Suzuki 750 GSX-R Limited Edition 25th Anniversary 2010 — Specifications

Twenty-five years. A quarter of a century that the inline four-cylinder from Hamamatsu has been dictating the rules on the sportbike segment. In 1985, the first GSX-R 750 laid the foundations of a lineage that would redefine what was expected from a production motorcycle. To mark the occasion in 2010, Suzuki UK decided to release a limited anniversary edition. Limited is an understatement: 25 units, not one more. And reserved for the British market. Suffice to say that collectors on the continent must have been grinding their teeth.

This Suzuki 750 GSX-R Limited Edition 25th Anniversary is built on the technical platform of the 2010 GSX-R 750, an already formidably sharp machine. Its 749 cc four-cylinder engine produces 150 horsepower at 13,200 rpm and delivers 86.2 Nm of torque at 11,200 rpm. With a compression ratio of 12.5:1 and a bore/stroke of 70 x 48.7 mm, the engine is built to rev freely without complaint. On the scales, 198 kg wet or 165 kg dry. In this category, the competition goes by the names Kawasaki ZX-6R, Honda CBR600RR, and Yamaha YZF-R6 — all 600s. The Suzuki 750 therefore plays with a displacement advantage that is clearly felt on acceleration and through the mid-range. It is one of the last true 750 sportbikes on the market, a displacement class that other manufacturers abandoned long ago.

What sets this special edition apart from the standard version is first and foremost its livery. Suzuki chose to reproduce the colors of the 1996 GSX-R 750 SRAD, a pivotal model in the history of the range. That was the year the aluminum twin-spar perimeter frame and the SRAD direct-intake system propelled the sportbike into a new era of efficiency. A logical tribute, almost obvious. On the equipment side, the package includes a Yoshimura GP Evo III exhaust, a commemorative plaque engraved on the top yoke, and a certificate of authenticity. The Yoshimura isn't just there for looks: it unleashes the voice of the four-cylinder and claws back a few extra horsepower at the top of the rev range.

The chassis remains that of the standard GSX-R 750, which is hardly a criticism. The 41 mm inverted fork offers 130 mm of travel, while the rear mono-shock provides 120 mm. Braking relies on two 310 mm front discs gripped by four-piston radial-mount calipers, complemented by a single 220 mm rear disc. The 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 tires are standard fare for the category. The seat height of 810 mm and the 17-liter fuel tank allow for more than just a quick trip to the track and back, even though the riding position makes no concessions to touring. Claimed top speed: 280 km/h.

The listed price of 14,000 euros places this edition in a reasonable bracket for such an exclusive production run. But the real issue, the painful one, is the distribution. Twenty-five units, exclusively for the United Kingdom. French and European enthusiasts had no choice but to watch the used market or cross the Channel with a solid contact list. For devotees of the GSX-R lineage, this anniversary 750 represents a collector's piece as much as a sportbike capable of holding its own against any modern supersport. It embodies a legacy that few motorcycles can claim with as much legitimacy.