43,000 miles on the clock. It’s still a good looking bike; solid, purposeful and subtly aggressive. And totally different to the Suzuki GSX1100 Katana that joins it in this battle of the eighties’ giants. But then the Katana is different to everything

rubbish. New technology was arriving with the likes of Kawasaki’s first single-shock GPZ550. But air-cooled beasts still ruled the roads, led by Suzuki’s stunning new GSX1100S Katana.JEWELS IN THE CROWNFor visual impact you’d have to award the top spot

. But fourvalve heads were on their way.BIKE OF THE YEARSuzuki’s GSX1100 wasn’t much to look at; its bland styling made worse by a strange headlamp nacelle. But boy, did it go — both on the straights and round the bends. Suzuki’s first 16-valve four made 100bhp

ended up buying one.FLAT LEMONADEThe year’s most disappointing bike was Suzuki’s GSX1100FJ, which was advertised as “the best two bikes we’ve ever built” but didn’t match up as either a sportster or a tourer. Certainly it was no FJ1200.Most people

of technology as well, from the KIPASS electronic key system to the ABS and even - goodness! - an electric screen that goes up and down. Didn't we see that on the Suzuki GSX1100EFE back in 1983? It's a big bike. It weighs 279kg dry, so call that well over 300

't see the funny side and decided to make a big fuss out of it all, so that was my first proper bollocking. Later that year I was running-in the very first GSX1100EF, and it had pop-on sidepanels on the fairing. If you went above 100mph they flew off

BRITAIN BOUNCES BACKRiding the first ever bike from reborn Triumph’s Hinckley factory in 1991 was a mindblowing experience. In the company of Kawasaki’s ZZR1100, Suzuki’s GSX1100 and Yamaha’s FJ1200, the Triumph was far from outclassed.All six new

it the 500LC is making the four-strokes look stupid. In the last year owners of blunderbusses like GSX1100s, GPz1100s and enormous XS1100s have started getting used to seeing the RD arriving in their mirrors then scream past in a flurry of noise.For this year

for the system correct as they had a marked effect on the way the system felt. A great job. The electric screen isn't exactly cutting-edge technology (Suzuki's GSX1100F had one in 1988) but it serves a purpose. At lower speeds and for more sporty riding, keeping