The Suzuki GSX1400 Owners Club

Reviews

A review by Stephen McDaid aka Zek- 22/04/02

Previous bikes spanning from 1977 to date:  Honda CD175…Yamaha 400RD…Kawasaki 1000LTD…BMW K100RT.  I get bored very easily, and so, more than once the weather has put me back into cars after a couple of years biking. Last biking 8 years ago.

The GSX1400 

Ever stood at the railings of the show ring at a horse race, where you’re not paying much attention and all of a sudden one truly magnificent horse totally fills up your vision –with its head held high it looks straight into your eyes as it walks past, right through to the darkest enclaves of your heart and ensures you are aware of and in awe of its presence? Translate that to a bike show and my first encounter with the GSX1400! At a distance of 15 feet my gonads tingled, my saliva ducts dilated causing me to literally drooool and my right hand involuntarily began to make little throttle gestures. 

You all know that ‘must have’ feeling, well our little foreign friends from the East have put together something very special here, which didn’t even allow me to question my own desires. Naked Retro…..Massive Engine…..Dambuster Bomb for a back wheel…..Loads of Chrome…..and a sensible riding position. Only thing missing was ME. Never having toured abroad before I felt this had what I wanted. Never having tracked day-ed before I felt this had what I wanted. Hell I could even SHAG on it if I wanted and then sleep afterwards (as you do) in the shade of its awesome might! 

The next three weeks are a blur to me. I think I ordered the bike twice just in case. I went through it all, (you women have it easy I’ll tell you), pacing up and down wearing out the carpet; buying up all the magazines to read about how to nurture my new born; hanging onto every word posted on this website by other expectant owners, meanwhile fading away to a mountain by comfort eating at 3.00 in the mornings. 

Then, Finally, a ‘phone call announces my little (well no so little) baby’s arrival in its wooden cradle at the dealers. I can pick it up in 24 hours. I’m off to the cigarette shop again…..convince myself not to partake in some of the black nectar, for fear of falling (and smelling) foul the next day, and proceed to set up a couple of days leave. 

Don’t remember my conversation much with the dealer. I only recall my real feeling of FEAR when handed the keys. Bloody 8 years since I was on a bike and now I’m expected to ride calmly out of the forecourt on 1400 cubic centimeters of pure thoroughbred. Total violence on two wheels. Through the helmet I see a vision of the two deep brown eyes of that horse telling me “you fuck up big boy and I’m gonna throw you over some hedge, but if you respect me I’ll be your partner.” I stroke the tank (good boy-good boy), check the mirror to make sure the salesman has gone back inside, he hasn’t, and gently trot to the duel carriageway.  

Fifty mile from home, no traffic in the way, and it takes me two hours to arrive. I’m on an emotional fairground ride. I’m giggling like a damn fool, singing, yelping, kicking my legs and more. I stopped three times for a smoke just to look at the bike and phone people so they could hear the engine! 

400 miles up now and if anything I am even more ecstatic.  I can’t bear to put it into the garage at night. I even take it out again afterwards. Without the technical details, suffice to say that I am finding the gears getting smoother, the handling a little scary (my lack of experience), and the rest of the bike better than anticipated.

This is the only bike that has given me a real desire to learn how to ride and treat properly. Perhaps it’s the bikes raw ferocity and intimidating stature & presence that really makes me want to tame it. I know that if I remain afraid of it, and don’t master its capabilities, then like the big horse it will turn on me and spit me out, with more than a little contempt!