Full of Torque and Great Stability, GSX1400! | An Outdated Motorcycle You Want to Ride

Suzuki GSX1400 Details and Test Ride Review

When you hear the word "GSX", most people probably associate it with supersports such as the GSX-R series. But don't forget about the 1400cc naked GSX1400. It has a larger displacement than the Hayabusa, and is the largest displacement naked model in Japan, and is one of the most famous models with an oil-cooled engine. What is the reality of such a machine? Webike's staff has experienced it for themselves! (The vehicle photographed is a 2005 model)

*Thank you to Bike King for providing the vehicle.

Powerful 1,400cc styling

First of all, the vehicles are incredibly powerful. Motorcycles these days are becoming something of a compact, but they are so rugged that they are the opposite of that. However, I feel that the big size of the motorcycle makes it look even better than before.
Personally, I prefer this size as well.

It weighs more than 250kg with the equipment, so it is heavy in its own way, not to mention pushing and pulling while straddling it and moving it while getting off. In that respect, I don't think there's anything like the "casualness" of being able to ride in a moment's notice. You need to be careful how you handle it because if you lose your balance just a little bit, your entire body is likely to be taken away.

Total length/Total width/Total height

2,160mm/810mm/1,140mm

Vehicle weight

226 kg (dry weight)/253kg (equipment weight)

The name of the motorcycle model written on the tail cowl.

It's easy to think of "out-of-print motorcycle= carburetor", but this motorcycle is an injected vehicle.

The footing might be a bit of a concern.

Seat Height

775 mm

In fact, the seat height itself is not that high, but the size of the vehicle and the seat is wide, so there is a little bit of anxiety when you step on it. Standing on your toes, it's a little unstable to support a heavy body.

Seat height: 775 mm (height: 158 cm)

The lights are simple, but with a twist.

As for the lamps, the shape is very simple and standard. But what I thought was kind of nice is that the taillights and the reflectors are together. It sits in the space of the taillights, so it's pretty smart without popping up anywhere! I'm kind of glad I don't have to worry about the reflectors when I go tail tidy.

When the light is on

When the brake is on

Double analog meter

The meter is a simple analog meter. The indicator is located in the center. The speedometer is engraved to 260km!

Handlebar 

Both left and right side have dial-adjustable levers. Both passing and hazards are installed.

Twin suspension with reservoir tank

The rear suspension is fully adjustable. This contributes to a light and sporty driving experience.

Double exhaust system 

The exhaust system is double, which not only looks great, but also produces a powerful bass sound when starting the engine.

Pillion grips for all applications

The size of the pillion grip makes quite a statement. Not only does it give you a sense of security when you grab it, but it also serves as a stopper when you're putting your luggage on it, doesn't it? I'm sorry if I didn't. It also comes with a cargo hook, so it will be useful in many ways.

Equipped with a center stand!

Handy for maintenance! It's stable when parked! This is why it is equipped with a center stand. However, it's been a long time since I've been able to set up a center stand in a motorcycle that weighs over 250kg, so it was a tense process... I paid off the stand quite carefully when I took it down (laughs).

Incidentally, there is a support bar under the tail cowl that allows you to grip the body of the motorcycle when the center stand is set up, which makes it easier to raise the motorcycle.

And the support is perfect!

And there's plenty of space under the seat!

Remove the integrated seat to reveal a large space. It's quite spacious, so you can store not only rain gear, but also Wes and other items with plenty of room to spare. However, it's not deep enough, so you can't put anything taller in it.

Lastly, Oil Cooled Engine

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary naked motorcycle, but it has an oil-cooled engine that gives it a Suzuki feel. The fact that it is the last oil-cooled engine and the only one with an injection system gives it a special feeling. The torque of 12.8kg・m (126N・m)/5000rpms is more powerful than expected and pushes the machine hard even at low rpm. However, it does not handle like a raging horse, but has a mild character that is very easy to handle. It's a mature motorcycle with a big motorcycle feel to it.

As soon as you start riding, you won't feel the weight!

Here are some of the real-life implements we've seen in action. When you actually ride it, you'll discover something unexpected!

Staff A: Tono

[Heavy torque and stability, super fun!
I'll start with the specs and impressions. SUZUKI's last oil-cooled engine is 100 hp/6500 rpm, 12.8 kg-m/It's a spec of 5000 rpm. Torque 12.It's 8 kg-m! (laughs) This is probably the strongest class of torque in the big naked at the time (around 2008) compared to the CB1300SF and others.

The exterior of the motorcycle is imposing, as if to say this is the big naked, but the motorcycle weighs 228kg dry, so "light for a 1400cc! Compared to other models of the same model year, for example, the CB1300SF weighs 234kg and the ZRX1200R weighs 224kg, so we can say that the GSX1400 weighs 228kg, which is really light. This may be because it is an oil-cooled engine.

With that in mind, I rode for the first time in my life. The moment I engaged the clutch well, from the half-clutching stage, I could feel the torque of the molly. I tried it on a closed course climb and to my surprise, I made it to the top without opening the throttle and with only a half clutch. So much for this! I was surprised.

But isn't it hard to be a donkey? Who would think that, right? That's what I thought at first, too.

However, it wasn't a problem at all.

I tried many times to drive the narrow crank at low speed, entry to the tight corner to get up, and other narrow S-shape, but there was no doneness to be worried about. It was rather easy to ride and fluttery and pleasant to forget about the huge body. I thought the suspension and tires were good as well, but there was an underlying sense of solid stability as well as torque. I was able to bank the motorcycle with confidence, no doubt about it. I can't get enough of the feeling that I'm "in control" of the Big Naked!

The handling was reasonably heavy, but it was fun to counteract that. It's a good enough motorcycle to pass for modern day.

Staff B: Ryu

[Surprised at how light it travels!
I took some photos of the body and then took some time for a test drive, but it was pretty heavy to handle and I was pretty tired (laughs). I wondered if I could get it to ride properly since I was riding in such conditions. I was slightly worried that I was going to be able to do this, but those fears were gone in no time at all once I started riding. It just drives so light! It's so nimble that you'll wonder where all that weight went earlier. I drove the motorcycle on narrow roads and it was smooth to handle with no handling concerns whatsoever.

And most importantly, the torquey engine is fantastic. From the start, it has a lot of torque and can go forward without faltering. This power is really fun. It's easy to drive at low speeds with plenty of room to breathe, and of course the large displacement allows for plenty of acceleration. This is likely to be a benefit for long distance touring at high speeds.

I wanted more people to experience the benefits of this product.

Summary

I didn't expect the two of them to have almost the same impressions (lol). The fact that the GSX1400's torque is so powerful that it can be impressive without a meeting. You may not have a chance to test drive it, but it's one you should definitely try. It seems to have a wide range of customization options, so it's going to be fun in a variety of ways, and it's going to be hard to let go.

Photo by: Bike Life Lab supported by Bike King