Suzuki GSX-S 750 MotoGP Replica 2020 — Specifications

Who would have bet that a 750 roadster, born from the mechanics of a 2000s sportbike, would become Suzuki’s workhorse in France? Yet, the GSX-S 750 holds that role with disconcerting consistency. To mark its centenary and sixty years of competition, the firm from Hamamatsu offers it a third MotoGP special edition. A seduction operation that plays on the emotional connection of racing enthusiasts, but does it really have substance?

The answer first lies in the paint scheme. Suzuki has freely drawn from the livery of the MotoGP GSX-RR, with these blue and red Ecstar stripes standing out against the pearlescent white. The visual effect is immediate and successful. You feel that this is not just a sticker, but an assumed tribute to the brand's competition history. In this game of looks, it succeeds better than many of its rivals who often settle for a poorly placed sticker.

Under this competition finish beats the same heart, an inline four-cylinder engine of 749 cm3 from the older GSX-R models. With 114 horsepower at 10,500 rpm and 81.4 Nm of torque at 9,000 rpm, it is not a bolt of lightning compared to today's power monsters. But that is precisely its strength. This proven and reliable engine offers exemplary progressiveness. It pulls without fail from the mid-range to the redline, with a deep and warm sound that the original carbon Akrapovic exhaust pipe makes even more charming. It's not a sportbike shriek, it's a frank and engaging melody. On the scale, the 211 kg fully fueled does not make it a featherweight, but its perimeter steel frame offers rigidity that inspires confidence in curves.

The technical specifications announce 41 mm inverted forks and a single shock absorber, radial brakes at the front, all in an honest but unfussy configuration. It does not claim to compete with the finesse of a Yamaha MT-09 or the technology of a Kawasaki Z900. Its target is the sporty touring rider looking for a versatile machine, easy to live with daily with its 820 mm seat height and 16-liter tank, but capable of coming alive on a mountain road. The addition of a tank protector and a lightweight license plate holder in this special edition goes in that direction, towards dynamic touring use.

So, should you shell out the €9,449 requested for this anniversary edition? The price is clearly a notch above a standard version. But when you know that a single Akrapovic exhaust pipe costs a small fortune as an accessory, that the livery is well done, and that you are also buying a piece of Suzuki history, the extra cost seems justified. It is not the most performant motorcycle in its category, nor the lightest, nor the most aggressive. On the other hand, it has an authentic charm, a robustness that stands the test of time, and now, a star costume. For a rider looking for a balanced, reliable and symbolic roadster, this MotoGP replica does more than play a supporting role.