SUZUKI GSX1400 Owner's Review
We will introduce Riku's passionate story about his riding experience with his beloved motorcycle, GSX1400, from Webike community "My Beloved Moto" campaign. He told us about his review of the GSX1400, including its advantages and disadvantages, which he knows well because he's the owner.
Riku's Brief Self-introduction
- Motorcycle history
I secretly got my moped license in high school and then I realized I was getting a big automatic motorcycle.
- Period of riding this motorcycle
I have been riding my GSX1400 since I was 22 years old, so we have been together for about 9 years long.
- How I enjoy my motorcycle lifestyle
I spend most of my time riding through mountain passes, going to hot springs, and often touring with friends. Recently, I moved to Tokyo (originally from Kanagawa) and since there are no mountain passes in my neighborhood, I'm into taking photos and videos. Of course, I love the maintain pass but I get the pleasure from getting a good picture as much as I enjoy riding through the pass and smiling at the exhilaration I savor. (I'm not a scary person.)
I've always liked things that are a bit unique and I've always been curious about the structure and how it works. My friends stepped up to mid-size and bought a secondhand APE50. Even though I was slow, my friends are still willing to take me out for touring. I don't want to be slow and annoying, so I have fond memories of teaching myself the basic structure and setting carburetor as hard as I could. After learning the basic structure and concept of the motorcycle, I stepped up to regular motorcycles.
- Purchasing motive
I met SUZUKI INAZUMA 400 and fell in love with it at first sight. The glamorous body that you wouldn't expect from a 400, the unique oil-cooled noise, and the beauty of the shape that no other engine has. I became fond of this motorcycle and fell in love with it. My first motorcycle was scrapped due to an accident. I looked for the second motorcycle, but I chose SUZUKI INAZUMA 400. I chose the same motorcycle despite being told by others around me calling it a bell-face bacterial infection due to its heat and creepiness.
One day, I said to myself why would I stay in a midsize motorcycle when the vehicle inspected, parts and insurance are similar in the price? As if the question arose in my mind, and I acquired a big automatic motorcycle. The natural progression led me to the GSX1400, which boasts the largest engine displacement of any oil-cooled engine.
I met a GSX1400 in K7 color with a mileage of 800km at a motorcycle shop where a junior colleague of mine was working part-time at the time. It was a pretty expensive purchase for me as a student at the time, but I made up my mind to take care of it and invest in the excitement I would get from this motorcycle. It started with the exhaust system, and the customization went on like a bog, and A monster was born that just gave me a great time while consuming engine oil and money.
Satisfaction/Advantage
- For purpose
On the contrary, it may be difficult to give satisfaction. It's a very nostalgic motorcycle for wandering out with friends, attacking down the mountain passes, or for long tours. It's torqueful and comfortable for pillion riding, and the seat is quite spacious. The storage capacity under this seat is one of the best in its class and for motorcycles as a whole. It has ETC, a security system (steelmate), and 2 USB power sources, but it's totally adequate. The USB power supply is installed under the seat and the power cord for your smartphone passes under the fuel tank and behind the cowl to the handlebar, so you can charge your phone under the handlebar as well an under the seat for mobile batteries, cameras, etc., which is quite versatile. If you pack as much as you can, you can fit at least a change of clothes for one night. You can also carry a plastic bottle of drink, so you don't need to carry a bag empty-handed as a matter of course when touring. I think it is quite big that the bag doesn't slip off during the ride, and the weight of the luggage doesn't get on your body, and you don't have any stress at all. You can store a small tripod and camera, etc., so you can go for a photoshoot comfortably.
- For riding
In terms of riding, the torque produced by the oil-cooled 1400cc engine is unmatched and offers a different dimension of acceleration. On the other hand, with the STD engine, the back torque is so strong that we have to be careful when pillion riding, and it was difficult to create front load by using the front brake when downshifting into a corner at a mountain pass. With the introduction of T-REV, this has been solved and you can enjoy the pride of torque at the start of a corner.
- For appearance
Honestly, my first impression of the appearance was potato-like. A design that makes you wonder if you have ever admired the XJR1300, and it's a big exhaust system that just sounds like it's muted for the time being, as if it were a blinker, seat, or trumpet. The normal look is a shining, but it's not sophisticated enough and has a somewhat rustic feel to it. (This is my personal subjective prejudice.)
This may be one of the advantages of this GSX1400, as it allows you to change its shape one by one to your liking.
Dissatisfaction/Disadvantages
- For purpose
The dissatisfaction point is more difficult than giving satisfactory points. But there are a lot. It's like a futon that can generate as much dust as it takes to beat it.
First, poor maintainability. This is so far the best, and I hope you'll take a lesson from Honda motorcycles. Even to change the oil filter, the wrench is only used for Suzuki. You have to lift the fuel tank to clean the air filter.
In addition, there are few parts available. There is no external setting such as OHLINS for the front fork. The GSX1400 is only 46mm while many large naked models are set up in 43mm. Of course, there is no way that OHLINS can be attached as well as no setting. (The spring inside can be changed!) Thanks to this, the rigidity is solid, but the width of the customization tends to be limited.
Depending on how you think about it, customization is not just a matter of pomp and circumstance, but it can be a fun way to think about it and make it original through trial and error. For example, SP-kit has been released recently for T-REV, but the handling and α-version was not available at that time. I called and emailed the Teramoto Motors manufacturer repeatedly (Thank you, Onishi-san, for being such an amateur). I finally made my own one-and-only kit using unfamiliar rotary tools. This is no longer a shortcoming. It's difficult at first, but it's fun when you get used to it.
- For riding
As far as riding goes, it certainly feels heavier than other Naked models, such as the ZRX and XJR. This was true not only at a stop, but also when riding through a mountain pass. Tire size is an issue, but I won't feel the turnaround if I've only ridden the GSX, but if I ride another motorcycle in the same class, it feels heavy.
- For appearance
I've already listed the advantage of the appearance, so I don't have anything to write about it, but it looks like a potato. It's full of a country girl feeling. Economically, it may be a bit more expensive than other motorcycles. 4 liters of engine oil is not enough. It is sometimes ridiculed as carrying engine oil. The rear tires are size 190, so the price is higher than size 180. This area may strike your purse slowly like a body blow, so you may need to be prepared for it.
Summary (Recommended for riders)
I would recommend it to those who want their own original customization and enjoy a bit of inconvenience and individuality rather than those who are looking for absolute performance. If you like honors motorcycles, I would definitely not recommend it. You are likely to face an unhappy future if you choose to do so.
However, it is highly recommended for those who can sympathize with the enthusiasm and uniqueness of the world that Suzuki engineers put in Suzuki's pride of being an oil-cooled engine and have a little interest.
The pride the engineers take in their oil-cooled engines, both in riding and customization, is amazing. I've also been blessed with some great friends through motorcycling, as shown in the video at the URL listed, and the experience the GSX has given me has been invaluable. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing motorcycle with deep pockets. I'm generally grateful to the engineers at SUZUKI for producing the GSX1400.
Thank you, Riku, for telling us the story of your beloved moto, the GSX1400!
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