Suzuki Bikes Archives

Suzuki Introduces Hydrogen Powered Burgman in Japan!

Suzuki has been a vocal advocate of green and sustainable transportation for well over a decade. In 2023, at the Japan Mobility Show (formerly known as the Tokyo Motor Show), the company is all set to introduce its latest innovation in the form of the hydrogen-powered Suzuki Burgman.

The Burgman 400 scooter has been a familiar name among Suzuki enthusiasts, especially those interested in eco-friendly mobility solutions. Suzuki has been showcasing various iterations of hydrogen-powered Burgman scooters since 2010. However, what truly sets this latest innovation apart is the unique way in which hydrogen is harnessed for power. In contrast to Suzuki’s previous hydrogen scooters, which relied on hydrogen fuel cells to drive electric motors, this new prototype adopts a groundbreaking approach by burning hydrogen in a modified version of the existing Burgman 400’s single-cylinder internal combustion engine.

Suzuki’s venture into hydrogen fuel cell technology began as far back as 2007 when they unveiled the Crosscage concept bike. Around the same time, Suzuki forged a partnership with Intelligent Energy, a British company renowned for its fuel cell system expertise, which became the foundation for all subsequent prototypes. The allure of fuel cells lies in their ability to combine the environmental benefits of electric power with the convenience of rapid hydrogen tank refueling, eliminating the need for long and often inconvenient battery recharging.

In a significant development earlier this year, Suzuki joined the HySE collaboration, alongside industry giants like Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki. Their collective mission is to pioneer hydrogen-fueled combustion engines for small vehicles, including motorcycles. Suzuki’s specific role within this consortium is to focus on the “Element study on functionality, performance, and reliability of hydrogen-powered engines.” This strategic involvement is precisely where the new Suzuki Burgman prototype enters the spotlight.

The prototype is built around the dependable Burgman 400 scooter platform, but substantial modifications have been made to the engine to enable it to run on hydrogen instead of traditional gasoline. While the intricate details of these modifications are yet to be fully disclosed, it is expected that these changes will include advancements like direct fuel injection. The hydrogen is stored under high pressure, at around 700 bar (equivalent to approximately 10,000 psi), in a tank conveniently located between the rider’s feet. This tank can be effortlessly refueled through a socket thoughtfully positioned just below the right-hand side of the seat.

Accommodating this high-pressure hydrogen tank required design adjustments. Specifically, the swingarm and engine, which form a single unit, have been shifted backward by about 8 inches. This adaptation results in an unusually extended wheelbase for the prototype. However, a positive aspect is that this design alteration does not come at the cost of sacrificing the scooter’s underseat storage space, as was the case with earlier fuel-cell prototypes.

While Suzuki has unveiled the Burgman prototype, the production version is expected to take some time before an official debut is scheduled. The spotlight on the Suzuki Burgman at the Japan Mobility Show is a testament to Suzuki’s dedication to pioneering innovative and sustainable mobility solutions, with a keen focus on hydrogen-powered technology in the Burgman scooter lineup.

EICMA 2015: All-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 finally unveiled

After being absent from the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, the long wait is finally over after the covers were pulled off an all-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 superbike.

Its been a full 11 years since Suzuki fully updated the model, and this new GSX-R1000, which bears the ‘L7’ chassis code, arrives sporting plenty of new hardware and an all-new look as well.

Suzuki claims this new sixth generation GSX-R1000 is the lightest, most powerful and best handling GSX-R ever built, and we have very little reason to doubt that claim. This 6th generation GSX-R1000, or better known as the ‘Gixxer’ thousand amongst fans, is also the most highly equipped version of the superbike ever built.

As far as looks go, the sixth-gen Gixxer thousand now boasts a brand new face and yet, the bike’s lines remains rather distinctively unmistakable as a Gixxer. There’s new LED lighting all round that is complimented with a new LED dash display as well, giving this new L7 Gixxer a very high-tech touch. Of course, what counts for the most is what’s beneath the pretty new metal and this sixth-gen Gixxer has got plenty to boast.

For starters, it gains with a new and improved 999cc in-line four-cylinder engine primed with variable valve timing (VVT). The S-brand’s new litre-sized screamer offers 200hp and about 111Nm of peak torque. Highlights here include Suzuki Racing Finger valve train follower rocker arm to improve valve control and allow higher rpm, while the Suzuki Exhaust Tuning-Alpha (SET-A) and Suzuki Top Feed Injector (S-TFI) systems, which all combine to make what Suzuki call their Broad Power System. Crucially though, much of these were developed off the S-brand’s GSX-RR MotoGP bike.

The mill is encased within an all-new chassis design made using lightweight aluminium, but the icing on its cake has to be the Showa Balance Free Front Forks (BFFF) that was first seen in the rivalling 2016 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. The Gixxer takes things up a notch though by pairing that with Showa’s Balance Free Rear Cushion at the back, and if our trained eyes are correct, you even get of twin Brembo anchors up front as well.

Like the rivalling Yamaha YZF-R1 and Kawasaki ZX-10R, the new Gixxer thousand also arrives with a full array of new electronics and advanced rider aids. Things start off with a quick-shifter and auto-blipper, followed by a 10-level traction control system, launch control, as well as three different riding modes thanks to ride-by-wire, not forgetting the all-important advanced ABS suite too.

The new sixth-generation Suzuki GSX-R1000 is expected to hit markets starting early next year but prices are still undisclosed for now. Nevertheless, this is one superbike we know will stack well against its other Japanese- and European-made litre-classed rivals indeed.