Suzuki gsx1200y. Waddaya know about 'em?

[FROSTY]

I know I could google up advise on this bike but Im wondering if any KBers have owned one and if so what is your impression of the bike.
They came out in 2000 and 2001 and are a naked twin shock rear bike. Seems to be a gsxr1100 in the old gsx1100 frame--well thats the look anyhoo

[Kiwi Graham]

I think they are a GSX 14 wanabe with a bandit 1200 motor in.
Bullet proof motor and a retro look cant be all bad.

[FROSTY]

do they predate the 1400?

[Cajun]

do they predate the 1400?

they came out in 99, there was also a gsx750, that was out at simlar time

Pretty much bandit motor in a retro style bike.

they predate the gsx1400.

[James Deuce]

Better suspension components than the 14, better brakes than the Bandit (should have Brembo calipers and cast iron rotors) stronger engine than a Bandit 1200. They are part of Suzuki Japan's Inazuma range.

[FROSTY]

ferry cool --well looks like I own one

[Pussy]

The ones we got in NZ were European spec examples.
Good bikes

[Dschubba]

Brought one new in 2000 as first bike and owned it for 6 years and 70,000km.
Great bike- good all rounder, used it mostly commuting, a few trips, comfy with two-up. Only problem I ever had was from new they didn't grease the headset bearings, and got these replaced under warrantee.
The low seat and slightly higher bars mad it very easy to control even when mis-handled at low speeds. (didn't fall over like with my zx) The mirrors are high enough to go over most car mirrors when getting thru Wellington city traffic.
Engine made heaps of power for me and never missed a beat.
I hacked into the headlight circuit, put in a relay and popped in a 130/90 bulb (can do this with metal/glass headlamp, new plastic ones would melt)
lighting was brilliant.

[xxcbr69xx]

While I haven't owned one a mate of mine does and I have done a few hundred kms on it.

Bloody good bike, nice motor and plenty comfortable enough.

His one has gone round the clock and had a bit of a hard life.
Problems he encountered were:
Gearbox needed overhaul, at 100,000km tho
Been through 2 sets of Front disks
1 fuel pump
Original rear shocks replaced

Every time I ride it I enjoy it and it can even scratch through the twisties pretty well for what it is. Good value for money.

[kave]

I am loving mine. The mix of good quality modern components with a reliable air-cooled motor and retro styling (yes its got twin shocks) seems to suit me perfectly. It's a fun bike for hitting the twisties (1 or 2 up) and really comfortable for long rides. It also seems really easy to operate in heavy traffic, easy to control at low speeds and suprisingly manouverable for a 1200.

As far as I understand, the GSX1200y was created to cater for the Japanese market for big capacity retro-styled bikes, but when they proved to be very popular overseas they were developed into the GSX1400.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GSX_series
http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-series/GSX1200-Inazuma.shtml

[martybabe]

Crickey, I've never even heard of em, certainly don't remember ever seeing one in the UK. Looks like a direct rival to the xjr 1200 that was, should be good with that pedigree. Let us know what you think F.

[FROSTY]

MB--they look very much like an XJR1200 if that helps. They slipped under my radar untill a few days back when I became the proud owner of one. Its got a weepy fork seal so nothing seruious yet ride wise but so far its inspiring HUGE grins.

[AllanB]

From what I could see they are farking close to the GS1200ss apart from the bodywork/styling. I suspect they have the same frame & motor.

[Boob Johnson]

Crickey, I've never even heard of em, certainly don't remember ever seeing one in the UK. Looks like a direct rival to the xjr 1200 that was, should be good with that pedigree. Let us know what you think F.
I was lookin at one recently., good lookin beast. They are the predecessor to your bike MB (for the Jap market). Ultra reliable from all accounts

[Pussy]

MB--they look very much like an XJR1200 if that helps. They slipped under my radar untill a few days back when I became the proud owner of one. Its got a weepy fork seal so nothing seruious yet ride wise but so far its inspiring HUGE grins.
Both the GSX 1200Y and the GSX 750Y models that came in to NZ '99-'00 were unrestricted EU market ones, Frosty. They had right dipping headlights as well, that SNZ changed. If your one has a light switch on the right-hand switch block, it's a Euro.
Good honest bikes.
I saw a nice one in MotoGB at Mt Maunganui a couple of weeks back

[rogson]

Yep, good bikes - better low/mid-range grunt than the Bandit
They respond well to upgrading the suspension - I have Ohlins rear shocks and cartridge emulators in the front forks in mine.
Also, in stock (NZ/Euro) trim they are restricted to 100Hp. This is done by restricting the breathing. Another 10-20HP is easily achieved by changing the airfilter to a less restricted unit and rejetting the carbs. It is difficult to get much more than this without spending significant $ on carbs (stock are smaller than Bandit) and cams (stock are softer than Bandit).

[riffer]

info from the sales brochure:

<img src=http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/GSX/GSX1200-brochures/1999_GSX1200_sales1-2_800.jpg>