Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance [Hardcover]

Marc Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2005

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Marc Cook has been in motorcycle journalism for twenty-two years. His extensive background in aviation and automobiles gives him a thorough technical understanding seldom found among his fellow journalists. He is the co-author of Ducati 999: Birth of a Legend, with Alan Cathcart.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: David Bull Publishing (September 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189361851X
• ISBN-13: 978-1893618510
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evolution of a motorcycle icon, December 30, 2005

By 

John Joss (Los Altos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance (Hardcover)

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 Cooley's achievements--back-to-back AMA Superbike titles in 1979-80 on a GS1000S, aided by Yoshimura, with a nod to the GG250. The book outlines the seven-generation GSX-R development, ends with a chapter on production processes and includes photographs, some full page, of 30+ factory men who moved the bike forward. One specific issue affecting all riders is cited: the collapsing development cycle as competition accelerates. The effects on the industry are profound, not all good. Rusing to market has a serious downside.
The illustrations--sketches, computer-aided imagery, photography and charts--are fine. Most are from Suzuki though Kevin Wing contributed three. Most of the styling progressions are shown, many as full-page illustrations, plus photos that compare choices of lights, brakes, instruments and other key features such as the latest centralized exhaust system. Cutaways and cross-sectional engineering drawings reveal inner detail. A full page of 20th anniversary pix is included.
Though the book is as close to a Suzuki corporate brochure as one could imagine, a question arises in this reviewer's mind: why can Suzuki build GSX-Rs that win world championships (and many others) but cannot field a competitive MotoGP machine? Wouldn't engineering synergy on premises enable such effort? It's no secret, anywhere in Suzuki's racing operation, that the GSV lacks power and has risked the lives and limbs of its riders in attempting to be competitive--only in the wet (Kenny Jr. at Donington, 2005) could it shine.
As with Bull's fine Ducati book (see my review), this is a history airbrushed to perfection, no flaws or warts. This is disappointing, since mistakes and failures often fuel future success as inividuals find, admit and fix problems despite discouragement. Lack of perfection is endearingly human, but Cook's Suzuki men show no such humanity. It's a bit like the lack of "No" in negotiating with the Japanese--all one gets is a polite frown, a hissed intake of breath and "I don't think so" (translation: Hell, no!").
Book production matches Bull excellence: first rate. This is the kind of book that belongs on the coffee table of every GSX-R enthusiast, reflecting his or her enthusiasm for this iconic machine.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Suzuki GSX-R: A Racing Legacy, February 20, 2006

By 

B.T. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance (Hardcover)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Boyfriend Loved it, February 5, 2010

By 

P. Bristol "Shoe Lover" (Springfield, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Suzuki GSX-R: A Legacy of Performance (Hardcover)

I gave this book to my boyfriend as a gift. He is a huge fan of the GSXR and still has his 1980...something bike. He opened the book and could barley put it down when it was time to go to bed.