GSX-8S named as the MCN naked bike of the year 2023

GSX-8S NAMED AS THE MCN NAKED BIKE OF THE YEAR 2023

Against stiff competition the all-new Suzuki GSX-8S came out on top to be named as the MCN naked bike of the year for 2023 in their annual MCN Awards, as chosen by the road test team.
When announcing the 8S as the winner, MCN described its naked bike of the year as “ticking all the boxes”, while being “novice friendly, suited to daily commuting, good value, and offering performance that will satisfy experienced riders too.” Road tester Chris Newbigging also commented how “on paper, the new GSX-8S looked like it could miss the mark… Bike bikes aren't ridden on paper.”
Summing up, MCN said, “it manages to pull off the old: 'the whole is better than the sum of its parts' trick and then some.”

Launched alongside the new V-Strom 800DE at Eicma in 2022, the GSX-8S is a brand new bike in every sense, featuring an all-new parallel twin engine, new chassis layout and futuristic styling. A tubular steel subframe, aluminium swingarm, 43mm upside down front forks and rear shock from KYB, lightweight aluminium wheels, and wide aluminium ‘bars provide the perfect blend of stable roadholding, agility and all round manoeuvrability.

At the heart of the 8S is the long-stroke 776cc twin providing punchy torque with three rider modes to match the rider's style and a bi-directional quickshifter allowing for crisp changes. The patented cross-balancer system and 270-degree crank ensure that the GSX-8S suppresses vibrations creating a smooth riding experience, while also delivering a V-twin esque character and feel, while the 5-inch colour TFT dash, aggressive looks and agile handling complete what MCN have dubbed “the new middleweight king”.

Celebrating 70 Years of Kawasaki motorcycles

In September of 2023, Kawasaki Motors celebrates its 70th anniversary of making motorcycles having first made forays into the motorcycle business in 1953.

After the end of World War II, Kawasaki produced motorcycle engines under the name of “Kawasaki Machine Works.” Since then, Kawasaki has continued to Let the Good Times Roll and has strived to share its “Fun to Ride” philosophy with customers around the world. Today, Kawasaki motorcycles are sold in more than 90 countries and regions. 

To commemorate Kawasaki Motorcycles’ 70-year anniversary, AKM (American Kawasaki Motors) will mount a special exhibition to be held at the AKM Heritage Hall in Foothill Ranch, California as well as Kawasaki Good Times World in Kobe, Japan starting in September 2023. The displays will focus on the history of the motorcycle business in the U.S. market, which marked a major turning point in Kawasaki's overseas trading strategy.

Kawasaki’s path to success in the motorcycle industry, which began with the launch of the KE-1 motorcycle engine in 1953, was not a smooth one. Several efforts were made to try to expand sales, including working with trading companies to expand to overseas markets, in addition to a business alliance and subsequent merger with the Meguro Manufacturing Company. However, each of these efforts failed to produce the sales results that the Kawasaki factory in Japan had hoped for.

It was decided that selling directly to dealers would be the better business model, so in 1966 American Kawasaki Motors (USA) was established. Kawasaki’s US operations began with only 10 employees and adopted an innovative policy of “localism” before going on to develop motorcycles like the Kawasaki A1 Samurai 250, Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III and iconic Kawasaki Z1 900 for the U.S. market. Early on, Kawasaki USA launched a new kind of sales policy aimed at expansion that included the industry's first model year system and worked to strengthen relationships with dealers by setting up branches in every region of the U.S., thereby consolidating its base in the U.S. market.

In 1974, Kawasaki made a $20 million investment to build a manufacturing plant in Lincoln, Nebraska to be in-line with a coming shift to a floating exchange rate in the U.S. In fact, Kawasaki’s Lincoln plant became the first plant built by any Japanese car or motorcycle manufacturer in the U.S. It remains Kawasaki’s main plant outside of Japan to this day. It is where all Kawasaki Jet Ski personal watercraft and side by are still manufactured today.

Kawasaki started full-scale production of motorcycles over a half century ago. The first Kawasaki motorcycle engine was designed based on technical know-how garnered from the development and production of aircraft engines, and Kawasaki’s entry into the motorcycle industry was driven by the company’s constant effort to develop new technologies. 

Numerous new Kawasaki models introduced over the years have helped shape the market, and in the process have created enduring legends based on their unique engineering, power, design and riding pleasure. In the future, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd. is committed to maintaining and furthering these strengths using both internal combustions engines and green technologies such as EV and HEV which will surely give birth to new legends.

Kawasaki UK announce exciting new British Superteen class for 2024!

After the highly popular unveil of the all-new Ninja ZX-4RR, Kawasaki UK is pleased to announce that it will be launching an all-new one-make series, the Kawasaki British Superteen Championship. The series will feature as part of the 2024 Bennetts British Superbike Championship calendar, giving young riders a chance to race in front of huge crowds at the best circuits in the UK. 

The new Kawasaki British Superteen class will be open to riders aged between 15 and 20 and will run across eight double-header rounds, at the UK’s premier circuits, including a planned World Superbike support race.  With riders on equal machinery, the series will be a thrilling spectacle for fans trackside, while the high-revving characteristic of the 4-cylinder 400cc Supersport machine is perfect for helping young riders develop their skills as part of the world’s most competitive domestic series. The overall winner of the 2024 Superteen class Championship will receive a brand-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R road bike.
 
Each race bike competing in the series will be built by Kawasaki Team Green Technical Partner, MSS Performance, who will also offer a choice of two packages to suit every budget. Eager to make this a fair and competitive option for going racing, package prices will begin at under £12,000 plus VAT.
 
The series was officially launched today at Brands Hatch, with the very first Ninja ZX-4RR in the UK, which has been built to race spec, available to view in Pit Lane throughout the weekend. Members of staff from Kawasaki UK and MSS Performance will also be in attendance all weekend for any riders and teams interested in joining the Championship next season.
 
Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK:

“As soon as we saw this model on the production plan, we knew it was destined for the race track! To have the BSB Championship promoter MSVR on board and enabling us to have a class entirely devoted to this bike is fantastic!

 

We are excited to be able to offer a competitively priced and exciting race package to young riders looking to develop their racing careers. The Team Green ethos has always been about supporting young talent and offering opportunities on track, so we cannot wait to take this one step further with this new class in 2024.”

 
Stuart Higgs, Bennetts British Superbike Championship Series Director:

“It is 32 years since the British circuit promoters launched the first “Superteen” Championship, and within the entry list was James Haydon, David Jefferies, John McGuiness and Michael Rutter.  We are tremendously excited to bring the “Superteen” name back to British Championship status. Together with our partner Kawasaki UK we are re-calibrating this most important entry level class with a new motorcycle that will benefit team and rider development, and importantly be contained to tight budget and regulations parameters.  Any major change to the championship structure is carefully considered and current Junior Supersport machines will be eligible for many different regional and national club championships.”

 
To find out more details on the ZX-4RR package, please contact MSS Performance on orders@mssperformance.com or 01206 913216.
 
To register your interest in racing in this class, please contact superteen@msvracing.co.uk.

New 2024 Ninja ZX-4RR due in September

Following a universally enthusiastic reception when recently announced, the new for 2024 Ninja ZX-4RR is due to arrive in the UK in September 2023 with dealers already anticipating strong demand and many already taking pre-orders.

Available in one colour (Lime Green / Ebony), the all-LED lighting equipped mid-weight street and track machine is rated at an incredible maximum with Kawasaki Ram Air of 80ps at 14,500 rpm while the rev limit itself lays beyond an incredible 15,000rpm.

As the only full-fairing supersport model in the 400cc class with a parallel four-cylinder engine, dealers are gearing up for demand for the high spec machine equipped with a WorldSBK inspired chassis and full-colour LCD screen integrating a track mode that displays lap times, gear position, and RPM from 10,000 rpm and above. KTRC (Kawasaki Traction Control) and Power Modes also feature, along with a dual direction KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter).

Augmenting the already impressive Ninja family for 2024 – while adding yet more choice in the popular mid-capacity sector – the unique in class Ninja ZX-4RR will certainly deliver Kawasaki’s tag line for the model to a legion of lucky owners in the 2024 sales season – “Awaken Your Supersport”.

Due to customer demand, the UK will only be importing the ZX-4RR, and to ensure it is as accessible to as many riders as possible, the incredible machine will cost just £8,699. 

Team Green Podium Delight At 2023 Isle of Man TT!

The 2023 Isle of Man TT proved to be an incredible fortnight of racing on the island, and for Kawasaki and Team Green, it was a resounding success with podiums coming across race week at the hands of Dean Harrison, Jamie Coward and Josh Brookes.

With glorious weather gracing the Isle of Man throughout the TT festival, lap times quickly tumbled, and for DAO Racing and Dean Harrison, practice week gave them plenty of time to get the ZX-10RR Superbike and Superstock machines dialled into the challenging 37.73-mile circuit. Having already had three rounds of BSB under his belt and a successful week at the North West 200, Dean was able to hit the ground running. 

He continued that pace into race week, where he was able to claim third place in the Superbike TT before replicating that in both Superstock races. In the blue-riband Senior TT, Dean immediately got his head down to set a fantastic pace, eventually securing second place to make it a 100% podium success rate for the team. 

The Team Green success did not end there, though. The two Supertwin TT races proved to be edge-of-the-seat action, with Jamie Coward claiming a hard-earned third place in the opening race, while Josh Brookes claimed his maiden TT podium in race two. This was an impressive feat from the returning Australian rider, who only sat on the RC Express Racing Ninja 650 machine for the first time in practice week! 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK:

“Never have we seen weather, lap times and exciting racing like it! I would like to thank Dean and the DAO Racing team for all of their efforts across the fortnight; they worked tirelessly to achieve the superb results we saw. Between those and the double Supertwin podium, I would say it was a successful event for Team Green, and I am already looking forward to building on this for TT2024! I would also like to offer my sincere condolences to the friends and family of Raul Torras Martinez, who lost his life in the Supertwin race.”

Kawasaki Motors UK continue support for Rob Vine Fund at the Isle of Man TT

Ahead of the Senior TT race tomorrow, Kawasaki Motors UK has made a donation to the Rob Vine Fund, a charity organisation that provides training and essential medical and rescue equipment to doctors and paramedics involved in all forms of motorsport on the Isle of Man.

The Rob Vine Fund is an essential part of the Isle of Man TT, providing the event with 130 Immediate Care Cases and 130 Scoop Stretchers alongside helping frontline ambulances, air ambulances and response cars. The charity has long been a cause that Kawasaki UK has supported, and the manufacturer is very happy to be again making a donation of £2,500 to Ros Gale, Director of the Rob Vine Fund, to not only support TT2023 but also enable them to continue the fantastic work they do for future events on the island.
 
The charity was founded in 1985 following the tragic loss of Rob Vine in the Senior TT, and since then has played a vital role in helping to support the medical services in all forms of two, three and four-wheel competition on the island, including the Isle of Man TT. Further information on the fund can be found at https://www.robvinefund.im/. 
 

Howard Dale, General Manager at Kawasaki Motors UK

“We have been supporting the Rob Vine Fund for a number of years now and are fully behind the great work that they do. The Isle of Man TT races and associated events are a spectacle to behold, but of course come with risks, so to be able to help in a small way to aid this great charity in the work that they do is fantastic. We would like to thank Ros Gale for all of the hard work that she puts in to ensure the maximum amount possible is raised for this important charity.”

New Kawasaki Eliminator for Europe in 2024

The Eliminator brand makes a welcome return to the Kawasaki motorcycle model range in Europe for 2024 with a totally new model and concept called the Eliminator with the tag line “Just Ride”.

Offering yet more Kawasaki choice in the mid-capacity European A2 class, the new Eliminator has distinctive urban cruiser styling offering a comfortable and low seat plus a cruiser style 18” front and 16” rear wheel combination all relying on an all-new trellis type chassis with a 451cm3 Ninja based fuel-injected parallel twin engine at its core delivering strong low rev performance combined with lively upper rev range ability.

In a nod to previous Eliminator models, the 2024 machine has a tail unit reflecting the heritage of the brand family while twin rear shock absorbers aid the “traditional meets modern” look. Offering a natural and relaxed riding position and conceived to be passenger friendly, the Eliminator rider can rely on all-digital instrumentation plus the welcome incorporation of an assist and slipper clutch.

Focussing on what Kawasaki terms its “Horizontal” design approach, the full 2024 Eliminator specification will soon be revealed – along with many genuine accessory items – but two colour options have been confirmed; the first option being Metallic Flat Spark Black and the second Metallic Matte Carbon Gray with Flat Ebony.

It’s said that the best things come to those that wait, so potential Eliminator customers need to hold their breath just a little longer for the full facts to emerge regarding this welcome new addition to the Kawasaki cruiser stable. The Eliminator will be available from January 2024, with a guide price between £6,600 and £6,800. 

Suzuki rolls out ‘click-to-buy’ on 125cc scooter range

SUZUKI ROLLS OUT 'CLICK TO BUY' ON 125CC SCOOTER RANGE

Suzuki has rolled out a new ‘click-to-buy’ scheme on its 125cc scooter range, giving customers the opportunity to buy online via the official Suzuki website, with orders fulfilled by their local dealership.

Making the buying process quicker and simpler, the scheme is available on the newly-launched Address 125, Avenis 125, and the Burgman Street 125EX, with just a £99 deposit required.

Hitting the ‘click-to-buy’ option from the respective model page or by visiting buy.bikes.suzuki.co.uk, customers enter their postcode before selecting their preferred colour option, after which they will be prompted to choose their nearest dealership with their choice of model and colour in stock and available.

Once the customer has added their details and payment information for the £99 deposit, the order will be fulfilled by the dealership in the usual way.

All three of Suzuki’s new 125cc scooters are engineered to provide comfort, practicality, and outstanding urban performance while also delivering excellent levels of economy and efficiency, but they do so in their own way and with their own style, giving customers the option to enjoy their city, their way.

They are powered by the proven Suzuki Eco Performance (SEP) engine; the air-cooled, single-cylinder powerplant that currently powers over five million Suzuki models worldwide. All three scooters allow customers to ‘go further on a fiver’ by achieving an impressive 148.67mpg* fuel consumption figure and produce just 44g/km of CO2 emissions. At the same time, they still deliver powerful acceleration, with peak horsepower and maximum torque delivered at low rpm.

For more information on Suzuki’s scooter range, click here.

*Official WMTC figure.

Ultimate touring record achieved: 15 countries in 22 hours with the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE

What seemed an unattainable record, has been achieved with the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE. On Saturday, May 20, Thierry Sarasyn visited 15 countries* in one day with Kawasaki's adventure-touring motorcycle. It took the Belgian barely 22 hours to cover the 2200 km adhering to the local traffic regulations of each country visited.

This wasn’t Sarasyn’s first record attempt. Last year he rode through 13 countries in one day. “After the Italian Valerio Boni's achievement in 2021, this was the second officially registered Touring record,” commented Sarasyn. “But there were rumours – especially online – about motorcyclists who had visited 14 countries in one day; and there’s even a video of a ride of 15 countries in 24 hours and 3 minutes. None of those attempts had been registered with a tracking device or were done in less than 24 hours. After the thirteen countries in one day, however, I had sworn I would never take on such an adventure again. But….”
 

Never say never

Opinions can change, though.  “When I got the chance to ride the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE, I saw it as an opportunity to set things straight once and for all. A ride through 15 countries, registered by an official tracking system as well as respecting traffic rules and enough rest along the way.”
 
The comfort and touring capabilities of the Versys combined with the experience gained last year, made the adventure a success. Saturday May 20th at 7:59 p.m. Sarasyn rode across the border into the Netherlands, just under 22 hours after starting in Poland. “That was better than I had ever dared to hope, especially since they closed a tunnel on the Austrian border. I was stuck there for over an hour”, the Belgian stated.
 

Experience

“With the experience of 2022, I was able to avoid the bottlenecks I found on my route back then. Moreover, with the Kawasaki Versys 1000, I now had greater autonomy and amazing comfort. To state that I could have ridden much further would be stretching the truth, but I was less tired than last year. With over 400 km extra on the odometer, two more countries visited and almost three hours more in the saddle…this was enough for me. But it seemed like the Versys 1000 was hungry for more. If I have a fitting idea, I might hop back in the saddle. In the meantime, I am very happy that I was able to accomplish this feat. It hardly seems feasible to safely visit more countries in one day. This is a record that may be here for quite some time to come.”
 

Partners

Without renowned partners, such as Kawasaki Benelux, Motul Oil and Bridgestone, the Belgian would never have been able to set up this adventure. “When Thierry approached me to try and break his own record with the Versys 1000 SE, I immediately jumped at the opportunity,” says Frank Zoontjes of Kawasaki Benelux. “We now know that when Thierry has an idea, he goes flat out and for this project the Versys 1000 SE was an eminently suitable motorcycle. It’s made for long adventurous journeys. There is no better proof than this record. No motorcycle can more appropriately carry this honour than the Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE!”
 
* The countries he visited are: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Luxemburg, Belgium and The Netherlands. Check also https://thierry-sarasyn.legendstracking.com/

Podium Delight For Kawasaki at the North West 200!

The 2023 North West 200 proved a successful weekend for Kawasaki, with Dean Harrison claiming three podiums in the Superbike and Superstock classes while Richard Cooper doubled up on Supertwin victories.

The high-speed 8.9 mile ‘Triangle’ circuit is one of the fastest road races in the world, with riders reaching speeds in excess of 200mph, and for our Kawasaki riders, the 2023 North West 200 proved a great week of racing.

 

For DAO Racing Kawasaki’s Dean Harrison, the event is a chance to dial in his ZX-10RR Superbike and Superstock machines ahead of the legendary Isle of Man TT, which kicks off later this month. With strong pace throughout practice and qualifying, the Bradford-based rider claimed fourth place in the opening Superstock race on Thursday evening in a strong showing on his debut on the bike.

 

With glorious weather gracing race day on Saturday, and following some changes made since Thursday, Dean and the team were eager to improve their results. The opening Superbike race proved a thriller, with riders swapping places throughout, and Dean was able to claim his first podium of the week with third place.

 

In the second Superstock race, Dean was able to improve his position from Thursday night by again claiming third place, a feat he would repeat in the final Superbike race, completing a trio of well-earned podiums.

 

The success did not just come in the big bike categories, though. Despite it being a last-minute entry, Richard Cooper dominated the Supertwin class aboard his KMR Kawasaki. Claiming pole position in qualifying, the diminutive ‘Coops’ proved to be in a class of his own as he cruised to both race victories, setting a new lap record in the process. To cement a great weekend for Kawasaki, further Supertwin podiums came from Adam McLean and Paul Jordan, who took the maiden podium for the all-new Ninja 650!

 

Road Racing fans now just have two weeks to wait until the iconic Isle of Man comes alive with the sound of two wheels as the TT kicks off!

 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK:

“Although it looked like it might not go ahead at one point, the 2023 North West 200 was a great success, and it was fantastic to see our Kawasaki riders do so well. With three podiums, Dean and the DAO team have set themselves up perfectly for the TT and we are all really excited to see how they get on later this month.

 

It was also great to see Richard Cooper claim both Supertwin riders, while the first podium for the Ninja 650 showcases its versatility and performance.” 

Kawasaki UK announces Motorcycle Live Ninja 400 winner!

Last year, Kawasaki once again partnered with the annual Motorcycle Live show to give one lucky visitor a chance to win a brand-new Ninja 400. With the competition closing in February, Kawasaki is pleased to announce Jason Evans as the winner, collecting his new bike from Drayton Croft over the weekend. 

The multiple-choice question saw thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts enter for their chance to win the championship-winning Ninja 400, including first registration fee, 12 months road tax, a number plate and insurance worth up to £250, courtesy of Kawasaki Insurance. 

The winner was then picked at random from the correct entries, with Jason Evans being the lucky recipient! Having ridden for 32 years, this will be Jason’s first Kawasaki and he is excited to be joining the Ninja fold this summer. “I still can’t quite believe I was so lucky! I’ve been riding since I was 17 and this is going to be my first time owning a Kawasaki myself – although my wife has a Z650 and my dream bike growing up was a Ninja, so I’ve always been a fan. 

I remember entering the competition after visiting the show last year, but I’ll be honest, I really didn’t think I would get lucky. So much so, that I still wasn’t completely convinced when Craig Watson, the Sales & Marketing Manager from Kawasaki first told me I was the lucky winner! It’s incredible to win such a stunning bike and it’s a fantastic addition to my garage. 

I’m going to be using it throughout the summer for sure. I’ve got a fair bit of riding planned, including a trip to the Isle of Man TT, MotoGP at Silverstone and hopefully some British and World Superbike races too.” 

Ross Burridge, Head of Marketing & Racing Department at Kawasaki UK:
“We had an amazing response to our Motorcycle Live competition, and it was fantastic to offer one lucky winner the chance to get their hands on a new Ninja 400. It’s great that Jason has already started making plans on how he will use the bike, and we look forward to hopefully seeing him at an event later in the year!” 

CMS and Kawasaki Racing Team extend their partnership

CMS has once again teamed up with the Kawasaki Racing Team, announcing a Sportive and Title Race Partnership for both the 2023 and 2024 WorldSBK seasons.

This weekend in Assen it will be the third WorldSBK Round of the season and the first European one. CMS as a Dutch company will appropriately be the title sponsors for the round to celebrate the renewed contract with Kawasaki’s official factory team.
 
CMS is a company leader in motorcycle discontinued spare parts supporting more than 36.000 bike models from 1959 onwards. Through the CMS website consumers can find more than 4.300.000 parts and the company delivers to 60 countries worldwide. The HQ based in Lelystad is the largest stock of such parts in Europe and the key to their success is the combination of easy online ordering and swift supply.
 
The Kawasaki team is one of the premier global Superbike squads, having won seven of the last ten World Championships and this new commitment also marks the seventh year of involvement for the Netherlands based company.
 
STATEMENTS:
 
Biel Roda (KRT Marketing Manager): “It is a pleasure to renew our relationship with CMSNL. CMS is a long-term partner for KRT and we share with the CMS management and staff a big passion for motorbikes. CMS deliver worldwide hard to find discontinued parts for heritage bikes including Kawasaki. In fact, lots of our KRT staff use CMS to source parts for their bikes. We love the fact that you can find everything you need there and, equally, we love extending our partnership for two more years.”
 
Eric Houben (Managing Director CMS): “CMS is proud to be part of the Kawasaki racing team and their sheer passion to get the best out of their material, their team to support their fanbase and a proud brand. Within CMS, every day we try to reach the same goals, get the best out of our people, have the best stock and only be satisfied with happy and satisfied customers.”
 
About CMS
Located in Lelystad, Netherlands, CMS has around 11,000 m2 of warehouse storage space. With their online store, you can find spare parts for classic models dating back to 1959. So, no matter what spare parts you are looking for, stay assured you will find it in the store.
 
Their commitment to quality and convenience sets them apart meaning CMS are better than any other online spare provider. CMS have a team of experts to help customers find exactly the right spare part. If you want a sneak peek in the CMS premises, we suggest you take a Virtual Tour. The tour will give you a great insight into how they work.
 
 

New Kawasaki motorcycle mat now available

Kawasaki riders can now take a step closer to the WorldSBK paddock with the announcement of a new, updated motorcycle floor mat.

Like the mats used by KRT, the official Kawasaki Racing Team, the new mat is ideal for not simply parking your pride and joy on, but it’s also able to handle accidental maintenance spills with an impressive water absorbency rate. 

Comprising a rubber type non-slip base topped with a synthetic surface that has a 5mm pile, the sturdy mat proudly displays the Kawasaki brand name plus the black and green colourway of KRT.

Measuring 100cm by 200cm, it’s also washable at 30 degrees to keep the factory appearance of your garage as pin sharp and on point as the Ninja ZX-10RR’s in the pit boxes of Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes.


Available as part of the 2023 Kawasaki Genuine Accessory range, now is the time to show your allegiance and to really pamper that special Kawasaki in your life.

SUZUKI SUMMER TEST RIDE ROADSHOW BACK FOR 2023

Suzuki GB will again embark on a test ride roadshow this summer, when it brings an additional fleet of demo machines to a number of dealerships nationwide. 

The first of 14 events will take place on the 1-2 of April at new Suzuki dealer Mo-Tech Suzuki, based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, with a test ride fleet including the all-new V-Strom 800DE middleweight machine, powered by a new 776cc parallel twin and equipped with a quickshifter, colour TFT dash, power modes and multiple traction control modes including an off-road mode, plus switchable ABS. The list of demo machines also features the new V-Strom 1050 and V-Strom 1050DE; which also feature a quickshifter, colour TFT dash, power modes and multiple traction control modes. The V-Strom 1050DE also gets switchable ABS and an off-road traction control mode. 

The summer’s list of demo machines also includes the GSX-S1000 and GSX-S950, as well as the GSX-S1000GT – the best-selling sports tourer of 2022 – the updated Katana, the Burgman 400 maxi scooter, and the iconic hyperbike, the Hayabusa.  

Joining the test ride fleet from the 8th April will also be the all-new GSX-8S which features a new 776cc parallel twin and equipped with a quickshifter, colour TFT dash, power modes and multiple traction control modes.  

(Note that bike availability will differ from one event to another. Customers are advised to speak to their local dealer in advance of the event to check availability and to pre-book.) 

Away from the test rides, Suzuki staff will be on hand to provide information on the firm’s full range of models and current offers and incentives. Additionally, individual dealerships will also provide extra entertainment and activities on the day, such as refreshments, special guests, offers on clothing and accessories, and motorcycle health checks.

Suzuki GB’s head of motorcycle marketing, Ian Bland, said, “The test ride roadshows have become a staple part of our summer events’ calendar, and we’re looking forward to getting them underway again in 2023. Not only can potential customers try a rich variety of Suzuki machinery on the day, it is also a great opportunity for us to spend time talking with existing and potential customers to better understand their motorcycling needs and habits. We’re travelling the length and breadth of the country, and it’s set to be another busy summer of motorcycling.” 

For a full list of dates, see below, or visit the event’s calendar. 

SUZUKI LIVE RETURNS FOR 2023

Suzuki Live will return for 2023, with a full weekend of activity planned at Cadwell Park on 15-16 July, including track sessions, a new adventure bike zone, trade stands and displays, plus special guests.

Spread over both Saturday and Sunday, the event will again bring together track sessions for classic and modern machines, with novice, intermediate, and experienced groups available for pre and post-2000 Suzukis. There will also be a number of classic race bike parades across the two days.

A new adventure bike zone will give V-Strom owners the chance to take their bike off-road, as well as test ride the new V-Strom 1050DE and all-new V-Strom 800DE. The zone – free to enjoy over the weekend – will include expert tuition, a skills area, and a test ride loop through woodland and undulating terrain.

Out on the roads local to Cadwell Park, visitors will be able to test ride other models in Suzuki’s on-road range, including the new GSX-8S, GSX-S1000GT, GSX-S1000, and the iconic Hayabusa.

Joining in the fun will be the likes of three-time British Superbike champion John Reynolds, former National Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie, and former 500 Grand Prix racer and British champion Steve Parrish.

Suzuki GB’s head of motorcycle marketing, Ian Bland, said, “Last year’s Suzuki Live event took place in glorious sunshine and was a spectacular day out for us and for everyone that joined. So much so, we couldn’t wait to extend it to a full weekend of track activity, parades, displays, and entertainment., and also add a new adventure bike zone. It’s going to be a full weekend of Suzuki-themed fun, and we’re excited to join our customers on road and track this summer.”

Track day sessions for the full weekend are available for £229, with race bike parade spots costing £199, and both all include camping and evening entertainment on Saturday night, which will feature trophy presentations, lively stories from the star guests, and a live band.

Traders and clubs can also book display space.

Places can be booked here.

Watch the video from the 2022 event, here.