ANY motorcycle/bike launch is always good copy, but when a single manufacturer decides to launch to the public five bikes in a day, then that commotion of moto(rcyle) motion is DEFINITELY news.
Such is what happened on a recently rainy Friday at the World Trade Center, when Suzuki unveiled the Hayabusa hyper sport bike, the GSX-R1000 and Gladius sport bikes, the Thunder 125 cc underbone bikes and a Raider R150 underbone clad in Yoshimura performance parts.
The Hayabusa or “‘Busa” is the top tier two wheeler of the Suzuki lineup, and makes its presence felt even while at rest due to the bike’s signature silhouette—albeit wrapped in slightly more angular bodywork, featuring twin stacked headlights, a slightly less bulky rear cowl and the telltale large Hayabusa decal in kanji on the fairing. When you get into the rather wide riding position, you are greeted by a redesigned gauge cluster that includes an indicator for the Selective Drive Mode System, or S-DMS (which toggles engine mapping).
Beneath the new body, chassis refinements include a bridged aluminum alloy swingarm designed for superior rigidity, new inverted 43 mm forks to help the Busa turn, and 310 mm radially mounted front calipers to reduce unsprung weight. Helping the bike move its 485-lb dry weight is a 1,340 cc inline-four cylinder that produces a staggering 194 hp at the crank.
Monster of a liter “Gixxer” Billed as the flagship model of the GSX-R line, the 1,000 cc GSX-R 1000 has enough torque and power for straight line or corner exit acceleration.
If you’re looking for a corner carver, the P839,000 GSX-R 1000 is your best bet. Also known as a liter Gixxer because of its 1,000 cc displacement, this sport bike totes an all-new engine with a bevy of technologies—including crankshaft-end lubrication (that now pumps oil through the center of the crankshaft and directly to the connecting rod journals, to prevent oil starvation at high lateral situations), intake and exhaust valve diameters getting upped by up to 1.0 mm (to push in more air to be mixed with fuel), a redesigned camshaft (that allows for shorter valve stems and reduced weight), a reshaped crankcase that further cuts engine mass, and an increased size in the SRAD (Suzuki Ram Air-Direct) airbox to improve air flow to the engine—to make the flagship Gixxer run faster.
Weight reduction was also in mind with the liter Gixxer’s chassis, braking and suspension bits. The twin-spar frame has been resized and made smaller, the newly designed front swing-arm is longer to aid in corner-exit traction and the use of thinner wall-thickness aluminum in key areas make the Gixxer a very light bike on turn in and apex transition. Stopping the Gladius are all-new cast aluminum alloy monobloc front calipers that increase rigidity by nearly 25 percent while shaving off yet more weight. Combined with lighter 310 mm front disks, the entire brake system drops some 560 grams, and adding lower-expansion brake lines increase feel and feedback. It’s the same story out back, with a redesigned caliper reducing unsprung heft a further 290 grams. Last, a racing-derived Showa BPF (big piston fork) greatly reduces initial dive under braking or hard load and facilitates smoother, more controlled action.
Then you have the Gladius, a sport bike aimed at inexperienced riders yet fun for veteran sport riders, as well. Billed as a direct replacement for the Suzuki SV650, the P479,000 Gladius feels more compact and easier to move around at walking pace. The seat is low, but the bike steers very well and offers a good balance of agility and reassuring stability—enough to inspire some confidence in the nervous yet have rapid handling response that’s enough to be rewarding for experienced bikers. And should you need rapid acceleration, the 645 cc DOHC V-Twin has twin-plug cylinder heads, a heavier crankshaft to smooth low-speed running and increased valve lift for a livelier feel across the rev range.
The Thunder 125 is designed for unparalleled urban action, featuring Suzuki’s PAIR (Pulsed secondary AIR injection) system for a good balance between power and fuel parsimony. Larger (in terms of dimensions) than most underbone bikes, the P66,900 Thunder 125’s tall but comfortable riding position ensures optimum handling stability and maneuverability in congested streets.
Last, for those looking to upgrade their Raider R150s, Yoshimura mufflers, camshafts and racing gaskets are now available at all Suzuki dealers. Said to increase horsepower by 16 percent and torque by 55 percent, the Raider R150 Yoshimura upgrade kits also give the bike a sporty look. “This tie-up with Suzuki Philippines is very important to us as our success here will serve as a stepping stone for our future expansion into the Asean small bike market.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your opinion