First Look: Suzuki B-King

Merde! I knew I should have paid more attention in French class! Bopping around Le Net Inter last night, I came across early reports from the Paris Show. Big news being Suzuki's uncorking of Un Maxi Roadster, the 2007 B-King 1300 naked bike.

The B-King, you may remember, was first seen as a concept bike at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001. Back then it was wearing a supercharger, but apparently that was deemed too much fun for Joe Q. Rider so the poor production B-King has to make do with an ordinary unblown Hayabusa motor. Figure about 150 well-fed horses making their way to the 240mm rear pneu, sorry, tire. Top speed? Cinch your helmet down tight and hold on likewise. You'll probably give up before it does—or risk getting peeled off!

Rear-end treatment with two jumbo up-pipes remains faithful to the concept bike, for better or worse. Wit-meisters on the CW Forums are already weighing-in on the B-King's controversial looks:

“Holy frijoles, 'tis the Batcycle.”

“This angular, origami look is not something I favor. My opinion…yeeeesh.”

“Nothing endearing in that shape. Who designed this thing? Edgar Rice Burroughs? Just another forgettable plastic arrowhead on anime.”

The bike that would B-King: It's taken six model years and a supercharger got lost in the translation, but meet the new 800-pound gorilla of naked bikes. Rear styling is lightning-rod controversial.

Ouch! Though you do have to appreciate the obtuse reference to ERB, writer of such science-fiction fare as “Thuvia, Maid of Mars” (better known for his “Tarzan of the Apes”), and to the stylized Japanese cartoon style. We have a very erudite peanut gallery here at Site CW.

Of course, the Hayabusa drew loads of flak when it was introduced, too, then went on to be a best-seller for Suzuki. Not that we in Les Etats-Unis d'Amerique may have a chance to pass judgment up close. There are no plans at present to bring the B-King stateside.

Update! News from the U.S. Suzuki dealer show in Las Vegas indicates that the B-King is indeed coming to America, sometime in 2007 as an early-release '08 model. Still unanswered: What will Robin, the Boy Wonder, ride?