The Suzuki GSX1400 Owners Club

Reviews

A review by John Earp of his GSX1400 - 13/08/01

First just a few boring personal details.......

I’m forty eight years old have two teenage sons and have been riding motorcycles since I was 16, in all that time I would guess I had a gap of 2 months without one. My first proper bike was a Honda S (sport) 90 – this was not a step-thru but a proper little bike and since that time I’ve had all of the major Japanese makes and quite a few English and German one’s.

Why do I mention all of this? – well of the 45 or so bikes I’ve ever had I think the GSX1400 is probably the best, most flexible, easy to handle and definitely best looking bike I’ve ever owned.

It was the looks that first attracted me to the bike; I love naked bikes having nearly swapped my faired 600 Bandit a few years ago for an unfaired 1200 Bandit. I was put off by other people telling me I’d miss the fairing – it was a mistake - don’t do the same!

I still miss my Bandit and CBR (I chopped them both in for the 1400) but the big Suzuki has won me over – why – well read on:

First the looks – I think you will gather I like its looks, it just looks right, I think its probably the nicest looking bike on the roads, it looks good in all colours but particularly blue and white. I loved the Yamaha XJR1300 when it came out – but the GSX looks better.

When you swing your leg over the seat you will find that unlike other naked bikes on the market if you are only 5’8” like me you don’t feel stretched when you hold the bars (try sitting on a Honda X11). One of the reasons I sold my CBR even though it was a lovely bike, was I got wrist and neck ache around town. Not so with the 1400, I can ride this all day with no problems, anywhere - everywhere.

Next as soon as you switch on you will notice the speedo and rev counter needles do a full sweep across the clock faces and the LCD panels within the chrome housings show you the time via a digital clock, a digital fuel gauge that even flashes when its time to refill, an odometer and two trip meters and a fuel injection check and at night the main beam indicator, neutral indicator and other check lamps look superb.  

There is a variable suspension set up front and rear and the dual seat is massive and very comfortable. Removal of the seat is very easy and you’ll be amazed to find loads of room under here. I keep a rucksack, two pairs of over trousers and a disk lock and still have room for a can on a hot day! – and a toolkit.

Only a couple of months ago my brother in law bought a TL1000 and I remember telling him what a mistake it was, to buy a bike with fuel injection. Well I was mistaken - the fuel injection is superb with no flat spots anywhere – unlike the Bandit - and it doesn’t seem to matter what gear you are in, just open the throttle and it goes – well it is a 1400! You can drift along all day at whatever speed takes your fancy but beware if at first you find that there appears to be an endless supply of gears, you see there is so much torque that I find it even more flexible than my ST1100. In fact on returning from a rather long run one sunny Sunday night and putting the GSX 1400 in my garage next to my ST my wife said “ Makes you wonder if we need that” – looking at my ST!! – Sorry the ST stays.

Mine GSX has now done 850 miles and is beginning to loosen up, many of these miles have been done two up – note the very useful grab rail - and bearing in mind my other bike is a tourer I find the 1400 more comfortable to ride than the ST – even given the lack of fairing. Its far lighter and when you’re actually riding it you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a 600 – until you twist the throttle – don’t believe the write ups – its not a monster once its moving – just don’t look down at the fuel tank - its massive.

I was lent a Kawasaki ZRX 1200R whilst my bike was having its first service and on paper it should be nearly as good – well it aint! – It doesn’t look as good, has far less bottom end and my neighbour thought I bought an “old bike to do up” when I arrived home on it!

Now just a few minor niggles, I think it could do with a proper grab handle like my ST to lift it on its centre stand, the engine pumps out an awful amount of heat making things get a bit sweaty in hot weather, you will need to be prepared for 35 – 40 mpg and my biggest gripe at the moment is every time I stop someone says “Is it really a 1400?” – no I just stuck the stickers on for a bet!”

I don’t know how it will look after a winter but as I’m one of these sad souls who use a car from October to March I doubt I’ll find out. Although I have found Auto Glym motorcycle cleaner useful on the white wheels.  

I’m not looking to swap anything on mine as I reckon the men at Suzuki did a pretty good job already, except perhaps an oil cooler guard would stop stones and fly’s getting embedded in the cooling fins and a tasty hugger would look nice, oh yes I’ve put some blue bar end weights on mine.

The guy that bought my CBR asked me why I’d swapped a sports bike for the retro GSX1400? Well I said “In my opinion it’s a far more comfortable bike to ride, with a far more balanced engine that doesn’t need to be revved or suffer from power surges, its perfect for solo or two up work it looks great is far more individual and my insurers say it will cost no more – even perhaps cheaper to insure than my CBR at renewal time.” 

So if you’re looking for a bike that you can go to work on, pose on, scratch on, take the missus out on, with a riding position that is perfect for all roads – with no fatigue – unless you choose to do silly speeds, then by all means look at everything else. There’s some pretty tasty stuff out there, try them out – I did - then last but not least try the big Suzuki for a measly £6500 you get an awful lot of quality bike for you money. You even get Alpha Dot security (I had to pay extra to have Datatag on my ST), two years warranty and one years AA membership thrown in - just be prepared to be looked at – and lock it up!!