When I first got into motorcycle riding it was during an interesting time in my life. I literally purchased a motorcycle the very last day I was in my 20’s. I had moved away from the coast and could no longer surf. My weekly ritual that washed over and rejuvenated my soul was gone and it left a gaping hole. Against my wife’s wishes I drove 3 hours across North Carolina to meet a fellow Sigforum member and purchase my first motorcycle. It was amazing. On the ride home I was verbally accosted by my brother, mother and dear auntie who acted as if I had taken up Russian roulette as a hobby. Even a few of my friends acted like little punk bitches when I told em I bought a motorcycle.

Fast forward to today. I’ve gotten bored with my big BMW R1150GS and my 1st Gen R1 is an archaic relic that has tried to kill me too many times and needs a new roomie with the Suzuki badge again. Like a fuckin moron I sold my first bike, a Suzuki SV650S in candy burning copper... I’ll own another 2003 SV in that gorgeous shade of orange/copper but is going to be a 1000.

Due to the bat eating virus from hell canceling everything Suzuki had to cancel the Tokyo show but they did have a virtual show of the 2020 bikes. I’m going to buy the new silver and blue GSX-R1000. It’s colors have quite a bit of meaning to hardcore Suzuki fans such as myself. In 1962 Ernst Degner rode a Suzuki to its first world championship in Motorcycle Grand Prix racing. The story behind it reads like a spy novel. Stolen nazi rocket technology was incorporated into shaped two stroke exhausts and managed to revolutionize the industry and put the boys from Hamamatsu Japan (Suzuki) on the map and helped them gain world recognition as a serious moto manufacturer. They became a force to be reckoned with during the two stroke era of GP racing. The silver and blue paint scheme of the 2020 MotoGP GSX-RR prototype race machine as well as the street legal GSX-R1000 both pay homage to the bike Degner rode to their first championship as well as honoring 60 years of Grand Prix racing. I REALLY hope they get to race this year.

It’s time to upgrade and get a Suzuki back in the garage.

Hopefully these guys get to race. Here are the 2020 GP bikes and the original gangsta aka the reason for those throwback colors too!





My dream machine sporting some VERY cool colors.

Sounds like its also time to start budgeting for a new (and larger) garage build to house all your 'acquisitions'.

I’ll be thinning the herd a bit. The BMW ADV bike is going away soon.

Great choice!

I had all gixxers 600,750, 1000 and the 1k was my favorite. I currently ride a Triumph Daytona 675R but miss the power.

These new gixxers are amazing and I may get another. Enjoy it, post pictures of it! And keep the rubber side down!

Go on with it. 'Nothing is too good for me and my friends' has been a long time motto of mine.

I had a 2005, can't imagine what 15 years has done for that bike.

My barn is primarily BMW, but a Yamaha RD350 snuck in recently.
If I have to thin the herd I think the 1100RS will be the first to go. It is a highway machine and I haven’t taken to that as much as I like back road/35 mph stuff.

I thought you were going to get a BMW S1000RR.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris42:
My barn is primarily BMW, but a Yamaha RD350 snuck in recently.
If I have to thin the herd I think the 1100RS will be the first to go. It is a highway machine and I haven’t taken to that as much as I like back road/35 mph stuff.

What year Yamaha? My first go with motorcycles was my Dads '73 RD350.Still have it in the family.Had to set up on the tank to keep it down and couldnt shift it fast enough in first 3 gears to keep it off red line!

Suppressed. I can’t stand the new S1000RR. They ruined it by making it ordinary looking, the asymmetrical look was one of its best features. I got two BMW’s instead of the RR, a 1977 R100RS and the big Yellow GS.

I haven’t given up on owning a 1st or 2nd gen S1000RR but my electrical issues with the GS has soured me a bit towards BMW Motorrad. I came close to scooping one up in Virginia a few years ago when my friend at the BMW dealership in Chesapeake found me a great example but I was in a vintage bike phase then and passed on it. That was probably a mistake...vintage bikes are perpetual projects.

If all the bikes in my garage the one that gave me the least amount of issues (I’ve had to fix something on all of em) was that Suzuki.

A high school buddy moved to Phoenix a few years ago and we reconnected. Once he saw my BMW K1200R, he decided he had to get a bike. His wife forbade it, so he bought a Gixxer and kept it in my garage. My wife didn't notice since both bikes were black. Friend moved to NJ and I have no idea what he did with that bike.

Anyway, I now ride a frozen blue S1000R.

I never knew you had a BMW GS?

I can appreciate the evolution of the GSXR. Just be careful, that bike is more capable than most riders. What are the specs?

My first bike was a Suzuki GS500. 2-stroke road bike, rode it all over the US, even wintered on it one year in SE PA. Brings back memories!

I'm not much of a sport bike guy. My last bike was a Harley Road King Classic, sold it about 6 years ago. I want another, if I were to get one, it would be an ADV style probably, but it's one more toy I don't need. I have enough hobbies already.

Enjoy!

I may be downsizing too. My S1000XR is a bit too over the top for my ancient reflexes these days. May go with an 850 GS.

ASKSmith, what are the specs? They are quite impressive. This is a good way to gauge it. At Donington Park it’s 10 seconds behind the MotoGP lap record set by Dani Pedrosa in 2006. They don’t race there anymore (they race at Silverstone) but given the bad conditions Suzuki’s factory test rider felt like he could have shaved a few seconds off that time.

This is an incredible video. If you can’t watch it all skip to around the 8 minute mark and watch Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki’s Factory test rider) put it all in perspective. A $20k car can’t come close to a F1 car but a $20k bike is shockingly close to a MotoGP machine.

This absolutely sold me on the new GSX-R. I loved watching him rocket past people on the track with the big Euro license plate still attached and full Suzuki Ecstar Factory Team leathers. People must have wondered who the f$&@ does this guy think he is Sylvain Guintoli!?!?




Link to original video: https://youtu.be/dWR997bvbWw

I was looking at R1200RS today and KTM’s I am thinking there are going to be some good sales.

I had an 86’ GSXR 1100 that I wore out. I had it for almost 4 years and put 70k miles on it. I would ride it to Willow Springs do a track day and ride back to Camp Pendleton.

Posted by Valpo FZ,

quote:

I am thinking there are going to be some good sales.

Oh yeah. You can absolutely count on it. The power sports industry wasn’t exactly doing awesome before this cluster happened. There will surely be some exquisite deals once things return to normal.

I can see moving on from the R1150GS, that bike was my least favorite BMW, but if you haven't done so do yourself a favor and ride R1250GS sometime because it's a completely different motorcycle. I admire bikes like the GSXR 1000 but they make no sense for me because I'm not a good enough rider to utilize even 1/3 of its performance, and even if I were where would I do so? Heck my R1200RS is a way more capable motorcycle than I am a rider, but it's a comfortable touring bike and fun on a nice road.

Many years ago I was riding my 916 on a gentle curvy, tree lined, 2-lane highway, around 90-110 mph and the Ducati was right in its element, the sound coming from the Arrow exhaust was beautiful. Most of my weight was on the pegs and the wind blast relieved the weight on my wrists, shoulders, and neck from the low handlebars. The tight, uncomfortable riding position at any speed below 80 mph made sense at triple digit speed. Cresting a rise and coming upon a car I braked hard slowing to the car's speed then when I could see a distance around it a downshift and flick of the wrist and I was on my way again. Later that evening enjoying a beer while admiring my beautiful bike I reflecting back on the exhilarating ride, but started thinking..... I was simply riding too fast, unsafe. What if a car backed out of one of the hidden driveways, or a deer walked out right in front of me, or the car I came upon having to brake hard had been stopped rather than going 50 mph? I had this beautiful motorcycle that was not enjoyable, actually uncomfortable, to ride at sane speeds. The same ride on my KLR that was fun at 60 mph is horrible on the 916 at 60. I made the decision to sell it.

But that Gixxer is a nice looking sport bike and maybe one for you to buy and hang on to. Pics when you get it!

Stick, at least the showroom model doesn't have the aero-mustache... I get the point, but find it ugly on the current GP bikes.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
I may be downsizing too. My S1000XR is a bit too over the top for my ancient reflexes these days. May go with an 850 GS.

May take a look at the new F900XR as well.
A bit less ADV then the F850GS, but more similar to the S1XR I'd guess, and almost $2k cheaper new.