Staff bikes: Suzuki GSX-R750 - Viva el Gixer!

Updated: 20 November 2014

Suzuki GSX-R750
Suzuki GSX-R750

1 of 2

Now that’s what I call a summer trip. 3397.6 miles in two weeks, on a bike designed for the track, but absolutely perfect for everything else too. From the monotonous motorways of France to the stunning switchbacks of Andorra, the city streets of Barcelona and trips to beaches in Ibiza, never once did I wish I was on another bike, nor did I suffer any aches or pains.

It’s great on fuel, doing around 150 miles before the reserve light comes on. Riding the outward trip with three mates on a Blackbird and two new Multistradas, I never saw my reserve light – it was always them who had to stop to fill up first. The engine is so flexible you can do 10mph in top, or pull huge power wheelies in third.

A twiddle with a screwdriver, to soften the rebound and compression damping on the Showa suspension, took the edge off the 750s tough track settings I’ve been using. It’s a truly great bike.

After a crossing on the Balearia fast ferry to Ibiza, I took the 750 to explore the beaches of Benirras, Playa D’en Bossa, Talamanca and Es Cana, checked out the centres of San Antonio and Ibiza Town, the stunning millionaires’ pads in the hillsides, rediscovered hot water jet washes and stayed in the stunning-but-cheap The One Hotel (www.thearesorts.com), set on a cliff top overlooking Ibiza harbour.

Ibiza has the chilled-out hippy bits, family-friendly parts, the clubs and an awful square mile in San Antonio where people go to get drunk and lay on pavements. What’s most surprising are all the amazing riding roads. Freshly laid grippy tarmac is popping up everywhere, even since I was there last year, and because Ibiza is so mountainous, they’re nice and twisty too.

My Oxford tailpack was as useful, durable and easy to fit as ever and my Kappa tank bag, which has a usefully big map pocket, doubled up nicely as my beach ‘man bag’. I stuck my TomTom Rider to my tacho with black tack (it’s the new duct tape!), making it a doddle to read.

And best of all, it didn’t rain once. Roll on next year…

BLOG11 GSXR11

By Michael Neeves

MCN Chief Road Tester - Neevesy’s been an MCN Road Tester since 2002. He’s reviewed everything from mopeds to Rossi’s Yamaha M1, and plenty in between He covers tens of thousands of miles a year on the world’s roads and racetracks in his role with MCN, and when he’s not working he’s still on two wheels, racing both modern and classic superbikes for a variety of teams. To cement his position as one of the most influential motorcycling journalists on the planet, Neevesy spent many years as an Elite Instructor at the Ron Haslam Race School, based at the famous Donington Park race circuit. He regularly presents videos on riding tips and road safety, working alongside the likes of Highways England to deliver a strong and consistent message.

Suzuki GSX-R750