Suzuki's GSX-R 600 features the same dash as their 750.  Well laid out and comprehensive with a conventional tacho alongside an LCD unit containing a digital speedo, two tripmeters and odometer.  Switchgear is typically Japanese, efficient and simple to operate.

Seat width and padding is acceptable and touring on this bike would not be out of the question at all.  The only stumbling block to touring very long distances would be the trouble you will have strapping luggage to the GSX-R.  For aerodynamic reasons the tail unit flares out very widely.  This means that plenty of duct tape or something similar will be needed to protect the paintwork when strapping luggage to the rear seat using the excellent tie down hooks that are fitted to the Suzuki.  It is not a huge problem and the use of a lot of tape will sort it, but it is worth mentioning and I had to find something to whinge about.....  

Reasonable under seat storage is big enough for a set of wets or chain lock.

There are no annoying vibrations or anything like that to worry about.  We never got around to testing with a pillion but carrying someone on the back of a bike like this will only spoil the fun by making the bike hard to handle by changing the weight distribution and making the bike harder to steer.  The 750 was noticeably harder to turn with someone on the back and the damper really made itself felt under those passenger carrying conditions.

Sometimes a little heat is felt on the legs from behind the fairing when sitting in traffic but no worse than most other bikes.

Build quality seems good.

I believe the 2001 Suzuki GSX-R 600 is now clearly the 600cc benchmark when it comes to performance.  But this class is reasonably tight and just because this bike is the fastest on the track does not mean that you should not consider the opposition. 

The whole SuperSport class consists of very quick bikes which all have genuine 240kph + top speeds.  For those of you that think your 600 is a lot faster than that you should note that the bikes in this class all have wildly optimistic speedos.  Just because your 600 shows 270 on the speedo doesn't mean that you are doing anywhere near that.

There is no doubt in my mind that in 2001 the GSX-R 600 is the SuperSport class leader.

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