2008 Suzuki GSX-R600

Motoring Channel Staff - 5/June/2008

Sydney, Australia — With the Honda CBR600RR firmly in its sights, the new 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 has been retooled for 2008, sporting a new look and some advanced new features.

Featuring a new slipper clutch, a slightly revised engine and for the first time on the Gixxer 600, the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector, the new bike is being touted as a more balanced and more 'tweakable' bike than previously.

Priced at $14,990 and with the power to weight ratio of a super car, Suzuki's GSX-R600 could 

Design

Sporting a sharp new look starting with a new headlight assembly, the 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 retains it's position as one of the most aggressive 600cc sports bikes on the market.

The ram air intake system has been moved to a central position underneath the new headlight design, and the rear ducktail has a more angular look that houses a new LED brake light design.

The exhaust pipe is also much larger than the 2007 GSX-R600's stubby end can, due mainly to upcoming emissions standards.

Chassis

One of the biggest changes for the '08 Gixxer 600 is the addition of the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) system. Already seen on the Hayabusa and GSX-R1000, this button-operated system has three settings (A, B, C) that change the engine's fuel injection maps.

In essence, this system allows riders to choose between a soft, mid, or hard power curve. Soft is suited to wet roads for example, while hard is best suited to track sessions when you need maximum acceleration.

Suzuki has also added a new electronically controlled steering damper that "uses a solenoid valve to move a tapered needle reducing or increasing oil flow to adjust damping force".

As well as new lightweight cast aluminum wheels (with a new angled spoke design), the rear subframe has been updated, but the overall frame and rear swingarm remain the same as on the 2007 model.

Twin 310mm front disc brakes are coupled with radially-mounted four piston Tokico calipers, while a new rear caliper is mounted on a new rear bracket for "ease of maintenance when removing the rear wheel or working on the rear brake" according to Suzuki.

Suspending the front of the bike are inverted 41mm Showa front forks, fully adjustable for rebound, compression and preload. The rear shock is also a Showa item, likewise adjustable for rebound, high and low speed compression and preload damping.

Bike dimensions are as follows:

Seat Height: 810mm (31.9 in)
Ground Clearance: 130mm (5.1 in)
Length: 2040mm (80.3 in)
Width: 715mm (28.1 in)
Height: 1125mm (44.3 in)
Wheelbase: 1400mm (55.1 in)
Dry Weight: 165kg (363 lbs)

As well as the adjustable suspension and S-DMS, the new bike also gets three-way adjustable footpegs for riders of different sizes. Tall riders will no longer have to put up with leg cramps on longer or cold journeys, as the pegs have 14mm of horizontal and vertical movement.

The instrument cluster comprises an LCD speedometer and analogue tachometer, with various other features such as a clock and gear position indicator.

Engine

While the CBR600RR was the bike to match in 2007 thanks to its increased torque levels, the new 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 doesn't get any increases in peak power but does have better midrange punch.

It can perform mid 10 second quarter mile runs and has a top speed of around 260km/h. While manufacturers don't readily supply power output figures, the 2008 model GSX-R600 is likely to output slightly more than 100 horsepower at the rear wheel.

With a 16,000rpm redline, the 599cc liquid cooled 4-cylinder engine features new electronic fuel injection with the Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV) system. According to the Japanese bike maker, SDTV comprises "dual fuel injectors per cylinder and new compact 8 hole, fine spray injectors for improved fuel atomization".In other words, better burn.

The compression ratio rises from 12.5:1 to 12.8:1 and features new forged aluminum alloy pistons as a result. New iridium spark plugs and an updated combustion chamber shape also help improve engine response.

As well as the new S-DMS engine management system that tailors the power curve to the riders wishes, the Suzuki Advanced Exhaust System (SAES) has also been added, which features "an innovative under-engine chamber leading to a new large volume muffler". There is also Suzuki's Exhaust Tuning system. Built into the mid-pipe and using a servo-controlled butterfly valve, it tunes the exhaust system to match engine revs which improves low end torque.

The slipper clutch also feature a back torque limiting system to avoid rear wheel lockups "for smoother downshifting and corner entry".

Engine specs are as follows:

Engine: 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC
Bore Stroke: 67.0 x 42.5mm
Compression Ratio: 12.8 : 1
Fuel System: Fuel injection
Lubrication: Wet sump
Ignition: Electronic ignition (Transistorized)
Transmission: 6-speed constant mesh
Final Drive: RK525SMOZ8, 114 links

Suzuki is hailing the new 2008 model Gixxer 600 a more balanced bike, with more adjustability across areas like riding position, engine response, and suspension setup. 

"Ignore the lights and mirrors and the fact that this is also the cleanest-running four-cylinder 600cc motorcycle that Suzuki has ever built, and it's easy to imagine the GSX-R600 rolling directly out of a race shop," espouses the Japanese company. Suzuki hopes the new  model, which also has a larger 17-litre fuel tank, will also return it to the race track podium.

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