Engine : Air cooled 1,402cc in line 4 cylinder DOHC engine
Check out our dyno runs
Induction : Fuel injection with 34mm throttle bodies
Transmission : 6 speed
Front Suspension : 46mm telescopic forks fully adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping
Rear Suspension : Dual piggyback reservoir shocks fully adjustable for preload, compression and rebound damping
Front Brakes : 320mm discs with 6-piston calipers
Rear Brakes : 260mm single disc with 2-piston caliper
Fuel Capacity : 22 litres
Wheelbase : 1,520mm
Seat Height : 790mm
Dry Weight : 228 kilograms
RRP + orc : $14,390 + orc
What was probably one of the best features of the bike for me was the fact that the big GSX is easy to move around on. When I wanted to get down and serious amongst the tight stuff I could get my body forward on the bike which gave me confidence in the front end and transitions from side to side were easily done. This combined with the wide bars gives you plenty of leverage to get the bike pointed where you want it. In tight terrain this made riding the bike some serious fun. Sportsbike punters will have their work cut out for them to stay with the GSX out of those tight hairpin bends that we all love. The smooth power delivery enables the rear tyre to hook up nicely where a lot of sportsbikes would have broken into wheelspin. I was very impressed with how well the GSX1400 hustles when pushed.
Pulling the big 228-kilogram dry GSX up to a stop is no problem with a pair of 6-piston calipers clamping on 320mm discs hauling the beast to a stop in no time. The front wheel can be locked at nearly any speed if a big handful of brake is grabbed suddenly. But thankfully the initial bite is not too savage and the considerable amount of stopping power can be modulated easily through the lever. Good one.
In the comfort department the big Suzuki impresses once again. I covered around 650 kilometres in a day without complaint. The next day I did feel a little muscle soreness across the shoulders from trying to ride the 1400 like a GSX-R but that was to be expected.
Instrumentation is plain and simple with two attractive binnacle style gauges with LCD inserts that provide two tripmeters, odometer, clock and accurate fuel gauge.
There is no question that the GSX is a good looking beast in any of the 3 colour choices. Candy Grand Blue, Metallic Galaxy or the old-fashioned Blue/White which was to be available only in limited numbers. But due to demand Suzuki have managed to secure enough numbers in order to add it to the permanent range.
That is the concerns of most buyers taken care of but as an added bonus the GSX adds a low seat height of only 790mm, excellent pillion accommodation and a massive amount of under-seat storage to round out what is a truly accomplished package.
So would I have one of these or a Bandit. No question there, the GSX1400 has it all over the Bandit in every area that matters.
$14,390 + on road costs will get you one.
