FROSTY
15th November 2004, 13:33
The GSX1100G is a shaft drive inline 4 powered by a GSXR1100 motor
its got a huge fuel tank and a somewhat raked out front end.
I've owned 3 of these machines over the years and we always have a love/hate relationship.
I love the suzuki shaft drive. Most of the time you just dont know its there and its only when you want to change direction suddenly or decide to trail the throttle a bit in a corner you remember. I've always ridden shafties so the dreaded wobble doesn't really worry me -drag a bit of back brake and she stiffens up again.
I love the turbine like power delivery -Right on up to the 200km/h mark
(I discovered on a racetrack somewhere) Mind you over 140 for any time is bloody uncomfortable with no fairing to protect you. Having smaller carbs, different cam settings and and a different CDI to the gsxr its power is focussed lower down made to lug loads up to 150km it feels like to me
The seat it extremely well padded -it seems to be about 80mm thick and is so comfortable on a long trip.
Passengers are well catered for -with footpegs positioned for comfort and that plush seat. -I have had a couple of complaints that the seat is TOO wide --sheesh ya can't please everyone.
once up and running the bike is suprisingly easy to ride -flicking from side to side with no problems at all.It takes a heck of a lot to unsettle it so it handles gravel roads easily. If your primary riding was covering long distances and you like the naked look this would be hard to beat.
Tyres are a 120 17 front and a 160 17 on the rear and the braking department is taken care of by twin pot calipers on the front.
The brakes were --well up to the job but only just -My old xj900 from 1984 would frequently outbrake one of these but then it was carrying a lot less bulk.
What I hate. -its so frigging tall I for once dont feel safe manuvering around in my bitch of a driveway on it,its also at the super low speeds you realise just how heavy it actually is. It certainly would suit a 1.8m type bloke
This bike has a truck like turning circle and a small steering lock.its caught me out a fair few times -I've hit full lock doing a slow speed turn and gone -OHH shit as Ive slowly toppled on my side.
The clutch is a non adjustable hydraulic unit -in itself not an issue but it just sits in the wrong place on my fingers
The love/hate comes out in my daily commute -As Im buzzing along with instantly accessable power on hand -and a comfortable quiet ride its just perfect. As Im in stop .go traffic at 2km/h its hellish.
Mr Suzuki almost got it right dambit --Now if we could start again with the bandit 1200 and fit an xj900 shaft drive unit you would have perfection---aww hang on --sorrry suzuki yamaha did it--the fjr1300.
oh yea for the record-brake lever -$45 to replace -engine sidecover $125.00
Shame factor 100 dropping a bike in a bloody carpark --Priceless
its got a huge fuel tank and a somewhat raked out front end.
I've owned 3 of these machines over the years and we always have a love/hate relationship.
I love the suzuki shaft drive. Most of the time you just dont know its there and its only when you want to change direction suddenly or decide to trail the throttle a bit in a corner you remember. I've always ridden shafties so the dreaded wobble doesn't really worry me -drag a bit of back brake and she stiffens up again.
I love the turbine like power delivery -Right on up to the 200km/h mark
(I discovered on a racetrack somewhere) Mind you over 140 for any time is bloody uncomfortable with no fairing to protect you. Having smaller carbs, different cam settings and and a different CDI to the gsxr its power is focussed lower down made to lug loads up to 150km it feels like to me
The seat it extremely well padded -it seems to be about 80mm thick and is so comfortable on a long trip.
Passengers are well catered for -with footpegs positioned for comfort and that plush seat. -I have had a couple of complaints that the seat is TOO wide --sheesh ya can't please everyone.
once up and running the bike is suprisingly easy to ride -flicking from side to side with no problems at all.It takes a heck of a lot to unsettle it so it handles gravel roads easily. If your primary riding was covering long distances and you like the naked look this would be hard to beat.
Tyres are a 120 17 front and a 160 17 on the rear and the braking department is taken care of by twin pot calipers on the front.
The brakes were --well up to the job but only just -My old xj900 from 1984 would frequently outbrake one of these but then it was carrying a lot less bulk.
What I hate. -its so frigging tall I for once dont feel safe manuvering around in my bitch of a driveway on it,its also at the super low speeds you realise just how heavy it actually is. It certainly would suit a 1.8m type bloke
This bike has a truck like turning circle and a small steering lock.its caught me out a fair few times -I've hit full lock doing a slow speed turn and gone -OHH shit as Ive slowly toppled on my side.
The clutch is a non adjustable hydraulic unit -in itself not an issue but it just sits in the wrong place on my fingers
The love/hate comes out in my daily commute -As Im buzzing along with instantly accessable power on hand -and a comfortable quiet ride its just perfect. As Im in stop .go traffic at 2km/h its hellish.
Mr Suzuki almost got it right dambit --Now if we could start again with the bandit 1200 and fit an xj900 shaft drive unit you would have perfection---aww hang on --sorrry suzuki yamaha did it--the fjr1300.
oh yea for the record-brake lever -$45 to replace -engine sidecover $125.00
Shame factor 100 dropping a bike in a bloody carpark --Priceless