Key Points
- Suzuki is rumoured to be working on a new sportbike that could be powered by a turbocharged parallel-twin engine.
- This would be a significant departure from the inline-four engines that have powered Suzuki’s sportbikes in the past.
- The patent drawings that have been released show a sportbike with a tubular-steel chassis and a turbocharged parallel-twin engine.
- The engine is similar to the one that was used in the Suzuki Recursion concept, which was shown back in 2013.
- If Suzuki does decide to produce a turbocharged sport bike, it would be an interesting addition to the market.
- Turbocharged parallel-twin engines are becoming more common in the middleweight segment, and Suzuki’s bike could be a strong competitor to the Yamaha R7 and the Kawasaki Ninja 650.
- It’s still too early to say when or if Suzuki will actually produce a turbocharged sportbike. However, the patent drawings and the rumours suggest that it’s a possibility.
- If Suzuki does decide to go ahead with this project, it could be a significant development for the sportbike market
Details
Suzuki GSX-8S has created significant interest in Suzuki’s lineup, filling the middleweight sport-naked and adventure categories.
However, there is still a gap in their lineup for a retro racer and a sportbike. According to rumours and patent filings, Suzuki might be considering a turbocharged sportbike to potentially fill this void.
GSX-8S
The GSX-8S features a 776cc parallel-twin engine that offers good low-end torque but may not match the performance of the inline-four engines typically found in GSXR sportbikes.
The idea of a turbocharged sportbike originates from a concept called the Recursion, which Suzuki explored back in 2013. The Recursion concept had a smaller displacement of 588cc but boasted 100 horsepower with the help of a turbocharger.
Patents
Suzuki holds several turbocharger-related patents, which suggests they have the technology and capability to develop a turbocharged sport bike. The patent drawings indicate they intend to use a tubular-steel construction method for the chassis, similar to the Recursion concept.
Turbo engine
A turbocharged engine can enhance performance by allowing the parallel twin to rev higher and shift the powerband into the top RPM ranges. If Suzuki decides to implement this technology in their sportbike, it could be a fascinating and potentially revolutionary model.
Conclusion
The rumours of a new Suzuki turbocharged sportbike are intriguing. If Suzuki does decide to produce such a bike, it could be a significant development for the sportbike market. A turbocharged parallel-twin engine would offer a unique combination of power and torque, and it could be a strong competitor to the Yamaha R7 and the Kawasaki Ninja 650.
It’s still too early to say when or if Suzuki will actually produce a turbocharged sportbike, but the patent drawings and the rumours suggest it’s a possibility. I’m excited to see what Suzuki comes up with!
