Twin Suzuki Twins

TWIN SUZUKI TWINS

ROUNDUP

SUZUKI IS EXPECTED TO give birth to a pair of Twins, one an all-out Ducati-killer and the other a hot-rod boulevard cruiser, possibly as early as this fall. While details are sketchy, reports in various European magazines indicate that the Japanese manufacturer is developing a liter-class Twin, perhaps with an eye toward contesting the 1997 World Superbike Championship. Cycle World's sources, however, indicate that this is not entirely true. Though the new bike's hybrid tubular-steel/ aluminum chassis should prove race-worthy, its en-

gine is believed to displace 1100cc, 10 percent over the maximum allowable displacement for twin-cylinder racing Superbikes. This will be an eight-valve, 90-degree V-Twin sporting chain drive to the double-overhead cams, and electronic fuel injection fed by a ram-air intake system. Though one source claims that a running prototype has already been shot for a promo tional video, an American Suzuki spokesman denied

knowledge of any such ma chine. Said Mel Harris, mar keting director, "Somebody over there (in Europe) is really stirring the pot right now. They're grasping at straws right and left." On the tamer side, a report in England's Bike magazine suggests that Suzuki is poised to launch an 800cc version of the 400cc Desperado X sched uled to be unveiled this sum mer in Japan. The bigger bike is expected to be built around the venerable Intruder 800, using the same engine and a similar chassis. The most significant change is styling: Where the Intruder cruiser is offered with a metallic paint job and acres of chrome, the Desper ado X will look more pur poseful, with all-black paint and lots of polished aluminum. Completing the musclebike image are a bikini fairing

and lower cowling, a flat drag-type handlebar steering a massive inverted fork, and staggered dual mufflers. Final drive is by shaft and the footpegs are forward set, as on the Intruder. Asked to comment on the odds of the Desperado X coming to these shores, Har ris replied. "All I can say is that we're already looking at 1998, `99 and 2000 models, and we don't have plans to bring in any of the Japanese domestic models. Naked bikes, very standardish bikes, are the hottest thing going over there right now, but we don't believe they'll sell well here. They look like what we were offering here in the early `80s." Be that as it may, don't be surprised if both the 1100cc sport Twin and the 800cc Desperado X pop up at the Cologne Show this October.

Brian Catterson