Opinions on the Suzuki RF 600 or 900 series?

[_Bob Nixon_]

The RF's were IMO one of the prettiest sport bikes made but apparently
the 600's or at least Kevin Arco's old 600 had major deep engine
problems. Does anyone in AMS have any experience with the RF series,
either personal, a friend's or here say?

What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.

TIA.


Bob Nixon
Phoenix AZ
01 Sprint ST "RED"
03 Suzuki GSXR1000 "SILVER"

[Ed Grant]

Post by _Bob Nixon_
The RF's were IMO one of the prettiest sport bikes made but apparently
the 600's or at least Kevin Arco's old 600 had major deep engine
problems. Does anyone in AMS have any experience with the RF series,
either personal, a friend's or here say?
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.
TIA.
Bob Nixon
Phoenix AZ
01 Sprint ST "RED"
03 Suzuki GSXR1000 "SILVER"

I owned a '94 RF900 for 4 years before trading it in on
my 929. Nice bike with about 110 hp but a bit on the heavy
side for a sportsbike. I had no problems other than an
improperly installed chain that came off damaging the clutch
housing at 20k miles. I think the later years had enhanced
suspension bits. The '94 had no front shock adjustments IIRC.
Got about 42 mpg. Valve checks every 16k (shim under bucket).

[AkaZilla]

Aloha,
Easily one of the ugliest bikes ever built. Even worse than the Magna.

Larry

[Steve]

Post by AkaZilla
Aloha,
Easily one of the ugliest bikes ever built. Even worse than the Magna.
Larry

Lawrence Ortega,

Thou art the AntiChrist.

Steve

[AkaZilla]

Aloha,
begin clip<<<<<<>

Post by Steve
Thou art the AntiChrist.
Steve

end clip

Stevoid, when the Magna first came out I thought "DAMN that thing is ugly".
A few years later they redesigned it and I thought "MY GOD, they managed to
make it uglier than it was. There is no way they can make it worse than it is
now". They redesigned it again and I learned that I had been wrong, they could.

The RF900 may have had proven running gear from the GSXR and Katana lines, but
it was horribly ugly. The funky gills were very Testarossa looking, and that is
not a compliment.
The bike was so ugly, I was always surprised that you didn't have one.
How are the kids? Any chance you guys will be out this way anytime soon?

Take Care,
Larry

[Daniel Bannon]

Post by _Bob Nixon_
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.

Never heard that about the RF600s, but then again they were odd ducks.
Derived from the 1993 GSX-R600 engine, I'll wager, making it
water-cooled. That's the Gixxer Suzuki would rather not talk about:
major weight and power problems, more an experiment than anything
else. Took them another four years to get it right.

The RF900 is another story altogether. I do not recall if the
engine's a bored or stroked Gixxer 750 mill, or de-stroked Gixxer
1100. Surely it's based on one or the other. By that time, those two
engines were as reliable as anything out there.

I never quite understood why Suzuki sold the Katana 600 and 750 plus
the two RFs alongside one another. The RFs lasted until what, about
1998? Suzuki's still selling Katanas as of a couple years ago, maybe
even today. A Katana 750 vs. Gixxer 750 is one thing: clearly
different market segments. An RF900 vs. same, the line blurred a
little.

Recall a Sport Rider/Motorcyclist 24 hour endurance test, c. 1994 at
Willow Springs Raceway, running an RF900 at or near redline much of
the time. The issue's probably in my closet somewhere. I've known
two long-term riders who ran the living daylights out of RF900s on the
street with nary a problem: for the day, then ran and handled well.
Obsolete by current standards, but like many early-mid ‘90s
sportbikes, the numbers don't tell the entire story.

I helped one guy buy an RF900 in early 1997. Indeed it stacked up
against the Viffer 750, offering more performance for less money. The
Viffer's selling point has always been odd-ball exclusivity, Honda
panache, and an immense following (well-deserved, too: just ask Larry
L, he'll tell you all about). He bought the RF over the Viffer, but
either made sense as an all-purpose sportbike. I figured six one way,
half-dozen another, but it wasn't my money either.

If I needed an inexpensive used all-purpose bike from that era, an RF
would be on my short list of candidates. Clean examples can go for
less than three large.

-=DRB=-

[dooker]

The RF900 had a tall first gear ( long first gear wheelies ) ... 5 speed
trans ... good power..... the riding position was a little odd.... the tank
tended to crush your *uts .... and was a little aggresive for a sport
touring bike ?? not sure where it fit in ... dead reliable .... original
good looks ..... just never found its niche ...

Post by _Bob Nixon_
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.

Never heard that about the RF600s, but then again they were odd ducks.
Derived from the 1993 GSX-R600 engine, I'll wager, making it
water-cooled. That's the Gixxer Suzuki would rather not talk about:
major weight and power problems, more an experiment than anything
else. Took them another four years to get it right.

The RF900 is another story altogether. I do not recall if the
engine's a bored or stroked Gixxer 750 mill, or de-stroked Gixxer
1100. Surely it's based on one or the other. By that time, those two
engines were as reliable as anything out there.

I never quite understood why Suzuki sold the Katana 600 and 750 plus
the two RFs alongside one another. The RFs lasted until what, about
1998? Suzuki's still selling Katanas as of a couple years ago, maybe
even today. A Katana 750 vs. Gixxer 750 is one thing: clearly
different market segments. An RF900 vs. same, the line blurred a
little.

Recall a Sport Rider/Motorcyclist 24 hour endurance test, c. 1994 at
Willow Springs Raceway, running an RF900 at or near redline much of
the time. The issue's probably in my closet somewhere. I've known
two long-term riders who ran the living daylights out of RF900s on the
street with nary a problem: for the day, then ran and handled well.
Obsolete by current standards, but like many early-mid '90s
sportbikes, the numbers don't tell the entire story.

I helped one guy buy an RF900 in early 1997. Indeed it stacked up
against the Viffer 750, offering more performance for less money. The
Viffer's selling point has always been odd-ball exclusivity, Honda
panache, and an immense following (well-deserved, too: just ask Larry
L, he'll tell you all about). He bought the RF over the Viffer, but
either made sense as an all-purpose sportbike. I figured six one way,
half-dozen another, but it wasn't my money either.

If I needed an inexpensive used all-purpose bike from that era, an RF
would be on my short list of candidates. Clean examples can go for
less than three large.

-=DRB=-

[_Bob Nixon_]

Post by Daniel Bannon

Post by _Bob Nixon_
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.

Never heard that about the RF600s, but then again they were odd ducks.
Derived from the 1993 GSX-R600 engine, I'll wager, making it
major weight and power problems, more an experiment than anything
else. Took them another four years to get it right.
The RF900 is another story altogether. I do not recall if the
engine's a bored or stroked Gixxer 750 mill, or de-stroked Gixxer
1100. Surely it's based on one or the other. By that time, those two
engines were as reliable as anything out there.
I never quite understood why Suzuki sold the Katana 600 and 750 plus
the two RFs alongside one another. The RFs lasted until what, about
1998? Suzuki's still selling Katanas as of a couple years ago, maybe
even today. A Katana 750 vs. Gixxer 750 is one thing: clearly
different market segments. An RF900 vs. same, the line blurred a
little.
Recall a Sport Rider/Motorcyclist 24 hour endurance test, c. 1994 at
Willow Springs Raceway, running an RF900 at or near redline much of
the time. The issue's probably in my closet somewhere. I've known
two long-term riders who ran the living daylights out of RF900s on the
street with nary a problem: for the day, then ran and handled well.
Obsolete by current standards, but like many early-mid ‘90s
sportbikes, the numbers don't tell the entire story.
I helped one guy buy an RF900 in early 1997. Indeed it stacked up
against the Viffer 750, offering more performance for less money. The
Viffer's selling point has always been odd-ball exclusivity, Honda
panache, and an immense following (well-deserved, too: just ask Larry
L, he'll tell you all about). He bought the RF over the Viffer, but
either made sense as an all-purpose sportbike. I figured six one way,
half-dozen another, but it wasn't my money either.
If I needed an inexpensive used all-purpose bike from that era, an RF
would be on my short list of candidates. Clean examples can go for
less than three large.

Daniel as usual, thanks for taking the time to put together your
comprehensive & well written thoughts to my questions. The RF aroused
my curiosity after Kevin Arco posted a photo of his former RF 600 to
our local mailing list. Seems the 600 was a dog and the 900 a jewel on
a practical level. As with many of the mid nineties Japanese bikes, I
seem to be drawn to their clean, non austere, jelly bean appearance. I
suppose this is why I'm still enamored with the Sprint's rounder but
otherwise VFR appearance and feel the GSXR is kinda cheap looking.
Your XX is also from that era's styling paradigm.

Thanks to the other responders as well.



Bob Nixon
Phoenix AZ
01 Sprint ST "RED"
03 Suzuki GSXR1000 "SILVER"

[sariwa1]

Hello Bob,

In my personal opinion, the RF600 is a good all around bike. I have a red
1994 RF600 I purchased in May 1995, which I still own. When I was
transferred to England in 96, I took it with me and rode all over the UK on
it. At the time, the 900cc model was very popular in the UK, but the 600
was the shunned little brother. I can't explain why people and the press
considered it such a disappointment. I guess based on it's competition of
the day (the CBR 600 F3, YZF 600, ZX 6 Ninja) and the fact it wasn't raced
in the 600cc Supersport class, buyers considered it inferior. the fact is,
it was perfect as a daily rider in the real world. I thought the bike was
tastefully designed and it looked 100 times better than the Katana and had
better performance. But the buying public is fickle, Suzuki still sells the
Katana (it's even uglier now) but could only manage to sell the RF600 for 3
years in the states. With that being said, I enjoyed every mile I rode on
mine, and I intend to get it back on the road this summer. It may not have
the latest suspension, brakes, widest rear tire, rocketship performance or
all the bells and whistles of today's current crop of 600cc bikes, but it's
paid for and in great shape and I still enjoy riding it, no matter what
anyone says. I think that is really the bottom line. Take care, and Happy
Riding...

Thomas
1994 Red Suzuki RF600R
DYNOJET Stage 1 Jet Kit
K&N Filter
Remus Grand Prix Exhaust
Powerbronze Smoke Windscreen (British Aftermarket)
Powerbronze Rear Tire Hugger
Gold Powdercoated Wheels
Gold Anodized Bolt Kit

[Steve]

Post by _Bob Nixon_
The RF's were IMO one of the prettiest sport bikes made but apparently
the 600's or at least Kevin Arco's old 600 had major deep engine
problems. Does anyone in AMS have any experience with the RF series,
either personal, a friend's or here say?
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.

For the U.S. Market, the RF900 was the intended replacement for the Katana
1100 discontinued after 1993. It was a good bike with great lines, but I
believe it was too little too late, and it couldn't win significant
marketshare from the VFR. I really don't know what the point of the 600
was except to maybe offer a lower priced version of the 900. The 600/750
Kats and the RF600 definitely overlap in terms of their target markets.
I'm guessing the RF600 lost out because it was likely more expensive than
the Kats.

Steve

[js]

I've had a 94 RF900 since about July and I'm pretty happy with it. It is a
salvage title with about 10k. My issues with it so far have been a slight
hesitation and overheating at long stop lights. It is pretty tough to find
any parts for it though because it was not a popular bike. I have not been
able to find affordable fairings for it. I have seen a few random parts and
fairings on ebay though. Sorry I can't answer your engine tech questions. I
just know the power difference was pretty big over my ninja 500 :) Here is
a positive review of it, it also says the suspension is fully adjustable.

http://www.motorbyte.com/mmm/pages/reviews/rf900r12_96.htm

Hope this was helpful.
John

Post by _Bob Nixon_
The RF's were IMO one of the prettiest sport bikes made but apparently
the 600's or at least Kevin Arco's old 600 had major deep engine
problems. Does anyone in AMS have any experience with the RF series,
either personal, a friend's or here say?
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.
TIA.
Bob Nixon
Phoenix AZ
01 Sprint ST "RED"
03 Suzuki GSXR1000 "SILVER"

[js]

Here is another review with more info about the adj. suspension
http://www.mcnews.com.au/Testing/rf900.htm

Post by _Bob Nixon_
The RF's were IMO one of the prettiest sport bikes made but apparently
the 600's or at least Kevin Arco's old 600 had major deep engine
problems. Does anyone in AMS have any experience with the RF series,
either personal, a friend's or here say?
What was the intended market? VFR clone ala YZF600R and later ST Euro
bikes? Suzuki also marketed the GSXRs & Katana's during the same
period. Was the engine a detuned GSXR, as it was water cooled unlike
the air/oil cooled Kan-a-tuna & Bandit. Did they have fully adjustable
suspension, like the YZF600R?
Also, the RF900 was still sold in Europe until a just year or two ago.
TIA.
Bob Nixon
Phoenix AZ
01 Sprint ST "RED"
03 Suzuki GSXR1000 "SILVER"