Suzuki rf 900 review

Do you feel the need, the need for speed? For a parts bin special, the RFR is surprisingly quick.

But Suzuki delivered just that when it produced the RFR in the late 90s. A sporty sports-tourer, the Suzuki RFR delivered plenty of punch, decent handling, comfortable versatility and, er, odd styling. Old hat today, but the Suzuki RFR is still excellent value. Steel perimeter frame helped keep costs of the Suzuki RFR down, used the engine as a stressed member and provided taut and surefooted handling with a short wheelbase and quick steering geometry. Over-hard suspension springs and damping rates can cause some jarring, but once loaded up with a pillion and some luggage the rear of the Suzuki RFR starts to work much better. At kg lb dry the RFR is flickable and competent and leans much more to the sporting side of its sports tourer personality than first appearances might suggest. The Suzuki RFR's cc, GSX-Rderived engine is powerlifter-strong, pulling from just above tickover to the 12,rpm red line without a dip, cough or stumble, and at bhp it is right in the horsepower ballpark.

Suzuki rf 900 review

And in the last century, the people were obsessed with sportybikes and roadracing, and their unnatural lust for these abominable things caused them to be constantly splitting hares on rural roads instead of welcoming aged visitors on V-Stroms and BMW GSs into the motorcycling community. In truth I say unto you, the RF and VFR were virtual saints compared to the wicked performance machines that would replace them. Yet verily, no one would listen, and so we shake off the dust from our feet as we leave that town behind. Wait, what? Never mind. What kinds of riding do you do? Canyon carving? With the cost of new bikes these days, the luxury of having a different bike for each application is simply unaffordable. On the other hand, when manufacturers try to make one bike that is all things to everyone, something usually gets lost in the final execution. Despite the cc capacity difference, on paper these bikes look similar: Both have water-cooled valve four cylinder motors with perimeter frames, fat 17 inch wheels and chain final drive. They both weigh about pounds and hold 5. Even the prices are similar with the Honda undercutting the Suzuki by just dollars. On the road though, differences become apparent. Both can be ridden away almost immediately with no hesitations or flat spots as the motor comes up to operating temperature.

Slingshot Announces Lineup. It does anything you want.

The RF is an extremely sporty-looking sports tourer with cc, bhp and a mile tank range. Get a bike Quote. Call us Ride Quality out of 5 stars. Engine out of 5 stars. Running Cost out of 5 stars.

But Suzuki delivered just that when it produced the RFR in the late 90s. A sporty sports-tourer, the Suzuki RFR delivered plenty of punch, decent handling, comfortable versatility and, er, odd styling. Old hat today, but the Suzuki RFR is still excellent value. Steel perimeter frame helped keep costs of the Suzuki RFR down, used the engine as a stressed member and provided taut and surefooted handling with a short wheelbase and quick steering geometry. Over-hard suspension springs and damping rates can cause some jarring, but once loaded up with a pillion and some luggage the rear of the Suzuki RFR starts to work much better. At kg lb dry the RFR is flickable and competent and leans much more to the sporting side of its sports tourer personality than first appearances might suggest.

Suzuki rf 900 review

So what was wrong with it? Nothing if you read the launch reports from Back then the press of the day were generally positive about a bike when ridden solo, but when you put it back to back with its peers, it was then that they would suffer in comparison. This gave it useful torque but a still-good top end of around mph. The beam frame showed up its sportier brethren the GSX-Rs in the handling stakes, even if the RF itself was never deemed that cool. At kg it was 18kg heavier than the Blade and had lazier steering geometry and a 17in front tyre even if it was lighter than the ZX-9R. So it was comfier, but not as cutting-edge as the Blade and the sportbike-mad buyers flocked away. So what was right with it? That made it perhaps the best pound per performance machine on the market at the time — certainly in the big-bike class.

Pretty almond nails

Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below. What more do you really need? An absolute peach of an engine. Can't go far wrong for the money. When I finally found one, the handling was terrible it had Conti Continentals fitted, I put Bridgestone 's on and it was like a new bike with confident roadhoalding and cornering, next the headlight not too bright, fitted a Philips H4 VisionPlus bulb and that lights up the night. Buying experience: Cheap sofa If you want a better alternative by a ZX9R! The suspension does acquit itself admirably when a few bumps are thrown in to the equation though, the RF9 shrugs them off and its great stability instils confidence in the rider. When new, the Suzuki RFR was closer to class prices than cc ones and thius was excellent value. The r.

Built on a budget, the RFR raided the GSXR parts bin to create a machine not that far away from the performance and looks of the opposition. Based heavily upon the GSXR bottom end, Suzuki chose to use smaller vales and carburettors than those used on the aggressive Gixxer to create a machine with amazing tractability and day-to-day usefulness.

Although these machines were available with a race package in Australia, their circuit usage was mostly restricted to track days around the rest of the globe, with their riders focusing on using them in the real world. I used to see a handful of RF's up at Newcombs in the early oughts, none now. Strengths: Speed, feel, strength. The still frame using the engine as a stressed member is OK but I feel that a strip down and powder coat is required on mine. Sold it to a mate.. Build quality isn't spectacular but isn't bad either. I guess most must've rusted out somewhere or been cannibalized for scrap by now. And the single-sided aluminum Pro-Arm swingarm straight off the experimental Elf cc Grand Prix bike. When I finally found one, the handling was terrible it had Conti Continentals fitted, I put Bridgestone 's on and it was like a new bike with confident roadhoalding and cornering, next the headlight not too bright, fitted a Philips H4 VisionPlus bulb and that lights up the night. Skip to content. Suzuki RFR motorcycle review - Riding. It feels great on long flowing corners but does feel a little punch drunk on quick and tight corners.