Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

fork, the 1100 gets a Kayaba unit. The overall weight loss has allowed engineers to use a softer single-rate spring with a higher oilleveI (13mm) and the rebound damping rate has been increased. Comp ression damping, however, stays the same. The steering damper rate has also been decreased just a tad. The only change to the rear suspension is to t he re bo u n d damping . (decreased) and the compression damping (increased); the spring rate remains the same. Th e GSXR1100 will be fitted with Dunlop Sport Ma x Radial II tires, mounted to th e sa me straight-sp oked wheels featured on the GSXR750. Oth er changes to the bike include Tin plating on the pistons; improved piston - cooling via an increase in the size of the piston-cooling oil-jet nozzles; Idium platin g has been added to the crankshaft journa l bearings to assist with break-in; minor jetting changes to the carburetor; rep rogrammed ignition timing becaus e .of the new cams and exhaust; the use of the RF900R clutch cover; the two innermost clutch plates now feature a tighter tolerance with the clutch basket to reduce noise; the final d ri ve ratio has changed to reduce gear noise and the chain is longer and wraps itself around a larger sprocket; the thermostat housing has been moved outboard of the frame to allow for easier access to the valve cover and other components which sit under the gas tank; and the front brake rotors have been drilled to reduce weight. Even with the weight loss, the big Suzuki still tips the scale at a dry weight of 493 po unds. So wha t's it like on the race track? Th e firs t thi ng we notice d w as a n u p g rad e in the comfort le vel of the GSXRll 00. The o nly t hi ng w e ca n attribute this to is the lo we ring of the footpegs, a design change which seems to rem ove the crampy feeling from the bike. The low erin g of the footpegs is a change that should prove to be a big hit with those who pu rchase the Suz u ki for roadgoing purposes and not sol ely for race track use. Although the GSXR1100 has never been w hat we'd call a comfor ta ble motorcycle, it's much bett er than before and commuting on the big Suzuki should n' t pose a p roblem. Suzuki' s GSXR1100 has always fea ture d good power, and the change s in th e valve timing, ca rb u r eti on a nd exha ust system ha ve produced a powerplant with a much imp roved midrange. The '95 GSXR pulls hard from bottom to top, w ith an excep tional amount of midrange power and feel. Although we didn't expe rience a dramatic improve men t in th e handling of the 1100, it's likely that the changes will show up when ridden fast by more talen ted race rs. We di d not ice an unsettling front-e nd patter that was eliminated by increasing the preload in the front fork by two clicks . Persistent rumors say this may be the fi nal year ' of production for the GSXR11oo, a rumor Suzuki spokesmen deny. Th e cost o f the 1995 Suzuki GSXR1100 is $9549. It seems somewhat ironic that after nearly a decade in production the GSXR series is act ua lly heavie r than w hen it was first introd uced , the hallmark of th e fir s t mo d els bein g light weigh t. Bu t I guess we all sp read a bit as the years go by. ~ While Cycle News believes theforegoing test reliable, it is the opinion of the reviewers only and should not be relied upon in determining the performance or safety of thevehicle!s). The reader should make his or her awninvestigation. Driving without motorcycle liability insurance is illegal. It's also down-right foolish. Especially when you consider that, at M cGraw, you can get annual liability for as low as $79! So do n't get caug ht McGrawless. Get on the phone now. ~ Ii [ MCGRAW INSURANCE ===-== SERVICES 3601 H aven Avenue · M enl o Park, CA 94025 800-6MCGRAW (662-4729) I? O . Box 40, Ana heim , CA 928 15 What makes a perfect gift for the person who has everything? ••.a Cycl e News gift subsoription! Call (3 10) 427-7433 to order today. Donate to THECLAYTON ~ FOU D T N N A IO e lI) 2201 Cherry Avenue Long Beach, CA 90806 0\ 0\ ,....; ... ,....; >. I-< ce :l 310/427-7433 ...0 'We want to be yourfavorite c1ulrity" ~ I-< Q) 29

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