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| Michio Suzuki |
the brand's origins date back to 1909, when Michio Suzuki founded the "Suzuki Looms Works" to manufacture sewing machines and equipment for the textile industry. Suzuki began its adventure into the world of two-wheelers in the early 1950s with the creation of the Power Free. Since then, lines of motorcycles as legendary for their performance as for their reliability have been designed in the Hamamatsu company's factories. Valuable expertise since 1952.
in 1951, Shunzo Suzuki realized that the strong winds typical of Japan's Enshu region were a real nuisance for cyclists. That's when he launched the Power Free, a 36cm3, 2-stroke single-cylinder, the first Suzuki brand moped. The following years saw the production of the Diamond Free (60cc) and the Colleda (125cc), marking the start of a long line of Suzuki motorcycles produced in Hamamatsu and already associated with excellent build quality.
suzuki entered competition in the early 1960s, taking part in the legendary Tourist Trophy race. German rider Ernst Degner took the brand's first victory on the Isle of Man in 1962 aboard the RM62, while in the final race of the season in Argentina, New Zealander Hugh Anderson gave the Hamamatsu-based company its first success in the 125cc class. In addition to its manufacturing quality, Suzuki also demonstrated the performance of its machines. In 1963, during the Tourist Trophy, Mitsuo Itoh won a race and became the first Japanese winner on the Isle of Man. Hugh Anderson also became a legend, winning the 50cc and 125cc titles in 1963, as well as the 50cc in 1964 and 125cc in 1965. Suzuki dominated the world championships with its various prototypes, and it was German Hans-Geors Anscheidt's turn to add his name to the honours list with the RK66, becoming 50cc world champion three times between 1966 and 1968.
in 1971, Suzuki entered the motorcycle market with large-displacement bikes, launching the GT750, a 750cm3 2-stroke. In 1976, the GS series with four-stroke engines was announced, with 400cm3, 500cm3 and 750cm3 models. These Japanese-made motorcycles exported well, enabling the Hamamatsu firm's motorcycle division to continue its expansion. The development of this new machine category also coincided with a glorious period for Suzuki in competition, in championships with larger displacements. The first 500cc victory came in 1971 at Belfast, Ireland, thanks to Australian Jack Findlay. Legendary British rider Barry Sheene revolutionized the sport, winning two 500cc world titles in 1976 and 1977, riding the benchmark racing bike of the day: the Suzuki RG500.
1980 saw the launch of the "GSX" line. Suzuki expanded its range with a new series of modern motorcycles, from 250cc to 1100cc, equipped for the first time with 4-stroke engines with four valves per cylinder for improved combustion. The GSX250 and GSX400, equipped with in-line twin-cylinders, received excellent reviews for their performance from the specialist press. The GSX750, with its in-line four-cylinder engine, was named best sports bike of 1983. The mythical "GSX-R" name and its renowned in-line four-cylinder engines were born in 1984, when Suzuki unveiled its first hypersport bike: the GSX-R400. The following year saw the unveiling of the famous GSX-R750. This 4-stroke sportsbike became a benchmark both on the road and in competition, notably with the SERT, which won numerous endurance races with it over a period of fifteen years. The GSX-R1100 also made its mark, developing 130hp when it was launched in 1986, and becoming a pioneer in the world of hypersports. This was a period of great success for Suzuki, both in terms of production bike sales and Grand Prix victories. Italians Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini were crowned 500cc world champions in 1981 and 1982 respectively, riding the RG500.
buoyed by the many successes of the previous decade, the Hamamatsu-based company's aim in the early 90s was to bring ever greater variety to its range, in order to adapt as closely as possible to the expectations of brand enthusiasts. New Suzuki roadsters were unveiled with the Bandit series (250, 400, 1200 & 1250) and met with success, using the engine blocks of the GSX-R series. 1990 also saw the unveiling of the DR800, a trail bike renowned for its impressive single-cylinder engine and timeless looks. Its rally version took part in the Paris-Dakar Rally several years running, with Belgian rider Gaston Rahier at its helm. The late '90s saw the arrival of two new motorcycles that would become iconic: the SV650 and theHayabusa. The former benefits from its dynamic, economical 90° twin-cylinder engine, as well as from Japanese manufacturing quality that gives it a light, perfectly balanced chassis. The latter, also known as the GSX1300-R, made its mark thanks to a powerful engine, innovative technologies and formidable styling inspired by samurai armour. Suzuki's Grand Prix success came in 1993, when its RGV500 was piloted by Kevin Schwantz. The Texan was crowned 500cc world champion that year, and left an indelible mark on motorcycle sport through his attitude on the track.
the beginning of the 21st century at Suzuki is marked by the arrival of the GSX-R1000. Delivering 160hp and unrivalled handling, it won the World Endurance Championship in 2002. Five years later, in 2007, it already featured a riding mode selection. The new sports car, produced in Hamamatsu, quickly established itself as the benchmark in competition, winning 6 World Endurance Championship titles over the decade, including 6 victories in the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours. In Grand Prix racing, the Suzuki RGV500 prototype continued to shine, with Kenny Roberts Jr. winning the title in 2000. 2002 saw the launch of a new type of Suzuki motorcycle, a trail bike called the V-Strom 1000, which quickly became popular thanks to its adventurous and dynamic abilities. A true Swiss Army knife renowned for its Japanese reliability, the concept was adapted two years later in a mid-size version with the V-Strom 650. The "S" brand's expertise is also evident in the motocross world, with the creation of the RM-Z250 and RM-Z450 in the mid-2000s. Their performance made them serious contenders for the podiums of all championships, enabling Ricky Carmichael to win the 450cm3 AMA Supercross championship in 2006, and Steve Ramon to be crowned MXGP champion in 2007.
at a time when the world economy has just been hit by a violent crisis, and some manufacturers are choosing to relocate their production to developing countries, Suzuki has chosen to keep its motorcycles manufactured in its historic and renowned factories. In 2013, the GSR750 is unveiled and receives excellent feedback from journalists for its sporty engine and efficient chassis. In the same streetfighter spirit, the GSX-S1000 was launched in 2015, with the concept of integrating the GSX-R1000 engine into a supercharged roadster. The models launched in the previous decade are as attractive as ever, and the Hamamatsu firm continues to improve them with new versions. The V-Strom 650, V-Strom 1000, SV650 and GSX-R1000 are all updated to meet the expectations of brand enthusiasts. As it has done since its launch ten years ago, the GSX-R1000 dominates the World Endurance Championship, winning no less than 6 titles in 2010. Suzuki thus demonstrates the reliability and performance of its motorcycles in the best possible way.
buoyed by further great performances in competition, including the EWC and MotoGP world titles in 2020, and the creation of a brand new production complex on the outskirts of Hamamatsu, Suzuki announces the arrival of a range of new products produced on Japanese soil. In the space of 3 years, these include the new Hayabusa and GSX-S1000, a complete overhaul of the V-Strom range, the GSX-8S and GSX-8R, not forgetting the GSX-S1000GX crossover. As it has done since the creation of its first motorcycles in the 1950s, Suzuki is constantly renewing itself to meet the needs of its enthusiasts. Continuous efforts, without forgetting the watchword: Japanese quality, "Made In Japan".
Credits and images: Suzuki