Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance

Suzuki’s GSX-R series is synonymous with performance and has become one of the most evocative marques in motorcycling. Its groundbreaking design established an entirely new category of race-replica motorcycles and forced competing manufacturers to respond to the GSX-R by adopting new technologies and often abandoning their own favored designs. To say the GSX-R forced the hand of sportbike makers everywhere is a dramatic understatement. Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance explores the roots of the original GSX-R750 concept, its showroom and racetrack successes, and how its eye-opening performance, lightweight design, and charismatic personality established a new market segment that Suzuki continues to define. Each generation of the GSX-R family is explored through interviews with Suzuki engineers and designers. Virtually every member of the original GSX-R development staff is still associated with Suzuki, and they all offer recollections of the bike’s gestation, providing priceless insight on the breakneck-speed engineering required to bring a light, fast race bike to the street. Readers will be taken inside the off-limits Ryuyo R & D center and proving ground, where the engineering and development of the GSX-R models are carried out. This is followed by a virtual factory tour that shows a GSX-R being built step by step. Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance offer’s an insider’s look at the most influential and winning marque in motorcycling, with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photographs, many of which have never before been published.

Customer Reviews:

Evolution of a motorcycle icon

By John Joss - December 30, 2005

Icons don't just happen. They can't be pushed or promoted. Pretenders get found out sooner or later, usually sooner, whether it's an artist or a business person, a car or a motorcycle. No shortcuts.

Icons earn status the hard way, like racers: public performance, bottom-line results vs. the competition based on commitment, energy and skill. From that perspective, as described here, the GSX-R is iconic. Back in 1985 it established new levels of power, low weight and sporting handling. The bike has never deviated from those goals. Riding the first-generation 750 at the time was an eye opener in performance, albeit not comfortable even for this 5-9/150# rider.

For what it is--a lavishly illustrated summary of GSX-R 1985-2005 evolution, produced to the highest standards of coffee-table elegance--this is a good book. It traces the bike's historical background from Suzuki's 1953 racing start, Barry Sheene's '76-77 World Championships in the RG500 square four to Wes... read more

Suzuki GSX-R: A Racing Legacy

By B.T. - February 20, 2006

This is a very nice historical reference for GSX-R fans. It gives a strong detailed account of the changes from year to year, between the significant model revisions, as well as chronicling the revisions. Unfortunately, at times, this book was seemingly repetitive and lacked comparison of the GSX-R to it's competition over the course of it's history. Comparison to it's competitors would have made it a perfect book. All in all a really good piece.

Great read, awesome pictures

By WARezDOG - April 4, 2012

Wish it went into Suzuki in a bit more depth but after you're done you'll know about everything there is to know about the GSX-R. Some awesome pictures and tidbits of info I didn't know even after being a big Suzuki fan.