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/126932
The 1987 production Suzuki RM250H features Kayaba cartridge forks. a rear disc brake. a redesigned power- valve and new rear suspension linkag••• 1987 street and off-road Suzukis Suzuki showcases new bikes in Reno By Kit Palmer RENO, NV, OCT 14 Suzuki Motor Corporation introduced a total of 21 different street and off-road motorcycles for the U.S. market in 1987, but there's only one really new model joining Suzuki's latest lineup - the big V-twin VSl400GL Intrude; street . cruiser. . Th~ 1360cc Intruder crUiser 8 and LX and LXE touring Cavalcades are the largest displacement models , Suzuki will be offering in 1987, (see Cycle News issue number ~9, October 8, for technical information and riding impression ofthe new VSl400GL Intruder). Even though Suzuki has onl)' one new model (or '87, all of Suzuki's previous models have received refinements and new color schemes. The smallest displacement street bike Suzuki is offering in '87 is the GS450LH, designed as a low-cost middleweight cruiser. New features include a lower 29-inch seat height, pullback handlebars with rectangu- lar~irr?rsandnewcolors.Suggested rewl pnce for the GS450LH IS $1999. Back for another year after its 1986 debut is the cruiser-style, entry level LS650FH Savage. It maintains a 652cc, four-stroke overhead cam single, with a four-valve head, electric start, belt drive, 26-inch seat height, a choice of flat or pullback handlebars and a $2299 suggested retail price tag. It will be available in red or black. In addition to the big VSI400GLFH Intruder, Suzuki is still offering three different models of the V-twin VS700GL Intruder. The VS700GLEPH Intruder comes with stylish mag wheels and is offered in maroon or black, while the other two models (VS700GLFH and VS700GLPH) come with spoke wheels. The GLFH . has flat-bend handlebars with a blue gas tank, side covers and fenders, and the GLPH has pullback handlebars offered in two color schemes - black or maroon. All three bikes feature . four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 45° V-[win, SOHC, eight-valve engines with Twin Swirl Combustion Chambers (TSCC), five-speed transmissions and each has a 27-inch seat height. _ . On the sportier side of the spectrum, Suzuki's GSXR series is back in full strength with new models of the lightweight GSXR750H and the big-bore GSXRIIOOH. The new GSXR 750 has largex carburetors for increased horsepower, and both bikes have new colors and styling. The 750 comes in color combinations of black/ red/white or white/blue/light blue, while theGSXRllooH is available in red/blue and blue/white combinations. Suggested retail price for the GSXR 750H is $4899, and the GSXRllooH will go for $5899. For lOuring riders, the 1360cc Cavalcades LX and LXE return in 1987 with color c;hanges and minor refinements. B.oth road tourers have new graphics, a higher-mounted rear view mirror, easier access helmet locks, larger audio controls and a sound field expander in the audio system. The GVI400GDH "standard" (LX) comes in two-tone silver, and two, tone black, and carries a suggested retail price of $8999. The Cavalcade "deluxe" (LXE) features colormatched lower fairings with ventilation and cornering lights built in, Suzuki's adjustable air seat, a heightand angle-adjustable passenger head- rest, twin rear speakers with fader for the co-rider's backrest, a ,map case, coin box and cassette tape box, and more chrome-plated parts. The LXE comes in black/silver and maroon/ silver, with a suggested retail price of $10,699. Suzuki is maintaining a small lineupof on/off road bikes for 1987, relying on just two models - the SP l25H and 200. For the second year in a row, Suzuki isn't offering the big-bore SP600. Both the red-painted SPI25H and 200 have four-stroke, SOHC, single cylinder, Twin Dome Combustion Chamber (TDCC) motors and Full Floater rear suspension systems. The SPI25H has a six-speed transmission, while the 200 has a fi ve-speed. Five models will be offered by Suzuki in the strictly off-road "playbike" category. They are the JR50H, the DS80, 100, 125 and 200R models. The JR50H and the DSSOS have two-stroke motors, while the DR'series have four-stroke, SOHC, single cylinder, TDCC engines. All these machines have new graphics over a brighter shade of yellow. The two most changed mooels in Suzuki's 1987 lineup art the RMl25H and RM250H motocrossers. Both bikes share many new features, such as a new Automatic Exhaust Timing Control (AETC) power-valve, new electronic ignitions and new expansion chambers. Suspension-wise, both the RMI25 and 250 come sLOck with 43mm Kayaba cartridge forks with 20 compression/rebound da'mping adj.ustments,