Suzuki's GSX-R family rolls over into MY2023 with new colorways for its proven GSX-R750 platform. Long a household name, this Gixxer has a reputation as a very race-tastic yet street-legal supersport that borrows heavily from Suzuki's own race team for engineering and bodywork details.
The light and agile frame is sturdy like it's going to carry an engine closer to the 600 cc mark. Instead, it has the 750 cc lump making it more powerful than you'd expect based on the underpinnings.
Suzuki unleashed its first-generation Gixxer in Japan in 1984, then in the rest of the world the next year. In retrospect, folks regard the GSX-R750 as a revolutionary machine that changed the face of the supersport bracket, and probably for the better, forever.
2023 Suzuki GSX-R750
- Race-Developed Showa Suspension
- Built-In Lap Timer/Stopwatch And Programmable Engine RPM Indicators
- Race-Proven Back-Torque-Limiting Clutch
- Adjustable Rider Triangle
- Optional Single-Seat Cowl
- Model: GSX-R750
- Engine: 750 cc Inline-4
- Power Output: 150 HP @ 13,000 RPM
- Torque: 63 LB-FT @ 11,000 RPM
- Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
- MSRP: $12,849
- Stupidfast For Track Use
- Sleeper Engine
- Sets Up For Racing Quickly
- Too Stupidfast For Public Roads
- Boring Colorways
2023 Suzuki GSX-R750 Performance And Capability
Power comes from a transverse-mount inline four-banger plant to put it at the top of the supersport food chain. The Suzuki GSX-R750 produces 150 horsepower and 63 pound-feet of torque. Horsepower maxes out at 13,000 RPM, but the torque is up near the top of the range at 11,000 RPM to make this a mill that really likes to be wound up tighter than Dick's hatband before it'll deliver the goods.
The layout is massively oversquare with a 70 mm bore and 48.7 mm stroke that gives it a 750 cc displacement. Compression is high with a 12.5-to-1 compression ratio that will demand high-octane gasoline, or even race gas if you plan on hitting a track. Dual over-head cams time the lightweight, titanium-alloy valves while throttle bodies meter the flow with eight-hole injectors for fine fuel atomization.
It also comes with the addition of the Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve feature that reconciles the difference between what the rider demands at the throttle grip and what the engine can smoothly deliver. This allows for seamless transitions and stumble-free operation, even at lower rpm.
Power flows through a slipper clutch that adds some backtorque-mitigation to the equation, then a six-speed transmission that has a tall first gear to pull you out of the hole with authority, but shorter gear ratios up the rest of the range. A tough, chain-type final drive sends power to the rear wheel with a GSX-R750 top speed of around 170 mph. With performance like this, you'll never do it justice on public roads. Better not, anyway. You can quickly set the engine up for track days through the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector which lets you switch between a racing disposition and something with more social value.
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Engine & Drivetrain |
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|---|---|
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Engine |
Liquid-cooled 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, DOHC |
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Displacement |
750 cc |
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Bore x Stroke |
70 mm x 48.7 mm |
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Compression |
12.5:1 |
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Power |
150 HP @ 13,000 RPM |
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Torque |
63 LB-FT @ 11,000 RPM |
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Fuel System |
Fuel injection with SDTV |
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Final Drive |
Chain, RK525ROZ5Y, 116 links |
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Clutch |
Wet, multiplate |
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Gearbox |
6-speed, constant mesh |
Design
As is tradition, form follows function with this machine, as well as it should in this bracket. The bodywork is all engineered for speed and wind tunnel tested for efficiency and low-drag penetration. The factory doesn't miss an opportunity to shave some windage right out of the gate with a spoiler-type front fender to start the thing out. Over-under halogen headlights dominate the {visage} below a smoked bubble screen that forms a compact channel in the wind, but you'll have to just about put your chin on the tank racer-style to find it.
Long standoffs hold the mirrors clear of the bike for good pilot visibility to the rear. Plus they carry the front turn signals in the mirror housing, which is always neat, and also means that you can strip down for race day by quickly removing both at once and plugging their mounting holes in the front fairing.
The standard fuel tank holds 4.5 gallons, but the California model cuts that down to 4.2 gallons. It has deep knee pockets with a narrow backside that meets an equally narrow waist to give your legs some room for body English or when standing at a stop. A lofted pillion pad joins with fold-up foot pegs to accommodate a passenger, but the pad is fairly low-profile and is not exactly built for comfort.
Like the modular mirror-blinkers up front, the license plate holder mounts to a short mudguard for quick removal ahead of track days. An LED taillight rides just above, ensconced in the tip of the tail, and comes bracketed by LED back blinkers, well out of harm's way.
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Suzuki GSX-R750 Specs |
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|---|---|
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Length |
79.9 in |
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Width |
28 in |
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Height |
44.7 in |
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Seat Height |
31.9 in |
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Wheelbase |
54.7 in |
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Ground Clearance |
5.1 in |
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Fuel Capacity |
4.5 gal (CA: 4.2 gal) |
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Curb Weight |
419 lbs |
Chassis
Cast aluminum alloy is the material of choice on the GSX-R750 for the twin-spar style frame and swingarm unit for the lightweight strength it brings to the table. The steering head comes with its own electronically-controlled damper to tame the kickback with variable, speed-driven damping values. Showa's Big Piston Front Fork floats the front end with a Showa monoshock out back and the full spectrum of adjustments across the board for complete control over the ride quality. You can even change the seat height by lowering the rear shock if you like. Handling is agile, but not aggressively so. It's manageable, so you can have an enjoyable ride without a wrestling match.
Dual, four-bore Brembo Monobloc calipers bite 310 mm discs to slow the front wheel with a single-pot Nissin binder out back taking care of business. The foot pegs come with a trio of positions and an adjustable shift lever lets you dial in the bottom of your rider triangle. Cast-alloy rims mount a 120/70 ahead of a 180/55. Both wheels are 17-inch diameter and with “ZR” ratings that will handle everything you and the engine can dish out.
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Chassis & Suspension |
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|---|---|
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Front Suspension/ Travel |
Inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped/ 4.7 in |
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Rear Suspension/ Travel |
Link type, single shock, coil spring, oil damped/ 5.1 in |
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Rake |
23°45' |
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Trail |
3.82 in |
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Wheels |
Three-spoke cast aluminum alloy |
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Front Tire |
120/70ZR17M/C (58W), tubeless |
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Rear Tire |
180/55ZR17M/C (73W), tubeless |
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Front Brake |
Dual Brembo 310 mm discs, 4-piston calipers |
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Rear Brake |
Nissin single-piston caliper |
2023 Suzuki GSX-R750 Price And Availability
The 2023 Suzuki GSX-R750 costs $12,849. It comes with a pair of colorways, Pearl Brilliant White / Metallic Matte Stellar Blue, and Glass Sparkle Black / Glass Matte Mechanical Gray. Also, this year, the factory is releasing a tribute piece in its GSX-R750Z model that comes shot in Metallic Triton Blue over Metallic Mystic Silver.
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Pricing & Features |
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|---|---|
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Warranty |
12-month unlimited mileage limited warranty |
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Colors |
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└ 2015 |
Metallic Triton Blue / Pearl Glacier White, Glass Sparkle Black / Pearl Mira Red |
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└ 2016 |
Metallic Triton Blue, Metallic Matte Black No. 2 / Glass Sparkle Black |
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└ 2017 |
Metallic Triton Blue, Glass Sparkle Black / Marble Daytona Yellow, Pearl Glacier White |
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└ 2018 |
Metallic Triton Blue, Candy Daring Red/Glass Sparkle Black, Metallic Oort Gray No. 3/Glass Sparkle Black |
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└ 2019, 2020 |
Glass Sparkle Black/Pearl Glacier White or Metallic Matte Black No.2/Glass Sparkle Black |
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└ 2021 |
Metallic Oort Gray No. 3, Pearl Brilliant White |
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└ 2022 |
Glass Blaze Orange/Glass Sparkle Black, Glass Matte Mechanical Gray / Pearl Brilliant White |
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└ 2023 |
Pearl Brilliant White/Metallic Matte Stellar Blue, Glass Sparkle Black/Glass Matte Mechanical Gray (750Z: Metallic Triton Blue / Metallic Mystic Silver) |
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Price |
|
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└ 2017 |
$12,299 |
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└ 2018 |
$12,399 |
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└ 2019, 2020 |
$12,499 |
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└ 2021 |
$12,549 |
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└ 2022 |
$12,599 |
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└ 2023 |
$12,849 (750Z: $12,949) |
Competitors
There's no shortage of competition close aboard from the other Big Four, starting with Yamaha's YZF-R7. The Yammy's engine is closer to the midway mark with a 689 cc displacement that puts out 66.3 ponies with 45.7 pounds o' grunt to fall miles short of the Gixxer's numbers. Pricing reflects that shortfall with a $9,299 sticker, but you won't be able to race this bike like you would the GSX-R750, it isn't built for that.
Honda hits much closer to the mark with its race-tastic CBR600RR which packs a 599 cc inline four-banger engine that puts out 113 horsepower and 48.7 pound-feet of torque to also fall short of the brute force Suzuki is putting out. The top speed is 165 mph, so it's in the neighborhood as well. The suspension is a wash, and so are the brakes. The CBR600RR rolls for $12,099 to leave a little money on the table. It, too, is more like a race bike, but with street-legal lighting.
He Said
“The R7 might be good as a trainer for the Gixxer 750, but can't hold a candle to the Suzuki in power and racing potential. I can't help but think it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slowly, and this kind of power and top speed potential is way too much for public roads. Seems wasteful to own unless you plan on actually doing closed-circuit work.”
She Said
My wife and fellow motorcycle writer, Allyn Hinton, says,
“You might think this is a beefed up GSX-R600, but it's more like a 1000-lite. The powerband is on the GSX-R1000 side so if you want a Gixxer that feels like a Gixxer without going to the full one-liter, the 750 is worth a test ride.”
FAQ
Q: How much horsepower does a GSX-R750 have?
The inline four-cylinder engine in the Suzuki GSX-R750 produces 150 horsepower at 13,000 RPM and 63 pound-feet of torque at 11,000 RPM.
Q: How fast is a GSX-R750?
The top speed of the Suzuki GSX-R750 is estimated at 170 MPH.
Q: Is Suzuki still making 750cc Supersport bikes?
Yes. For 2023 Suzuki offers a base model GSX-R750 and a tribute model, the GSX-R750Z. The R750Z comes in a historic Metallic Triton Blue and Metallic Mystic Silver colorway, celebrating decades of podium finishes.
Q: What was the original GSX-R750?
The original GSX-R750 was launched in 1985 in markets outside the U.S. It carried an air-and-oil-cooled 749 cc engine with a Mikuni carburetor. The frame was lightweight aluminum and brakes were ample with dual front discs. The GSX-R750 came to the U.S. in 1986.