2005 Suzuki GSX 1400

Article by Paul Johnson

MY GSX1400 IS A RELATIVE YOUNGSTER IN VINTAGE JAPANESE TERMS – A MERE TEENAGER AT JUST 15 YEARS OLD. THE AIR/OIL COOLED, TWIN SHOCKER WITH CHROMED HEADERS, EXHAUST AND INSTRUMENTS IS A NOD TO THE MULTICYLINDER MUSCLE BIKES OF YESTER YEAR.

The Big Four Japanese manufacturers all went down the retro path, with Suzuki’s GSX 1400 in production from 2001 to 2008. The engine is an evolution of the GSX1100. Electronic fuel injection, 6 pot front brake calipers and modern tyre technology makes the old style muscle bike a more user friendly machine.

The 1402cc engine is well short of the power of its contemporary sports bikes but this bike is

all about the 126 Nm of torque produced at low revs. Stump pulling power from a smooth four cylinder engine with a six speed transmission makes the bike an ideal tourer with excellent range provided by the 22 litre tank.

I purchased the bike in 2015 with an unknown ownership and maintenance history. My advisor was another VJMC member and a long term owner of the model. After a close inspection and test ride he gave it the thumbs up and it has proved to be a reliable bike. The bullet proof sixteen valve engine requires little attention beyond regular oil and filter changes.

The GSX has all the reliability and performance of a modern machine in the format of an old school naked bike. Suzuki dealers and on line sites provide a wide range of spares and accessories.

The big bang for your buck factor has created a strong following in Japan, Australia, Great Britain and Europe. A dedicated internet site -

gsx1400owners.org - has a strong international membership and provides a wealth of model specific information and expertise to assist with maintenance and ownership. Everything about the 1400 is big – big naked motor, big tank, big instruments and big old style headlight The GSX1400 shares the garage with my 1981 GS1000G and the Suzuki lineage is clear in both models. Suzukis move to large capacity four stroke motorcycles in 1976 saw the beginning of the GS and GSX lineage which continues today. I bought my first Suzuki, a GS400, in 1977. In 1978 the iconic GS1000 was released and I had to have one. The GS1000 threw down the gauntlet to the other manufacturers. Delivered with triple disc brakes and alloy wheels, it set new standards in power and handling. The late 70s saw the popularity of production racing and the manufacturers saw the opportunity to showcase their headline models on the race track. Many of the race bred models are now among the most collectable and vintage racing has maintained the nostalgia for the era.

Suzuki eventually introduced shaft drive to the eight valve GS range and in 1981 I traded up to my GS1000G shaft drive. I still have my original candy apple red GS1000G.

The GSX1400 continued Suzuki’s line of multi cylinder road bikes and they remain a popular ride

long after the model ceased manufacture in 2008.