The 2015 GSX1250SE -- available in limited markets -- is the 1,255 cc member of the Suzuki->ke371 GSX lineup, closest spec-wise to the new 2016 GSX-S1000 and a much beefier version of the GSX-750. With ample saddlebags and rear case, a 19-liter fuel tank, comfortable seating and suspension travel that's almost into offroad range, the GSX1250SE fits the bill as a tourer->ke2669 or fully luggaged sportbike->ke631 for travel on both smooth pavement and less-than-well-maintained roads.

Continue reading for my review of the 2015 Suzuki GSX1250SE.

2015 Suzuki GSX1250SE

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Suzuki GSX1250SE
  • Engine/Motor: 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled
  • Transmission: 6-speed
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Design

Equipped with a Vario windscreen that allows you to balance the four banes of the wind -- pressure, turbulence, buffeting and noise -- over you and your passenger, the GSX1250SE also comes standard with mounting brackets, side and top, and ample storage for your outings or runs to the grocery store. The contoured seat is adjustable by 20 mm (from 805 to 825 mm), though if you're height-challenged, even the lowest adjustment isn't low enough.

The full fairing that houses vertically stacked headlights has an almost superbike->ke1888 look made the more aggressive with big vents to deflect the air over and around the rider and passenger, as well as funnel it through the radiator for the liquid-cooled engine.

The instrument cluster high inside the fairing houses easy-to-read gauges that don't suffer the annoying shudder from road vibration. Instrumentation includes a gear position indicator and shift light, oil pressure and coolant temperature indicator, fuel injection indicator and ABS indicator. As is usually the case, indicator lights can be hard to see in the daylight.

Chassis

While the fairings and baggage are pure tour, the frame setup is almost straight sport. You can clearly see the streetfighter->ke3429 hiding beneath the extra touring equipment, and that combination carries over into the handling. The steering geometry represents a compromise between sporty steering responses and highway-speed, straight-line comfort. Fans of pure sport and pure tour bikes will be mutually dissatisfied with the handling, but such is the nature of compromise, and it's impossible to be all things to all people – especially with steering geometry. Seat height is another story altogether. You can set the height to 31.7 inches or 32.5 inches tall, which offers some flexibility to the size and shape of the rider triangle, and if you're tall enough to handle the seat height, it's a compromise I think most folks can agree on.

ABS-assisted Tokico brake calipers work with dual, 310 mm brake discs up front and a 240 mm disc in back to help keep the heavy, 567-pound bike – plus the weight of the Special Edition accessories – under control. The ABS monitors and compares wheel speed, and intervenes when wheel slip is detected in order to preserve traction. Also in the service of traction preservation is the 43 mm front forks and preload-adjustable rear shock. The 5.1 inches of front fork compression travel, and 5.4 inches of rear travel should be enough to provide a comfortable, if not cushy, ride for long runs. All this rides on 17-inch wheels.

Drivetrain

Suzuki tippled back toward the sporty side of the equation with the 1,255 cc, fuel-injected, DOHC engine, providing plenty of power to have decent acceleration and performance in spite of the bike's not-inconsiderable mass. The Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) system works with the 36 mm throttle bodies to manage the engine through a hybrid combination of manual control and ride-by-wire (RbW) technology to provide a smooth and strong throttle response while reducing mileage and emissions. Further reducing emissions and controlling the engine is the Idle Speed Control (ISC) that aids in cold starts, starting emissions and idle-speed stability.

Inside the engine you'll find some of Suzuki's race-proven technology, namely the Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) cylinder plating that reduces weight and improves heat transfer, and chrome nitride-coated rings that reduce friction and combustion-gas blowby. A balance shaft within the engine tames vibration, and the six-speed transmission gear ratio keeps your rpm in a reasonable range at highway speeds, so you should never feel like your teeth are going to rattle out of your head.

Pricing

MSRP on the GSX1250SE is $12,899 CAD and comes with a 12-month unlimited mileage limited warranty. As long as you want it in red or black, you're in luck.

He Said

My husband and fellow writer, TJ Hinton, says, “Not a bad bike, but sort of run-of-the-mill for the sport-tour category. The Italians, Germans and Brits are putting out rather sporty 'Euro-tour' bikes that follow the same general build, and this one kind of gets lost in the crowd. To be fair, the sticker is competitive at $12,899, which makes it a good ride for someone looking to upgrade to something with longer legs.”

She Said

"At this stage in the game, I'd probably go for the GSX-S1000. It's priced on par with, say, a 2015 Versys 1000 LT from Kawasaki->ke299 and a few grand cheaper than Yamaha->ke301's FJR1300A; both decent touring sportbikes. As my husband pointed out, it's not a bad bike, just not especially note-worthy."

Specifications

Drivetrain:

Engine Type:

four-stroke, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled

Displacement:

1,255 cc

Bore:

79.0 mm

Stroke:

64.0 mm

Compression Ratio:

10.5 to 1

Ignition Type:

Electronic ignition (Transistorized)

Transmission:

Six-speed constant mesh

Chassis:

Suspension Front:

43mm stanchion-tube front forks, Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped

Suspension Rear:

single rear shock, adjustable preload, Link type, coil spring, oil damped

Front Suspension Travel:

129.5 mm (5.1 inches)

Rear Suspension Travel:

137.2 mm (5.4 inches)

Brakes Front:

Fully floating 310 mm dual-disc front brakes with four-piston calipers

Brakes Rear:

single 240 mm rear disc brake with a single-piston caliper

Tires Front:

120/70ZR17M/C (58W), tubeless

Tires Rear:

180/55ZR17M/C (73W), tubeless

Dimensions:

Overall Length:

2,130 mm (83.9 inches)

Overall Width:

790 mm (31.1 inches)

Overall Height:

1,245 mm (49.0 inches)

Wheelbase:

1,485 mm (58.5 inches)

Ground Clearance:

135 mm (5.3 inches)

Seat Height:

805 / 825 mm (31.7 / 32.5 inches) adjustable seat height

Details:

Curb Mass:

257 kilograms (567 pounds) excluding SE accessories

Fuel Tank:

19.0 liters (5.0 US gallons)

Standard Warranty:

12-Month unlimited mileage limited warranty

Color Options:

Red, Black

Price:

$12,899 CAD