NOW that Christmas has come and gone, everyone’s on the lookout for a good deal in the sales. Yet without even trying I've stumbled upon possibly the bargain of the year.

I didn't have to get up and queue at 5am. Nor is this last year's leftovers dripping with ‘price drop’ stickers. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the latest low-cost middleweight from the Suzuki stable. It might not seem like much on paper, but on the road it's a little belter.

Borrowing very heavily indeed from the Bandit, Suzuki are keen for their latest model not to be seen just as a fully faired version of the same. And rightly so. For despite the obvious similarities (same donor engine, same chassis, same fuel tank, etc), the GSX650F is somehow much more than just the sum of its parts. Suzuki are marketing it as your ‘everyday sports bike’ - and they’re not far shy of the mark. It’s comfy, it’s quick, it’s refined and it's hugely entertaining for novices and seasoned veterans alike. Rapid riders will get pleasure too from pushing the envelope of the this bike’s abilities.

The original GSX600F was an ugly bike with bulbous fairing which, despite actually being quite good, was dropped from the UK line-up in the mid-90s having acquired the unenviable nickname of the 'Teapot', such was the scorn regularly poured upon it.

The new model, however, is a much sharper affair, with fancy clocks and racy styling, yet similar levels of versatility. The GSX650F uses the same 656cc motor as the Bandit but with different engine mapping. Tweaked for more power at the top end, it loses out to the Bandit in torque lower down, but feels much more sporty at the top end of the rev range. Featuring Suzuki's Dual Throttle Valve digital fuel injection system, there is plenty of smooth drive from as low as 4,000 rpm. But take her above the 6,000rpm mark, and she sings all the way to the redline.

The six speed box, married to a super light clutch, and unfeasibly neutral handling help make this one of the easiest bikes to ride on the market. It might not be lightning fast, but the GSX650F is just so competent and well-behaved it helps you ride well with minimal input. Show it a corner and its 160-section rear helps you swings in, bang on line, time and time again. Hustling this bike out of Fowlers and onto the grimy back roads was a real pleasure, in much the same way as sticking it to an SV650 can be. Not scary, just swift and controlled.

There are dashes of ingredients from the sportier GSX-R, such as the vertically stacked headlight and instrument panel, but unlike the Gixxer, this is a bike you can spend all day on. All week, in fact. The rubber-mounted one-piece handlebar takes all the weight off your wrists, while the one-piece seat and pillion grab rail further highlight the GSX650F's comfortable, practical nature.

The suspension, too, is surprisingly good for such a budget bike. There is adjustable preload at the front and adjustable preload and rebound at the rear, meaning you can set it up for track work one day, two-up touring the next. Even the brakes are up to sports bike standards, with four-piston Tokico calipers at the front and Nissin two-pots at the rear.

The GSX650F has a decent range. With a 19-litre tank and 45-50mpg capability, it's good for more than 200 miles between refills. And there's even a free restrictor kit available for bikers limited to 33bhp if they purchase the bike from new.

So from the earlier, much-derided Teapot, Suzuki have now got just the right brew. The GSX650F offers sporting lightweight practicality to young and old alike. And at £4,499, it could just be everyone's cup of tea.

Article written: January 09, 2008

The Suzuki GSX650F 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 GSX650F

Price: £4,499 (in Jan 2009) 

Engine: 656cc, inline four

Power: 85 bhp at 10,500rpm

Torque: 46 lb ft at 8,900rpm

Transmission: six-speed

Weight: 216kg

Fuel capacity: 19 litres

Top speed: 140 mph (est)

Seat height: 770 mm

by Jon Bennett