-styled (really) big-bore machine, so the boys in blue took the burly 109-cubic-inch (1783cc) liquid-cooled V-Twin from the M109R and put it in a more traditional chassis, with valanced steel fenders, 16-inch cast wheels and a wide fuel tank, creating the C109R ($13,799). It has shaft drive like its power-cruiser brother, 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.
Not every rider is looking for a big, bad cruiser or the most powerful standard on Earth. Many entry-level riders are looking for a sportbike that has high-performance looks but is affordable and unintimidating without being bare-bones basic. Suzuki listened and answered with the GSX650F. It’s essentially the Euro-spec Bandit 650 with a full-fairing, styled like the big-bucks 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, six-speed gearbox, hydraulic clutch and other modern touches. The chassis is more traditional; a tube-steel, double-cradle frame like Mom used to make, although it does have a preload-adjustable 41mm fork and a preload/rebound-adjustable shock with a linkage. Brakes are four-piston calipers in front. Sounds like a solid deal for its $6999 pricetag.
There was also a Big News dirt model unleashed, namely the heavily updated RM-Z450. Supercross champ Ricky Carmichael himself rode it onto the stage to cheers, but the attending dealers were just as enthusiastic about the news that it’s received fuel-injection—a first for a Big Four MXer—and an all-new frame for 2008. The RM-Z250 also was revised. Both bikes now get groovy wave-style brake discs and Renthal aluminum handlebars. Mini-Rickys (and their parents) take note, there’s a new DR-Z70 for budding motocrossers.
Like any good Vegas act, Suzuki saved the best for last. After almost an hour of celebrity interviews, pyrotechnic displays and other assorted surprises (see the video), the 2008 Hayabusa was rolled out to thunderous applause. The dealers then piled out of the ballroom to visit the convention hall and see all the bikes up close. The mood was enthusiastic, and with so many new models and so much media attention, who can blame them? 2008 should be a good year to be a Suzuki dealer.
Sound off! What do you think of the new ‘Busa?
