Suzuki GSX650F K8

[Hillbilly]

There's gonna be a new middleweight sports tourer for 2008! Suzuki have released info on the GSX650F which is based on the Bandit 650 engine. This is to be their "entry level" inline four. I guess price-wise it'll compete directly with the ER-6f.

[Pwalo]

Yep it's a Bandit with a full fairing. Supposed to be the replacement for the GSXF600.

Looks ok, but will be a hefty old beast. Mind you it'll be as strong as a strong thing.

[Cajun]

interesting the dash, they have given it a shift light, gear indercator, and such,

the gsx600f was in wholey need of an update and this isn't to shabby as a whole

[cowboyz]

certainly a move that has been a long time coming. I dont think it is a mistake either. Looks good and will fit nicely into a gap in the market.

[Mekk]

I prefer bikes with their bars above the tank to be naked. It looks a bit out of place jetting out of the fairing like that, I think.

I do like the chain fender design, very sleek.

[far queue]

Having had a GSX750F in the past, I rather like the look of this. A step in the right direction, appearance wise. The fairing looks like it'll work well at the lower speeds too. I found the old shape 750 fairing to cause buffeting in the 100-120kph range, but was good at 140kph +

[90s]

I prefer bikes with their bars above the tank to be naked. It looks a bit out of place jetting out of the fairing like that, I think.

I do like the chain fender design, very sleek.

Comfy though - wind protection & upright "sport" riding. GSX-F series have never really been lookers jusy very, very sensible.

The GSX-F is dead ... long live the GSX-F.

[rwh]

GSX-F series have never really been lookers

With the obvious exception of the early '90s models ...

Richard

[jrandom]

Looks like it'll be an eminently practical and fun motorcycle. Suzuki, as always, know how to hit the sweet spots in the market.

[cowboyz]

With the obvious exception of the early '90s models ...

Richard

absoultely. espcially the 1991 600........................ (or was it a piece of shit, cant remember)

(that is so bad. Out of the thousands of kiwibikers online about 3 of them are going to get that comment)

[Morcs]

It looks like a Gixxer turned ghey.

But seriously, look a bit harder, and compare to a picture of the bandit 650 S - whats the difference except a different fairing and paint?

The bandit is a sports tourer. This new thing is a wannabe gixxer. It looks crap.

[Pumba]

Id rather go by a 650 Bandit, but I guess it will fit into the market somewhere

[RantyDave]

But seriously, look a bit harder, and compare to a picture of the bandit 650 S - whats the difference except a different fairing and paint?

Was, more or less, what I was thinking. I can understand that manufacturers want to compete in the most competitive segment of the market, but Suzuki are crowding themselves out. They have, what: This thing; the GSR600; The GSX-R600; and the Bandit 600. Seems a bit strange to me - perhaps the beginning of the end for the Bandit?

Dave

[Mekk]

Comfy though - wind protection & upright "sport" riding. GSX-F series have never really been lookers jusy very, very sensible.

The GSX-F is dead ... long live the GSX-F.

Yeah, that's true. In light of that, the finer styling aspects of that bike seem redundant to me.

Still, it's not so bad if she can cook.

[snipa84]

I guess it's trying to go for a market that would've previously bought a CBR600F or a Thundercat, a sensible fully faired 600 (ish) bike. However, I wouldn't have thought there'd be much market for it with the Bandit S about - however it remains to be seen what the price is I guess. Also, it could be for markets that don't get the bandit (if there are any?).

It does look a bit more 'sporty' than the Bandit too - I'd have to see it in the flesh, but if the price were close to the Bandit S I can see a few people going for this instead.