Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Do you want a bike that is cheap to buy / own / maintain, fast enough for most mortals, easy to ride and looks like a bike that costs twice as much? Then buy a GSX650F NOW!!!
In Blue of course if you want the Fastest one
Overall this has been the best bike I have ever owned with no major complaints and the minor complaints can be fixed easily with aftermarket parts.
Bike is ridden daily for commuting to work (40 mile round trip on the highway) and week end rides of between 70 and 300 miles. I have been averaging 45-50 mpg and have gone 200 miles on a tank. I normally fill up at 150-175 miles. I have a real problem riding at the speed limit – cruise speed is about 90 mph.. Bike wants to rev all the way to 12,000 rpm like an angry hornet, especially after the switch to the 2 bros exhaust.
Engine: Enough power to get you a ticket, not enough for true speed junkies. A little noisy at idle – who cares when you hear this thing scream at 11,000 rpm. Highly recommend switching out stock exhaust to save weight, more power, looks (how can you miss the bazooka on the side of the bike?), did I mention the 2 bros exhaust sounds wicked!!
Fuel Injection: Best in the business, smooth power right off idle and linear all the way to redline. Bike starts easy hot or cold (no more choke!!), idle is solid.
Brakes: Work very well for normal street use. Some serious fade when ridden hard and at very high speeds on mountain curves. Not bad considering the bikes weight. Front brakes make a noise at low speeds when applied (fast clicking??) – maybe it needs an anti-rattle backing plate for the pads?? I will be upgrading the brakes to braided lines, wave rotors front / back and upgraded pads when the time comes to rebuild the brakes.
Tires: Stock Bridgestone Battlax tires are holding up very well considering I ride in very hot temps (110° F+) and plenty of high speed corners. I raised the tire pressure to 40 p.s.i. F/R since the tires felt squishy at speeds over 70 mph. Nice that Suzuki put common size sport bike tires so we have many choices for tires. I plan on going with the Michelin Pilot Power C2’s when the time is near. This may be soon since I have 2 plugs in the rear tire from nails.
Seat: Too hard and flat for long distance, 31 inch seat height is not what it seems since seat is so wide. I have a 30 inch inseam and I am on my tip toes. I have almost tipped over a few times since I can’t flat foot when at a stop. Ordered a Sargant seat in hopes I can fix both of these complaints.
Clutch / Transmission: Smoothest shifting bike I have ever owned but does clunk when shifting to 1st while bike is rolling. Hydraulic clutch, nice touch on a bike this cheap, works well in traffic and no worries about a broken clutch cable. Use caution when downshifting – back tire will break loose if you are going to fast. Aftermarket has not caught up with a slipper clutch that I know of.
Riding Position: Almost perfect for my height (5ft 7in) and reach. Upright seating position works well for long distance comfort. Wind blast when sitting upright can be tiring after 100 miles or so. Still able to tuck in like a true sport bike, yet wrists don’t hurt after 20 miles. Windshield has good aerodynamics when tucked but could be a bit taller when sitting upright. Foot pegs are at a good height for comfort and cornering. Could be a little wider – did someone say they were going to try Buell pegs?
Handling: If you want ultimate handling in corners, buy a Ducati 1098S, if you want long distance touring comfort: buy a Goldwing. Want a true sport touring bike: buy a Yamaha FJ1300 but be prepared to cough up serious money for any of those bikes. I regularly keep up with 1000cc super sport bikes in corners, very stable at high speed sweepers and hairpin corners. High speed straight line stability is excellent – no vibration or head shake at top speed of 138 mph on speedo (130 mph actual considering 7% error). I don’t need a faster bike for the sake of my DL and public safety.
Other: Dashboard display is very nice, east to read in full sun light. Digital speedo, analog tach with shift light, gear indicator, gas gage, 2 trip odometers and a clock. Red backlight is very easy to read at night (brightness is adjustable).
Put grip puppies on to help with some vibration at speed. Need to put on a aftermarket horn since the stock one sounds like a clown car. Head light needs a HID upgrade, bright light works ok at night.
Maintenance: Fairings are easy to take off and only have a few socket head screws holding them on. Gas tank comes off easy with automotive style connectors and no spilled gas like the “old carb days”. Required maintenance is considerably less than any bike I have owned. Oil changes every 3500 miles (I change mine at 2000 or less), replace spark plugs and throttle valve sync at 7500 miles, replace air filter at 11,000 miles, valve check at 14,500 miles, change coolant \ clutch and brake fluid at 2 years, replace clutch and brake lines at 4 years. Oil changes done so far: 600 miles – Suzuki 20W50 regular oil and Suzuki oil filter; 2000 miles - Suzuki 15W50 synthetic oil and K&N oil filter. Getting ready to do 3rd oil change this week end. Chain adjuster is very easy to use – had to adjust chain at 2000 miles.

Did I miss anything ??

I think you pretty much covered it Dwayne. That was a great write-up!



That was me. I managed to fit the right peg. Unfortunately, I ran into two problems:

1) The lower peg places the heel of my boot right on the pipe leading to the exhaust can.

2) I was unable to adjust the rear brake pedal enough to compensate for the 1" difference in height.

I haven't given up on this project, but it's going to take time, which means I need to wait until it's below 130 degrees in the garage (you know how that goes I'm sure - Vegas isn't much better than Phoenix in that regard!)

Mike - I feel your pain - we should be called the "Asbestos Boys" for working in the garage and riding in temps a few degrees cooler than HELL

Thanks for the update on the pegs - wish I could use some GoldWing pegs

+1 on all you reported. I've got 4200 mi. since purchase in mid May, '11. Any complaints are minor quibbles & all the positives are big ones. This bike looks handsome, to my eye, (it's the blue/white one), it's plenty fast enough, plus I find it light & nimble. (I rode a 2000 Concours for the last 11 years) I smile when I hear folks complain about the 650s weight! Brakes are super, tires are the usual OEM dreck, but another few thou & I'll explore those new PR3s. Love the instrument cluster, & seat is starting to be OK for more than 100 mi. All-in-all, It's one of the best I've ever owned. (Hope nothing happens to change my mind in the next 4000!)

This bike is really low cost for the fun it provides. As you said handles well, is quiet, smooth and more than fast enough for me. The stock tires I wasn't crazy about and have replaced those with PR3's. As for looks, as I was trying to leave work yesterday one of the local police stopped...I thought oh-oh, what did I do now. He just wanted to ask about the bike as he liked the looks. I have one of the faster blue ones.

I also get the looks on the bike at times, I think they mistake it for the GSXR model especially for people who are not too familiar with the Suzuki bikes. Oh by the way, I got the blue one as well

I was getting looks from the ladies all yesterday - I actually wondered if they realised it was "only" the F.
Geez it's fun though, when you pull up at the lights - she's looking at you from the passenger seat, and her boyfriend driving knows she's looking at you...

are you getting around in Dainese, looking like a young man flush?

Nah: Dririder, kevlar denim, A* boots and gloves, AGV Stealth. All black.
Must be the bike, including the noise...

Its almost the most fun you can have on a bike

I get a lot of compliments girls and guys nice bike ect. And on the road soo funny ENVY looks from cagers bmws and mb.