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Difference between revisions of "Suzuki GS250FW"
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== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
Every once in a while, some motorcycle company decides to find the smallest | Every once in a while, some motorcycle company decides to find the smallest | ||
engine displacement that can be divided into four cylinders. Honda did it in | engine displacement that can be divided into four cylinders. Honda did it in | ||
1973 with the CB350F, Benelli responded a few years later with its 250 Quattro, | 1973 with the [[Honda CB350F|CB350F]], [[Benelli]] responded a few years later with its [[Benelli 250 Quattro|250 Quattro]], and now there is the Suzuki GSX250FW. | ||
and now there is the Suzuki GSX250FW. | |||
Suzuki's little Four is a technical marvel of sorts. The four-stroke, | Suzuki's little Four is a technical marvel of sorts. The four-stroke, | ||
double-cam, liquid-cooled, 249cc mini-motor has 44mm pistons traveling through a | double-cam, liquid-cooled, 249cc mini-motor has 44mm pistons traveling through a | ||
41mm stroke. Just how big is a 44mm piston? Three of them could fit into a Honda | 41mm stroke. Just how big is a 44mm piston? Three of them could fit into a [[Honda | ||
XL600 cylinder without touching each other or the cylinder wall. But even | XL600]] cylinder without touching each other or the cylinder wall. But even | ||
engineers hell-bent for miniaturization couldn't bring themselves to put four | engineers hell-bent for miniaturization couldn't bring themselves to put four | ||
itsy-bitsy valves in a space well under two inches in diameter, so the GSX makes | itsy-bitsy valves in a space well under two inches in diameter, so the GSX makes | ||
do with two valves per cylinder. | do with two valves per cylinder. | ||
The rest of the motorcycle is more normally sized, scaled-down to about 90 | The rest of the motorcycle is more normally sized, scaled-down to about 90 | ||
percent of a typical 550. Shorter people fit it best, but even a six-footer | percent of a typical 550. Shorter people fit it best, but even a six-footer | ||
isn't cramped. The styling, which is reminiscent of an '83 Suzuki GS750E, is | isn't cramped. The styling, which is reminiscent of an '83 [[Suzuki GS750E]], is | ||
only medium-sporty rather than effecting the pure racing look that is typical of | only medium-sporty rather than effecting the pure racing look that is typical of | ||
the hot-rod 250s sold in Japan. | the hot-rod 250s sold in Japan. | ||
That's okay, for this 250 doesn't pretend to be a pure sportbike. It can't. | That's okay, for this 250 doesn't pretend to be a pure sportbike. It can't. | ||
First, it weighs 398 pounds with a half-tank of gas; that's 30 pounds more than | First, it weighs 398 pounds with a half-tank of gas; that's 30 pounds more than | ||
Suzuki's own 400cc GSX-R, and 70 pounds more than the two-stroke 250s. Second, | Suzuki's own [[Suzuki GSX-R400|400cc GSX-R]], and 70 pounds more than the two-stroke 250s. Second, | ||
the tiny, high-tech Four simply doesn't put out much power. Suzuki claims 36 | the tiny, high-tech Four simply doesn't put out much power. Suzuki claims 36 | ||
horsepower at 11,000 rpm, which is substantially below the 45 bhp the two-stroke | horsepower at 11,000 rpm, which is substantially below the 45 bhp the two-stroke | ||
street racers all make. The non-impressive power-to-weight ratio of the GSX leads to non-impressive performance, as indicated by its | street racers all make. The non-impressive power-to-weight ratio of the GSX leads to non-impressive performance, as indicated by its mid-16-second quarter-mile. The GSX feels particularly gutless when pushed hard,requiring high revs without accelerating very briskly in return. | ||
mid-16-second quarter-mile. The GSX feels particularly gutless when pushed hard, | |||
requiring high revs without accelerating very briskly in return. | |||
On the other hand, the GSX250 is a sophisticated, scaled-down sport-tourer | On the other hand, the GSX250 is a sophisticated, scaled-down sport-tourer | ||
for the rider not in a great hurry. It will eventually reach speeds of 90 mph or | for the rider not in a great hurry. It will eventually reach speeds of 90 mph or | ||
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multi yet. | multi yet. | ||
==Specifications== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
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[[Category:Suzuki motorcycles]] | [[Category:Suzuki motorcycles]] | ||
[[Category:250cc 4 cylinder motorcycles]] | |||