Suzuki B-KING 1300 2009 — Specifications

Six years. It took Suzuki six years to transform a mind-blowing concept, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001, into a production motorcycle. The B-King prototype, with its supercharger and brutish stance, had electrified the crowds. The production version, which appeared in 2007 and featured here as a 2009 model, traded some of the show bike's excesses for a measure of practicality. But make no mistake: the Suzuki B-King 1300 remains a streetfighter that knows no half measures.

Style-wise, the Suzuki B-King 1300 lost the prototype's fierce gaze and its clip-on handlebars hugging the tank. The headlight was toned down, the riding position raised to allow daily use. The result is divisive. Some mourn the graphic aggression of the original design study. Others appreciate the still-massive face, the wide flanks that gulp air by the lungful, and the tail section pierced by two imposing exhaust outlets. The oversized swingarm sets the tone: everything is beefy, almost excessive. You either love it or walk on by, but nobody remains indifferent to this squat silhouette planted on a 200 mm rear tire.

Beneath that muscular bodywork beats the 1340 cc inline four-cylinder borrowed from the 2008 Hayabusa. Suzuki dropped the concept's supercharger, but the Suzuki B-King 1300's spec sheet figures speak for themselves: 182 horsepower at 9,500 rpm and 146 Nm of torque at 7,200 rpm. For a roadster, that's insane. For comparison, the BMW K 1200 R, already considered a muscular anomaly, topped out at 163 hp. The B-King slaps an extra twenty horses on top without breaking a sweat. With a 12.5:1 compression ratio, an 81 mm bore, and a 65 mm stroke, this engine breathes pure performance. Acceleration is explosive at any rev range, and the six-speed gearbox handles the torque onslaught with well-spaced ratios. The claimed top speed of 270 km/h confirms this is no longer playing in the friendly naked bike league.

The aluminum twin-spar frame, the 43 mm inverted fork inherited from the GSX-R 1000, the rear mono-shock, and the radial-mount braking system with twin 310 mm front discs betray a serious sporting pedigree. Yet the 255 kg wet weight is a reminder that this machine is no ballerina. The 805 mm seat height and 16.5-liter tank somewhat limit range over long distances. The B-King is an urban dragster, a thrill machine on the open road, not a tourer. Ermax accessories for the Suzuki B-King 1300 allow riders to add a screen or a fender extender to make the beast a bit more versatile — a sign the community has clearly identified the gaps in the stock equipment.

What is the price of a 2009 Suzuki B-King 1300? When new, it was listed at 13,699 euros. Today, a used Suzuki B-King 1300 can be found at far more affordable prices, making it a formidable proposition for anyone seeking a legendary engine in a radical roadster chassis. It is aimed at experienced riders — those who want raw character and rocket-ship performance without a sportbike's full fairing. Suzuki only produced this model for a few years, which also gives it a quietly collectible status. An excessive, endearing, imperfect motorcycle. Exactly the kind of machine you remember.