So now you have all the technobabble on the GSX-R 600 but what is it really like?  We aim to tell you that here and now...

When climbing aboard the GSX-R 600 I felt instantly at home.  The riding position feels good, in control and reasonably comfortable.  A little more weight is placed on the wrists than preferable in a perfect world but the fact is that if you are to feel connected to the front end your hands have to be down near it.  A fact of life and one that is easily worth the sacrifice of a little comfort in a tool like the GSX-R.  If you really are a weak wristed wonder you can ease the strain by strengthening your stomach muscles to help you keep the weight off your wrists.  If things get really bad just lean your chest on a tankbag.  

Straight after hopping aboard the GSX-R the front end weight bias was obvious.  The GSX-R 600 has a more front end weight bias than the 750 and this lets you feel 'connected' with the front end.  The fork action is excellent, better than any other bike in this hard fought SuperSport class, as per the previous GSX-R 600.  Showa is the supplier and the 45mm conventional forks seem to be pretty much the same as the ones fitted to the previous model.

The rear feels stiffer than the 750 and the whole bike seems a much more taut and race ready package than it's bigger cousin.  It is not too harsh, the initial suspension stroke front and rear is compliant enough to absorb most of the hard hits encountered on a motorway haul.  Softer than a Ducati but still hard enough to play ball when the game turns serious.  Interestingly the shock seems to be exactly the same unit as fitted to the 750 but seemed to work better on the 600.  Obviously, SuperSport racers will change to an aftermarket unit anyway but I can never imagine the average track day punter needing to.

I can sum up the racetrack performance of the GSX-R 600 quite simply....I can't fault it.  

We did not push the GSX-R 600 to anywhere near it's, or my, limits as plenty of magazines are waiting in line to test this bike so the least we could do was ensure it got back to Suzuki safely.  I have yet to have to make the "Mr distributor, I have broke your bike" call and look forward to continuing that precedent.  Even though it may seem that we have little regard for machinery (by looking at the wheelie and stoppie photos) I can assure you that I am quite comfortable doing such things (little stunts) and think of it as less of a risk than riding in Sydney traffic.  Anyway back to the bike.

We rode it as hard as what probably 95% of potential owners will push it, but do not pretend to be motorcycle racers...

Flopping from big lean angle to opposite angle is simpler than on anything else I have ridden.  Want to change your line mid corner, a little push on the peg or pressure on the bars and it is done, no fuss.  It does have a steering damper as standard but thankfully it does not increase bar effort too much.  It feels like a race bike in the way you can literally grab it by the scruff and slam it from one side to the other without having to wait for the suspension to get over it.  This serves to raise the confidence level further.

Stability is surprisingly very good.  51% of the weight is over the front wheel and this obviously helps the cause.  In comparison the R6 has more weight over the rear than the front which helps to make the Yamaha a little more lively through the bars.  Heavier riders seem to amplify this problem on the Yamaha.  The Kawasaki ZX-6R, like the GSX-R, carries more of it's weight over the front wheel than the Yamaha.

On the brake side of the equation the Suzuki now has the equal of the Yamaha.  I believe the GSX-R brakes are similar to the units fitted to the company's 750 but I think slightly harder pads may be used in this instance.  I don't know exactly what the changes from the 750 are but I do know that the brakes on the 600 work better.  I had no cause for complaint.

The bike never put a foot (wheel) wrong during our time with it.  Think 'tighten a line' and it is done, if you get into trouble you can use the front and/or rear brakes to slow the bike down while in a turn.  I did not outrun myself into a corner but always provoke this type of occurrence in relatively safe surroundings to simulate an 'Oh shit I have come in too hot' type of reaction for the inexperienced.  This type of situation will most probably be very relevant to a lot of potential purchasers of the baby GSX-R, for a lot of whom something like this 600 will probably be their first big bike.  And to think that this 'little' 600 would comprehensively chew up and spit out most big bore sportsbikes on the market when it comes to laptimes.....

Now to the engine...