July 3, 2007 - David Bradford
Well, there's 40 minutes to go, to give a fast low-down on five new models just unveiled by Suzuki, before I'm forced to check out of this swanky Rome hotel. Suzuki assembled the European press – plus company figureheads including Max Biaggi – in Italy to wheel out its new bikes, with banging music and disco lights just to add to the drama.
There's no mistaking the two most significant new bikes – the B-King and the overhauled Hayabusa.
OK, so this isn't the first glimpse of the B-King but it is the definitely-final version. And, in the flesh, it looks absolutely huge, with a massively wide frontal area, giving it an almost frightening stature. According to former BSB superbike champion John Reynolds, who helped develop the bike, it is set up for sporty handling and will “surprise a few peopleâ€.
The Hayabusa has revised styling (although it's not radically different, and still undeniably ugly) and new engine internals and 1340cc capacity. Fuelling has also been tweaked and there's a brand-new exhaust system. Like the GSX-R1000, the new 'Busa features Suzuki's 'Drive Selection Mode' toggle-switch to turn your Blackbird killer into a lardy bus. It'll be available in the UK in the autumn.
Suzuki also yanked the drapes off the new GSX650F, Intruder 1800 and 'Sixteen' 125 and 150cc scooters. So, unless you like big fat (phat?) bikes, there's not much to get that excited about. Mind you, you don't see how ugly the Hayabusa is when you are approaching warp speeds and the new Busa will be faster than the old one, so we mustn't grumble.
Well, there's 40 minutes to go, to give a fast low-down on five new models just unveiled by Suzuki, before I'm forced to check out of this swanky Rome hotel. Suzuki assembled the European press – plus company figureheads including Max Biaggi – in Italy to wheel out its new bikes, with banging music and disco lights just to add to the drama.
There's no mistaking the two most significant new bikes – the B-King and the overhauled Hayabusa.
OK, so this isn't the first glimpse of the B-King but it is the definitely-final version. And, in the flesh, it looks absolutely huge, with a massively wide frontal area, giving it an almost frightening stature. According to former BSB superbike champion John Reynolds, who helped develop the bike, it is set up for sporty handling and will “surprise a few peopleâ€.
The Hayabusa has revised styling (although it's not radically different, and still undeniably ugly) and new engine internals and 1340cc capacity. Fuelling has also been tweaked and there's a brand-new exhaust system. Like the GSX-R1000, the new 'Busa features Suzuki's 'Drive Selection Mode' toggle-switch to turn your Blackbird killer into a lardy bus. It'll be available in the UK in the autumn.
Suzuki also yanked the drapes off the new GSX650F, Intruder 1800 and 'Sixteen' 125 and 150cc scooters. So, unless you like big fat (phat?) bikes, there's not much to get that excited about. Mind you, you don't see how ugly the Hayabusa is when you are approaching warp speeds and the new Busa will be faster than the old one, so we mustn't grumble.
