FOR those who like to live life large, bikes don’t come much bigger than Suzuki’s beautiful behemoth, the GSX1400. It may look like a Seventies-style metal mountain, but scratch the surface and you’ll find a whopping 1.4 litre lump that not only bristles with technology, it pulls like a train.

You can’t beat massive cubes for obscene acceleration at low revs, and with the same displacement as twenty-eight 50cc scooters strapped together, the grunt from this fuel-injected classic is enormous. In any gear. So you can either let fly and astound those who believe your bike belongs in the last millennium, or you can just ride lazy and stay in the same gear all day long. Twist the throttle on any sprocket and the silky smooth deliverance of power will see you blast past anything in your way. In fact, the GSX1400 will keep pushing like crazy all the way up to 145mph, if your arms could only take the strain. To dismiss this traditional heavyweight as nothing more than a sofa strapped to a car engine would be missing the point completely. It’s just good old-fashioned brute strength, lovingly crafted with modern components.

There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s heavy though. If you need to push your bike backwards and uphill to get it in the garage, then this one’s probably not for you. But if you don’t need screaming revs to make your motorcycling enjoyable, and you don’t live on an incline, then it’s quite possible that a bike like this could be a real friend for life.

Launched in 2002 to compete with the likes of Yamaha’s XJR1300 and Honda’s CB1300, the air- and oil-cooled GSX1400 trades as strongly on its image as it does on its ability. Retro touches go superbly with current engineering, and the chrome-rimmed headlight, piggyback reservoir shock absorbers and double cradle frame are stylish cues that hark back to a previous era. The ride is supremely supple, benefiting from adjustable rebound and compression damping, and a counter balance shaft is used to reduce engine vibration to virtually nothing. But just the fact that this musclebike goes round corners is enough to distinguish it from its 1970s forebears. It was a matter of trust in the rain on the first few days I had this bike, but in the dry it is surprisingly agile for its 226kg and I found myself throwing it round much more than even I had imagined.

Despite the GSX1400’s weight, its low centre of gravity makes it very easy to ride through traffic and therefore great to commute on. Cars seem to part like the Red Sea when they see this beast approach in their mirrors! It’s not a bad proposition for touring either. The seat is sumptuous for rider and pillion alike, and its huge 22-litre fuel tank is good for well over 200 miles between stops. Wind buffeting is incredibly low, even at speeds up to 80mph, and it also has a useful 10.8 litres of storage space under the seat.

To restrain a brute like this in full flight you need some pretty good stoppers. The front sees two 320mm floating discs with six pot callipers, while the back has a substantial 260mm disc with two pots. You couldn’t expect any more of them but, momentum being what it is, you still need to plan well in advance!

Sadly, after five years at the top its game, this gentle giant is to be retired - largely due to the new Euro III emissions regulations. You can keep the chrome, reefer-style exhaust if you choose, but as a free extra with the Final Edition model, Suzuki are giving away a Yoshimura end can. So you can either sail along peacefully, or you can make the beast howl. Go on, grab yourself a ‘proper’ motorcycle while you still can.

Article written: Feb 23, 2007

The Suzuki GSX1400 was kindly loaned by Fowlers Motorcycles of Bath Road, Bristol. For more information about test rides, call Fowlers on 0117 977 0466.

OUR STEER ON THE SUZUKI GSX1400

Price: £ no longer available new 

Engine: 1,402cc inline four

Power: 105bhp at 6,800rpm

Torque: 93 ft lb at 5,000rpm

Transmission: six-speed

Weight: 226kg

Fuel capacity: 22 litres

Top speed: 145mph

Seat height: 790mm

by Jon Bennett