Beginner Motorcycle Reviews and Guides » Suzuki

2004 Suzuki Katana 600 – Review, Pics, and More!

Cameron Martel — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:44:49 +0000

The Suzuki Katana, or the “Can-A-Tuna” as it is sometimes called, is one of the most misunderstood motorcycles ever produced. Coming in 600cc and 750cc trims, with 80 hp and 92 hp respectively, the Katana was a capable sport/sport-tourer hybrid that is both welcoming for new riders and powerful enough to be entertaining.

Weighing in at 458lbs (600cc), the Katana is far from a light bike- that’s what makes the Katana such a great bike for new riders. With that much weight it feels planted on the highway, handling bumps and small potholes without fuss. Twist the throttle and the front end will stay planted, allowing you to enjoy maximum acceleration with minimum wheelie-time. For a new rider, that’s perfection.

The “Guts” of the 2004 Suzuki Katana 600

Powering the Katana 600 is a 600cc inline-4 based off of an older generation GSXR-750 motor. The engine has been modified and detuned to 600cc, creating approximately 80 horsepower, and a helluva good time. With “1 down and 5 up”, the transmission will feel perfect for just about anyone.

Other utilities loaded onto the Katana include electric start, dual headlights (hi/low), vented front and rear disc brakes, a fuel guage, and a digital clock. Thanks to the bulletproof motor, the Katana 600 will run through just about anything.

The Suzuki Katana is a bit of a “parts bin special” due to the fact that it was made from bits of pieces of other bikes. To save money, corners were cut in areas so that the bike would be a good overall performer and still be price competitive. As a result you get a bike that is good at a lot of things but fails to excel.

Riding the 2004 Suzuki Katana 600

If you’re used to the low-end torque provided by v-twins, or the crazy high-end power offered by supersports, the Katana may seem disappointing. The 600cc inline-4 lacks low-end toque, but by the time you hit 7,000rpm the Katana is ready to throw everything it’s got at you. The result is a bike that is easy to “ride slow”, while at the same time, can be a screamer up top if you want it to be. This means new riders can comfortably learn the limits of the bike without having to scare themselves senseless.

As mentioned previously, the Katana 600 weighs in at 458lbs. This bike is definitely not light, so don’t expect to be able to flick it around the corners in the same way you would with a smaller motorcycle (like a Ninja 500R, for example). Of course, this pays off when you’re making long trips- the weight lends stability and traction that it wouldn’t otherwise have. When we said that it was a sport/sport-tourer hybrid, we meant that in every sense you can imagine: it’s got the engine, transmission, and adjustable suspension of a sport bike along with the stability, riding position, and comfort of a sport-tourer. It also has a ton of storage (for a motorcycle)- more than most litre bikes.

Down low the Katana feels like a powerful V6 car. It moves with traffic and can certainly negotiate itself well. Up high, however, is where the V6 becomes a V8, packing lots of accessible power and sounding like a bat out of hell. For someone with limited riding experience the power may actually be a bit too much, but thankfully the bike gives you the option of choosing how it is going to be ridden.

Finding the Suzuki Katana 600 Used

Suzuki stopped production of the Katana in 2006. During its production run over over 15 years over 50,000 Katana’s were sold. This means that they are relatively easy to find, and their pricing is competitive. The yellow 2004 Katana we reviewed, for example, was purchased for $3,650 with just over 20,050km on the odometer.

For a bike that requires nearly no extraneous maintenance, looks great, and is lots of fun, the Suzuki Katana fails to disappoint and provides a riding experience that smaller motorcycles just can’t replicate. If you want a motorcycle that will easily last you 3 or 4 years, the Suzuki Katana 600 is an excellent choice.

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The Suzuki SV650 as a First Bike: Our Thoughts

Cameron Martel — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:34:28 +0000

One of the first motorcycles I owned was a 2008 Suzuki SV650S. It was what I rode immediately after selling my 1999 Kawasaki Ninja 500R (probably the best beginner motorcycle I’ve ever ridden, by the way. Learn more about the Kawasaki Ninja 500R here), and it was the motorcycle that took riding from a hobby to a full-blown addiction. It’s balance, poise, power, and curb appeal drew me in a little more each time I rode it.

Then, one day, I sold it. As always, it was time to move on to bigger and better things. In my case, it was the desire to move away from a V-twin (for various personal reasons).

The Suzuki SV650 for a New Rider

One of the many things I liked about my ’08 SV was that it was a fast bike – sometimes, a little too fast – but only when I wanted it to be. I found that riding a super-sport always resulted in me being cautious of laying into the throttle for fear that the motorcycle would go crazy and try to take off on me. While I appreciate a good wheelie, I prefer both wheels on the ground when I ride.

The SV650 was very tamable. Since the V-twin had a relatively predictable power band, I was able to give it gas while I was turning- accelerating out of the corner with peace of mind in knowing that I wouldn’t hit some change in the power band and kill myself. In this way, the SV650 was a fantastic ride. Suzuki really hit the nail on the head with this one.

But, like every bike, there were some caveats that I found myself getting annoyed with:

The styling just irked me - While there is no doubt that the Suzuki SV650S is a handsome bike, it lacked the sporty and aggressive appeal that some other motorcycles had (the new Yamaha FZ6R comes to mind). I wanted something a little more aggressive looking and, for the first time ever, I was beginning to appreciate the looks of naked bikes.

I didn’t want ABS – A great feature, yes, but not something that I wanted. I’ve never liked ABS on anything that I’ve ridden or drove.

A new rider will find the Suzuki SV650 a comfortable bike to ride. It’s a little heavier than some of the smaller entry level motorcycles, but a larger person (5’8″ and taller I’d say) shouldn’t have any problems keeping it in line. New riders may find the extra weight a bit difficult to handle a low speeds (parking lots, etc.), but careful practice will help overcome that hurdle.

Do I Recommend the Suzuki SV650 / Suzuki SV650S for a New Rider? Absolutely.

Ultimately, it’s up to the rider to determine what their comfort level is. However, the SV650 is one bike that is very forgiving of minor mistakes, won’t bite too hard, responds well to all types of riding, and is big enough to potentially last a new rider quite a few years. I know of many well experienced riders who would never give up their beloved Suzuki.

If you’re interested, I suggest you go out and ride one!

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Suzuki GZ250 Marauder

Cameron Martel — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:48:53 +0000

Summary:

A low curb weight (just 331 lbs) and a surprisingly responsive 249cc engine make the GZ250 Marauder a real treat for a new rider to ride. Both unintimidating and easy to handle, the GZ250 Marauder is the perfect machine to get anyone’s confidence level up.

Engine Size: 249cc
Price (new): $4,899 CDN/$3,799 USD
Comparable bikes: Kawasaki Ninja 250R, Yamaha XT250, Honda CMX250C Rebel

Our Suzuki GZ250 Marauder Review

Many people find the GZ250 Marauder to be the perfect beginner bike: a low seat height (juset 28″) and a low curb weight (331 lbs) make it very unintimidating. For many (myself included) half of the dilemma that came with learning to ride a motorcycle stemmed from the fact that motorcycles are big, heavy machines and I had no idea how to pilot one.

During my motorcycle training course I was one of the happy-few that got to ride a Marauder the first run out. Being 6’2″ and 265lbs at the time I found the motorcycle to be more of a toy than anything else, but it had an engine and responded to my every input. In fact, it responded so well that I found myself wondering how something that small and that responsive could be legal on the highway.

Nevertheless, the GZ250 Marauder will hit highway speeds (though just so). It will happily cruise around town all day long, and it will do so while keeping you comfortable and keeping a nice big smile plastered on your face. As far as beginner motorcycles go, this one is a good pick.

It is not a speedster. In fact, this review could have continued without the word “speed” ever being mentioned. This motorcycle will not outrun sports cars, nor will it rocket you from 0-60 in under three seconds. It will, however, start up every time you ask it to, survive the occasional drop (and the chances are good that you WILL drop it), and it will scoot from place to place without asking questions or making obscene demands. It is, after all, a great learners bike.

Our review of the Suzuki GZ250 Marauder stems from riding the bike extensively for nearly a full week. During this week we failed to find a single flaw that would perhaps throw a new motorcycle rider off guard. Aside from a somewhat underpowered headlight, the GZ250 is the perfect motorcycle for someone who has never been on two wheels before.

The Bottom Line

The Suzuki GZ250 Marauder is not a great bike for the highway, and it isn’t an inner-city speedster either. However, it’s a small, lightweight motorcycle that would be hard pressed to intimidate anyone. This is the motorcycle for those who are afraid of motorcycles.

Suzuki DR-Z400S

Cameron Martel — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:38:04 +0000

Summary:

Yet another reason for first riders to find their true love in a dual-sport. The Suzuki DR-Z400S is a handy and surprisingly quick bike and is possibly one of our favourite dual-sports.

Engine Size: 398cc
Price (new): $7,799 CDN/$6,099 USD
Comparable bikes: Yamaha WR250X, Suzuki DR200SE, Yamaha TW200, Yamaha XT250, Honda CRF230M

Our Suzuki DR-Z2400S Review:

It really says a lot about a motorcycle when the manufacturer truly believes in it. Not sure what we mean? Suzuki made a supermoto version of the DR-Z400S. Just as Honda has made race versions of its CBR600RR, as has Yamaha with the R6 and R1, Suzuki took the plunge and made a hopped up version of the DR-Z400S.

There’s plenty of reasons why, but the bottom line here is due to one simple fact: The Suzuki DR-Z400S is one helluva bike. The 400cc engine packs plenty of power. Where other, smaller bikes may have a hard time getting going in the low RPM, the DR-Z400S just starts rolling. Popping the front tire up is easy to do, and it’s lightweight enough that even beginner riders will enjoy experimenting with the bike and testing their limits.

That’s also a bad thing, as new riders may find themselves growing overconfident due to the immense capabilities of this bike. Sure, it’s only 400cc, and yes, it only has 5 speeds, but that does not mean that it’s a “baby bike” by any means. The DR-Z400S can be ridden just as deftly off-road as it can on the road.

Riders will appreciate the abundance of low-end power, and a 10.0L tank (including reserve) means that you won’t need to stop every half an hour for fuel. Riders should be able to grab at least 250 kilometers per tank from this bike.

It is a bit pricey, coming in a few thousand more than comparable dual-sports reviewed here (Yamaha TW200, Suzuki DR200SE), but its completely justified given the capabilities of this bike.

The Bottom Line:

On road or off road, the Suzuki DR-Z400S is a very competent bike that any rider – new and experienced alike – will appreciate. New riders need to watch out initially, as the DR-Z400S packs a bit more low-end punch than you might expect.

Suzuki DR200SE

Cameron Martel — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:35:18 +0000

Summary:

Dual-sports are our favorites for total newbies to motorcycle riding. They are friendly, lightweight, and very simple to maintain and operate. The Suzuki DR200SE, a 200cc dual-sport, is an ideal first bike for someone looking for a bike that can get around town or around some country back roads.

Engine Size: 200cc
Price (new): $4,899 CAD/$4,199 USD
Comparable bikes: Yamaha WR250X, Yamaha TW200, Yamaha XT250, Honda CRF230M

Our Suzuki DR200SE Review:

What is the most common theme found on BeginnerMotorcycleReviews.com? Ah yes, the fact that dual-sports are the most popular kind of motorcycle on the website. Why? The answer to that one is simple: because they are about as intimidating as a Tickle-Me-Elmo doll.

At just 250lbs, the Suzuki DR200SE is a lightweight dual-sport that is completely street legal and trail ready. Its tires, while not fantastic in deep mud or sand, grip very well in dirt, gravel, and pavement. The afternoon that we had with the motorcycle was mostly spent zipping back and forth in cottage country, where it performed beautifully.
The torquey 200cc motor is packing a lot of punch (right around 8-12 horsepower), but that doesn’t stop this bike from moving. A tightly geared transmission means you’ll be doing plenty of shifting, but it’s so smooth that it isn’t really a bother.

One thing to note is that this bike tops out around 60mph comfortably (meaning that you shouldn’t feel too nervous riding at that speed), but can probably reach 85-90mph if you push it (though we sure don’t recommend that). It’s tight gearing means that this bike is better suited to city/trail riding than highway commuting, but what else can you expect with a 200cc engine?

Insurance costs for a new rider came out to be around $180 for us, though you will obviously want to check with your insurance company. We also noticed that our average fuel economy was right around 65mpg- exceptional!

The Bottom Line:

his is not a bike that should be taken on the highway, nor is it an off-road dirt bike. However, it will take city and trail riding with gusto and always leave you wondering if it wants more. It’s lightweight, very capable, and built like a tank. Low speed drop? Who cares, there’s no problem! Highly recommended.

Suzuki GS500

Cameron Martel — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:04:31 +0000

Summary:

Like the Kawasaki Ninja 500R, the GS500F offers a sporty ride for a minimal investment. It looks sporty, rides sporty, but falls just short of the benchmark set by the Ninja 500R.

Engine Size: 487cc
Price (new): $6,899 CDN/$5,499 USD
Comparable bikes: Suzuki SV650S, Kawasaki Ninja 250R, Kawasaki Ninja 650R, Kawasaki Ninja 500R, Yamaha FZ6R

Our Suzuki GS500F Review:

Suzuki GS500 has been one of the “learner bike” staples since its introduction nearly 20 years ago. It has a long and praised history, and a lot of that praise is well deserved. Since its introduction it’s be heralded as the ultimate beginners bike, a title that it shares with the Ninja 500R.

However, we aren’t as convinced that it’s the case now. Kawasaki has recently revamped the Ninja 250R and Ninja 650R, making both bikes much more competitive and appealing in the “learners bike” segment. Suzuki has updated the GS500 a few times as well, with the most obvious update being the addition of the “F” (faired) version. The GS500F is a great bike that sports aggressive bodywork and is definitely worth your consideration.

However, we found the Ninja 500R to be both more response and quicker off the line- two things that beginner riders are going to want to see in their bikes as it offers more longevity to their purchase. That being said, we did notice that the GS500F did get slightly better mileage: 50mpg as compared to the 45mpg we got on the 500R.

The Suzuki does handle very well. Its light weight and low ride height make this bike a joy to thrash around corners, and it remains surprisingly stable during commuting and highway situations. It has a claimed top speed of 190kph (118mph) but we did not feel confident testing that. We did take it up to about 140kph where it felt solid, though anything above that and the bike began to become a little twitchy- perfectly acceptable for such a small bike.

That does make the Suzuki GS500F a great all-around bike that both beginners and somewhat experienced riders will enjoy. It’s not a drag queen, with a quarter mile time of right around 13 seconds (some quote an exact figure of 13.8 seconds), but that’s not why you’d want to buy this bike anyway. This bike is something you’d buy when you like the idea of having a fast machine that can handle traffic, highway riding, and still return exceptional fuel economy. This bike is as much a weekend tourer as it is a commuter go-to guy.

A new rider who wants something small to start off with has a lot of options, but in the 500cc range it pretty much comes down to the Sukuki GS500F (or the regular GS500 if you like naked bikes) and the Kawasaki Ninja 500R. We’re a bit partial to the Ninja, but really the differences between the two are pretty minimal. Buy the one you think looks the best and have fun, either bike is a joy to ride.

The Bottom Line:

It’s slightly slower from a standing start than the Ninja 500R, but the GS500F is no slouch. Don’t count it out based on what you read or the numbers that are posted. Ride it for yourself and experience the bike before you count it out.

Suzuki SV650

Cameron Martel — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:46:54 +0000

Suzuki SV650 Video Walk Around and Startup

Scroll down for our comprehensive review of the Suzuki SV650S.

Fast Tube by Casper

Summary:

Engine Size: 645cc
Price (new): $8,899 CDN/$6,999 USD
Comparable bikes: Kawasaki Ninja 250R, Kawasaki Ninja 500R, Kawasaki Ninja 650R, Suzuki GS500, Yamaha FZ6R

A strong v-twin engine and a sporty chassis combined to make the SV650S one of the best all-around bikes you can buy. With both naked and faired versions, including versions with ABS, the SV650 is a bike that anyone can build to suit.

Our Suzuki SV650 Review:

There may be a bit of a bias in this review since the Suzuki SV650S is a favourite among many of the contributors to BeginnerMotorcycleReviews.com. Most of us prefer the faired version, though that’s not saying that the naked version of the SV650 isn’t a look either.

Regardless of which version you go with you’ll find yourself in command of one of the best all-around bikes you can buy, especially if you get the version with ABS (anti-lock brakes). A stiff chassis and sporty suspension allow the bike to really lean into the corners, though hardcore riders may find the suspension a tad bit soft when pushing the bike to the limits. A common modification to these bikes among those who ride them hard is to swap out the suspension for that of a Suzuki GSX-R600- an upgrade that most riders, including riders who race their bikes casually, won’t likely need or want to do.

The v-twin motor packs plenty of punch, with roughly 73 horsepower and 47ft-lbs of torque on hand. The best part is that all of this power is usable- full delivery is before 9,000 rpm, with maximum torque at 7,500 rpm. The v-twin may not redline at stratospheric levels, but its linear power delivery will keep all but the most advanced riders smiling as they twist and turn through the corners.

In fact, the SV650S is quite popular among the racing crowd as the bike is so balanced and predictable that you commonly see them placing ahead of some super-sport bikes. Thanks to a usable power band riders find that they can accelerate through the corner without worry of hitting a sudden power spike, something common on the super-sport bikes being sold today.

With a quarter mile time of 11.8 seconds, and a 0-60 sprint of just 3.6 seconds, the Suzuki SV650S will likely be the fastest vehicle you’ll ever pilot. All but the most exotic sports cars will only see your taillights if you so choose, and while doing so you’ll enjoy a consistent 45mpg.

One complaint we do have about the SV650S is that its engine is very responsive to every little input. While we grew to appreciate the engines responsiveness, new riders may find it intimidating until they get the hang of it. However, that being said, we feel that the Suzuki SV650S is probably the best “big 650” that a new rider could learn on. It’s smooth, very reliable, and not a bad looker either. Just exercise caution when you first get on, as if you’ve never piloted a motorcycle before the SV560S will be a fantastic, though somewhat daunting, experience.

As always, new riders should take time to get familiar with the bike before attempting to use the ample power it provides. Like the Kawasaki Ninja 650R, the SV650 is capable of reaching extremes that will exceed a new rider’s abilities. Being gentle with the throttle and brake inputs and the bike will reward you with a smooth and relaxed ride; twist the throttle quickly and be prepared to get to wherever you’re going in a hurry. In either case, the SV650 is capable of being a cuddly teddy bear or a raging bull- which one it is depends on how you want it to be.

The Bottom Line:

This bike may be too much machine for riders who are afraid to spending some time to learn its capabilities, but if you are willing to dedicate the time required to learn how to control it properly it will reward you with a great ride, good fuel economy, and smile after g-force induced smile. Highly recommended.