Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Can women ride the GSX650F ?

One woman's opinion follows.

http://www.motorcycleexperience.ca/sportbike.html

The bike is to heavy for most chicks.
Its a sports tourer .

For mine there is only 2 girls bikes ,one is the suzuki across where the tank has storage for a handbag and its called a chicks bikes on forums and the Harley sportster ,the baby harley known as a skirtster.

If you want a chick bike, Suzuki really makes them!

The gladius is the designated Girls's bike. I considered one until I read the sales paraphernalia and suffered shrinkage.

well, i just sold mine today to a "chick" who weighs in at around 110 lbs .... she just sold her shadow 750 and bought mine.

well my wife has had hers for 3 years. No problem for her she 5/8 140 pounds never even came close to droping.

You know it's not how strong you are it's how you ride and useing what you got. gold wings are 700 to 800 pounds and little guys and old men ride them. lol

That woman is a pretty annoying reviewer.

"Everything about the bike is PERFECT!!"

Anyway, I don't agree with her that it's a great beginner bike for men or women. I think it's a much better second bike -- not because of the engine but the weight and the distribution thereof.

As for women not having enough hand strength to work the clutch? What's that guy on? Is the GSXF clutch really so bad? I think it's great. One of the lightest clutches I've used this side of BMW. And the levers are adjustable for crying out loud.

The ideal ladies' bike, based on the assumption that most women are shorter in the legs and arms than men, have narrower shoulders, and -- stereotypically -- a greater desire to flat-foot, then a seat height about 3 - 4 inches shorter, bars further back, and a narrower saddle would make the GSXF more "chick friendly." An aluminum frame and smaller gas tank would also make the bike lighter, but that depends on the woman. Many women I know have powerful legs

Yeah the aluminum frame add alot to the cost ,thats the bike sort of down fall for the "sports bike" riders ,but the steal frame make the bike heavy but cheaper to buy ,so its a trade off ,cost V weight.
But the weight is a benifit for a sport tourer to a point.

The clutch is heavy in major traffic ,I get arm pump after 30 minutes ...might hurt a ladys arms after 10- 15 minutes in heavy traffic riding the clutch.
I've always said if you live in a large city and want to zip in and out of traffic like a bike courier ,then pick some thing else ....heavy bike to really really throw around in heavy traffic and the clutch gets heavy after a long time.

Regarding the 'chick-bike" thing: chick-bikes sometimes are better. I'm not a Harley fan. But if I were to own one it would be the 883, the alleged chick bike of the line, and, I think, the best.
Anyway, the weight issue comes and goes here. I looked up some info on line and thought I'd share it with you:
Honda CBR600 410lbs wet alum. frame
BMW F800R 439lbs wet alum. frame
Hyosung GT650S 419lbs dry steel frame?
Kawasaki Ninja 650R 441lbs dry steel frame
Kawasaki Versys 454lbs dry steel frame
Suzuki GSX650F 531lbs dry steel frame
Suzuki SV650S 438lbs dry alum. frame
Suzuki Gladius 446lbs dry steel frame
Triumph Street Triple 367lbs dry alum. frame
Yamaha FZ6 459lbs wet alum. and steel
I am going to arbitrarily suggest that the difference between wet weight and dry weight is about 40lbs generally. The GSX650F is the heaviest bike here. Assuming that the FZ6's 459lbs would translate to about 420lbs dry, then the next lighter bike would be the Versys, followed closely by the Gladius, and Ninja, these all being stell-framed bikes. THe SV and BMW are not much lighter with their aluminum frames.
THe thing is that the GSX is heavier than the other steel-framed bikes in it's class by an approximate average of 80lbs. The GSX650F is a relatively heavy bike in my opinion. I think that that is interesting and I would like to know where that weight is in the bike.

You got it wrong on the GSXF. Its 475lbs dry and 531lbs wet (216 vs 241kg) for the 650F. Its the heaviest '600cc' bike out there. Unless you want a 700cc Deauville

I stand corrected. I knew I'd get something wrong with all those numbers. Still, my Tiger is the same 475lbs dry. (aluminum frame) I'm still interested in peoples' ideas as to why the GFXF is as heavy as it is. The steel frame is usually mentioned as the cause. But there are other similar steel-framed bikes that are substantially lighter. I'm not trying to pick on the bike. I own one and like it - but wish that it was a little lighter and wonder why it isn't. Thanks for the correction by the way.

10 yrs ago I would have said a Virago 250, now with the colour scheme on the new model ( that slash of pink)..... well certainly

IMO it is good for any one who wants a good sport commute / tour sportbike.

The weight issue, One yes the frame steel, yet reading an article about bicycle
frames steel hi moly chrome is used ver aluminum and carbon fiber. One is more forgiving
and can be less weight than a aluminum frame due to added wall or plate thickness.

So why did Suzuki use a steel frame ? " to cross the road of harmonic vibration" and still be very
stiff frame. And yes the cost lower, Suzuki can use automated obital welders, ver GTAW in AC mode with argon shielding gas. That's the main cost labor.

Anyway the steel ver aluminum weight is a little more and yes the DAME BEAN counters would pick the steel, yet im sure the R&D had pre spec steel for the gsx650f.

Most of the weight is in the lower half of our 656 cc engine, remember the lower is shared with the 1250, and with four quarts of oil, heavy, next piece that adds weight is the EX can, followed by the tail, handlebar assy, and turn signal assy. And battery, if you mod the bike can easy shed maybe about 20 pounds.

Hot Bottom female line is if girl who has experience Riding MOTORCYCLE. Should be no problem.

Suzuki still uses the steel frame because from design perspective, it hasn't really changed since the introduction in 1996 so that makes it dirt cheap to produce (no R&D costs and no investments in new robots for welding. The only change between the 2003-2006 and 2007-> frames is the thicker tubing used adding in extra stiffness of the frame. But like you already said f104s, the lower crankcase is designed to withstand the power/torque of the 1250 and is therefore over engineered for the 650.

But it really can be done, just look at what Kawasaki did with the Z1000SX (known as the Ninja 1000 in the States?) It weighs shy over 230kg's. Thats a lot better weight (and distribution of it) for a sport/touring bike. My main gripe with the 650 was the top heaviness in slow manoeuvrings and ultimately the weak brakes when riding on the edge in the mountains. This with sintered brake pads.

Hi kadett how R U. Hey what brand of pad u used on the front on your EX 650 ? I found Galfer lousy. I could not get local EBC.