While its rivals spent the last months of 2017 trumpeting about their 2018 models, Suzuki was notable by its silence. New at the EICMA show in November was little more than a mildly tweaked SV650.
But latest indications from Japan suggests Suzuki has bucked the teaser-trend and will reveal new machines only as and when they’re ready.
Next year is a crunch year – in Europe, still one of the biggest markets, several key Suzukis don’t meet the latest emissions and type-approval rules. The GSX-R600, GSX-R750 and Hayabusa will all become unsaleable in the European Union from 2019 and they’re all due to be revamped before then.
The most notable update will be the Hayabusa. As we’ve revealed before, the big Suz gets a complete makeover with new styling, new chassis and revamped engine and electronics. AMCN sources in Japan suggest rumours of an all-new Hayabusa, including a turbo version, are wide of the mark and the next-gen bike won’t be all-new – but it will be the biggest revamp since the second-generation ‘Busa was released in 2007.
Word is the upgraded ‘Busa will get a cc-bump to 1440cc, and a new look. The styling will reflect the look previewed on the Concept GSX shown at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.
These pictures are computer-altered renderings from authoritative Japanese magazine Auto-By, and illustrate how the Concept GSX’s styling could meld into the finished 2019 Hayabusa.
The smaller Suzuki sportsbikes, the GSX-R750 and GSX-R600, will also be revamped for 2019. The changes they get aren’t as broad as the Hayabusa, but they’ll make the bikes saleable under new Euro rules. That means reduced exhaust and noise emissions and ABS brakes as standard.
A styling update will almost certainly bring the smaller GSX-R models into line with the new GSX-R1000’s looks, but the basic engines and frames are likely to remain as they are.
Concerns that the 600cc model would be ditched have been put to rest by the continued popularity of the 750cc model. The two share many parts, so it won’t be hard for Suzuki to apply changes to both models, and the revamped Yamaha R6 could be the push Suzuki needs to keep its 600cc sportsbike.
A new Hayabusa will likely headline Suzuki’s 2019 Euro 4-compliant range
By BEN PURVIS