Suzuki fuel injection, or lack there of...

What is happening at Suzuki? I was the proud owner of a GSX-R 1000 K7. Now I just hate it.

I have just returned from a tour of Spain. 3500 miles door to door on my GIXER, with a friend on a GSX-R 1000 K8. Both bikes are well looked after, doted upon infact. But both broke down with the same faults after a rain shower.

Both had blown 10A fuses (Ignition circuit), and although my companions bike resumed normal service, I was left with a dog for the next five days. The fuel injection system repeatidly shuts down, always while rolling off the throttle, and then the engine just coughs and splutters when the throttle is opened again, usually mid-corner. The engine then either hunts, or dies altogether. Switching off the ignition re-sets the fault, but it’s back within a couple of miles.

This problem is not condusive to pleasure, while negotiating some of the trickier roads skirting the Mountains betwen Jaca and Pampalona. Death was watching, and he nearly introduced himself on several occasions!

On my return to Blighty, I had a phone around, and was told by several main dealers that this problem has become common on the K7 and K8 1000’s (!). A friend of a friend has returned his K7 for new injectors and ECU to be fitted under warranty, again told that this problem has become a common occurance. If this is true, then why hasn’t there been a re-call, or even a letter to inform customers of this common fault, and the re-assurance that any faults will be dealt with swiftly, and at no cost to owners of the machines?

My faith in the bike has gone, and even with a warranty repair, the thought of ‘what-if’ on the approach to every corner if the future, will mean the bike will never be able to offer me what it should be able to. A shame to say the least. Looks as though the new cross-plane crank R1 is the main contender for January’s intended purchase.

Thanks Suzuki, but your lack of reliability is too much to ignore. Ok, the R1 isn’t guranteed to be uber-reliable, but on eight trips to Spain, six on a R1, two on my K7 GSX-R, the R1’s never missed a beat, and the K7 has broken down on each trip. I’ve had enough of Suzuki. Back to Mr. Yamaha, and a reliable ride, thank you.