So Wicked It Should Be Called GSXXX - R
Written: Mar 12 '01 (Updated Jan 22 '08)
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Pros: The best bike in the series, fast, sleek and sweet.
Cons: Sloppy muffler, basic paint design, cheap looking instrument panel.
The Bottom Line: Cycle World didn't name this the "Best Superbike of 2000" because it looked cute. It tore through the competition and asked for more.
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| Freak369's Full Review: 2000 Suzuki GSX-R750 |
You see that picture over there there… yeah to the right.. that’s my new baby. Help me welcome the newest member into my family… introducing (drum roll)…. Storm. That’s right – Storm. My recent absence from Epinions has been due to the acquisition of my Suzuki GSX-R and the aftermarket upgrades I have been doing on it. Several weeks and a few thousand dollars later my bike is 17 pounds lighter, a different hue and turns heads wherever I go.
Now, before I go any further I have to admit that I am not a gear head. I can change the oil, fix the neon kit and do minor repairs but when it comes to the big stuff I leave it to my brother or my trusty mechanic. All three of us worked on the aftermarket design of the bike, which includes new fairings, more powerful headlights, a neon kit, gel seats, custom color tank skin and matching tank bag and an all new paint scheme. Don’t forget the matching paint scheme on the helmet as well (cha-ching) It seemed a shame to start hacking away at this bike since it was simply breathtaking off the lot but I wanted it to be mine - all mine.
When I first test-drove this I didn’t want to take it back to the dealership. I have owned Katana’s, older model GSX-R’s and CBR’s but this was a whole new driving experience. The brakes felt smoother than my old 1997 750 and the overall design was just sweeter – more aerodynamic and it just looked like a slice of heaven. Make no mistake about it – this isn’t a lightweight bike. Off the assembly line it weighs in at a monstrous 366 pounds but I am told that this poundage can vary up to five pounds depending on what the dealer wants added to each bike prior to delivery. Since I am six foot tall the height, overall size and speed of the bike wasn’t an issue for me. If you are a new rider I suggest a smaller bike until you feel comfortable with a beast like this. This isn’t the biggest dog in the yard – you still have the 1000 and the whole sport series to give you a challenge. I’m perfectly happy with the 750 and doubt I will go up another level.
I had all intentions of looking at the new line and going home drooling. In fact, every few weeks I would stop by the dealership and just look at the bikes – all shiny and gleaming – just waiting to be broken in. And each trip one of the guys would walk out and give me “that” look. Since I am a female they assume I can’t handle a 750 and after more than a few of my window-shopping trips they would just walk out and tell me to yell if I needed help. Six weeks ago the whole picture changed. My brother came with me and was ready to haggle. The sticker price was $9,649.00 plus tax, dealer delivery and all the other extras they hit you with. I didn’t have any trade in to barter with so I had to use all the charm I could muster to deal with Randy – the loveable but oafish salesman that greeted me. Randy was new and didn’t know about my multitude of visits, he treated me like a new face.
Four hours later I was signing on the dotted line. I squirmed in my seat and couldn’t wait to ride my new baby home. But alas, I needed a few more things – like an American motorcycle license to name one – before I could head out legal. Final arrangements were made for my mechanic to pick up the bike on a flatbed and take it to what he calls the operating room.
While we worked on the details of revamping the bike I applied for, tested out and received my motorcycle license using a friends bike. Here is where it gets really scary; at night I would drive to the shop and visit my bike. Strange huh? I had estimated that the total aftermarket package I wanted would run about $6,000.00 but it came in just a little over $4,000.00. The new paint scheme resembles that of the 1995 blue, purple and pink scheme but it’s darker and has more purple. The tank had to be removed and painted separately – one of the many reasons why I wanted my bike dry (no gas). I am very particular about the type of gas I use as well as the oil. I only use top grade oil specifically designed and imported from Canada. As far as gas, I go with the higher octane available for a cleaner burn and more efficient mileage.
In addition to the new paint colors I had Storm airbrushed on the front fairing where most GSX logos appear. My helmet, Shoei of course, was painted at the same time so the colors would match perfectly. I don’t care who says they can match the colors to the same hue – you can always see a difference. Minor paint adjustments had to be made on the tail because of an over-spray but in the end it came out looking wonderful.
Just Get On With The Review
OK, so I have babbled on for long enough about the aftermarket stuff – lets get down to the meat. Like I said, this bike is a beast. It feels like riding on air while going faster than light. I have only taken it up to 95 on the freeway in the wee hours of the morning when no other drivers were around. There is a stretch of road between San Diego and Oceanside that is free of radar detectors, police and desolate of other drivers between midnight and 4 am. After I broke Storm in for about 100 miles I got an itch – I needed to see what this baby was capable of. I’m nowhere near as daring as I was before I became a mother but I like to think I can still hold my own. I opened it up and let it scream – and scream it did. It kicked up to 90 with no trouble at all – I had to push it a little hard to get it to 95 but that’s the fastest I feel comfortable going. I mean, do you really need to exceed that speed?
I decided to keep the tires that came with the bike – they were more than sufficient for the type of riding I would be doing, the speeds I would be attaining and the types of curves I would encounter. The tires that came with my 750 were; front - 120/70 ZR-17 and rear 180/55 ZR-17. The Z rating provides a speed rating of 149 mph and above – so these tires provided protection far beyond any speed I would exceed. With the San Diego roads and notoriously bad drivers I wanted a tire that would provide me with good support if a light rain shower would hit – alas, these tires get the thumbs down in this situation. I’m not sure it’s all the tires fault, there is a tremendous amount of road soil – oil, grime, gasoline – that accumulates and bakes in the heat. Throw a little water on this and you can literally ice skate.
The brakes are superb - dual hydraulic disc in the front and a single hydraulic disc in the rear give more than enough stopping power if you are driving with at least a little caution in mind. A few friends who have the 750 have said that their brakes feel sloppy and loose – this might have to do with the fact that they come to a flying halt and go though gasoline like an outdated RV. They aren’t the most safety conscious drivers on the road but I am slowly talking them into being responsible riders. I’ve had no troubles with the brakes so far and have ridden in the following weather conditions; light rain, completely clear and 70 degrees, heavy downpour for about three minutes and the usual cool and foggy nighttime 50 degrees.
Speaking of foggy – I did have more powerful headlights added since I didn’t like the older model GSX’s package and didn’t want to have to risk any damage to the paint job having them added at a later date. It was more cost effective to do it when the bike was apart than to partially strip it down and (gasp) risk a scratch.
Some minor things that I didn’t like about the bike in the showroom … the wheel lip looked terrible – it was jet black and didn’t fit the overall scheme of the bike. I opted for a different lip that was ordered from Suzuki that were originally made for a different year. It sits about ½ inch higher than the stock lip and looks much better in a deep purple than the straight black. The muffler was useless. When I test-drove the bike it was loud – not that quiet buzzing sound like a rabid mosquito but more like a (gasp) Harley. I was told this was due to some loose attachments and could be fixed in a few minutes but I elected to add this to the list of “things to do”. I didn’t like the on board windscreen and had that replaced as well. It sloped down just a bit to far for me. The last thing I disliked was the instrument panel – it looked awful. What good is a digital speedometer when you can’t see it from a certain position? I kept the factory board but added an additional run off speedometer that sits further up on the panel. I am assuming that my height and slope on the bike could have something to do with me not being able to see the readings but still – it was a necessary piece of equipment.
Suzuki finally got the taillights and turn signals right on this bike. They seem sturdier and less likely to get knocked off or damaged. Since my brother using the bike on occasion I have to remind him that the taillights are a bit shorter than the older models and to make sure that if he takes on a passenger that they don’t kick them with their feet which happened once already with no major damage.
The factory colors are blue and white or red and silver. The red and silver combo is nice looking while the blue and white package looks flat and drab. It doesn’t have the accenting that the older models had – perhaps they were trying to give it a streamline look.
If I had to make a choice I would take an older model GSX just for the feel – the seats were deeper and the tanks were more comfortable BUT the newer models are easier to maintain and service. Several aftermarket manufacturers are making a new line of tank skins that incorporate a gel lining to combat the hard tank line. Since I choose to use a tank bag, which softens the midline area during long rides, I doubt this will be something that I would look into.
If you are in the market for a new bike defiantly check out the GSX 750’s – for the price and performance factors alone it’s a great deal. Most places can finance you and offer specials from time to time. It’s easier to get a good deal on the 2001 models rather than the 2000’s so take into consideration as well. In any event, ride safe!
As always, thanks for the visit!
^V^ Freak ^V^
© 2003 Freak369
Shoei Shoei X-Tec Ukawa
1996 Honda Civic del Sol
2000 Suzuki GSX-R750
2000 Suzuki GSX-R600
1993 Honda Accord
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): $10,593.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2000
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