Suzuki GSX series
Encyclopedia
The GSX Series is Suzuki
's range of sport touring motorcycles with four-valved engines. The earliest GSX models were introduced in the early 1980s to complement and later replace the two-valve Suzuki GS series
.
The current range of bikes by that name are completely different designs that use derivatives of former super sports engines from the early-to-middle GSX-R series
.
Among the earliest GSX models were the two-cylinder GSX 250 and the GSX 400.
These Suzuki GSX models were the evolution of the GS series of two-valve per cylinder air and oil cooled four stroke motorcycles. The first four-valve engines were produced for the 1980 model year, but retained the "GS" designation for the US and Canadian markets until the release of the GSX-R models in 1986 (1985 outside the US). These GSX engines were based on Suzuki's "TSCC" (Twin-Swirl Combustion Chamber) engine design, and shared little with previous two-valve models. The bike called Suzuki Katana
in the US had this engine design, with designations of GSX-S, but has little in common with the more modern GSX-F Katanas, which are sport-touring bikes.
The TSCC engine was once again redesigned in 1983 with the introduction of a completely new GSX 750, Suzuki's first modern mono-shocked sportbike in both a naked (GSX 750E) and half-faired (GSX 750ES) version. Although this bike received solid reviews from testing magazines (and came to be the testers' preferred 750 sport machine for the year), its release was an ill-timed duel against Honda's all-new V4 engine in the form of the VF750 Interceptor
.
The 1983 GSX 750ES had air-adjustable anti-dive forks, preload and compression-adjustable rear mono-shock ("Full-Floater"), disc brakes at both ends, a fuel gauge and digital gear indicator.
The bike disappeared from dealers in 1984, to be replaced with the GSX 700 - a bike with a de-stroked engine and minor cosmetic differences. Minor tweaks included taller pistons and slightly differing cam lift and timing. This plus a change in factory gear ratios enabled Suzuki to produce a motorcycle with near-identical performance specifications to the GSX 750ES, even though engine displacement was 15 per cent smaller to satisfy the revised US import guidelines. These included increased tariffs imposed by the US government on all imported motorcycles displacing more than 700cc (repealed in 1988). This 50 per cent tariff was the reason behind the glut of de-stroked 650 cc and 700 cc Japanese motorcycles sold in the US in the mid-1980s - unique to the rest of the world - and is also the reason the GSX-R debuted in the US a full year later than the rest of the world.
This work was mostly in vain for the US market, however, as the GSX 750S Katana was completely restyled in 1984, and the GSX-R 750 was released abroad, painting a certain demise for the comparably ho-hum ES. 1984 also saw an update in color schemes for the GSX 750ES in the rest of the world, with the naked "E" being dropped in favor of the half-faired "ES" and a new "EF" model with full upper and lower sport fairings (never available as a factory option in the US).
The GSX 750E lived on for a few more years abroad, but was eventually superseded by the GSX-F series Katanas. The GSX-S Katanas were also dropped from Suzuki's regular lineup, replaced by
the GSX-R series. The GSX 1100 lived on with significant styling changes for the 1984 model
year, including a full-faired 124bhp monster of a musclebike, the GSX 1100EFE (US: GS1150EF). The larger bikes, although still sought-after as classic superbikes, were also replaced by the GSX-R and GSX-F Katana lineups, with significant body styling changes such as an
electrically operated screen in the 1100F
, upgraded suspension and braking components, and frame revisions.
The GSX 750S (US: Katana) received an updated engine for 1984, along with Suzuki's other big-bore four-valver models. This is the engine that the first Suzuki GSX-R Series
bikes were based on.
Current GSX models are powered by derivatives of this in-line, four cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder, which is also used in the Suzuki Bandit Series
up to the end of the 2006 model year. They feature a combined air/oil cooling system called SACS (for 'Suzuki Advanced Cooling System').
The current GSX series is produced as the GSX600F and GSX750F faired sport touring models, now in their second generations, and the unfaired, twin-shock GSX 750 and GSX 1400 models.
The GSX650F, produced from 2008, is essentially a variation on the Bandit 650, with much the same specification and components. The additional lower fairing, however, gives it a sportier look similar to that of the Suzuki GSX-R Series
(though the Bandit chassis means that it carries 110lb extra weight compared with a GSX-R), the engine has had a small amount of remapping to encourage revs, and the suspension is tweaked. It also has a one-piece seat, unlike the Bandit.
The earlier GSX 1200 Inazuma was offered in Japan and Europe for a short time besides the GSF 1200 Bandit to cater for a clientele that went for a more traditional styling and a somewhat higher build quality. When it proved sufficiently popular for overseas export, it was quickly developed into the current GSX 1400
.
These modern non-US GSX-models carry little in common with their early to mid-eighties cousins other than a distant ancestor in their powerplant. The GSX 1100S Katana has been reissued as an anniversary model several times for the Japanese domestic market (where the GSX 400S Katana remains a very popular model with styling straight from the early-1980s), and Yoshimura has recently released a small handful of fully re-worked factory GSX 1100S Katana models for sale, requiring potential buyers to win an essay contest before being granted the opportunity to purchase one of these bikes.
The GSX 250F is known as the Suzuki Across and is notable as it has a rear petrol tank and a helmet storage area where the petrol tank usually is.
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
's range of sport touring motorcycles with four-valved engines. The earliest GSX models were introduced in the early 1980s to complement and later replace the two-valve Suzuki GS series
Suzuki GS series
The Suzuki GS series is a line of motorcycles featuring air-cooled parallel-twin and Inline four engines with two or four valves per cylinder. The GS-range of models are considered to be examples of Universal Japanese motorcycles. The range of motorcycles in the series had engine displacements...
.
The current range of bikes by that name are completely different designs that use derivatives of former super sports engines from the early-to-middle GSX-R series
Suzuki GSX-R Series
The Suzuki GSX-R series, or Maruti GSX-R for India, is the top-of-the-line series of sport bikes made by Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. The series currently offers the following motorcycles:* GSX-R600 1992–1993, since 1997* GSX-R750 since 1985...
.
Early GSX
These Suzuki GSX models were the evolution of the GS series of two-valve per cylinder air and oil cooled four stroke motorcycles. The first four-valve engines were produced for the 1980 model year, but retained the "GS" designation for the US and Canadian markets until the release of the GSX-R models in 1986 (1985 outside the US). These GSX engines were based on Suzuki's "TSCC" (Twin-Swirl Combustion Chamber) engine design, and shared little with previous two-valve models. The bike called Suzuki Katana
Suzuki Katana
The original Suzuki Katana was a then-novel sport motorcycle designed in 1979–1980 by the southern Bavarian firm of Target Design at the request of Suzuki of Germany specifically for their market....
in the US had this engine design, with designations of GSX-S, but has little in common with the more modern GSX-F Katanas, which are sport-touring bikes.
The TSCC engine was once again redesigned in 1983 with the introduction of a completely new GSX 750, Suzuki's first modern mono-shocked sportbike in both a naked (GSX 750E) and half-faired (GSX 750ES) version. Although this bike received solid reviews from testing magazines (and came to be the testers' preferred 750 sport machine for the year), its release was an ill-timed duel against Honda's all-new V4 engine in the form of the VF750 Interceptor
Honda VF and VFR
The VF and VFR series was a motorcycle made by Honda and had a V4 engine. The bike was also the first to utilize a Sprag clutch.-V4 engine:...
.
The 1983 GSX 750ES had air-adjustable anti-dive forks, preload and compression-adjustable rear mono-shock ("Full-Floater"), disc brakes at both ends, a fuel gauge and digital gear indicator.
The bike disappeared from dealers in 1984, to be replaced with the GSX 700 - a bike with a de-stroked engine and minor cosmetic differences. Minor tweaks included taller pistons and slightly differing cam lift and timing. This plus a change in factory gear ratios enabled Suzuki to produce a motorcycle with near-identical performance specifications to the GSX 750ES, even though engine displacement was 15 per cent smaller to satisfy the revised US import guidelines. These included increased tariffs imposed by the US government on all imported motorcycles displacing more than 700cc (repealed in 1988). This 50 per cent tariff was the reason behind the glut of de-stroked 650 cc and 700 cc Japanese motorcycles sold in the US in the mid-1980s - unique to the rest of the world - and is also the reason the GSX-R debuted in the US a full year later than the rest of the world.
This work was mostly in vain for the US market, however, as the GSX 750S Katana was completely restyled in 1984, and the GSX-R 750 was released abroad, painting a certain demise for the comparably ho-hum ES. 1984 also saw an update in color schemes for the GSX 750ES in the rest of the world, with the naked "E" being dropped in favor of the half-faired "ES" and a new "EF" model with full upper and lower sport fairings (never available as a factory option in the US).
the GSX-R series. The GSX 1100 lived on with significant styling changes for the 1984 model
year, including a full-faired 124bhp monster of a musclebike, the GSX 1100EFE (US: GS1150EF). The larger bikes, although still sought-after as classic superbikes, were also replaced by the GSX-R and GSX-F Katana lineups, with significant body styling changes such as an
electrically operated screen in the 1100F
Suzuki GSX1100F
The Suzuki GSX1100F was introduced in October 1987 as a sports tourer with a 16 valve engine and a 5 speed gearbox, it formed part of the Suzuki GSX series range....
, upgraded suspension and braking components, and frame revisions.
Current GSX
Suzuki GSX-R Series
The Suzuki GSX-R series, or Maruti GSX-R for India, is the top-of-the-line series of sport bikes made by Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. The series currently offers the following motorcycles:* GSX-R600 1992–1993, since 1997* GSX-R750 since 1985...
bikes were based on.
Current GSX models are powered by derivatives of this in-line, four cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder, which is also used in the Suzuki Bandit Series
Suzuki Bandit Series
The Suzuki Bandit is a series of standard street motorcycles produced by Suzuki.The following different models of the bike have been manufactured:* GSF250 with 250 cc...
up to the end of the 2006 model year. They feature a combined air/oil cooling system called SACS (for 'Suzuki Advanced Cooling System').
The current GSX series is produced as the GSX600F and GSX750F faired sport touring models, now in their second generations, and the unfaired, twin-shock GSX 750 and GSX 1400 models.
The GSX650F, produced from 2008, is essentially a variation on the Bandit 650, with much the same specification and components. The additional lower fairing, however, gives it a sportier look similar to that of the Suzuki GSX-R Series
Suzuki GSX-R Series
The Suzuki GSX-R series, or Maruti GSX-R for India, is the top-of-the-line series of sport bikes made by Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. The series currently offers the following motorcycles:* GSX-R600 1992–1993, since 1997* GSX-R750 since 1985...
(though the Bandit chassis means that it carries 110lb extra weight compared with a GSX-R), the engine has had a small amount of remapping to encourage revs, and the suspension is tweaked. It also has a one-piece seat, unlike the Bandit.
The earlier GSX 1200 Inazuma was offered in Japan and Europe for a short time besides the GSF 1200 Bandit to cater for a clientele that went for a more traditional styling and a somewhat higher build quality. When it proved sufficiently popular for overseas export, it was quickly developed into the current GSX 1400
Suzuki GSX1400
The GSX1400 was a Suzuki muscle bike standard motorcycle, made from 2001–2007, as a faster and more powerful premium offering, upmarket in relation to Suzuki's similar Bandit 1200. The GSX1400 was characterized as a "disco-era", "seventies-style metal mountain", but loaded with the latest...
.
These modern non-US GSX-models carry little in common with their early to mid-eighties cousins other than a distant ancestor in their powerplant. The GSX 1100S Katana has been reissued as an anniversary model several times for the Japanese domestic market (where the GSX 400S Katana remains a very popular model with styling straight from the early-1980s), and Yoshimura has recently released a small handful of fully re-worked factory GSX 1100S Katana models for sale, requiring potential buyers to win an essay contest before being granted the opportunity to purchase one of these bikes.
The GSX 250F is known as the Suzuki Across and is notable as it has a rear petrol tank and a helmet storage area where the petrol tank usually is.