Our GS faithfully delivered 170
miles before going on reserve, for a
mileage figure of just about 40 miles
to Lhe gallon. Believe the gas gauge
and fill it before it gets too empty. In
a truly bogus arrangmem, Suzuki has
located the petcock behind a panel on
the gas tank. If you need to go on
r~rve, by the time you've fumbled
around with the cover, pulled it aside
and arrived at the petcock, you'll be
off the side of Lhe road, at a dead stop.
OLher than Lhe problem with switching to reserve and the early bugaboo
wiLh Lhe brakes, the Suzuki has been
flawless mechanically. Unlike the bigger GS750, we haven't had any problems with the 550 tipping of[ the
sidestand and spoiling the nice whiteand-blue finish, although the side
stand was a little unusual in operation for first-timers on the Suzuki.
Other bits and pieces: Although
Lhe GS is a lillie wider at the cases
Lhan some of the competition wiLh
aft-positioned electrics, we left no
metal on th road. uzuki equips the
bike with an oil cooler as standard
equipmem, and wiLh Lhe high-revving
nature of Lhe powerband, we'd say
Lhe oil cooler is almost a necessity.
Coming to an overall conclusion
on the GS550 is somewhat difficult.
Yes, it's sleekly styled; yes, it's fast; yes,
it handles corners as if Randy Mamola is in the saddle.
And, perhaps as result, the bike
was too good for the day-to-day,
home-to-job-to-home riding that most
of us do. Something on the order of
doing your air commuting in an F-16
fighter when a Cessana is perfectly
adequate. The racer-oriented riding
position and the high-winding
powerband seemed out of place for
freeways and city streets. BUlopinions
aren't forever, and they are certainly
not all-encompassing, Of Lhe crack,
fabled Cycle News test crew, one rider
wins the daily commute award with a
round trip of about 120 miles.
Wouldn't you know it? He was the
one to fall head over heels in his
emhu ia m for the Suzuki,
•
S pacifications
Engine
Type
Displacement
Bore x stroke
Compression ratio
Starting system
Ignition system
Transmission
Carburetor
Four-stroke DOHC four-cylinder.
672cc.
60 X 50.6mm.
10.0: 1.
Electric.
C.D.I.
Six-speed.
Two two-barrel Mikuni B53055.
Frame
Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Double cradle.
Front tire
100/90-16 64H.
Rear tire
110/90-1B-61H.
Dimensions
Wheelbase
Seat height
Dry weight (claimed)
Fuel capacity
Suggested retail price
56.3 in.
30.7 in.
416Ibs.
4.8 gal.
,. $2999 (E model. $2299).
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