New competition from Suzuki - GSX-R 250

[Twisthem488]

LINK. What do you guys think? Gotta love more little bikes.

[CaliGrrl]

Huh. Would be worth a look. I'm still not sure what my bike future will look like- will I like the little bikes, or will I want to step up? I don't know yet!

[adouglas]

In that form -- i.e. what looks like an actual sportbike -- it isn't going to happen for the U.S.

A small but vocal group of enthusiasts really, really wants a true small-displacement sportbike. There aren't enough of us to make it a viable model.

In this country, small-displacement bikes are not particularly sport-oriented. They can be made so via the aftermarket, but stock they don't come with things like clip-ons or aggressive ergos. Face it... the Ninjette is an upright commuter bike with a fancy fairing. Always has been. Ditto pretty much everything else out there.

What drives the small-displacement market is rules in other countries, most notably the A2 restriction. All of the current 300-ish class machines are made to hit that limit.

If Suzuki does jump onto the little-bike bandwagon, it'll most likely be with a machine that competes directly against the Ninjette, RC390, CBR300 and R3. It'll probably be a parallel twin. It won't be a 250... it'll have displacement similar to the others. It won't be as interesting at that vaporware rendering.

In other words, another A2 bike a whole lot like every other A2 bike.

At this price point, there just isn't a whole lot of room for differentiation. Move up the food chain and you have different displacements (i.e. 600 vs. 636 vs. 675 vs. 750 vs. 959), V-twins, triples and inline fours, all kinds of electronic rider aids, different suspension choices up to and including full Ohlins race bits, conventional vs. single-sided swing arms, titanium exhausts, etc. etc. etc.

Down at the bottom end, it's either a single or a parallel twin, non-adjustable damper-rod forks, preload-adjust-only shock, single-disc brake up front and a steel frame. Unless I'm mistaken, that describes every small bike on the U.S. market. Some have ABS, and at least one comes with a slipper clutch. But for the most part, they're all cast from the same mold. The only one that really stands out in my view is the RC390.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by CaliGrrl

Huh. Would be worth a look. I'm still not sure what my bike future will look like- will I like the little bikes, or will I want to step up? I don't know yet!

If you follow the pattern...

Yes, you will want to step up. You will buy a bigger bike, and then find out for yourself why you liked the little bike so much. Eventually, you'll have another little bike.

Having a big bike is worth the experience. It's a whole different thing. I'm there right now and loving it. But yeah... there's another small bike in my future.

[VaFish]

Originally Posted by adouglas

If you follow the pattern...

Yes, you will want to step up. You will buy a bigger bike, and then find out for yourself why you liked the little bike so much. Eventually, you'll have another little bike.

Having a big bike is worth the experience. It's a whole different thing. I'm there right now and loving it. But yeah... there's another small bike in my future.

I've been up and down over the last 30 years or so. Started out on 250cc enduro's, then moved to 900cc and 1100cc sport bikes, then took a break and now am on 250cc sport bikes. Even though I'm looking for a bigger bike for 2 up riding with the wife, I'll still keep one of the little 250 Ninjas for fun.

While I don't think the 250 GSXR will be anything earth shattering, another small bike from a major manufacturer is not a bad thing.

[kdogg2077]

Originally Posted by adouglas

In that form -- i.e. what looks like an actual sportbike -- it isn't going to happen for the U.S.

Down at the bottom end, it's either a single or a parallel twin, non-adjustable damper-rod forks, preload-adjust-only shock, single-disc brake up front and a steel frame. Unless I'm mistaken, that describes every small bike on the U.S. market. Some have ABS, and at least one comes with a slipper clutch. But for the most part, they're all cast from the same mold. The only one that really stands out in my view is the RC390.

This post nails the situation. Suzuki is the last to the small bike party, so they're going to have a hard time convincing anyone to give them a shot. What can they do that Kawasaki, Honda, and Yamaha haven't been doing already?

I still want my 300-400cc triple, but I know that's not happening

[RacinNinja]

Probably a Japan or Euro only bike.

[CaliGrrl]

Originally Posted by adouglas

If you follow the pattern...

Yes, you will want to step up. You will buy a bigger bike, and then find out for yourself why you liked the little bike so much. Eventually, you'll have another little bike.

Having a big bike is worth the experience. It's a whole different thing. I'm there right now and loving it. But yeah... there's another small bike in my future.

I'm glad to hear the little bikes continue to be fun.

[Somchai]

Originally Posted by adouglas

In that form -- i.e. what looks like an actual sportbike -- it isn't going to happen for the U.S.

A small but vocal group of enthusiasts really, really wants a true small-displacement sportbike. There aren't enough of us to make it a viable model.

In this country, small-displacement bikes are not particularly sport-oriented. They can be made so via the aftermarket, but stock they don't come with things like clip-ons or aggressive ergos. Face it... the Ninjette is an upright commuter bike with a fancy fairing. Always has been. Ditto pretty much everything else out there.

What drives the small-displacement market is rules in other countries, most notably the A2 restriction. All of the current 300-ish class machines are made to hit that limit.

If Suzuki does jump onto the little-bike bandwagon, it'll most likely be with a machine that competes directly against the Ninjette, RC390, CBR300 and R3. It'll probably be a parallel twin. It won't be a 250... it'll have displacement similar to the others. It won't be as interesting at that vaporware rendering.

In other words, another A2 bike a whole lot like every other A2 bike.

At this price point, there just isn't a whole lot of room for differentiation. Move up the food chain and you have different displacements (i.e. 600 vs. 636 vs. 675 vs. 750 vs. 959), V-twins, triples and inline fours, all kinds of electronic rider aids, different suspension choices up to and including full Ohlins race bits, conventional vs. single-sided swing arms, titanium exhausts, etc. etc. etc.

Down at the bottom end, it's either a single or a parallel twin, non-adjustable damper-rod forks, preload-adjust-only shock, single-disc brake up front and a steel frame. Unless I'm mistaken, that describes every small bike on the U.S. market. Some have ABS, and at least one comes with a slipper clutch. But for the most part, they're all cast from the same mold. The only one that really stands out in my view is the RC390.

I totally agree with you.

But let me add that you can be proud bc you own what can be said: 'Thus, the GSX-R 750 can proudly adorn entitled 'first and last 750cc Superbike".'

From the report '30 years Suzuki GSX-R750'
"Therefore Suzuki participated for reasons of prestige with the GSX-R 750 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans - and won right away. 24 hours continuous full throttle on the legendary course and the new 750-Suzuki skipped out of the competition with 1000 cubic."
because: "Pessimists doubted at IFMA, however, that the motor power could withstand permanently."

Please use a translator when you read the German report about the GSX-R750 http://www.heise.de/autos/artikel/30...s-2794309.html

[HoneyBadgerRy]

Originally Posted by adouglas

If you follow the pattern...

Yes, you will want to step up. You will buy a bigger bike, and then find out for yourself why you liked the little bike so much. Eventually, you'll have another little bike.

Having a big bike is worth the experience. It's a whole different thing. I'm there right now and loving it. But yeah... there's another small bike in my future.

Couldn't agree with this more. For my first bike was whichever bike my dad wasn't riding that I bummed off of him (fz1000 and hypermotard). Then I bought my ninja 250, and I love it. I ride his bike every now and then, and I love them in their own way, but If I could only have one bike it would definitely be a small cc bike (maybe a R3 or something else, but it definitely wouldn't be a 600 or a 1000).

[APEmike]

I would LOVE to see a competitive SPORT small bike, instead of the econo, cost effective bikes we have now. Dont get me wrong, I love my 300, but even to this noob, its shortcomings in chassis, suspension, ergo, and brakes are apparent. I would pay a premium for a new small sport bike with the same tech and quality put in it as the 600s and 1000s. Will enough people be willing to put nearly the same money into a 250-400cc bike as something that makes twice the power or beyond? Probably not enough to make a profit on, which is a shame.