When the hell did this bad boy come out?

http://moto.suzuki.ca/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/GSX650F/2009/GSX650FA.aspx?category=sportbike

Is this just in for 2009, I know its replacing the Katana, but will the gs500f be out after 2009 as well?

Also, if anyone could find a full list of specs on this beast that would amazing, because the bike looks great, just wondering about horsepower as compared to the Katana, and about torque.

Thanks !

It came out in '08 in the US.  It's a Katana replacement, not a GS500 replacement.

this bike is heavy and nowhere near as good as the sv650. don't bother with it

That bad eh?
That sucks dink, I was wondering why the price tag sat so cheap.

And, nevermind, it looks as though it sits at around 85bhp, which isn't all that bad considering the Katana's.
Anyway, its absolute crap though? From what I've heard its a heavy but good machine for the money. Although if i want something more ball'sy than the GS500 I shouldnt be looking here. I need something thats more powerful without the insurance jumping like mad.

Also, if this is their replacement for the Katana, I really dread seeing what they have done with the gs500

The guy who started this thread seems to like it.

Holy ball sacks, he makes it sound so good. Damn, you know what.
Im gonna go sit on it first thing in the morning tomorrow, check it all out, see if its actually all as sexy as it sounds.
Damn man, a gs500 that can actually pull a wheelie.?
WTF HAPPENED?! !

Its a bandit replacement I thought ?
Cool.
Buddha.

I usually get most of my comparing info here..... http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/suzuki_gsx650f_2008.php

but they don't have anything on HP/torque for it yet.

It may be ugly, but if you compare it to the last katana, I think it look beautiful. It could be a good upgrade for the GS, depending on what you use your GS for. Commuting/highway would be good. It's not light, so it'd be more solid on the highway, and the rpm's and rollon in 6th gear would be a little more comfortable. If you like the GS for being flickable and fun on backroads, I'd just look for a good deal on an SV

With a 500# dry weight it's a big fat pig compared to a 400# GS500 or the modern 350# sportbikes but that's what it's intended to be.  It's more of a lightweight bargain priced sport touring bike with very sensible ergos compared to sportbikes.  It's what the Kats became as newer sportbikes became smaller and lighter.  Here's some basic performance and power info from CW:

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=819

Dyno Charts from Sportrider:

http://www.sportrider.com/dyno/146_sportbike_dyno_charts/photo_187.html

I like it. I rode one last year durring a Suzuki class at work. I put a bit over 100 miles on it and did not want to give it back. I think its flat out AWESOME! The power is great, its VERY comfortable, fast and smooth. I dont like to ride fast much but on the new 650 I found myself going 100+ mph from time to time w/o it feeling like it at all. It was soo smooth, there was almost no wind at all.. If i was in the market it would be my #1 choice. I never got all the hype about SV's/// I think they suck and sound horrible... The GSF is one killer bike. Way better than any SV I have ridden.

If you're looking for a practical, comfortable, competent, I-4 watercooled standard with good wind protection, get a second-gen FZ6.

have you ever ridden a new sv? if they suck so bad, why are they used so often as extremely capable track bikes? i'm not saying the gsx650f is crap, i'm just saying i out and out prefer the sv650s. i've ridden both, and the sv is just so much more fun to ride. just as light (lighter) and flickable as the gs, awesome torque. if you want a highwway bike, obviously the gsx650f is the choice here because of it's extremely relaxed handle bar and seat situation and because of it's weights. i've had an sv over 80 before and it was rock solid stable at speed, and the gs was wayyy more of a chore on the highway. just everytime going into a corner on the gsx650f at speed always seemed forced and a little scary, where as it was always a breeze and just felt natural on the sv. this is all just purely my opinion, if you drive both bikes you can do your own comparison.

It's quite a difference between the brands. Suzuki updates their katana to a bike that looks like a gsxr, while Kawasaki just takes their bike off the market for a year or two, then re-releases it as a whole different class of bike like they did by making the 98-2003 zxr6 into the new zzr-600. If Suzuki did the same thing people would just be picking up late 90's GSXRs with risers and thinking they've got themselves a beginners bike.

Quote from: jrains89 on September 11, 2009, 08:47:16 AMif they suck so bad, why are they used so often as extremely capable track bikes?

Because the aftermarket is extensive and the bikes are cheap and plentiful.

According to this article, http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gsx650f_08.htm  the GSX 650F replaces the Bandit.

This is a pig compared to the SV 650 if you ask me.  Better for touring, but inferior to the SV in every other way.  It's rated at 75 HP, but with its extra 100+ lbs the SV will eat it alive.

The new GSX doesn't make a lot of sense to me as a tourer either, because if you want a touring bike you're way better off getting shaft or belt drive.  It's too heavy and weak to be much of a sport bike and too sporty to be much of a tourer.  I wouldn't pay 9 grand for a beginner bike that didn't perform in at least one or two ways very well.  The GS 500 is cheap, easy to work on, and has great handling.  That's three things the GS is very good at that this bike isn't.

I agree with jrains89.  This bike is a white elephant.  Not to say it's a bad bike, but nowadays we're comparing good bikes with great bikes and this one isn't great, not for the price anyway.  If it was cheaper maybe I'd change my tune.

Quote from: bill14224 on September 11, 2009, 11:52:28 AMAccording to this article, http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gsx650f_08.htm  the GSX 650F replaces the Bandit.

But they're still selling the Bandit and stopped selling the Katana.

I think we're working with different definitions of 'replaced.' 

I thought Bandits were designated GSF and the Katana's were designated GSX-F.  I was under the assumption the GSX650F was the new fuel injected version of the Katana.  Whatever it is, that was the bike I was in the used market for when I stumbled on a cheap SV650.  I have always liked Katanas (though the styling is an acquired taste).  I think they got a bad reputation because people bought them expecting it to be a superbike and they are not.  That's probably why Suzuki dropped the "Katana" name.  For basic transportation and touring I think they are a great bike and would replace the SV with one if I found it at the right price.  Then again, I also would like a TU250X so take my opinions with a grain of salt   

-Jessie

compiled from suzuki website, sport rider, and 2 of my bathroom scales...

09 GSX650F  
dry weight 507 lbs
curb weight (full of fluids) 531 lbs

08 GSX1340R (Hayabusa)
dry weight 485 lbs
curb weight (with yosh full system and no tool kit) 531 lbs

Suzuki is out of their ******* mind...