SUZUKI GSX-R750 (1996 - 1999) Review

Version: SRAD

Year: 1997

Annual servicing cost: £250

The, looks, speed, rawness and the razor sharp handling are all great but (maybe it due to age) the riding position is very tough around town but bearable on a run.

Buying experience: Privately

Year: 1997

My bike was blue and white, I broke it in correctly and kept it inside a garage, as well as clean ans a fresh coat of wax on it. My paint looked as good ten years later as it did the day I bought it. It ran great only people who have no reason to be on a bike like this ever complained. Keep it above 10 grand and work the shifter like you are on a motocross bike and nothing could out run it. I even ran a 10.58 ET on my 2nd pass at U.S. 41 drag strip on test and tune night, I also won 100 bucks because rumor was thar the bike was not as fast as advertised. Truth was most people could not launch the bike or ride it to 80 percent of what was capable of.

Year: 1998

Wouldn't recommend to anyone. I owned 1996 SRAD just after they were released in the 90's. Absolutely beautiful black and silver model that was really low mileage, great fun, super fast but unfortunately almost had me off a couple of times with tank slappers when accelerating hard over slightly uneven roads. That wasn't the biggest problem though. Unfortunately the bike had a bottom end rumble on deceleration. Suzuki told me they would have to strip the engine down to the crank to fix it. I later found out this was a design fault that occurred with thousands of these. Fast forward to today and I recently bought a later model low mileage 1998 injected version. Great fun to relive the fun I had over 20 years ago? This 98 model, handles better due to the standard damper, accelerates faster due to the injection system and without any flat spots. Brakes unfortunately aren't up to expectations. But worst of all, this 98' engine has the beginnings of the low engine rumble that I found on the 96' model that I had owned. It seems Suzuki never bothered to fix the problem over two years of production. It is a shame because I felt this could have been one of the 90's icons; starting life with it's GP bike inspired frame and radical looks when it was released. Unfortunately it's good bye to any more SRAD's unless it's one that has had the extensive engine fix performed by a Suzuki dealer.

Version: SRAD

Year: 1998

Annual servicing cost: £100

Hard to state it's worst feature. Best feature when rode my first srad in 1998 which was a carb model was the power, speed, handling and braking. My later and existing SRAD is the injected model and apart from the slight improvement in power/speed/acceleration the rest is as good as the first one I owned over 20 years ago.

Buying experience: Bought private and got a great deal.

Version: GSXR750WX

Year: 1999

After buying a new GSXR750WW in 1998 and having a lot of issues with the bike it was sold and replaced with a 5JJ R1 The bike handled and performed very well, but there was a re-occurring issue with the gearbox of a false neutral between 4th and 5th with the dealer having the bike more that myself in the 3 years of ownership After some 20 years a GSXR750WX 1999 was purchased , a very well used and uncared for bike, on test ride the gearbox was the sweetest box I've used (this highlighted my many arguments with the dealer on the 1998 bike that they didn't know how to repair it) the updated ECU on the injection over the 98 bike is a vast improvement with a better and stronger power delivery

Buying experience: The 1998 bike was dealer purchased new (and not a very good experience) the 1999 bike was purchase used privately which all went well

Version: Srad

Year: 1997

Annual servicing cost: £1,200

2 owners garage kept runs like new

Buying experience: Private

Version: GSXR 750 W

Year: 1998

Where do I start! I bought my 98 fi model 2 years ago with 21000 miles for £900, it had some nice parts fitted, Ohlins shock & steering damper, Harries rearsets, Power Commander, K&N filter, downside it had some damage from a low speed spill. To cut a long story short, a total strip and rebuild, spent a lot of money but every penny completely worth it. First ride you definitely notice this bike has a very peaky motor, very flat at low rpm so requires a few revs to get off the line, but use the gears and keep the power above 6k it is very rewarding offering faultless fuelling and plenty of power. The rear shock and forks where serviced and re-sprung to my weight by Brooks in Bradford, spend the money here because you will end up with in my opinion one of the sweetest handling bikes I have ever riden, I still cannot believe this bike is 22 years old, fast changes of direction effortless, hard acceleration out of corners had no drama just tons of grip. Brakes are probably showing their age against newer machines but still good with quality pads and new hoses. Overall very happy, think she will be a keeper and Secretly do enjoy humbling Much more modern bikes.

Buying experience: Saw advertisement on marketplace, travelled from Leeds to Andover to collect, no issues

Year: 1996

Annual servicing cost: £400

I ride my bike on the road and do track days on it. It is the most forgiving bike I have owned. When I make mistakes the Suzuki corrects them, especially in the wet. I have had plenty of slides on soaking wet track days and survived. My bike is capable of doing much more than I can.

Buying experience: I bought my Suzuki privately. I only paid £1000 for it. The bike is worth much more than that to me. It suits me perfectly.

Year: 1998

This could be the perfect bike. I was worried that it would be overpowered and cheap - being a suzuki. But the quality of the build is impressive, and it is easy as anything to ride. Perfect power delivery - nice and manageable at low revs then a monster when revved up. Feels so nice to ride. I cannot fault this bike - it could be perfect. 10/10.

Picked up my '99 srad 750 a few months back after watching a certain youtube vlogger sing the models praises despite owning much newer and far more expensive bikes. Always been a Suzuki fan at heart. Just as long as it wasnt the all to common blue and white and did come with fuel injection. Found a relatively unmodded red black one with lowish miles and had to have it. I havnt been disappointed thus far in my bargain purchase. Very comfortable for me (6'2") compared to the newer stuff, engine is a gem but you do have to rev it, more like a six hundred than a thou. Starts on the button every time with fuel injection, the manual choke (high rev) lever is kind of quirky. Fuel consumption is fine. Lots of room under the pillion hump for storage too. Lighter and quicker than equivalent era Fireblade. Six pot front brakes are fine but need to be maintained. Rear brake is sublime. If there is one thing that lets it down its the vibes around the national limit but dont generally notice it unless cruising. Had a fair few bikes over the years and to be honest this is one that Im least likely to sell. For the money you cant really beat it. Yes the model has gone out of fashion I guess, but who cares when you know it hasnt cost the earth and will still give most a run for their money when things start gettin bit tasty. Cant recommend one enough.. Great bike.

What a bike, in it's hay day this thing was knocking on the door of the 1000's on straights, and the 600's in the corners. The best all rounder of all time!!! I have one for a year and loved the thing, everyone should own one at some point.

bought a 750 1999 as my first bike and absolutley love it.adrenaline rush is too soft a word for it.first and second gear wheelie,third gear pulls a house down and the rest pul you to 170 mph! yoshi rs3 and a kand n filter make the engine sound and pull better.stock brakes and suspension are fantastic for "a" road hacks,just fit a steering damper and it gives that little bit extra confidence. overall it is a lot of bike for very very little cash.ideal first bike.

an old one to muck around on. Great handling and quite comfy. Build quality excellent tho broken down 4 times got a fueling problem. Overall tho an excellent bike and lts of fun to be had on a tight budget.

I bought the last model before Suzuki introduced fuel injection. After riding an old R1, I would say what the bike loses in power it makes up for in handling. The bike is a lot easier to turn than a lot of big bore machines. I've had a few bikes and this one was the most fun! Strengths: Quick and easy to chuck about. Weaknesses: The bars flap about on the power quite a bit. Build quality not great.

I had a gsxr600 before this on which I did 16000 miles in its 1st year. Traded in for the 750. The first thing I noticed was the heavy steering at low speed - caused by the steering damper - anyway I left well alone because my 600 used to shake its head when powering out of bends. If you like peaky power characteristics then get one of these (bit like a peaky 2 stroke but with engine breaking) Its reliable , very fast and always brings a smile on a twisty country road. Now done over 30k miles - took it for a dyno - 121 bhp at the back wheel . I dont want and cant afford the latest model 1000cc posing machine - this is alot more fun r1s,gsxr1000,zx9,r1 owners look twice at the engine size after a run dave. Strengths: Performance, performance, reliability and looks. Weaknesses: I go out in all weathers and some of the finish is poor. perhaps I should wash it better.

I have just traded a ZX6RG1 for this bike (a '99 WW). First, I've got to dispell at the rumours. Dead uncomfortable - not true. The bike is roomy enough for me and I'm 6'1". The screen is low so you do get wind blast but the bike really does have a good riding position. My wrists didn't need amputating after a long ride - its just as comfortable as the ZX6R but without the wind protection for your head (haven't tried it with the bird on the back yet, so can't give you pillion performance). No bottom end and crap-all mid-range - not true. Okay, the fuel injection means the bike does shunt when accelerating at low revs (under 4000?) from a closed throttle but after that the drive is as sweet as a nut. It is perfectly able to be driven around at less than 4000 revs if need be and the engine really gets going at 7000 revs. When it hits 10,000 the bike just goes barking mad - this is one very quick bike, don't believe the hype about it not being that quick - feels a lot quicker at the top end than my mates 'blade and you have to concentrate to keep the front wheel down, especially in second. But in terms of driveability and mid range, there really isn't a problem. Okay, you're going to get left behind by an R1 if you both need to leg it after pootling along in top and don't change down, but R1 owners I know sh*t themselves in the wet and at least you can moderate the power better in the Suzuki. But the star of the show is the bike suspension and handling. Hitting the front brakes hard on this bike is a dream - the forks hardly dive and the bike feels so solid, planted and composed that you just start taking liberties without thinking about it. I cannot tell you enough how fantastic the front end feels. I was lifting the back wheel into bends without even trying, the bike is that composed. I don't seen to be getting alot of rear wheel grip, but I'm going to change the pretty well worn D207 so I'll have to see if its the bike or the tyre. This bike looks lower and wider than the ZX6R and that's how it feels - lower to the ground and more stable with a more useable engine that is just barking at the top end of the rev. range. No wonder people call this a hooligan's tool. I just can't stop wanting to ride it and ride it hard. It is fantastic. Really. And who wants a Mondeo (sorry Fireblade) or common-as-muck R1 anyway?

I can't fault it, although it is starting to look a little dated, but after 6 months, what bike doesn't!

An utterly awsome machine. Gives loads of confidence partly due to the great tyres. I'm 6'3 so the screen is a bit low but i can live with it. Just need a new can now to make it sound like a true GSXR.

Other bikes might be better, get caught in the low revs and youll be 4 bikes lengths behind, but it still looks sexy, nice fat rear (the bike, not the wife). Gets real hairy over bumps...but what a grin factor...will sell kids before bike.

The bike is real fun to ride but I find the gearbox a bit clunky every now and again and the mid range was terrible till i fitted a K & N and the Yoshi end can now it's spot on.

I've actually just part exchanged it for an Aprilia RSVR 1000 Mille. This was after I tested one from Tony Jefferies in Warrington. I'd always fancied a twin, but having never ridden one, I was a bit wary, hence the test first. Anyway, back to the GSXR. It was a superb bike, far and away the best bike I've ever owned. It was ultra reliable and never once let me down, including a 1500 mile round trip to Alicante and back last year. However it's main use was for Sunday blast's and track days. I could not fault it here. It went round bend's as if it was on rails ! It was fast enough right through the range, although it did need to be revved right round to the red to keep it up there - then I initially thought it would do. The brakes were superb ( I had fitted HH pads ) and hardly went off by the end of a trackday - you just needed to tug them a bit harder. I actually swopped bikes round the TT course with a friend of mine - he had a 99 Fireblade. The Blade did feel slightly quicker in a straight line on smooth tarmac, but once we got onto the bendy bits it was a nightmare. It just did not handle anything like my GSX. It seemed to wobble and chatter into and round the corners and the brakes were just not up to the job. He said the complete opposite and is now looking to buy a new GSXR750 ! In short, I could not fault it - best £7000 I ever spent. I just hope my RSVR performs the same.

Overall I am very pleased with Gixer. Fantastic pinpoint handling and no funnies on the track. The only gripe is with the build quality in some areas.