This is still the GS I want to get. C'mon Suzuki import!

[pantablo]

Dude, what are you riding?  The GS mill is probably the oldest tech on the market ....

I meant that its old technology for being a new(ish) bike and also against its competition.

[Piper5177]

Ahhh, I'm just an 80's retro kinda guy.  Not to mention I do love the GSX1100R, and this is just a "newer" version that weighs about 100lbs less than the water cooled GSXR beasts of the early 90's.

[The Antibody]

It's ok Piper. We don't have to like it.

I personally think it is an ugly, pile of crap.

I am a GS-TWIN fan like Pam.

I don't work for Suzuki, I don't have to like everything they make.

 -Anti

[Piper5177]

YOU MUST LIKE IT!  Everything I like you have to like.  Nobody is entitled to their own opinion, what do you think this is, a Democracy?

[Cal Price]

A mate of mine has been looking at a new GSX1400 in my local dealership, much as I like Suzuki the other three big jap manufacturers all market very similar muscle-bikes plus Triumphs and Beemers waiting to be launched into this area. I suppose you guys will get frustrated about them not being imported into the U.S. but I think you'll find that wherever you live there always seems to be a gap in the import spectrum, in U.K. there are hardly any 250 or 400 bikes which I understand are the top sellers in Japan, we seem to have dozens of 125s and 600s, as a result we now have a huge "grey" import marked in both new and second-hand bikes, it's one thing, at least that we can thank the E.C. for, it's the removal of barriers to what can be shipped from country to country. Is there a "grey" import market in U.S? is there a business opportunity? or is this stopped by non-tarrif barriers, exhaust regs and such like.

[JamesG]

all of the above.

There is a very small niche market for these bikes. It would be bigger I think if the manufactureres would bring them in offically, because the price would be low enough that smaller, younger, female riders would be interested. But as of right now,  between the cost of shipping, duties, registration fees you are looking at $2000 extra on top of the price of the bike at least.

That puts them out of reach for all but the enthusiast.

[Cal Price]

Yes, point taken. In UK the "greys" or parralell imports are actually cheaper than the manufacturers "official" importer even model for model, that is probably because the end user is paying too much anyway, as usual. Problems used to arise with warranty etc but the grey market is now so well organised that it has it's own back-up service for many bikes. Another thing is that we get a lot direct from Japan which is amazing as dealers can bring a bike halfway around the planet and still sell it for less than the "official" outlet. This is probably because second-hand prices in japan are very low but it even applies to new probably because Japan spec  seems to be road-legal here and may not be in many other countries.

[Cal Price]

The point of the above ramble was, once a few people do it the manufacturers and official importers start to take notice, improve the range (hopefully) but it has, without doubt, bought down prices.