Suzuki GR650

Last updated
Suzuki GR650
Suzuki GR650 AEJ side.jpg
Manufacturer Suzuki
Class standard
Engine 652 cc (39.8 cu in) DOHC parallel twin
Bore / stroke 77 mm × 70 mm (3.0 in × 2.8 in)
Compression ratio 9.0:1
Ignition type Battery-powered, inductive, magnetically triggered
Transmission 5 speed
Frame type Double-downtube full cradle frame with a box-section steel swing arm
Suspension Center-axle with air-assisted form and 35mm tubes Front
single shock, adjustable spring pre-load Rear
Brakes 10.8 inch Disc Front
6.3 inch Drum Rear
Tires 100/90 19 57H IRC GS-16 Front
130/90-16 67H IRC GS-16 Rear
Rake, trail 27.5°, 110 mm (4.4 in) [1]
Wheelbase 1,430 mm (56 in)
DimensionsL: 2,145 mm (84.4 in)
W: 850 mm (33 in)
H: 1,190 mm (47 in)
Seat height760 mm (30 in)
Fuel capacity13 L (2.9 imp gal; 3.4 US gal)

The Suzuki GR650 is a two-cylinder standard motorcycle built by Suzuki from 1983 to 1989. In the United States it was called the GR650 Tempter, and was only sold there for the 1983 and 1984 model years. Suzuki would later use the `Tempter' name on a version of the ST400 sold in Japan and Europe. [2]

Contents

Features

The GR650 was powered by a four-stroke air-cooled DOHC parallel twin with two valves per cylinder (four valves total). This engine had a 180° crankshaft with a gear-driven counter-balancer and a wet sump. [3] The carburetors were two Mikuni CV BS36SS. To induce swirl in the air-fuel mixture Suzuki added a sub-intake port connecting the carburetor throat to the intake port just above the valve head. Suzuki claimed that this allowed the GR650 to run with a leaner mixture than usual, which improved fuel economy. [1] Two oil jets cooled the pistons at higher engine speeds.

The bike featured a two-stage flywheel which used a centrifugal clutch to disengage a secondary flywheel above 3,000 rpm, effectively lowering the mass of the flywheel. [1] This was intended to dampen vibration and provide easier take-off at low RPM, and improve responsiveness at higher RPM.

The transmission was a five-speed fully meshed unit that drove the rear wheel through a 15/38 sprocket set and a #630 chain. Rear suspension was Suzuki's Full-Floater progressive mono-shock system.

At 178.5 kg (394 lb) dry and roughly 200 kg (440 lb) wet, the bike was lighter than most competitors with similar displacement, and it had a load capacity of 178 kg (393 lb).

Models

The GR650 was sold in two levels of trim; the GR650D and the GR650X. The GR650X came with traditional wire spoke wheels, a monochromatic paint scheme, and non-adjustable front forks. The GR650D got a two-tone paint scheme, cast alloy spoke wheels, an auxiliary running lamp under the headlamp and adjustable front air forks. [4]

Reviews and riding impressions

Early reviews drew comparisons between the GR650 and classic British Twins, although some also saw a Cruiser influence. [5] Suzuki's decision to release the bike into a shrinking market for parallel twins was also noted.

Reviewers commented on the bike's light weight (Suzuki called it 450 class) and compact engine package. These qualities, combined with a low center of gravity, produced handling described as "supple" and "easy" and the bike was called "tossable". [1]

The engine's low-end torque was praised, although it was felt that peak power had been sacrificed. Cycle magazine recorded a 0-60 mph time of 5.7 seconds. Reviewers also wrote that at higher RPMs vibration from the engine became more pronounced. The 5-speed transmission was described as smooth and easy-shifting.

In Cycle World's long-term test they remarked on the bike's reliability. [5] The only problems experienced after 14,000 miles was a leaking front shock oil reservoir and front pads that were worn down to metal at 7,400 miles.. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Magna</span> Type of motorcycle

The Honda Magna is a cruiser motorcycle made from 1982 to 1988 and 1994 to 2003 and was the second Honda to use their new V4 engine shared with the VF750S Sabre and a few years later a related engine was fitted to the VF750F 'Interceptor', the later models used a retuned engine from the VFR750F with fins added to the outside of the engine. The engine technology and layout was a descendant of Honda's racing V4 machines, such as the NS750 and NR750. The introduction of this engine on the Magna and the Sabre in 1982, was a milestone in the evolution of motorcycles that would culminate in 1983 with the introduction of the Interceptor V4. The V45's performance is comparable to that of Valkyries and Honda's 1800 cc V-twin cruisers. However, its mix of performance, reliability, and refinement was overshadowed by the more powerful 1,098 cc "V65" Magna in 1983.

The Honda XR series is a range of four-stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan but assembled all over the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda E engine</span> Former Japanese automobile engines

The E-series was a line of inline four-cylinder automobile engines designed and built by Honda for use in their cars in the 1970s and 1980s. These engines were notable for the use of CVCC technology, introduced in the ED1 engine in the 1975 Civic, which met 1970s emissions standards without using a catalytic converter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha XS 650</span> Yamaha motorcycle

The Yamaha XS650 is a mid-size motorcycle that was made by the Yamaha Motor Company. The standard model was introduced in October 1969, and produced until 1979. The "Special" cruiser model was introduced in 1978 and produced until 1985. The XS650 began with the 1955 Hosk SOHC 500 twin. After about 10 years of producing 500 twin, Hosk engineers designed a 650 cc twin. Later Showa Corporation acquired the Hosk company, and in 1960 Yamaha acquired Showa, with Hosk's early design of 650 cc twin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kawasaki Vulcan</span> Kawasaki motorcycle

The Vulcan name has been used by Kawasaki for their custom or touring bike since 1984, model designation VN, using mostly V-twin engines ranging from 125 to 2,053 cc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuki RGV250</span> Suzuki sport motorcycle

The Suzuki RGV250 was a Suzuki high performance sport bike which had a great number of its features and design cues based on Grand Prix technologies and ideas. It is a race-replica based on Suzuki's 250 cc (15 cu in) GP bikes from 1987 to 1998, the RGV V-2 racer. This motorcycle replaced the RG250 Gamma, which employed an alloy frame with a two-stroke parallel twin engine. The bike produced over 60 bhp in a narrow power band between 8,000 and 11,000 rpm. The dry weight ranged between 128 kg (282 lb) (1989) to 140 kg (309 lb) dry weight.

The Killinger and Freund Motorcycle was an attempt in 1935 by a group of five German engineers from Munich to design a more streamlined and modified version of the German Megola front-wheel drive motorcycle. The work took three years to complete but the result was impressive. The engine displacement stayed the same as the Megola at 600 cc but was much lighter and more simplified than a standard 100 cc motorcycle of the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuki GSX-R750</span> Sports motorcycle

The Suzuki GSX-R750 is a sports motorcycle made by Suzuki since 1984. It was introduced at the Cologne Motorcycle Show in October 1984 as a motorcycle of the GSX-R series for the 1985 model year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley-Davidson Sportster</span> Type of motorcycle

The Harley-Davidson Sportster is a line of motorcycles produced continuously since 1957 by Harley-Davidson. Sportster models are designated in Harley-Davidson's product code by beginning with "XL". In 1952, the predecessors to the Sportster, the Model K Sport and Sport Solo motorcycles, were introduced. These models K, KK, KH, and KHK of 1952 to 1956 had a sidevalve engine, whereas the later XL Sportster models use an overhead valve engine. The first Sportster in 1957 had many of the same features of the KH including the frame, fenders, large gas tank and front suspension.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuki GSX-R1000</span> Sports motorcycle

The Suzuki GSX-R1000 is a supersport motorcycle made by Suzuki. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled 999 cc (61.0 cu in) inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine although originally 988 cc (60.3 cu in) from 2001 to 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuki RE5</span> Japanese Wankel engine motorcycle

The Suzuki RE5 is a motorcycle with a liquid-cooled single-rotor Wankel engine, manufactured by Suzuki from 1974 to 1976. Apart from its unusual engine, the RE5 is mostly a conventional roadster, albeit with some peculiar styling details thanks to Italian industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha DT200</span>

The Yamaha DT200 is a dual-purpose motorcycle manufactured during the 1980s, 1990s, and continues into the 2000s (decade) by the Yamaha Motor Company. Though never imported into the US, the rest of the world, including Canada, received some of these models. The DT200LC began production in 1983bc. It also was very similar to the DT125LC. This model continued production until 1988.Then, in 1989 a totally new model was introduced, DT200R (3ET), as well as a similar DT125R. In Canada, the DT125LC/R was never imported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ducati L-twin engine</span>

The L-twin is a naturally aspirated two-cylinder petrol engine by Ducati. It uses a 90-degree layout and 270-degree firing order and is mounted with one cylinder nearly horizontal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ducati Hypermotard</span> Motorcycle model

The Ducati Hypermotard is a supermotard Ducati motorcycle designed by Pierre Terblanche and was first seen at the November 2005 EICMA trade show in Milan. The Hypermotard was awarded "Best of Show" at EICMA and has since won other show awards. The Hypermotard has a 937 cc (57.2 cu in) dual-spark 'Desmo' or 'Desmodromic' liquid-cooled four-valve-per-cylinder 90° V-twin engine with fuel injection and weighs under 180 kg (400 lb). The Hypermotard is capable of speeds in the region of 125 mph (201 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda Ascot (motorcycle)</span>

The Honda Ascot is a name given to two motorcycles produced by Honda in the early 1980s. The motorcycles, the FT500 and VT500FT, were produced with the Ascot name between 1982 and 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha YZ450F</span> Type of motorcycle

The Yamaha YZ450F is a four-stroke racing motocross bike built by Yamaha Motor Corporation. It was the successor to the previous YZ426F which was discontinued in 2003. It is credited by Cycle World and Dirt Rider magazines as the bike that started the four-stroke dirt bike revolution. The 2006 YZ250F and YZ450F were the first production motorcycles equipped with titanium suspension springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha TX500</span> Type of motorcycle

The Yamaha TX500 is a two-cylinder standard motorcycle built by Yamaha and sold in 1973 and 1974. Early models closely resembled the Triumph Bonneville in style. In 1975 the bike was renamed XS500 and then continued to be updated until 1978 when sales ended in the USA. In Europe, the model was available through 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuki GT550</span> Type of motorcycle

The Suzuki GT550 is a three cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled 1970s-era motorcycle in Suzuki's "Grand Touring" GT series. Three Grand Touring models including the GT380 and GT750 and were originally offered for sale with the beginning of the 1972 model year (MY) with the 550 called "Indy" for the North American market. In Suzuki's numbering scheme, automobile race tracks identify each of its 3-cylinder GT bikes for the North America market: Sebring for the 380, Indy for the 550 and Le Mans for the 750.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ducati ST series</span> Type of motorcycle

The Ducati ST series is a set of Italian sport touring motorcycles manufactured by Ducati from 1997 through 2007. In order of release, the series comprised five distinct models: the ST2, ST4, ST4S, ST3, and ST3S. Intended to compete with other sport-tourers such as the Honda VFR, the ST Ducatis had a full fairing, a large dual seat and a relaxed riding position for both rider and pillion. The ST bikes had a centre-stand, and could be fitted with optional matching luggage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honda CB400SF</span> Japanese motorcycle

The Honda CB400 Super Four is a CB series 399 cc (24.3 cu in) standard motorcycle produced by Honda at the Kumamoto plant from 1992 to the present. The CB400 embodies the typical Universal Japanese Motorcycle produced through the 1970s, updated with modern technology. To this end, the bike has a naked retro design, paired with a smooth inline-four engine. Originally a Japan-only bike, it was later also available in SE Asia, and from 2008 in Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Suzuki GR650 Tempter". Cycle World. July 1983.
  2. "Top 10 interesting Suzukis you might not know about". www.visordown.com.
  3. "Suzuki GR650D Tempter". Cycle. May 1983.
  4. "1983 Suzuki Tempter GR650-X". www.motorcycleclassics.com.
  5. 1 2 3 "Suzuki GR650: For 14,000 Miles, A Good and Faithful Servant". Cycle World. July 1984.