Anyway, by this time I had spoken to a lot of people concerning the R1 and nearly everybody said that it is a bike that always holds a surprise for the rider. And that if for any reason you lose concentration for a moment while on the gas this machine will bite you. Not the sort of bike I want really, I mean the power is awesome and the handling is brilliant, but I don't want to be steaming round some race track and then suddenly the back end breaks loose big time? Then just as we had pretty much made our mind up about the Yam, Performance Bike magazine published the 'Sportsbike of the Year Award' and have a guess what bike slaughtered the opposition? Yes you've guessed it, the new GSXR750WY. This year's bike is lighter than the current R6, handles like a 250 and accelerates with the big boys, this is my baby methinks!
I was a bit gutted to see the Thundercat go, so I had a reminiscing session on the Sunday prior to the Red Yamaha's departure. I have to say that I had a bit of a lump in the throat that day, as I had had some really good fast times on this bike and it was a shame to see her go. When Wednesday 27th September came round though and they wheeled the big Suzuki out of the back of the delivery van, those feelings quickly diminished I can tell you. Since then I had been running it in and having to keep the revs below 7000 RPM and that is very difficult on a bike of this performance. Every time I open the throttle, I can feel the fuel injected 750-engine try to roar off. But low and behold at Seven thousand revs I change up and try to be good, DAMN!
Even so, this bike is a serious bit of kit and so bloody light too. It really does handle like a 250 as well and kinda takes me back to the days of the screaming two-strokes, but this ain't no pocket rocket I can tell you! Every corner is eaten up effortlessly and the throttle response is instantaneous thanks to the upgraded fuel injection system. I am dying to find out how it will perform on the track, although I reckon I have a very good idea already? Snetterton here I come!
Anyway, aside from the shit start to the day - the new can is on and the re-mapping has been done. Satndard,� the GSXR was making 118bhp at the back wheel, so after Al fitted the ART race can and tweeked the fuel injection, it was making a sexy 125bhp.� Even Al seemed surprised at the result.� As you will see on the graph, the power is very evenly spread enabling the bike to pick up earlier in the rev range. Lovely Jubbley Rodders!! (Click on the graph to enlarge it)
End result is a blindingly fast Suzuki that sounds as Al described very 'in ya face', which I think is an understatement.........................
Conclusion: This bike is an absolute missile, it� pulls clean and hard through the revs, but really starts moving in the latter end of the scale.� Hit 13 - 1400 revs in every gear and the world is a virtual blur.� Then soon it's time to tuck in and hold very tight. This was by far the best bike out there for all round handling and performance. There is loads of horse power and it will pull hard in mostly every gear. Corners are simply eaten up with no effort, all you have to do is point her in the direction of the corner and she will do the rest!� Even the riding position was comfortable. It's no Pan Europian, but very easy on the back side all the same.� The only thing it needed was a grab rail, as this bike pulled a bit too hard to just use the strap.�
So far everywhere I'd been� I'd either� run out of clear roads or run into the local constabulary and it really doesn't help having such a lowd race can on board. I have to say though, that out of all of the bikes I have ridden over the years (even Alistairs EXUP), this was to be one of the best.� Again, unfortunately she was totally trashed out on track coming out of Clarke Curve at Brands when I was highsided at around 110mph on the exit. I was left with a broken foot, wallet and no more shiny motorcycle?!
