FITS LIKE A GLOVE...

Since Suzuki built this one to fit into the Katana product category, it does not carry the typical "hug the gas tank, break your back" of a GSXR. The angle in which you sit, and the thick soft padding of the seat, will allow you to go for hours.. if you so desire.

I have never seen a motorcycle, which was produced in mass, that is so well engineered. When you take the body off, the bike.. it's evident that they planned this thing. There is really no space for anything extra... which can be a problem for us hop-up freaks.

From the engine mounts, which allow the engine to be removed and placed back in, without prying anything back into place, to the body mounts, which are both sturdy and in the right place every time.

The electronics are under the seat, and easily accessible... but there is not much room there, so if you want to add something else, like a progressive nitrous box, or even an alarm, you're going to have to look someplace else.

For easy access to the airbox, spark plugs, and other top-engine items, Suzuki placed the gas tank on a rear hinge, stays up with a prop rod which is stowed beneath the rear seat, and allows quick and easy access of the topside of the engine.

Changing the oil is a task, you can see the oil filter... but you can't get to it easily without removing the fairing lower, and one of the cooler lines.. but in 20 minutes you are done, so it's not a big deal.

As for styling... it's the front end that is most noticeable to everybody who sees this bike. It's radical approach at warp speed performance is way different.

The fairing cuts the wind so well, that when you tuck under the windscreen, you don't feel the slightest glimpse of wind on your back, until about 140 MPH... and even then, it's a slight feeling. When you are riding down the highway however, in the standard upright posture, the wind coming over the top of the fairing hits you right about at the helmet, which is an obvious down side of the wind tunnel testing... but a livable one.

The headlight in the low beam setting (the top bulb in the photo), illuminates a pattern which is tight, and you will often flip on the high just to see what's ahead on a highway when you are all alone.

The high beam is a round parabolic reflector unit, which will shine straight ahead for two miles or so. Riding at night, at 150 aboard a 'busa, is a different experience... because you can see what's ahead.

The twin air scoops, are huge... and are said to pack the airbox with positive boost at around 100 MPH. We checked this one out, and on a simple turbo boost gauge, we did see fluctuations of the needle at 78 MPH, but could not say it was a full pound until about 125. It's not scientific testing, but if the needle moves, it's got some pressure behind it.

The bike comes with both a rear solo "bubble", and a rear seat and grip rail. I personally hate the bubble, but at speeds, you can feel the difference.

The general populous, when asked, preferred the rear seat, but myself, I preferred it without the rear grab rail.

-MK