Suzuki XN85 Turbo: review, history, specs


The Suzuki XN85 is a motorcycle produced by Suzuki in 1983.

1983-Suzuki-XN85-Turbo-Gray-1926-2.jpg
Suzuki XN85
Manufacturer
Also called Turbo
Production 83
Class Sportbike
Engine
673cc Four-stroke Inline-four Turbo charged
Spark Plug NGK D9EA '83
Battery YUASA YB14L-A2 '83
Final Drive Chain: 530 ‘83[1]
Front Tire 100/90-16 '83
Rear Tire 120/90-17 '83
Weight
Oil Filter K&N KN-133[2]
Recommended Oil Suzuki ECSTAR 10w40
Manuals Service Manual

Of the Japanese Big Four, Suzuki was the most reluctant to follow the fashion for turbochargers. But there are times when commercial sense dictates that you have to follow the current trend. So, though everything was well conceived, it was with a certain lack of conviction that Suzuki set about turning a classic 650 into a turbo, starting with the addition of a Mikuni-Bosch L-Jetronic injection system - in the end they produced a landmark bike that combined several innovations and looked very different from the competitors.

A Far from Ideal InstallationEdit

The turbo was mounted above the gearbox; the position was poorly ventilated and a long way from the exhaust headers. This layout had little beneficial effect on the power output; to some the XN85 had little more performance than the normally aspirated 650, and its lackluster engine could scarcely claim to offer any sort of "turbo effect. (as a rider of a 28 year old Xn85 my views differ - there is certainly a "turbo effect", often comparisons are made to bikes that appeared during the XN85's short career rather than those that existed before the XN85.) Suzuki were concerned about the potential longevity of the engine, even though it had vulnerable parts strengthened. As well as strength they focussed on the extra heat generated by the turbo and introduced yet another innovation - new to bikes, but used in WWII Japanese fighter planes - using oil sprayed under the pistons as a coolant. Just before production began the engine was de-tuned - time has shown their fears about strength and heat were unfounded.

Outstanding Frame DesignEdit

It was the frame that qualified the XN85 for the history books. The prototype had the benefit of an oil-tight chain case, which was dropped from the production version, but along with the Honda VF750F-the XN85 was the first motorcycle with a 16-inch front wheel. In conjunction with a frame design that was highly successful in all respects, including the newly developed "fully floating rear suspension" the handling was acknowledged by journalists as unbeatable. Shortly afterwards, this excellent handling mix reappeared on the 1983 GS550E and GS750E models. The short life of the XN85 was also in part owing to the frame - as the weight of the bike (250Kg, 551 Lb) was a poor match to the power output.

1983 XN85DEdit

 
1983 Suzuki XN85D
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 Turbo in Gray
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver
 
1983 Suzuki XN85 in Silver


The photos showing the bike in Gray have all been taken indoors, the XN85 was produced in silver-gray.


  • V.I.N. #: JS1GP71T D 100001
  • ENGINE PREFIX: P701-
  • ENGINE TYPE: 673cc Four-stroke Inline-four
  • MODEL CODE: 093
  • COLOR: Silver
  • Half fairing
  • Turbo charged engine
  • Electronic ignition
  • Electronic fuel injection
  • 16" front wheel
  • Anti-dive front suspension
  • Full floater rear suspension

See AlsoEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. 2019 Western Power Sports Catalog. Western Power Sports. 2019. 
  2. 2019 K&L Supply Co Catalog. K&L Supply Co. 2019.