For 2008, the Gixxer 600 features improved low-mid range power and top notch componentry.
New, err... redesigned for '08, the middleweight GSX-R600 surprised more than a few of us earlier this year when it nearly won our 600cc Shootout. We had a taste of the little Gixxer earlier in the winter at the world wide press introduction and came away only mildly impressed - much we later found out was due to the use of OE street rubber on the racetrack.
When we strapped some sticky buns on the Suzuki things massively changed, from lackluster to showstopper. This year's 600 is easy to ride, has a good deal more low-mid range power than the previous model and inspires heaps of confidence for all levels of riders - something the small Suzuki has always been known for.
For this shootout it was more of the same. All three of us were instantly at home on the 600, finding it the perfect "warm-up" bike, practically fighting to ride it first each morning at the track. Plain and simple, it's just easy to ride. It also became the so-called benchmark bike quite quickly, as it was the easiest on which to gauge one's progress as a rider throughout the weekend. As we all would come off from riding one of the other two machines we were always eager to hop back on the 600 and see how our lap times had improved - it was like the test mule so to speak.
And while it is very forgiving and easy to ride, when it comes to outright lap times, the 600 demands more than the other two, requiring the rider to be more precise with line choice and have the confidence to get on the throttle as early as possible to achieve those best laps. In this way it acted as the school bike, teaching the rider more than its bigger brothers.
When he's not on the set, actor John Hensley enjoys spinning laps at the track.
"This is the motorcycle that I know best out of the shootout, as I own one myself. It's my choice for the racetrack, and I've become really comfortable with the bike. I feel it's the best for learning bike management - figuring out things like power delivery and corner speed.
"Handling wise the 600 is best - of the three bikes we tested, the 600 seemed the most agile. The brakes are excellent - best of the bunch as well. My lack of drive out of some corners, and my entering some corners one gear high, would be my biggest complaints. But that's more the rider than the bike (laughs). Though it is a struggle on the street - it just doesn't have the power to be a great street bike.
"If it were a track-only test I would pick this bike it as my favorite - thus the reason I have one sitting in my garage as my track-only bike, and I love it. But it just falls too short on the street to really do it all."
Waheed:
"Bar none, if you want to become a better trackday rider then this bike is it. This is the machine that has the ability to teach you the fundamentals of high performance track riding. On the 600 you can't afford to miss your apex, brake early or go slow through the corners - the engine simply lacks the power of the 1000 or even the 750 to make up for sloppy riding technique. Even though its lighter and handles more responsively than the 1000, at times it can almost seem like it takes more work to ride the 600 as you need to make sure every aspect of your riding is up to snuff - or it will cost you seconds off your lap time.
"Where the 600 loses, though, is on the street. When compared to the 750 and 1000 it's just not there for me - those are tough acts to follow. You need low-mid range wheelie-pulling power to put a smile on my face, and we all know who is going to win in that department. "
The little Gixxer does a lot of things well and our testing group loved it at the track.
"600s have, and always will, hold a special place in my heart. It's where I started riding, the bikes on which I have had the most success racing, and corner speed has always been my forte. Each year the bikes get better and better, and Suzuki was the shocker of 2008. Personally, for a track-only bike, the
GSX-R600 and the Yamaha R6 ruled the roost in my book. And it's for this reason that it brings a tear to my eye to put the 600 at the back of the pack in this group. It's amazing, but it's just not a GSX-R750 or GSX-R1000 - that's tough company to keep.
"Great track-only bike, just not up to the task on the street - and considering how good its elder siblings are at the track, it quickly falls to the back of the pack for me."
