VOL. 50 ISSUE 32 AUGUST 13, 2013 P91
WHAT THEY SAID:
JASON PRIDMORE, 43, 2x AMA Pro Champion
"It's probably one of my favorite bikes. It is a bike you could go
fast on really easily."
PAUL CARRUTHERS, 52, Long-time Test Rider and Cycle News Editor
"It may just be the best sportbike you can buy. Not a 600 and
not a 1000. The perfect sportbike?"
JEN ROSS DUNSTAN, 25, Amateur Club Racer
"It's very similar to its 600cc brother but those extra ponies
make a difference."
JAKE ZEMKE, 37, AMA Formula Xtreme Champ
"It feels like a 600 that's got a built race motor in it, but it's
stock."
handily trumps the Ducati in spite
of the Italian mount's 99cc advantage. An additional 1100 rpm
of over-rev remain, serving as
an extra cushion when deciding
whether to upshift or hold onto a
gear before braking for the next
corner.
"It definitely has the power advantage," says Zemke. "There's
definitely a lot more torque in the
motor so there is less shifting involved."
As Zemke mentions, the 750
has a noticeably more robust
torque curve. Although it's over
seven lb-ft less than the 848
EVO, it sure doesn't feel that way
as it offers a much broader and
consistent spread of torque. This
allows the rider to run the GSX-R
a gear high (similar to the ZX-6R)
and equates to fantastic drives
off turns. The GSX-R750 recorded the second-best acceleration
force off turns 10 and 13 and the
highest top speeds, too. Like the
600, however, the transmission
didn't upshift as cleanly as the
other non-quickshifter equipped
bikes, which hurt it in the Drivetrain category.
Since it carries so much more
mph down the straightaways,
the 750 is theoretically going to
require more braking force to
slow down for the following corner. The data confirms this with
it registering the highest g-force
into turns 1 and 8. However the
braking components weren't as
universally loved as the other
Brembo monoblocs or even the
Tokico and Nissin set-ups on the
Honda and Kawasaki, highlighted by inconsistent lever feel as
the brakes build heat with use.
"I've got a lot of time on one
of those and without a doubt it's
one of the most fun sportbikes
Suzuki GSX-R750
HIGHS
•Broad powerband
•Predictable handling
•Ergonomics fit a wide range of
riders
LOWS
•In-between many racing classes
•Can be hard to upshift under load
•Suffers from brake fade
Suzuki GSX-R750 Settings:
Fork
Preload: 4 (Turns in)
Compression: 5
Rebound: 4
Shock
Preload: Standard 181mm spring length
Low-Speed Compression: 2.25
High-Speed Compression: 3
Rebound: 2
that's out today," says Neuer." It
does everything great."
You'll be hard pressed to ride
a more versatile or easy handling
bike than this three-quarter-liter
Suzuki. A broad powerband,
predicable steering, and friendly
cockpit allow fast laps to come at
ease as proven by its Superpole
times, at or near the top of the
timesheet. Despite competence
in many categories it's missing
that special something that separates great bikes from truly excellent ones. Still, if you're seeking a well-rounded racer, then
the GSX-R750 will be just what
you're looking for.
