Alright, let’s talk about this Suzuki sport touring bike I’ve been messing around with. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight, you know? I’d been riding something else entirely, something that rattled my fillings out on anything longer than a trip to the shops. My back was starting to complain, seriously complain. So, I started looking around.
Needed something that could eat up miles but wasn’t a total barge. Still wanted a bit of fun in the corners. Saw this Suzuki, can’t remember the exact model name right now, doesn’t matter much anyway, it’s the one they market as a sport tourer. Looked decent, price was okay, so I went for it. Picked it up on a Tuesday, I think.
Getting Started
First thing I did was just sit on it in the garage. Felt… bigger than my old bike, but the seating position seemed alright. Less like I was folded in half. Fired it up. Smooth enough sound, nothing too crazy. The first few rides were just local loops, trying to get the feel. Clutch was fine, brakes worked (always a good sign!), power delivery was pretty smooth, predictable. Nothing scary, which was good. It felt planted, solid.
But you don’t really know a bike until you live with it, right? Especially a “touring” bike. So, I planned a weekend trip. Nothing epic, just a few hundred miles, couple of different road types. Time to actually practice using it for its intended purpose.
The Trip – Putting it to the Test
Packing was the first test. It had points for luggage, but I just strapped a tail bag on. Managed to get my stuff in there without too much drama. Getting on the highway was interesting. The wind protection was way better than my old bike, huge difference. I could actually relax a bit, not fight the wind constantly. It just cruised. Very stable.
Key things I noticed on that trip:
- Comfort: Miles better than the old bike. Seat was okay for a few hours, maybe needed a break after that. Definitely could do a full day, though.
- Handling: Even with the bag on the back, it felt pretty good in the twistier sections. Not a race bike, obviously, but capable enough to have some fun. It leaned in nicely, held its line.
- Engine: Plenty of grunt for overtaking. Didn’t need to rev its nuts off all the time. Rolled on the throttle, and away it went.
- Fuel: Seemed pretty decent on gas, didn’t have to stop constantly.
It wasn’t all perfect. The suspension felt a bit basic sometimes, got unsettled on really bumpy stuff. And the mirrors showed me a lovely view of my elbows mostly. Minor things, really.
Funny thing happened on the way back. Stopped for gas in some tiny town. Old guy comes over, starts asking about the bike. Turns out he used to race Suzukis way back when. We ended up chatting for like half an hour about old bikes, racing stories. Reminded me of my uncle, actually. He was never into bikes, but he could talk your ear off about tractors. Same vibe. It’s weird how bikes can just spark conversations like that. This job I had once, working dispatch for a trucking company, was the opposite. Nobody talked. Just screens and crackly radios. Hated that job. Left after six months. Couldn’t stand the silence, oddly enough. This bike trip, the chat with the old timer, felt more… human.
Living With It
Since that first trip, I’ve done a few more. Changed the oil, checked the chain. Standard stuff. Haven’t really felt the need to modify much. Maybe some better mirrors eventually. It just kind of works. It does the sport touring thing pretty well, without any fuss. It starts every time, gets me where I want to go comfortably, and lets me have a bit of fun on the way.
So yeah, that’s been my experience. It’s a solid bike. Not the flashiest thing on the road, but it does the job I bought it for. Reliable, comfortable enough, capable. Pretty much what I needed. No major drama, just gets on with it. Suits me fine.
