Suzuki has styling and impressive horsepower

Press, 29 October 1981, Page 17

Suzuki has styling and impressive horsepower

(By

PETER BRITTENDEN)

and impressive, peak horsepower are the two outstanding attributes of the recently released Suzuki GSX4OO.

This new four-cylinder Suzuki i? the smallest in the range-,of the company’s Katana line-up.

Inevitably, comparisons will be made between the new Suzuki and Honda 400/4 which ceased production in 1977. When it was first introduced, the Honda was hailed as "the new direction in motorcycling” by all and sundry in the European and United States motorcycle

press. The lightness, slick handling and satisfactory performance of the CB4OO impressed everyone. So, in many respects, the Suzuki factory (and Kawasaki, because that factory recently released the Z4OOJ) had a hard act to follow. In most respects the GSX

compares favourably with the earlier Honda. It is marginally faster over the standing 400 m, is much more sophisticated (in cosmetic and mechanical terms) and, in 1981 terms, it looks better. The Suzuki engine features a 16-valve head which incorporates the factory’s patented "twin swirl combustion chamber” which is designed to improve fuel efficiency and engine performance. Over the first 6000 rpm of the 10,000 rpm motor, the, Suzuki's performance is only mediocre. Tractability is not very high, especially in a city traffic situation. However, plenty of power is produced at the top end of the engine’s range and this makes the bike a satisfactory performer. Maximum power is produced at 9500 rpm and maximum torque at 8500 rpm — a fairly good indication of the fairly narrow power band. The gearbox has six speeds and the ratios of these are closely spaced. On some machines sporting a sixspeed box, the highest ratio is only effective with a tailwind and a light rider. But on the GSX, sixth is a real over-drive, effectively reducing the engine speed by’ about 475 rpm compared with fifth gear. The t engine breathes through‘a set of four 26mm Mikuni carburettors. These produce adequate engine response without any hesitation. The GSX started very easily, hot or cold. The transmission, both clutch and gearbox, worked very smoothly. Only a slight mechanical "clunk” occurred when first engaged — very satisfactory for a new machine. Some sort of trade-off is exposed by the handling. By CB4OO/4 standards, the GSX handles very well but riders expect 1981 machinery to have improved in the intervening period. Personally, I would have preferred to manage without the digital gear counter and the fuel gauge and welcomed, in part exchange, adjustable damping on the front ,and rear suspension. The only adjustment available is spring pre-load on the rear shock absorbers.

But for all that, the GSX handles reasonably well. The bike I rode tended to get a little “out of shape” if Some sort of pot-hole was encountered during cornering but,

over all, it handled some reasonably fast riding without too much difficulty. . Certainly, the riding position on the GSX is conducive to fast riding. A stepped seat, rear set foot rests, and short handle bars see to that. A nice touch is the scalloped sides of the fuel tank — I thought this sensible way of keeping the knees partly out of the wind had disappeared ages ago. The braking department is well served. Twin discs up front and a drum on the rear wheel all added up to progressive and controllable stopping power. Rider comfort was typical Japanese — 1981. The motor barely vibrated, except at very high engine speeds; the mirrors were seldom dis-

torted by vibration; the rear half of the seat, according to a lady friend, was quite comfortable; and switches and dials were very practically designed and situated. According to overseas tests, fuel economy varies considerably. The range was frdm 6.4 to 7.2 litres per 100 km and depended, obviously, on the way the GSX was ridden. The same tests produced a top speed of about 168 k.p.h. and an elapsed time of 14.6' seconds for the standing 400 m. Priced at $3895, the Suzuki GSX4OO is a stylish new entrant in the light middleweight class. It has plenty of class, stops and starts well, and only lacks a

little sophistication in the handling department. The test machine was provided by Doug Cresswell Suzuki, Ltd, Tuam Street. Specifications: Length, 210 cm; width, 75cm; height, 113 cm; ground clearance, 78cm; dry weight, 179 kg; power, 30.8 kW at 10,000 rpm; torque, 30.2 Nm at 8500 rpm; engine type, four-cylinder, 16 valves, twin overhead camshaft; bore, and stroke, 53mm by 45.2 mm; starting, electric; clutch, wet, multi-plate; gearbox, six-speed, constant mesh; front suspension, telescopic, oil dampened; rear suspension, swinging-arm, oil dampened; electrics, transistorised; front brake, twin discs; rear brake, drum; rear tyre size, 3.75-18; front tyre size, 3.25-19; fuel capacity, 15 litres.