GSX1250FA: free luggage and sat nav

That offers just dropped the value of my one then. Thanks Suzuki, still, it's not that bad a bike.

Posted: 10/10/2012 at 19:13

Come on, Suzuki's prices go up and down faster than a tart's knickers. You don't buy one as an investment.

It strikes me that the 95% (conservatively) of R1200GS owners that use their bike as a lardy tourer could have got themselves a bike like this that'll do the same job as well or better, with about £6,000 left in their pocket.

Come on Suzuki, forget the V-Strom 1000, just jack a Bandit 1250 up by 6" and put a retarded beak and wire wheels on it and call it a G1250RS or similar: they'll fly out of the showroom.

Posted: 11/10/2012 at 09:16

Roger, I was taking the pee a little. I'd never really buy a bike as an investment, the expensive exotica, I'd repeatedly hit myself for not riding it, and the Suzuki, well, it's a tool for a job which isn't too boring.

My opinion when I bought this was along the lines of the thinking you've put above, it was a cheap option for a two up tourer with luggage that could do some reasonable commuting/touring without too much hassle.

The line Suzuki has is majorly flagging which is why they're having to resort to deals like these. I'm guessing once things pick up they'll look at new models. The thing is, it's quite a confusing line up, there is loads of overlap, but they're missing out on a ton of fairly niece stuff that could drag sales in.

Posted: 11/10/2012 at 10:45

every brand has its niche bike that drags sales away from the others.
honda has the CB125 taking over where the CG left off and the VFR evolving into the most capable road tourer
kawasaki is the ER6 and Versys, no other brand (except maybe aprilla) has offcentred rear suspension and capable machines that "just passed the testers" can handle with ease
ducati has the sportiest bikes and most mainstream exotisim
yamaha have the V-Max for pure power
Triumph have the speed and sreet triple for carving up the sreets
BMW its obviously the GS
Aprilla do scooters, everyone knows that
Motoguzzi do old men bikes that are "characterful" (read: fall over when revved)

suzuki however have only really had the budget basic area covered with their bargain bucket Bandit to stand out with. their attempt to replicate the ER6 in the Gladius was just poor and way behind the times as the year the curvey gladius came out, the ER6 went all pointy and agressive, instantly ageing the gladius. Some may ague that its the only female oriented bike and while thats true, i have yet to see one onthe road atall let alone driven by a female (as im sure youd all agree we all want to know where they are if they are infact out there)

I summary then, i just want to vent that suzuki havent really got a flagship model that can sell in bulk which they need
(this is important to ignore the Hyabusa as not everyone can afford such a machine and there are very good alternatives like the ZZR and the FJR, not one bike stands out)
Suzuki are a big brand and need to get their act together and release the Vstrom as a cheaper "adventure" bike to the rest, or do as suggested above and iv said before, the bandit on stilts with different styling, it cant be that difficult can it?

Posted: 11/10/2012 at 13:14

Fuck adventure bikes. Suzuki should get some balls and be the first Japanese manufacturer to make a proper performance naked. Street-fighter the big GSXR, give the 'retuners' a day off and make it better than a Tuono. Job jobbed.
(The half-arsed job they did on the 750 does not count)

Posted: 12/10/2012 at 09:04

Heh, it seems we all essentially agree on Suzuki's problems.

That said, in August they were out of the top 10 sellers, but in September, they were back in a clear #3. That seems to be on the back of selling loads of V-Strom 650s in September thanks to a combination of the usual savage discounting and offering a 3 year warranty (*just* for bikes bought in August and September).

They really don't seem to have a strategy for consistent sales at sustainable prices though. It must be... interesting... being a Suzuki dealer. Famine or feast.

Posted: 14/10/2012 at 11:48