Upon learning the news of Suzuki discontinuing car sales in North America next year, I can’t even deny the fact that we were deeply saddened. Not only are we going to be missing out on a couple of truly wonderful cars, we will be missing an experience we have serious sentimental value towards. After we started writing about cars here at Double Clutch, our first official press car was a Suzuki. We extensively drove a series of Suzuki Kizashis over the course of the last couple years and genuinely enjoyed every single one of them. Therefore, it’s only appropriate that Suzuki be an integral part of us starting out with motorcycle reviews.
Throughout the time Suzuki Canada was providing us with test cars, we became accustomed to their immaculately detailed fleet and the fact that our PR reps not only stand behind their product, but they’re real car guys. When I arrived to pick up the 2013 Suzuki GSX-R750, I spent a while chatting with our friendly Suzuki bike rep. I came to learn that he details the bikes himself, and has been around bikes for a significant period of time. Awesome; this is going to be the start of a wonderful experience.
Since its introduction in the mid-1980s, the GSX-R750 has been a favourite amongst riders. The GSX-R was the bike that created this class back then, and has won overNot only is it affordable at a starting price of just over $13,000, this Gixxer is one of the most versatile bikes around. For 2013, it’s powered by the same 750 cc four-cylinder engine as the previous year’s model, and Suzuki has reduced its weight by 8 kilograms. The throttle response has also been improved as well as some slightly freshened bodywork.
Out of all the bikes I have been fortunate enough to ride, none have felt as perfect or balanced as the GSX-R750. Suzuki’s PR guys weren’t even slightly bluffing when they say that the rider can really feel the race-oriented engineering invested into this motorcycle. Everything is just so sharp; it’s almost as if the bike predicts your every move right as the thought enters your mind. Acceleration is ridiculously smooth, the clutch uptake is dead-on, and the shifts from the 6-speed constant mesh transmission are quick and effortless.
I was the first person to ride the 2013 model on the Suzuki press fleet; my tester had just 30km on it when I picked it up. Seeing as I picked it up on a gorgeous, sunny Friday, I decided to head straight up north to Forks of the Credit, one of southern Ontario’s finest driving roads. You may have read me rave about this road before, but I can safely say you’ve never experienced it before you try it out on a sport bike. The GSX-R750’s four-piston Brembo front and single-piston rear brakes work together flawlessly to ensure safety and accuracy before tossing the bike into the twisties.
The one gripe I do have with the GSXR-750 is the same gripe I have with any sport or supersport bike. The “crotch-rocket” riding position is absolutely brilliant for performance riding, but unbearable for long highway hauls. A ride from Richmond Hill to Mississauga on the 401 (in light traffic) had me paralyzed to a point where I was simply unable to ride for the rest of the day. Now, I’ll give the motorcycle credit in the fact that on a curvy road, the position is great for maintaining proper balance.
Having won many racing victories including the Le Mans 24-hour World Endurance Championships, the Suzuki GSX-R750 has definitely proven itself worthy. It’s the absolute perfect balance of a powerful engine with the compactness and agility of a smaller bike. The amount of power it puts out is absolutely adequate for its size; this bike is seriously fast in a straight line. Novice riders should stay as far away from this bad boy as they possibly can; it’s not hard to hurt yourself on it. All of that being said; the 2013 GSX-R750 is quite possibly one of my favourite bikes on the market. I ride for leisure; I enjoy the hilly backroads and curvy passes. A touring bike can do the job a little bit more comfortably, but there won’t be nearly as much fun involved. I have yet to ride a bike as precise as this one; I’m thoroughly impressed.
2013 Suzuki GSX-R750 Gallery
