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/127749
with the unchanged 600 and 900 models, however, the 900 does feature adjustable rebound damping to the front fork. The RF600 will sell for $6999 and the RF900 $9099. For the more budget-minded sport bike rider, Suzuki will again offer the aging but pocketbook-friendly line of Katana motorcycles. The GSX600 is essentially the same except for a new, silent-type cam chain to help reduce engine noise, while the GSX750 returns unchanged. But here's the good part, the Katana 600 retails for a cool $5999 and the Katana 750 $7099. As far as the rest of the street bike line, most of the bikes feature little changes, such as a new push-to-cancel turn switch for the LS650 Savage, wider seats and thicker padding for the VS800 and 1400GLPT Intruders. The GN125 and GS500 are back unchanged, as is the GSF600 Bandit. The GSX-R750 isn't the only big news from Suzuki, however. First of all, Suzuki's dual sport line has grown with the addition of the DR200S, a weight, several internal fork components, like the cartridge tubes and bottom. end caps, are aluminum alloy instead of steel. The shock rides on a beefier alu. urn-alloy swingarm, and the shock itself uses a lighter piggyback reservoir rather than a remote reservoir. Many suspension chassis parts ha ve been lightened in one way or another. The aerodynamic shape of the fairing and bodywork are the direct result of intensive wind-tunnel testing. According to Suzuki, the curved shape of the tailsection dramatically reduces turbulent and top-speed wake, which would otherwise create the perfect formula to pull a drafting competitor forward. The new tail section not only smooths the air flow to help reach higher speeds, but doesn't give a pur• suer anything to latch on to, meaning less drafting. The new GSX-R750 will also come with a new price tag for '96. The sugges ted retail price will be $8999, and $10,299 for its relatively unchanged GSX-RllOO brother. The RF line makes its third encore GSF&OO BandIt GSI-R1100 slightly more powerful version of the entry-level DS125S. Like all of the other DRs, the 200 features electric starting. But the biggest news in Suzuki's dual sport department is the totally redesigned DR650S. Just look at the new 650, and you can easily tell that it is slimmer and probably lighter than its predecessor, and, according to Suzuki, it is - by 33 pounds:" The DR's four-valve, SOHC, aircooled, electric-start motor features a new crankcase, cylinder, cylinder head, engine covers and a single counterbalancer system, all of which were designed to reduce weight while boosting power and performance. The overall size of the motor is significantly smaller than the previous engine, as welL The frame is lighter but 13 percent more rigid, as claimed by Suzuki. Suspension is handled by all-new 43mm conventional forks and a single, piggyback reservoir shock. The big DR will carry a suggested retail price of $5199. Both the DR250 and 350S models are unchange. f"N