2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 & GSX-R750
Scheduled to arrive in Oz in April, the 2011 GSX-R600 is lighter, more powerful, arguably more agile and sexier too
Both the 2011 GSX-R600 and the 2011 GSX-R750 have been updated for this year, and Suzuki has well and truly taken aim at the competitive middleweight naked segment with the GSX-R750-engined GSR750.
The 2011 Suzuki GSX-R600 is shaping up to be a class-leader, with a race-ready dry weight of just 154kg, plus new suspension, new looks, new instruments and the list goes on - see below for all the new bits.
We've also had word from Suzuki Australia that the 2011 GSX-R600 will be on sale in Australia "late first quarter, early second quarter" so from that we can infer that anywhere between late March and April will be party time.
The 2011 GSX-R750 meanwhile will be arriving Down Under a little later, around mid year.
2011 SUZUKI GSX-R600
Both GSX-Rs have lost plenty of weight, with the 600 leading the way by shedding a massive 9kg, with most of the heavy lifting done by the cast alloy-aluminium twin-spar frame (down 1.35kg), exhaust (down 1.7kg), the Showa Big Piston Fork (down 890 grams) and external fittings and bracketing (down 3.4kg).
With the purge, the GSX-R600’s dry weight should sit around the 154kg mark.
Suzuki hasn’t yet released official power and torque figures, but it’s fair to say the supersport machine won’t be lowering colours to its Japanese, British and European opposition in 2011.
Plenty has been done inside the liquid-cooled 599cc in-line four, including the adoption of lighter, more durable pistons designed with the same Finite Element Method (FEM) and fatigue analysis technology used to develop MotoGP engines.
Each piston assembly is now 78 grams lighter.
And there’s also less reciprocating weight, which reduces mechanical losses and should make for improved throttle response.
There are also reworked cam profiles and narrow valve angles, and the gear ratios are shorter, which should improve acceleration.
In addition to a performance increase, the engine changes also produce 10 percent better mileage, according to Suzuki.
The wheelbase on the GSX-R600 is now 15mm shorter, but the swingarm (now lighter by 600 grams) remains the same length.
The Showa Big Piston Fork joins the 600 after first being used on the 2009 model GSX-R1000, which helps to lower unsprung mass alongside the lighter wheels and rear suspension.
The lower unsprung mass, as well as shorter wheelbase, should make the GSX-R600 a sharp turner – but without sacrificing stability, according to Suzuki.
Brakes are Brembo radial monoblocs, and the bodywork is now leaner and sharper, taking a leaf out of the GSX-R1000’s fashion bible.
Ergonomically, the reach to the handlebars is now shorter, and the bars are also wider.
There’s also less fairing overhang – 55mm on the front and 35mm on the rear.
Finally, the GSX-R600’s dash now has a lap timer and programmable rpm indicator, and continues with the drive mode selector and the choice of two different engine maps.
2011 SUZUKI GSX-R750
Developed in concert with its smaller sibling, the GSX-R750, now in its 25th year of production, is now 8.8kg lighter and has the same shorter wheelbase and chassis as the 600, as well as the introduction of radial-mount Brembo Monobloc calipers mated to 310mm discs. In short, it gets much of what the 600 gets, but just with more cubes, more ponies and potentially more thrills.
2011 SUZUKI GSR750
As for the GSR750, Suzuki began with the proven powerplant of the GSX-R750 and then set about creating an engine more at home on a naked motorcycle – one with a high degree of flexibility and linear torque, especially through the bottom end and mid-range.
Modifications to the GSX-R750 engine include revised cam profiles, intake and exhaust tracts, a 12.3:1 compression ratio, and the valves are set at a very narrow angle to improve combustion efficiency.
The GSR has a hybrid tubular/twin-spar frame, suspended on KYB hardware – a 41mm upside-down fork and adjustable shock.
Styling-wise, there’s a vented headlight shell, integrated instrument cluster, moulded rear-view mirrors, open radiator side panels and aggressive front bodywork.
Pricing and availability on all three models are yet to be announced, but expect them to arrive sometime late in the first quarter of 2011.
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