When How You Get There Is More Important Than How Soon.
When How You Get There Is More Important Than How Soon.
Suzuki makes the GS750L for anybody who prefers the semi-chopper look to the fussy, Japanese modern styling of the standard GS750E. The machines share the terrific 16-valve engine and the new frame. But the L-model’s leading-axle forks have softer damping and the rear shock springs are softer still, rated by Suzuki as being 100 lb./in. versus the GS750E’s 110 lb./in. springs.
The L model also has a 130/90-16 rear tire and minor final drive gearing changes—the rear sprocket has 40 teeth instead of 41. Overall, the L model’s top gear ratio is lower than the standard model’s, 5.53:1 versus the standard’s 5.6:1, but smaller rolling diameter of L’s 16-in. rear tire (76.75 in. vs. the standard’s 81.25 in., 18-in. rear tire) lowers effective gearing. Thus, the L model turns more rpm at any given speed than the standard, for example turning 4567 rpm at 60 mph to the standard’s 4328 rpm at the same speed. Yet despite the lower effective gearing, the L was far slower than the standard model in the quarter mile, turning a best of 12.74 sec. at 102.85 mph, well down from the standard’s 12.33 at 107.91 mph, (probably due to less break-in mileage).
The styling is the important thing with semi-choppers, though. Stepped seat. Smaller, 3.4 gal. tank. Higher bars. Small headlight. Different taillight and turn signals. More chrome. And of course the fat rear tire.
As semi-choppers go, the GS750L isn’t bad. But the small tank isn’t practical, and the gas gauge accentuates the rider’s “noreserve” worries by being overly pessimistic. In fact, the rider could actually see the gauge needle dive for “E” from the halffull mark, as he rode along.
The biggest problem we had with the L was one of appearance and image.
There you are on this semi-chopper, a caricature of the real thing, and you pull up at the light next to a Harley-Davidson Sportster with pullbacks and a step seat.
It’s hard not to feel pretty silly riding an imitation of a look pioneered by HarleyDavidson and Harley-Davidson riders, and our test riders had a hard time not averting their eyes or pretending to look at a girl down the street when confronted with the real thing at an intersection.
Of course, when the light changed and the time came to get on the gas. the tables turned and the Suzuki had the upper hand.
The question is. is the upper hand in performance enough to offset the imitation in styling?
It will be for some. El
