2009 Suzuki GSX650F Review

Introduction

Featuring an ideal balance of sportbike excitement and all-around versatile performance, the bike offers enough power even for an experienced rider and crisp handling, so you can turn any winding road into a ride to remember. Suzuki’s strategy was to fill the gap between the decent GS500F and the powerful GSX-R 600 in order for a complete lineup to turn any aspirant into a Suzuki owner.

History

1988 Suzuki Katana 600

Derived from the 600 and 750 Katanas, two motorcycles that Suzuki built with cost effectiveness in mind and which used the same basic frame bodies with minor differences in the tail section for the 1988-1997 models, the GSX650F is set further apart the Bandit 650 than we would thing.

In 1998 Suzuki released the newly designed Katana, the bikes becoming even more similar: both had the same body panels and tail sections, seats, and headlamp assemblies.

In 2003 Suzuki made a few minor design changes to the 600 such as widening the upper and lower triple trees by fraction of an inch, and it also changed the tail sections on both the 600 and 750 with a redesigned tail light and a newly designed seat shape with a flat surface texture for better weight transfers while maneuvering.

For the 2004 models, Suzuki made a few additional changes to the Katana platform for both models such as the new stainless steel muffler, the inclusion of four-way emergency flashers and a passing switch.

The original engine design came from the first generation GSX-R 750. So the 1989-1997 750 Katana engine is nothing more than a slightly retuned 1989 GSX-R sling shot power plant more suited for sport touring. In 1998 with the body redesign Suzuki made also some major changes to the venerable Katana engine. The base oil cooled engine remained the same but received some much needed updates.

Both the 600 and 750 share the same transmission and the same engine stroke. The only major difference between the 600 and the 750 is the engine bore, cam shaft duration, and carburetor size. Both engines received a gear ratio change in the transmission, a better oil pump, and a redesign of an earlier problematic second gear. As well, the piston cylinder walls received a new glaze that promotes longer engine life and better piston ring wear.

2006 Suzuki Katana 750

Competition

Early Katanas competed with Honda CBR600F in the late 80’s and through the 90’s.

Both motorcycles were reliable, very well balanced and offered a good power to weight ratio, although Honda had a few more horses and a better acceleration.

2009 Kawasaki ZZR600

Another rival for both the Katana and the CBR600F was Kawasaki’s ZZR600. The bike offered great road characteristics and it had the same amount of power as the CBR but it didn’t handle quite like the Suzuki. Also in the present day, the Kawasaki ZZR600 has reasons to brag about. For example, the efficiently tuned 599cc four-stroke DOHC inline-four, 16 valves engine gets 50 miles per gallon, still not better than Suzuki’s 43 mpg, but indeed competitive. Even more, the MSRP of only $7,299 points it out like nothing else.

2009 Yamaha YZF-R6S

Yet another do-it-all sportbike and an alternative to the GSX650F is Yamaha’s 2009 YZF-R6S. This is also a 2009 model year and has better performance coming from that original 600cc liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, DOHC with 16 valves engine. It will also go around the corners more aggressively, but remember that this is practically a 2002 Yamaha R6 and as long as I can remember, that is a super sport motorcycle. The riding position won’t be as comfy as on the Suzuki and Kawi and it is priced at $8,690.

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