One of the longest-running Suzuki models, the Katana 600 is basically a faired version of the firm’s Bandit 600, using that bike’s air-cooled four-cylinder engine and steel tube frame with a full sports fairing. Never a particularly sporty bike, the 600 Katana (known as the GSX600F in Europe) nevertheless carved out a low-priced sport-touring niche in the market, with its unthreatening power delivery and soft chassis.
But for 2008, Suzuki updated the GSX with the all-new liquid-cooled engine and frame from the 2007 Bandit 650. The result was one of the best budget sportsbikes ever produced. Clad in svelte bodywork that’s styled to look like the firm’s GSX-R superbikes, the 650F promises much, although a look at the spec sheet suggests it may struggle to deliver. On paper, the 650 offers only average performance, with an 85bhp peak power output and a hefty 476lb dry mass. But on the road, the performance picture is much brighter. The engine is smooth and progressive, with good midrange power, while the chassis is easy, predictable and accommodating. The GSX-R-style fairing gives reasonable wind protection and an advanced LCD dashboard is packed with rider information. Brakes are strong, with good feel, and the road-biased tires have more than enough grip for the 650’s performance.
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