Suzuki Motorcycle Insurance

A brief history of Suzuki motorcycles

Like many of the Japanese motorcycling greats Suzuki Motor Co. began life from the seeds of a different business venture and was entirely driven by one man’s passion for speed and engineering.

Michio Suzuki was already the man behind the Suzuki Loom Company in Hamamatsu, Japan. Suzuki constantly updated his own design of weaving machines, which at the time, were very complicated.

With an interest in speed and engine design, Suzuki threw himself into the design of a new car in the late 1930s. By 1940, Suzuki’s prototype cars were up and running with a new breed of four-stroke, liquid-cooled, 800cc four-cylinder engines.

Suzuki’s plan for mass production cars was scuppered with the advent of WWII. After the war, with engineering and manufacturing plans severely restricted, Suzuki went back to making his weaving looms. But a slump in cotton trading in the early 50s halted expansion plans.

After seeing other Japanese firms producing cheap public transport in the shape of two-stroke powered bicycles, Suzuki knew his engineering skills could be put to use and produced his own powered bicycle called Power Free. This bike used a 36cc two-stroke engine but had the unique feature of a double-sprocket gear system to allow the rider to pedal without engine assistance, pedal with assistance, or run with the engine doing all of the work.

The new Japanese government gave Suzuki a financial lift to develop his passion for powered bikes and the Suzuki Motor Corporation was formed. This was followed by strong sales of his products when Suzuki’s new Diamond Free 60cc machine won its first race at the Mount Fuji Hill Climb.

Suzuki went from strength-to-strength with the production of reliable large four-stroke and two-stroke engines. By the early 80s, the Suzuki GS range had become synonymous with power and reliability.

Suzuki’s range of motorcycles

Scooters

A growing range of four-stroke scooters including the all new Burgman 125, the sporty Avenis 126 and the classically styled Address 125 mean there really is something to suit everyone in the Suzuki scooter range, while class-leading economy and agile handling make them the perfect answer to city commuting.

Adventure

The biggest adventure model is the V-Strom 650, of which there are four different versions (Touring, Street, ABS-assisted etc) sharing the same chassis and V-twin engine layout.

Suzuki’s V-Strom adventure range has bikes to fit all levels of ability and budgets. From the well regarded V-Strom 650 to the newly released V-Strom 800 DE and RE models, up to the DR-Big inspired V-Strom 1050, Suzuki’s heritage and success in Enduro shines through in the entire range.

Sport

Once the mainstay of Suzuki’s range, changing buying habits and ever tougher emissions legislation have forced Suzuki to drop many of its ever-popular GSX-R range with just the learner legal GSX-R125 remaining in the UK market. To fill the gap, Suzuki took the brave decision to launch a brand-new parallel twin 800cc engine and the GSX-8R sports bike was soon to follow. If longer distance riding is your aim, then the sports-adventure GSX-S1000GX and sports-touring GSX-S1000GT provide exhilarating performance with day-long comfort.

Hyperbikes

No other bike creates such excitement as Suzuki’s king of hyperbikes, the Hayabusa – back in the range after a redesign and emissions overhaul.

Street machines

A huge range of naked and half-faired road bikes adept at everyday riding, but also capable of delivering sports bike thrills with their competent chassis and performance-inspired engines. The street bike range includes the learner-legal GSX-S125 and the ever-popular SV650 as well as newer designs such as the GSX-8S, GSX-S980 and GSX-S1000, while Suzuki harks back to the ‘80s with its modern interpretation of the legendary Katana.

How Bennetts provide Insurance for Suzuki owners

Bennetts has over 90 years experience in motorcycle insurance. By establishing your needs, we can search our panel of insurers for our best possible insurance quote for the Suzuki of your choice. Whether this includes added protection of European cover, legal cover costs or manageable payment terms, we will strive to supply the right insurance for you.

Bennetts understands we are all individuals, and our motorcycles are one of our most cherished assets. This is why we don’t underline our customers as generic groups – we use the services of leading insurance underwriters and a wide-reaching range of insurance schemes and benefits.

How to get a quote for your Suzuki motorcycle

Getting insurance is easy with Bennetts. We search our panel of insurers to find you our best price for the cover you need.

Simply complete our online form or contact us.

Sources of interest for Suzuki owners and fans

www.suzukicycles.org – one man’s collection of all things Suzuki throughout the years. Brochures, specifications, dates and oddball models.

bikes.suzuki.co.uk – Suzuki GB site with details of all new Suzuki models, accessories, events, racing programme, dealer search and more.