Why the B-King has no real rival, especially for the price

More than 100 people have downloaded the Ovi B-King App for Nokia phone owners in the past 12 hours (if you're reading on the web, click here to get it sent to your Nokia)

Anyway, for all you new visitors, here's why I originally bought the B-King. This is my original review as published on suzibking.blogspot.com


My six-month old Suzuki B-King picked up a week ago. Genuinely awesome machine which I bought after a 45-minute test ride during a press day in Bedfordshire.
After a Goldwing, then Harley Street Glide and a Suzuki M1800, the B-King felt like a middleweight ... with enormous controllable a power.
When you wound open the throttle, it really did feel as though you spun the world on its axis. It was the second in a series of big grins that day (the M1800 was immense and the V Max, see below, is also incredible)
And in the words of Captain Steven Hiller: (Will Smith in Independence Day as he tried the alien ship for the first time):"I have got to get me one of these."
I tried the V Max on the same day. Different, similar straight line performance (though the Yam felt heavier and somehow even more substantial) but the B-King's tyres are sports tyres and that was the clincher (OK and the fact that there is no way I can find the 16 grand).
Within a fortnight I was an owner of this 2008 B-King, for about three grand less than the original list price when the bike was launched 18 months ago.
And now a week later after around 400 miles, I can honestly say that initial impression was a little misguided – this is a big bike, it weighs getting on for 600lbs BUT it is an incredible machine, brilliantly balanced and it's a hoot to ride.
But here's the biggie: holiday time and sit on the runway in your jet, ready for take off. The pilot holds it on the brakes, winds up the jet engines. The roar intensifies and then he releases the brakes. And you are accelerating hard.
I love that feeling, no matter how cheap the flight, the feeling is I thought something special.
Well the B King is better. Much better, one twist of the grip and I swear your organs move back in your body. Surely the most addictive part of the BK. Any gear, any time... probably best in a straight line though.
I really don't care about the divided opinions on the looks, it has a mountain of attitude and is a true future classic, it's a great bike, more power than you could ever need. I've been riding 30 years and have NEVER ridden a bike like it.
Brilliant poise, phenomenal grip, instant acceleration in any gear, fantastic brakes....
OK, you can see I like it and it has completely restored my love of motorcycling. What surprises me is how few people have had a go.
Sports bikes are cool, no argument but the B-King will be the bike that people will hanker for in future, when the petrol's running out and we have a 100bhp limit (like our French cousins suffer already), maybe less.
My advice is get one, while we still have unleaded fuel at a price we can all afford, get one while it is still legal to have 181bhp on two wheels (well something like that, most people agree it's 170 at the rear wheel anyway), get one while you can still buy a machine that will reach 170mph, do 0-60 in 2.8 secs... You get the idea, you know it makes sense.
AND if they've got one in stock, dealers will deal. Brand new £7,400 OTR at Robinson's in Canterbury (£8,1121 list and that's down from £9,000 at the launch in 2007)
My only tip so far, up the standard spring pre-load on the front forks from 4 to 3 and maybe a quarter of a turn more rebound damping on the rear... and that's it... well it is if you weigh 13 stone (no idea what that is in kilos, work it out yourself)
Oh yeah, the lad on the bike's my son, fresh out of hospital after an eye op. He said the stretch to the ground is too much for his 11-year-old legs.

Could this modded B-King make more people love it?

Crescent Suzuki's neat mods on the B-King cost £2,500 if they do it for you or they'll flog you a a new one for a fiver under 10 grand.

Superbike.co.uk – those nice chaps who have already supercharged their own GSX1300 - reports today: "Suzuki's B-King is a bit of a Marmite bike. Folk love them or hate them, mostly due to the 'radical' design of the back end and exhaust system.

"The stock cans, heatshield and plastic shrouds make for a challenging look, and for many potential riders, it's a deal breaker.

"Which is a real shame, because as a bike to ride, the B-King is an absolute stormer, with oodles of bhp and very capable handling. So Suzuki specialists Crescent Suzuki has put together this extremely pretty special edition B-King.

"On paper, it's a pretty simple package of changes: a side-mounted Akrapovic silencer, Power Commander, Crescent's own carbon undertray and tail tidy, Renthal Fat Bars, chrome-effect powder-coat wheels and some matt-black paint detailing. But the effect is much more than you'd expect: the bike looks radically different from stock, with a much smaller, harder look to it. On the road, the Akrapovic can adds some noise and a bit of pep, as well as losing a heap of weight.

"Having said that, the performance isn't so far off stock, with a few more BHP available through the rev range."

For full story right click HERE

But by way of camparison, here's what the Yanks can do for a little more cash, say £3,250, click HERE

B-King tinted flyscreen

Suzuki B-King with flyscreen. It was cheaper to buy this in the USA and have it shipped to the UK. Full marks to Race Shop Inc (look for fastwayfirebird400 on eBay) who charged $25 to send it and the screen cost just under 50 quid.
The cheapest I've found it in the UK is £71... plus delivery.


Fitting: You have to drill four holes in headlight cover. I considered silicone glueing it on to preserve the original but, hey, sometimes you just gotta do it, even though the bike's only just covered 2,000 miles.
And it turned out really well.
I covered the area with electrical tape, marked it, then drilled. Easy. Job will take you 20 minutes.
It took me the thick end of two hours because I decided to take the cover apart to check where the drill bit was going. It's a bit of a jigsaw but really well made and everything clips back together tightly.
But the fact was that there is just space behind so drill away then push in the rubber t-plug with brass bolt inside.
There's no risk and the plastic's about 4mm thick.
Four holes and two supplied sticky pads to ensure a consistent gap.

Like any flyscreen, keeping it propely clean on the inside will mean taking it off when the bike's washed which is made easy by the allen bolts. The polycarbonate appears reasonably scratch resistant and smooths the nose which is second only to the rocket exhausts that people who hate the looks seem to get most upset about.

And does it make any difference at speed?
Nah not really... but it looks cool. Love it

Suzuki's B-King and VZR1800

As a day job I work for a newspaper and here is a test I wrote for it following my visit to the Bedfordshire test day knees up (brilliant, see earlier post)

These two bikes are about fun, about machinery that makes the rider feel special… and yes, despite our Gatso-controlled roads, it is about travelling swiftly too.

Suzuki is a specialist in offering desirable, high-performance bikes for a range of different tastes.

It produces the best mass-produced all-round sports bike in the world with GSXR1000, it also turns out the immense Hayabusa - the original 200mph bike (well almost), it’s 10 years but just relaunched with an all-new 1340cc, 181bhp engine.

And Suzuki also makes a couple of ‘budget’ big bikes too, the SV1000 and the 1200cc Bandit.

So, you can conclude Suzuki engineers like making big bikes…

And here are the two most outrageous: The VZR1800, a 125bhp power cruiser - which out poses them all - and the B-King, a rocket exhaust wearing naked bike with the same all-conquering Hayabusa engine, designed to look like a sinister Transformer toy.

Both are incredible. The fact they exist at all is something of a miracle in today’s over-legislated climate and the chance to ride both on the same day, was not to be missed.

Think cruiser and you immediately think Harley-Davidson. They sound right and still manage to dish up character from their lumpy V-twin engines. But they’re not fast.

The VZR1800 is outrageous, a giant hunk of gleaming metal and chrome that will turn more heads than any Harley.

Piloting it makes you feel almost insignificant, it is huge, almost comedy. Your legs are forced wide around a petrol tank that feels the size of a small car, then they jut out before you onto typical cruiser pegs as you stretch forward to the straight bars. The bike probably weighs as much as a Ford Escort** but release the oh-so-light clutch and as soon as you are rolling, you know you are on something special.

The stock exhaust still has a decent rumble and if you want to pose around town with your glittering chrome, this’ll do nicely. But get her onto the open road, wind on that throttle, in any gear, and the horizon accelerates toward you faster than any car… and most bikes. Your feet actually lift off the pegs. This is a quick, imposing beast which is a hoot to ride and surprisingly nimble around the twisties.

I got off after a 45-minute cross-country blast wanting one, simple as that.

And then I tried the B-King.

It looks crazy, it feels huge and weighs the same as three, full-grown men. All the brochures remind you that this was born from a crazy show bike. The looks have divided opinion.

Simply, it’s better in the flesh than any picture and here are some figures: 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and some nutter on Youtube has filmed the speedo showing 170mph. It’s a bit fast then.

It handles, brakes amazingly well and after another 45-minute ride, I decided I had to have one. Two weeks later there was one in my garage.

This bike has restored my passion for motorcycles and I reckon everyone should try one. It is a bargain too. When the B-King launched 18 months ago Suzuki wanted £9,000, now they want £8,000… most dealers will knock a few quid off too.

Second hand you can pick one up (and remember it won't be more than 18 months old) for under six grand. Yes, that's right, six grand, cheaper than a sports 600 and there's no way a B-King will have been thrashed... will it?

But the new prices won’t last, the pound has been getting weaker and bike prices have crept up.

So, take my advice: buy one now before it becomes more expensive, buy one now before we are all restricted to 100bhp like French riders – buy one now before the petrol runs out. It's an experience every biker should have.

Facts and figures

Suzuki GSX1300 B-King
Engine: 1,340cc, liquid-cooled four-cylinder four-stroke with 16 valves; 181bhp at 9,500rpm, 108lb ft of torque at 7,200rpm. Six-speed gearbox, chain drive. 0-60mph 2.8secs, 165mph (est), average fuel consumption 40mpg.
List price £8,121.

Suzuki VZR1800 (M1800)
Engine: 1783cc liquid cooled V twin, with 8 valves. 125 bhp, 118lb ft of torque, five-speed, shaft drive. 0-60mph 3.5secs, top speed 140mph (est), fuel consumption 40mpg.
List price £9,000

** In fact the VZR1800 weights 770lbs, about 200 MORE than the B-King. Somehow it feels easier to manoeuvre than the BK as the weight is all lower down.

Billet clutch cover for B-King

Another average picture but if you look carefully the cover's engraved with the B-King logo. It's billet which I had made as a one off. My guess is it's actually etched and I'm considering picking out the words in enamel.
The fella who did it supplied new stainless bolts too. Nice job and all up 25 quid.
Find him on eBay he sells Hayabusa covers with the symbol on and he'll engrave whatever you want. On reflection I would have had the logo bigger but we did the whole negoitaition by email and I'm pretty happy really.

Stainless reservoir covers B-King

Stainless clutch and brake fluid reservoir covers, look the business, they come from Germany, cost me £30, they've gone up because of the pathetic rate for the £ against the Euro. Look on eBay, they're around £8 delivered to UK.

'How wide do you want that rear tyre Sir?'

This is a work in progress on the excellent www.suzukib-king.org forum. It's a 360. Nice

B-King and the Princess

I needed some pics of the bike and here they are, my gorgeous lady helped too.
See more pics HERE

B-King nose fairing

Saved myself a whole six quid by ordering the OE Suzuki nose screen from the States after a successful bid on eBay.

£65 delivered after the Dollar conversion, it's £71 plus delivery from Suzuki dealer in the UK, well that's the cheapest I could find it.

It arrived Saturday and closer study reveals my first challenge for the BK.

Now, I don't mind taking bits off, the bike: mudguard taillight... easy. Straight bolt on replacement, new engraved billet clutch cover or the hydraulic reservoir covers in stainless, simple... but the screen has a problem.

I'm going to need to drill into my pristine headlight cover... four holes.
I'm not keen so may go the silicone route and stick it on.

Added June 6th 2009 And here it is fitted right click HERE, it was easy

Here it is fitted, easier than thought see how click HERE

Pillion on the B-King... it ain't that bad

Travelled around 400 miles over the Bank Holiday weekend, all two up after my lady's CBR decided it didn't want to play.
Now I'd never seen myself using it much for two-up work, it lacks even the smallest luggage cubby hole and when I do take it a distance I intend to put a tail pack exactly where the pillion seat is (and some bloke in the USA has fitted a tank bag... which I'll look into)
Anyway the new tyre scrubbed in well and all I can say is that once you are used to the weight and setting her up properly for a series of bends, you barely notice the passenger and performance is unaffected.
Last night, after these pics were taken, a pal of mine fitted a non-slip cover to the seat. Makes life as pillion a little easier. But my lady (5ft 4ins) assures me it really is fine and she prefers it to other pillion positions.
So, the B-King really is a decent two-up motorcycle, shocker.
Ok, it's no Goldwing but we did a couple of hundred miles on Sunday with some pals, varied speeds, all A and B roads, probably two and half hours throughout the afternoon, and we were both pretty relaxed at the end.

Rye, East Sussex, Friday May 22

B-King for every occasion

"I like the B-King mainly because it can be anything you want it to be when it comes to enjoyable riding. This is a bike that delivers mass enjoyment on the road and is even surprisingly capable on the track. But you must always remain respectful to the power lurking inside, because like a lion keeper with one arm you may never be in total control..."

Tester Niall Mackenzie at Visordown.com
Pic: Cycleconnections.com