Despite introducing major changes to its 2023 lineup by introducing the parallel-twin powered GSX-8S and V-Strom 800DE, the House of Hamamatsu decided to retain some of its popular model for the new year, mainly the returning GSX-S750.
Powering the 2023MY is the tried and tested 749cc inline-four, fuel-injected engine that continue to make 112.6hp and 81Nm. Power is delivered to the rear-wheel via a 6-speed manual transmission.
As usual, the GSX-S750 advanced traction control is an additional electronics that helps to harness the bike’s raw power.
The bike is suspended by KYB gold-painted front forks and dual radial-mounted Nissin 4-pot callipers.
Also retains for the 2023 is the iconic bodywork which thanks to its angular design and wide handlebars, the GSX-S750 is not only aggressive but also comfy.
For the new year, the Suzuki GSX-S750 comes in Pearl Brilliant White and Champion Yellow No.2.
Also return to Suzuki’s lineup is the 2023 GSX-R250 ABS.
Suzuki has launched a new scooter model, the Avenis 125, in India for the 2023 model year.
India is a country where scooters and motorcycles are relied on heavily for daily mobility, and the Avenis is expected to be a popular addition to the market.
The Avenis comes in two variations – Standard and Race Edition – with five different colorways, including Metallic Sonic Silver with Metallic Triton Blue for the Race Edition, inspired by Suzuki’s now-defunct MotoGP race bike.
Both variations use the same 124cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine from the previous generation, producing 8.5 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 7 pound-feet of peak torque at 5,500 rpm.
One notable update for the 2023 model year is the addition of an on-board diagnostics system to identify and signal systemic flaws in the vehicle, making maintenance and repair much easier.
The Avenis 125 is priced at Rs 92,000 (RM5k), while the Race Edition retails for Rs 92,300 (RM5.1k).
Suzuki might be out of world championship racing but the brand is no doubt continue to remain relevant to this day.
Suzuki sold more than 700 units of the GSX-S1000GT in UK last year.
The GSX-S1000GT is available in Malaysia for RM85,700.
In a latest announcement, the House of Hamamatsu has confirmed that the GSX-S1000GT has been the best-selling sports touring machine in the UK in 2022.
Despite only went on sale in April, Suzuki managed to sold 781 units by end of last year making it the top-selling sports tours touring motorcycle.
In addition, Suzuki anticipated that the number could reach 1,000 unit by end of March this year.
“Of course, we’re delighted with the popularity and success of the GSX-S1000GT. It was launched to high praise in the autumn of 2021, and we were seeing a huge number of reservations and orders before the bike had even arrived in dealerships.
“Despite that, and though it presented challenges, we managed to keep up with demand and we’re on course to top 1,000 sales by the end of its first year on sale, which is a fantastic achievement and something we’re all pleased with and proud of,” said Suzuki Great Britain head of motorcycles, Jonathan Martin.
Although it was build based on the heavily revised GSX-S1000 frame and powerplant, the GSX-S1000GT brings an altogether different vibe.
With optional panniers, comfy riding ergonomics, and an all-new electronic system, the GSX-S1000GT could be Suzuki’s ultimate sport tourer motorcycle.
At the heart of the motorcycle sits the same inline four-cylinder 999cc Euro5 engine you get from the GSX-R1000 and is detuned with revised cams, new air-box, and new exhaust to deliver 152hp @ 11,000rpm and 106Nm @ 9,250rpm.
Major electronics upgrade is a new electronic actuated throttle and Suzuki Intelligent Ride system that brings together riding modes, traction control and most importantly, cruise control system.
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT is also currently available in Malaysia for RM85,700.
As 2022 is ending, Suzuki is wrapping up its motor racing operations by closing down the team’s official website and destroying the remaining Suzuki GSX-RR race bikes.
Suzuki bids farewell to fans with a special 229-page digital photobook.
The photobook includes all of Suzuki’s success in MotoGP.
However, as a final farewell gift to the fans, the House of Hamamatsu released a special digital photobook to recap the team’s success and progress at MotoGP.
The 229-page book recaps Suzuki’s effort upon the team’s return to MotoGP in 2015 after a four-year hiatus. The team fielded then-rookie Maverick Vinales and the experienced Aleix Espargaro.
After a few changes in the riders’ lineup, Suzuki found its gem through Joan Mir, who joined the team in 2019 before securing Suzuki’s fifth world championship in 2020.
Despite struggling the following year, Mir kept the team in the hunt for glory all year long.
Although Suzuki will no longer participate in Grand Prix racing, the brand’s legacy in MotoGP will continue to live on.
The day that we thought could never happen has arrived as Suzuki has officially announced the discontinuation of the iconic GSX-R1000 superbike in Japan and Europe.
Suzuki to stop producing and selling the GSX-R1000.
Strict emission standards in Japan halted the development of the GSX-R1000.
2021 Suzuki GSX-R1000R
The announcement came at the back of Alex Rins’ heartfelt win at the 2022 MotoGP season-finale in Valencia.
The end of the GSX-R1000 is as expected, considering the Hamamatsu factory decided to pull the plug from its racing initiatives, including MotoGP and EWC, to pursue other non-performance-oriented objectives.
Despite the sad news, the GSX-R1000 will continue to be on sale in very few markets, including in North America and the Philippines. However, we expect a similar decision to take place in both regions soon.
As previously reported, the most significant factor in play for the GSX-R1000 discontinuation is Japan’s strict emission standard.
That said, perhaps Suzuki didn’t see it fit to update the GSX-R1000 despite the firm already updating the Katana, Hayabusa, GSX-S1000, GSX-S1000GT and the V-Strom 1050.
Nonetheless, a Japanese publication, Young-Machine, suggest that this might not be the end of the iconic superbike as a report back in August claimed that the Japanese marque is already working on a new high-performance engine for the next-gen GSX-R1000.
However, before we wait for that to happen, the GSX-R1000 will be laid to rest for now.
Suzuki recently spotted testing new motorcycles in Europe, which appears to be the eventual successor to the SV650.
New generation Suzuki SV650 with parallel-twin engine caught testing.
Features new bodywork including a new front LED headlamp.
The naked motorcycle has been running Suzuki’s trusted 645cc V-Twin engine since its introduction in 1999.
Since then, Suzuki has only run a minor update to ensure the bike complies with the global emission standards.
On that note, Suzuki is finally ready to up the ante by introducing a new generation SV650 running on an all-new 700cc parallel-twin engine.
That said, the SV650 successor was recently caught undergoing road test in Europe, according to Motorcycle.com.
Based on these spy photos, we can see an all-new bodywork, including a modern front fascia with a horizontal LED headlamp similar to the firm’s latest GSX-S1000.
Despite the heavily taped-up bodywork and front fender, the new generation SV650 appears more aggressive and bolder.
Also, based on the photos, we got the chance to see a clearer look into Suzuki’s newest parallel-twin platform. Other notable features include an inverted front fork and Nissin brake callipers.
While technical details remain scarce, we know now that Suzuki has put in a lot of work to introduce the SV650 successor.
However, with a new engine configuration, the House of Hamamatsu will likely drop the SV650 nomenclature for something new.
The Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX is a quarter-litre ‘baby’ dual-sport adventure motorcycle recently introduced in India.
All new Suzuki V-Strom SX is a ‘baby’ dual-sport packing the right style and features.
It harnesses the 250cc single lifted from the Suzuki GSX250R, offering 26HP and 22.2NM.
Key features include dual-channel ABS, digital dash with connectivity function, and more.
At the time, the baby V-Strom is an India-only motorcycle but the bike’s potential in similar Asian markets in undeniable.
That said, it is likely that the Suzuki V-Strom 250 SX could make its way to Malaysia soon.
We recently managed to witness the test mule on Malaysian road, indicating Suzuki Malaysia intention of introducing the baby V-Strom for the local market.
This is certainly an exciting development considering the 250cc market lacks ADV-type motorcycle.
Currently, the Benelli TRK 250 is the only contender in this segment in Malaysia.
For starters, it harnesses the same 250cc single derived from the Suzuki GSX250R, delivering about 26HP and 22.2NM of twist through a six-speed constant-mesh transmission.
The Suzuki V-Strom SX reportedly weighs in at about 167KG, which makes said output figures rather adequate.
The pint-sized V-Strom features a telescopic front fork with 120mm of stroke dialled in, and it’s paired with a rear swingarm-mounted rear shock offering seven-level pre-load adjustment.
The wheels, on the other hand, measure 19-inches un front and 17-inches at the rear. As for braking, it’s a single disc brake setup both front and aft, and both are tied to a dual-channel ABS suite as well.
Other notable features include a digital meter panel display brimmed with Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging port, all-LED lighting, as well as the novel Suzuki Easy Start System electric ignition suite.
There is no denying the fact that motorcycles are a big part of our lives. We are surrounded by bikes. We feel that it is safe to say that almost every Malaysian has been on a motorcycle at least once in their lives.
Although two-wheelers have been around Malaysia since independence, their popularity grew massively only after the Honda Cub took over the world. Since the first ever Honda Cub, hundreds of bikes landed on our shores, but only a handful went on to become icons, thanks to either good design or downright reliability.
That said, below is our list of the top 10 iconic bikes that basically ruled our roads. In fact, some of them are still going strong today.
1) Honda Cub (Also known as the Honda ‘Bulat’)
Unveiled in 1958, the Honda Cub did not only rule Malaysian roads, but the whole world. It is in fact, the bike that was responsible for changing the image of bikes on a global scale. Just like how Air Asia made flying accessible to the masses, the Honda Cub was the first motorcycle to reach homes. First introduced as the C70, the Cub has gone through many generations, and is still going strong. We won’t be surprised if this bike, which is also dubbed as the greatest bike ever built by many, outlives many of us.
2) Honda EX5
The EX5, which is the Honda Cub’s “grandchild”, is without a doubt, the most popular bike to be on our streets. Unveiled in 1986, the EX5 was the first motorcycle for many Malaysians. Initially powered by a 97cc made in Japan, the EX5 was updated with a 110cc engine. Known for its durability and reliability, the EX5’s legacy is still going strong, and doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down any time soon.
3) Yamaha Sport 100
Photo courtesy of malaysianbikers.com.my
Also unveiled during the same era as the EX-5, the Yamaha Sport 100, which is also more commonly known as the “100 sports” by Malaysians, was the next most popular thing after the EX-5. Still being used by many riders, both young and old, the Sport 100, which is infamously known for emitting white smoke(it is a two-stroker), is still being widely used nationwide, 30 years after its debut.
4) Suzuki RGV 120
In the 1990s, the Malaysian ‘Kapchai’ market saw a new buying trend – the demand for two-strokers was on the rise. Younger riders were more interested in “radical” models, that came with a clutch, and could easily go past the speed limit, and looked more modern than bikes like the EX-5 and the Yamaha Sport 100. This was when the Suzuki RGV 120 came into the picture and took over the streets. Sought mostly by the youth back in the days, the first thing that will come to our mind when we see the RGV 120 is definitely the infamous modified screaming exhaust pipes. How can we forget that?
5) Yamaha RX 115
Photo courtesy of Yamaha RX 115 Fan Club Facebook
The Yamaha RX 115 was a naked 115 cc bare-boned motorcycle which made its debut in 1981. Besides Malaysia, the RX 115 is also very popular in Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, Uruguay, Singapore and Colombia. Today, the RX 115 will surely be present at any and every retro motorcycle show or gathering held in Malaysia.
6) Yamaha RXZ
If there was one bike that was guaranteed to get you attention from the ladies back in the 1990s, it was definitely the Yamaha RXZ. Powered by a potent two-stroke 135cc engine with insane amount of torque, the RXZ was not only good looking, but packed quite a punch in terms of performance as well. Truth be told, it was arguably the best looking bike of its time.
7) Kawasaki KR-150 Series (KIPS)
First unleashed in 1990 by Kawasaki, the Kawasaki KR-150, which is also known as the KIPS, was one of the favourites among speed-demons of the 90s. Looking like a mini GPZ 600, the KR150 was among the most powerful and reliable tw0-strokers to rule our streets. Even though the glory days of two-stroke engines are long gone, we can still see a few running around our roads till today.
8) Yamaha TZM 150
Photo courtesy of Motomalaya.net
A legendary bike based on the TZR 250 that could kick out an impressive 35hp at 10,500RPM. Thanks to the powerful liquid-cooled, two-stroke engine with 59.0mm x 54.0mm bore and stroke setup, the TZM could rev to insane rpm. Complemented by 30mm Mikuni carbs, the engine was capable of propelling this bike up to 208km/h. How is that for performance?
9) Suzuki TXR 150 Panther
If there was one bike that could match, or outdo Yamaha’s RXZ in terms of styling and performance, it was none other than the Suzuki TXR 150 Panther. Some say that it could even outperform the TZM. First launched in 1982, the Panther’s production ended in 1991. Although the official production of the Panther didn’t go on for as long as some of its rivals, the bike has a massive cult following and still remains popular among retro bike enthusiasts.
10) Yamaha 125Z
The Yamaha Y125Z or better known as Yamaha Z (in Europe) is a 125 cc two-stroke underbone bike which made its debut in 1998 as a successor of the Y 110 SS. It is said that the 125Z was the first 2-stroke underbone motorcycle to come with a catalytic converter. Beside being sold in most Southeast Asian countries especially in Malaysia and Singapore, it was also sold in Greece.
The world might be going bonkers, but the Suzuki SV650 will always be around.
The 2023 Suzuki SV650 features a new fresh colourway.
The 2023 SV650 retains the same mechanics and specifications.
That said, the House of Hamamatsu seems content to continue the SV650 production.
Recently, Suzuki introduced a new 2023 colourway for the SV650 in Italy. Unfortunately, the 2023 model continues to run on outdated features and specs.
That said, the 2023 SV650 now comes in Blu Las Vegas, Gray London and Black Dubai.
The Blu Las Vegas features a navy blue tank and tail section, with a bronze-painted trellis frame and rims. While the Black Dubai gets a gloss black paint base.
On the other hand, Gray London features a grey-painted fuel tank and tail section along with red rims. Give it a squint, and you might see a Ducati Monster instead.
Jokes aside, there is absolutely nothing new to report apart from the new colours. The 2023 SV650 still runs on the same 645cc 90-degree V-Twin engine that makes 75hp and 64Nm.
Suzuki is set to showcase two unique Suzuki Hayabusa clad in a special livery inspired by the firm’s GSX-RR MotoGP racebike in Turin next week.
Suzuki to unveil Hayabusa GP edition in Turin.
The Hayabusa GP edition will sport GSX-RR livery.
The Japanese firm is set to exit the MotoGP world championship at the end of the 2022 season after announcing its plan to relocate the fund towards sustainability.
Although the news shocked every motorsport fan worldwide, especially Suzuki fanboys, the Hamamatsu factory could breathe easy knowing they’ve shown the world their capabilities after winning the MotoGP world championship just recently as 2020 with Joan Mir.
Now that the official confirmation is out, Suzuki is set to bid farewell to the competition by unleashing two unique Hayabusa’s.
The Japanese marquee will appear at the Autolook Week Torino festival in Turin with two distinctive Suzuki Hayabusa GP Edition.
The two Hayabusa features team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-RR inspired liveries, including the prominent blue and silver colourway and fluorescent red and yellow.
However, it is still unclear whether the two motorcycles will make their way to production or will be a one-off effort by Suzuki.
We know that Suzuki plans to introduce a new generation of its middleweight adventure motorcycle, namely the V-Strom 650.
Latest spy shot confirmed a new generation Suzuki V-Strom 700 on its way.
The new middleweight ADV will feature a new parallel-twin configuration.
A new patent design reported in October last year showcased an all-new 700cc parallel-twin engine set to replace the outdated 650cc V-Twin currently operating the V-Strom 650/650XT and SV650.
Ten months went on, and we finally got to see the upcoming V-Strom 700 on the road, doing its trial run.
Looking at the spy shot, we can see that the new generation V-Strom 700 will adopt the same design language as its bigger sibling, the V-Strom 1050.
The Dr Big-inspired front fascia – previously applied on the 1050 – are also brought to the new 700cc V-Strom. It is also likely the new generation V-Strom 700 to finally get a new LED front headlamp.
Interestingly, although the iconic V-Twin configuration is replaced with a parallel-twin, Suzuki will continue to use the V-Strom nameplate, primarily because a P-Strom 700 just doesn’t work.
Jokes aside, parallel-twin have been popular among motorcycle manufacturers as newer bikes have now adopted the same platform.
Kawasaki has long preferred the parallel-twin, notably on the Ninja 650, Z650, Versys 650 and the newly launched Z650RS.
Yamaha understood the versatility of parallel-twin and introduced them on the MT-07, Tracer 7, Tenere 700 and the recent YZF-R7.
Aprilia took the same approach with the RS 660, Tuono 660 and the upcoming Tuareg 660, followed by BMW with the F 750 GS, 850 GS, F 900 R and the F 900 XR.
Honda also joins the bandwagon with the CRF1100L Africa Twin and Rebel 1100, proving the parallel-twin engine’s popularity.
The primary aspect of a parallel twin is that it offers a compact alternative to the V-Twin that currently powers the SV650 and V-Strom 650. Moreover, it is also simpler to build a bike around.
Therefore, switching from a V-Twin to a parallel twin makes more sense. Also, as showcased by the design patent, placing the airbox under the rider’s seat will allow the air filter to be swapped without removing the tank, reducing the maintenance cost.
Meanwhile, the spy shot also revealed an updated suspension system with the wheels likely to retain the same 19-inch front and 17-inch at the rear.
Looking at how complete the test mule is, we expect Suzuki to officially unveil the production model at the EICMA show in Milan this November.
