Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126646
the other anti-dive-eq uipped bikes we 've tested , we feel m ore wo rk needs to be done o n th ese potentia lly beneficia l systems . As thi ngs sta n d now, anti-dive m echanism s h elp advertising writers fill up a bro ch ure page more than they hel p a rider negotiate a twisty road. Any claims Suzuki makes about its engine, though , are backed UP bv performance. After years with a twovalve-per-cylinder design, Suzuki drew up a l6-valver in 1980. This year's revision uses all the o ld hot rod artists' tricks and is not lackin g h orsep ower. T he 747cc engine is a little lacking in low-end power, bu t more than ma kes up fo r th e deficiency with a very strong mid-range and top-end. To get rea l speed out of the engine, a rider must keep the tach hovering near its 10,OOO-rpm redl ine, a ta sk made eas ier by the smoothshifting five-speed transmission. And whi le the "old-fashioned" in-line four may suffer slightly when compared to the water-cooled V-4 marvel from Honda, it has more than enough power to get the jo b done. At certain engine speeds it also has more than enough vibration as well. One of our test riders found h imself shifting much ea rlier than needed just because the vibra tio n level caused h im to think the engine was approaching red li ne . Luckily, at 5000 rpm in top gear, things smooth out and touring at a fast clip is relatively painless. During its stay with us , the Suzuki was as reliable as a motorcycle can be. Even the sealed ;O -ring chain went ' th e d istance withou t adjustment, despite several spirited ap p lications of the throttle and cl utch . O nly th e bike's sidestand gave us problems. One editor parked the Suzuki on a slight downgrade, tu rned to wa lk away and was serenaded by the so und of the $3499 beauty rolling off its sidestan d and toppling to the pavement. Although the expensive gas tank and fairi ng were n o t damaged, the plastic instrument pod was cracked, rendering the speedometer and gear indicator lights useless. Add a scratched engine case and gouged turn signal and you have the makings o f a n expensive repair bill. At o ne time, to uri ng o n a sport bike meant tired wrist and an ach ing back. Recent examples of the breed, the ES included, have proven that a backroad scratcher doesn 't have to sacrifice comfort to get razor-edge han dl in g. Even if the stretch over the 5.5-gallon gas tank to th e low-rise handlebars is relatively long, the Suzuki's seat and footpegs have been engineered to make the riding positio n feel quite natural. With its adjustable suspension, excellent passenger accommodations and 47-mpg capabili ties, a n all -day ride with a favorite riding partner is something to look forward to. On ly our tallest editor had reservations about the Suzuki's riding posi tion. For him. everything was just too cramped and after one particularly painfu l night ride, he went out of his way not to ride "that pygmy bike. " It shou ld be noted that, at six feet, two inches, he ' is taller than ave rage and h is personal preferences in st reet bikes runs to th e fu lly -faired, cha n nel-seeking-radio-eq uipped end o f the spectrum. In th e end choosing a bike always comes down to p ersona l preference. If you're in the mark et for a sporting 750. don 't just waltz down to the nearest Honda dealer and plonk your money on the counter. Yes, the Interceptor is a very impressive piece of work. Feature for feature and dollar for dollar it is hard to beat. What Suzuki has to offer the potential buyer is a bike every bit as capable as the H onda for the majority of riding th at most of us do. If you're a paveme nt carver extraordina ire or p lan to do a lot o f production road racing, your choice is clear. Bu y the Honda - if you ca n still fin d a dealer who's selling one for a reasonable price. For ave rage da y-to-day riding, though, your choice is a little harder. And given better brakes, a little more ground clearance and perhaps a few more horsepower, the GS750 might even beat that other, allco nquering 750 at its own game. Now that's impressive. • Specifications Engine Type Transverse. f ou r-cylinder four-stroke. Displacement 747cc. Bore x stroke .. ... . .... .... .. . .... .... . .. . . .. ... . ..• 67 X 63mm. Compression rat io 9 .7:1 . Starting system Electric. Ignition system : . Transistorized. Transmission Five-speed . Carburetor Four 32mm Mikuni. Frame Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Double cradle. Front tire : 100/90-16 tubeless. Rear tire 120/90-17 tubeless. Dimensions Wheelbase Seat height Dry weight (claimed) Fuel capacity Oil capacity Suggested retail price 68.3 in . 30.7 in. 460 Ibs . 6 .6 gal. 3.4 qts. $3499. 23-