Suzuki B-KING

[not so evil]

Hi all, well looking at getting one, havent seen one "in the flesh" yet, but they look.... well .... different to say the least, bit like the daddy 'busa I guess, you either love em or hate em.... anyways... want to hear from owners, what are they like to live with? currently have an old school cruiser im looking at updating and the BKing is on my shortlist.... where on earth did they come up with that name... so would love to hear your thoughts please.

[Cajun]

bking stands for boost king, since the concept bike was a busa with a supercharger, when going in production, the supercharger never made it.

I clocked up about 300 odd kms on a demo, fun bike to ride, plenty of power as you would expect, and pretty easy to throw around (easier than i though it would be)

Its only got a small tank, only 200kms between fulls really. From about 200km/h wind wants to rip ya arms off the bars.

I personally like the look of the bking even the pipes, i have see some aftermarket yoshi ones, which keep with the same orginal bking deisgn but more free flowing.

[James Deuce]

Truck load of info on this bike on KB

Have a look in the review forum

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=62587&highlight=B-king

[ManDownUnder]

It's got an arse like the back of a bus! Bum King maybe? Burger King Bum (no... wait - that'd be B King B)...

[AllanB]

It's got an arse like the back of a bus! Bum King maybe? Burger King Bum (no... wait - that'd be B King B)...

Classic, IMO not the best looking beast out there.

Can you post what type of riding you do, why you desire this beast, as its somewhat different from your VN1500 and there may be other rides to consider.

In that price range there are quite a few desirables in the 'naked' class if that's what you are after (B-King is classed as this), Aprilias, Ducatis, Hondas, Triumphs etc.

Food for thought.

[roy.nz]

Hi all, well looking at getting one, havent seen one "in the flesh" yet, but they look.... well .... different to say the least, bit like the daddy 'busa I guess, you either love em or hate em.... anyways... want to hear from owners, what are they like to live with? currently have an old school cruiser im looking at updating and the BKing is on my shortlist.... where on earth did they come up with that name... so would love to hear your thoughts please.

I think they look good when the pipes are changed, set of yoshi's look good :wari:

[not so evil]

Truck load of info on this bike on KB

Have a look in the review forum

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=62587&highlight=B-king

cheers for that...will take a look

[not so evil]

Classic, IMO not the best looking beast out there.

Can you post what type of riding you do, why you desire this beast, as its somewhat different from your VN1500 and there may be other rides to consider.

In that price range there are quite a few desirables in the 'naked' class if that's what you are after (B-King is classed as this), Aprilias, Ducatis, Hondas, Triumphs etc.

yes times have moved on from the VN, well hopefully :yawn: mainly dry day sunday cruising one up (mum cant get into cornering... :wacko:) so mainly looking for a cruiser i guess as opposed a sportsbike, just liked the look of the BKing, we only have support for suzi's/saki's really here in Marlborough, so options are kinda limited (we have a Honda dealer, but they are more interested in selling chainsaws and mowers and trail bikes :crybaby: ) the suzi/kawasaki dealer here is OK so will end up going back there i think... the BKing is probably overkill for a: Me and b: what i need it for but just love the look of the bike, about as polarising as the busa aye.


Food for thought.

absolutely! im not really in a rush, getting some ideas before moving on from the VN. cheers for the reply, appreciating any input and ideas so cheers :yes:

[jrandom]

absolutely! im not really in a rush, getting some ideas before moving on from the VN.

Ride a B-King and see what you think of it. I did, and I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.

I'd say:

- Very easy bike to ride quickly. Too easy. 160 feels like 100, and you don't even have the constant sprotbike crouch cramping you up to remind you of it. You will not keep your licence if you're not prepared to do runners.

- Upright riding position, but still not enough leg room to be comfy. Not that there's anything Suzuki could have done about that. It needs the ground clearance.

- Not really any point to it. No pillion accommodation to speak of, good luck getting any luggage onto it, it has a stupidly small tank range and quick or not it's still slower in a straight line than a Hayabusa and slower around corners than sprotbikes.

So I got a GSX1400 instead.

:niceone:

[NZsarge]

I liked it but it would need to have aftermarket cans, the standard ones are shocking.
one more thing... It's too expensive!

[not so evil]

So I got a GSX1400 instead.

Funny you should say that... looking also at this or the new (lol) bandit... probably a more comfortable ride by the looks, the new boulevards look a bit gay to me, so will have a looksee at the above 2 when i get the chance, have written to suzuki to ask why a "touring" bandit is $2k dearer than a standard model, it only has side bags, tank bag, screen lip and lower fairing on it... not a lot for the extra $2000.... so i asked them if i was missing something

:niceone:[/QUOTE]

[not so evil]

I liked it but it would need to have aftermarket cans, the standard ones are shocking.
one more thing... It's too expensive!

actually was looking at yamaha's pricing as well.... THATS expensive... didnt think the BKing was too bad actually.

[NZsarge]

actually was looking at yamaha's pricing as well.... THATS expensive... didnt think the BKing was too bad actually.
Yeah I hear what your saying about Yamaha's pricing.

I had a Yamaha FZ1 Fazer up until recently, it's interesting, you don't really get an idea how well things are put together until you've owned something a little while, I often find you get a better understanding of your bikes build quality once you've washed it a couple of times.
I was just a wee bit disapointed in a couple of things with the FZ1 and that was I thought it could have been a little more complete around the fairing and the tail piece could have been a little more sturdy as it lets the rear blinkers flop about a bit.
These two things aside they are nicely finished bikes, nice paint, nice welds on the frame and swing arm, nice plastics and so on..

The fit and finish on my ZX14 is fine but I can see that in quite a few area's that it does'nt match my old bike, paint is not as nice, plastics are a little more brittle feeling and move just a weeny bit when you wash the bike and so on...

The finish is better on Yamaha's (particularly the higher end model's) than Kawasaki and Suzuki and a match for Honda.
This is I think why Yamaha's and Honda's are generally more expensive, they don't necessarily go any better than the opposition but once you get to spend time with one (ie: own one) you can see where the extra cost is involved.
Bottom all things are built to a price point and some manufacturer's price points are in some instances are a little higher than others...

There are ofcourse instances when Yamaha is way off price wise inspite of better paint and so on, one instance is the XJR13 is too expensive by $1500 - 2000 I reckon and I think maybe all the FZ models are $1000 over priced too.
I will pay extra for quality if I like the product.

[not so evil]

Yeah I hear what your saying about Yamaha's pricing.

I had a Yamaha FZ1 Fazer up until recently, it's interesting, you don't really get an idea how well things are put together until you've owned something a little while, I often find you get a better understanding of your bikes build quality once you've washed it a couple of times.
I was just a wee bit disapointed in a couple of things with the FZ1 and that was I thought it could have been a little more complete around the fairing and the tail piece could have been a little more sturdy as it lets the rear blinkers flop about a bit.
These two things aside they are nicely finished bikes, nice paint, nice welds on the frame and swing arm, nice plastics and so on..

The fit and finish on my ZX14 is fine but I can see that in quite a few area's that it does'nt match my old bike, paint is not as nice, plastics are a little more brittle feeling and move just a weeny bit when you wash the bike and so on...

The finish is better on Yamaha's (particularly the higher end model's) than Kawasaki and Suzuki and a match for Honda.
This is I think why Yamaha's and Honda's are generally more expensive, they don't necessarily go any better than the opposition but once you get to spend time with one (ie: own one) you can see where the extra cost is involved.
Bottom all things are built to a price point and some manufacturer's price points are in some instances are a little higher than others...

There are ofcourse instances when Yamaha is way off price wise inspite of better paint and so on, one instance is the XJR13 is too expensive by $1500 - 2000 I reckon and I think maybe all the FZ models are $1000 over priced too.
I will pay extra for quality if I like the product.

cant argue with your logic my friend, will have to probably take a week off to head to welly or chch where they are likely to have the full range of my shortlisted models, i have had the VN for a few years now and if it looks like things havent moved on performance and ride quality wise... and especially if the build quality has dropped off... may just hold on to the old gal....like i say it's early days in my search...and easy to get seduced by a photo or two...

[The Pastor]

the headers are pretty low on them, so dont do kerb hopping!

[gixxer-king]

agree, low ground clearance, and my god looking stright at them it looks like a bus. Bus king maybe? but nice and tight to throw around (does not feel like a 1300 bike) and good power forgot the kgs but feels lighter and maybe better balanced then the busa. i give 7.5 out of 10 would give 8.5 if they did something about the width of the damn thing.

[rygsx]

hi traded my gsx 1400 on a b king great move got two bros pipes sounds awesome

[rygsx]

got two bros pipes on mine awesome sound

[Qkkid]

got two bros pipes on mine awesome sound

:Punk: Qkchk and Myself have just purchased 2 B-kings and put oggies and twin Yoshimura exhausts on each bike. We took the centres out of the pipes man!!! they sound even nicer:yes:

[phoenixcustom]

Well i have had my B king for around five months now and absolutley love it, i did have a 2008 z1000 but once i test rode a bking for a day then my mind was made up, made my z1000 feel slow and sluggish, as for the size etc of the wee beasty the bking really loses all this once to you get going.I did find it felt quite heavy on the steering at slow speed, which i would put down to the steering damper needed to keep it all stable at speed. I have also lowered it by about 40mm having short leg syndrome lol, by making some new linkages, being i make custom parts this was no problem and has made a big difference when riding slowly. All and all its not going to take luggage etc if you want to carry some gear get the missus to carry it on her back lol, have done 300 Plus k in a day two up and have had no problems, and as for the tank range i have found you can get alot more than the 200k people have been quoting, unless you travel at warp factor 7 everywhere that is.
I think each to ther own im personally going to change the look of mine through paint and some nice custom made accessories as i have never been one to leave anything alone and like it to be mine n ot the same as everyone elses:yes:. So to sum up fo me if you were into the old muscle bikes of there day gsx1100 and cbx1000 z1000 etc but want more power and better realiability then buy one you wont be dissapointed.cheers.

[rygsx]

I think they look good when the pipes are changed, set of yoshi's look good :wari:

yeah got two bros pipes on my b king great

[triple-bee]

Am just doing a deal on one, never went in for one i was looking at cruisers but one quick blast and i was hooked will give a full report when i have had it for a bit :clap: