B-King TEST RIDE

[GC714]

Funny Me Too!!! But now that I'm 2 wheelin again, I'm thinking of selling the ram.....


http://www.dodgetalk.com/gallery/browseimages.php?do=member&imageuser=43021

[CWO4GUNNER]

Standby because this bike might have the makings of a cheap resale if customers want to get rid of them after a year LOL.

[solman]

The hardest part to get past is the exhaust pipes, but that can be fixed with some aftermarket cans.

[China Greg]

B-King is an interesting idea, but once again, I feel like Suzuki has *JUST* missed the mark (like a few other recent models in my mind.. e.g., the SV1000).
The design is too cluttered. The pipes are way too George Jetson, the useless fly-fairing / headlight combo looks bizarre... and the tank is so bloody wide that one slight trip off the sidestand at the local Amway and you'll be $$$$$$$$ Crying. And it just doesn't appeal to me sense of "MOTORCYCLE". [please see my post about the Honda CB1100R concept bike, if interested to know what I DO like!]

Also, I don't know if I actually WANT 160 hp at the back wheel.
Tires? WHAT tires??
Police cars? WHAT police cars??

Sorry to sound complainy... but I am a long-term Suzuki fan (since my first Zook, a 1969 T250II Hustler).... and I simply feel let-down by Hamamatsu''s design choices in recent years ...probably after the '01 GSXR1000, which I owned and adored (until the New York State Police began to dial-in on me..), then my B12 became king!

They're just not making anything that moves me right now.. always slightly off-base. My bank account is ready and waiting.

[solman]

B-King is an interesting idea, but once again, I feel like Suzuki has *JUST* missed the mark (like a few other recent models in my mind.. e.g., the SV1000).
The design is too cluttered. The pipes are way too George Jetson, the useless fly-fairing / headlight combo looks bizarre... and the tank is so bloody wide that one slight trip off the sidestand at the local Amway and you'll be $$$$$$$$ Crying. And it just doesn't appeal to me sense of "MOTORCYCLE". [please see my post about the Honda CB1100R concept bike, if interested to know what I DO like!]

Also, I don't know if I actually WANT 160 hp at the back wheel.
Tires? WHAT tires??
Police cars? WHAT police cars??

Sorry to sound complainy... but I am a long-term Suzuki fan (since my first Zook, a 1969 T250II Hustler).... and I simply feel let-down by Hamamatsu''s design choices in recent years ...probably after the '01 GSXR1000, which I owned and adored (until the New York State Police began to dial-in on me..), then my B12 became king!

They're just not making anything that moves me right now.. always slightly off-base. My bank account is ready and waiting.

If you haven't noticed, that is why they kept the Bandit 1250 for those who don't want all the bells and  whistles.  As far as the tank goes, on the sides, the silver part on the sides are not the tank.  They are the air scoops for the engine.  For the exhaust, it ain't nothing that an after market exhaust can't fix.  Power wise, it is very controllable power.  Because of the weight of the bike it has very smooth controllable power.  Of course with a quick twist of the wrist, you could be aiming for the sky. 

[smooth operator]

  I havn't seen one in person yet, but it looks heavy and bulky to me. I'm sure it has  the power to move it right along. But I think I'd rather have something more nimble. Maybe I'd think differently if the roads I road were flat and or straight. But I try my best to stay off those roads.   Dan

[CWO4GUNNER]

What's in the name B-King anyway? Honestly the first thing that comes to mind is a hamburger. The marketing guy who came up with the name must have been buddies with the chief concept designer or his rival. Suzuki knew there was a growing market for sport touring, they could have placed this motor in a sport tourer with cases that could have beat the beat out the ST13, C14, and JFR in weight, handing, performance and price.

[pmackie]

IIRC the B-King name started with the concept bikes Supercharged Busa engine. Something like a 200 HP naked boulevard rocket. SO...Boost King.

Not something I want, but a 200 HP Supercharged Busa in a 500 lb naked bike would be something...

I'm sure the aftermarket will be adding back the supercharger soon, so if this is your cup of tea, hold on tight...

[Red01]

Suzuki knew there was a growing market for sport touring, they could have placed this motor in a sport tourer with cases that could have beat the beat out the ST13, C14, and JFR in weight, handing, performance and price.

I don't know that a Busa powered sport-tourer would beat the other Japanese 3 out in price.  I think if they wanted a price leader in the s/t market, they could easily field one based on the B12.5.  Either way, I'd be interested!

[CWO4GUNNER]

Actually it is the perfect looking bike for the rich eccentric who is buying the bike for an art statement or one of a kind special that makes a statement, like the Hummer. I bet Jay Leno has one, maybe Oprah.  If I had that much money Id make it part of my collection just to look at it in one of my indoor display cases (dream).

[China Greg]

What's in the name B-King anyway? Honestly the first thing that comes to mind is a hamburger. The marketing guy who came up with the name must have been buddies with the chief concept designer or his rival. Suzuki knew there was a growing market for sport touring, they could have placed this motor in a sport tourer with cases that could have beat the beat out the ST13, C14, and JFR in weight, handing, performance and price.

1) The name IS goofy. It's just more Japanese Rocket-Boy "Cleverness".. an attribute I think we're seeing a little too much of these days. Probably a case of too much Manga and not enough Outdoor Time.
PS.. do you know that in downtown Tokyo, Magic Mushrooms are (all but?) LEGAL and there are clubs that cater to the Rucy-In-Se-Sky-Vis-Diamonds crowd,... that includes spikey-haired Hamamatsu engineers in white shirts and black ties. Gloovy!
That'll explain it then.

2) I don't know who is defining "Sport Touring" these days.. but it seems like there's just a little too  much TOURING in the equation. Maybe that's what most people want (?)
Me, I'm not a BAG kind of guy. I too want slim and agile.. with basic Highway capabilities:
Scream up I-87 past Albany into Vermont, hit some cool mountain roads... get sloshed in a Burlington bar and crash out in "The Yankee Motel" ($47.50, no breakfast).. cure the hangover with a nice New England breakfast next morning, then wind it back home through the twisty Berkshires the next day.

THAT's SPORT- touring. Heh heh..

I want to be able to sit on a bike all day, and then really put it's ear down in the Mountains. Gotta love them BANDITS.

[solman]

  I havn't seen one in person yet, but it looks heavy and bulky to me. I'm sure it has  the power to move it right along. But I think I'd rather have something more nimble. Maybe I'd think differently if the roads I road were flat and or straight. But I try my best to stay off those roads.   Dan

You obviously didn't read the original post, I said...

"It looks huge, the pipes are fugly and it costs money.  But the funny thing is all those things go away as soon as the wheels start rolling.  The handling is so light and agile and lots and lots of power with a slight twist of the wrist."

This bike is quite at home in the twisties as it is in the straights.  This bike made my B12 feel like an awkward out of date lazy beast.  In fact I just purchased a busa shock to start my upgrading in performance because of that ride.  I will be doing other upgrades as well after the holidays.

[China Greg]

Stated dry weight on the Bling-King is five-hunnert and eighteen pounds. All topped up, we're talkin.. what.. 560 ? That's a LOAD, Amigos.. sniffing the edges of Tourer territory.. even though it may be carried well and be very balanced. The last bike I had in that category was a GS1150ES... and I'm not going back in THAT direction anymore, thanks. Go into a corner too hot with that weight, (gee.. THAT won't ever happen on a B-King, huh?).. and see how well she SLLLIIIIIDESSSS... that'll be the telling.

The styling is simply too tail-fin-Rocket-Boy for me: high-pointed, shotgun-mounted, deer-rear, ..Alien vs. Predator snout.. industrially boxed front fender.
And then of course, there's that [ka-CHING] price tag: MSRP 12,900 Yankee Greenbacks. And that's before set-up fees, tax and insurance and your first tank of gas. (don't even ask about tires).
Yeesh. Better to rework my B12 a little more...

Still, I'll bet it's a pizzer to ride, eh? ..that unending 'Busa power, and all.
Shame they couldn't drop that lovely engine into a trellis frame and make it look like a Monster S4, somehow

[China Greg]

oop.. one more note..
I just came across a photo of a B King with Yosh exhaust.. it really changes the picture a lot..

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_b-king%201300yashumura%20%2007.htm

[solman]

The last bike I had in that category was a GS1150ES... and I'm not going back in THAT direction anymore, thanks. Go into a corner too hot with that weight, (gee.. THAT won't ever happen on a B-King, huh?)..

Sorry, but you can't compare a bike from 84 with a bike from 2008.  The technology is vastly different.  I have a 82 Cb900F and a 03 B12.  Even though technology wise, the B12 is old. But between the the 82 and the 03, the bikes are vastly different in handling and power.  I see it on a daily basis where people see a bike and assume that it is a certain way because of size, hp, or looks. I hear people all the time call bikes like the ZX12 and the Hayabusa straight line bikes.  The reaility of it is that these bikes handle very well and do a hell of a lot more than people realize.  Like I said before, until you ride a B-king, it is truly hard to have an objective opinion of it.  Heck look at the 1250 Bandit.  It claims a measly 96-100 hp, but has anyone who have ridden one called it a slouch yet?  If they have, I sure haven't heard of it.