B-King TEST RIDE

[China Greg]

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.

Okay.. good point; I'll stay open minded! Still, the real hurdle towards me B-Koming a B-Liever remains that scary heft..560 pounds.. any way you dice it, it's still a lot of mass, well-balanced or not. I owned a 397-pound GSXR1000 a few years back, and climbing back on board my (stripped-down) B12 was kind of ..saddening. OOOMPH.

The substitution of Yosh pipes makes a world of styling difference on the B-K, and if someone clever gets around to making a proper aftermarket 1/4 fairing for it, the bike might magnetize me!

[smooth operator]

  The Yoshi exhaust does clean it up. I like the way the bolts stand out on the case too, similar to the Speed 3.
   The 1250s might only have 100 hp or maybe a little less,but its usable power. I havn't ridden one yet, just going by what I've read in rags and by owners. I'd buy one,but I don't want to get rid of anything I already have.Wife would have had enough if I get another bike! Already told her about the Rickman I want to get. American public seems to like bigger,badder,faster and they'll pay the sticker to get it. But it doesn't take the latest,or the most hp to get you around the twisties in a smooth fast manner.
  I can see the B King showing up at bike nights,someone doing a burn out or doing the high ho silver out the parking lot. I just hope the owner has enough sence to buy a good helmet with that bike and wear it. I myself havn't been to a bike night in yrs. I'd just rather ride! Give me my old 1st Gen Bandit @120some hp,or my SV with only about 110hp and some windy roads(better yet a track) and I'll be smile ear to ear.
   Excuse me sir,but I just wnna ride, Dan

[Red01]

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).

Gee, you make it sound like this thing is REAL expensive - like a Ducati Desmosedici or a MV Augusta F4CC.   
It's not even the most expensive bike in Suzuki's line-up (the C109R & C109RT both cost more than the ABS B-King). It's only $900 more than a Hayabusa ($1500 more if you opt for ABS).

Stated dry weight on the Bling-King is five-hunnert and eighteen pounds. All topped up, we're talkin.. what.. 560 ?

Funny how a "naked Hayabusa" weighs 33 lbs. (dry) more than one with its clothes still on, isn't it? 

[CWO4GUNNER]

For me its just the looks. As stated I cant comment on the performance and handling although the specs look good. Looking at the back model though I think it would make the perfect cop bike complete with Darth Vader style helmet, actually it should come with the bike standard. Oh heck what do I know? Everyone hated techno advanced Looks of the Ford Edsel, and look how it turned out.

[Red01]

Yup, 50 years later and Edsels are still butt-ugly.   
They're just ugly collectors' items now, like Nash Metropolitans.

[ippo]

Video:B-king ride test by finish rider.
http://www.bike.fi/content/314/

[Red01]

Video:B-king ride test by finish rider.
http://www.bike.fi/content/314/

  Cool video.
Couldn't understand a word of it, but from listening to the changes in his voice, it sounded like he was giving it a good workout.

[solman]

The 1250s might only have 100 hp or maybe a little less,but its usable power.

I found the B-king power to be very usable.  It just has a larger range to use.

I can see the B King showing up at bike nights,someone doing a burn out or doing the high ho silver out the parking lot

I think because it is a naked bike, the audience will be the more mature types or serious riders.  If they don;t like the Bandits, most likely they won't go towards the B-king either.  Besides, squids in the states tend to like the full fairing bikes.  Naked bikes have a different audience.

[ippo]

Curtly:He said , Power,power and more power.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I think the translation in the strait was "Mama Mia, That's a Fast'a Meatball!"

[China Greg]

Gee, you make it sound like this thing is REAL expensive - like a Ducati Desmosedici or a MV Augusta F4CC.   

Thirteen Large sure is a lot of money to ME.
I bought my 1st Gen B12 off of Ebay about a year and a half ago, with 1800 true miles on it, for $3100. Not a scratch on the bike.. just needed the carbs cleaned-out, (which I did in the guys driveway inside an hour, then drove four hour home). Not a glitch since.
13 THOUSAND dollars. Thats quite a pile of Scratch. At that point I might push the envelope and go Used 1098.

[solman]

Yea, it is still too much money for me as well.  As much as I enjoyed it, it will have to wait a few years before I could even think about gettting one.  Even then, I will have to get last years model. Exhaust system isn't cheap for that beast either.  That adds another $1800 to the price tag. 

[PitterB4]

Very cool bike.  I like just about everything about it (even the "unusual" pipes).  That is a big ticket, though.  I guess if you compare it to other cool nakeds like the Speed Trip and the Monster, it's not too far out.... and will probably smoke them.

[solman]

I guess if you compare it to other cool nakeds like the Speed Trip and the Monster, it's not too far out.... and will probably smoke them.

I honestly believe that the B-king in stock form will whoop any naked bike out there.  That is unless the other bike has been serverely modified.

[PitterB4]

I guess if you compare it to other cool nakeds like the Speed Trip and the Monster, it's not too far out.... and will probably smoke them.

I honestly believe that the B-king in stock form will whoop any naked bike out there.  That is unless the other bike has been serverely modified.

I'm sure you're right!