September 6th, 2009 | 
Author: As you all know, I have been riding a GSX650f since October 2008. Currently I have approximately 8700 miles under the tires.
So, I thought this might be a good time to give you a bit of a write up on it; my own personal review.
I do not have any numbers to give you; nothing official anyway. I guess you’ll need to get your numbers from the manufacturer or magazines.
Costs
Well, I have had all the tune-ups as listed in the manual, so I have been paying 200-400 each time depending upon what needed to be done. Other than than, the only additional cost was the new rear time I just had fitted today.
The rear tire has been getting a bit of a flat spot (the last 1000 miles maybe). Well, it finally caught up to me, when I went out to the garage and had a flat tire! A call to AAA and some quick work at Hinshaws Motorcycle and I’m back in action. That was another 240.00.
So, more than a car, but the bike hasn’t cost me anything more than the standard things one learns to expect with a motorcycle.
Looks
Well, this is one good looking bike. Just looking back at it sitting in the garage as I am coming in gives me pause 
I got some pics up here, but even these aren’t as good as I would like to get some day.
It has great lines and isn’t overly gaudy, which is good for us….well, let me just say, I’m not kid. It has a very mature sport bike look I guess is a good way to put it.
For me, the headlight is the weak point (looks-wise). I’ve never like the single headlight look. But, I leave that up to you.
Mileage
Well, how much you get out of the tank is very much related to how you operate your right wrist. I have not yet driven an entire tank like a gentleman, so I do not know if it actually gets 45mpg as is listed. The way I ride….a little…..uh……more agressive means I get half that some days. But, when the light starts flashing at me, I just settle down and find my way to a station. Never had any close calls. It does fine.
Comfort
The seat is big; it’s a bench style. Thick padding that works great for up to three hours. Then a little soreness, but not too bad. The bars are a good height for cruising and having some fun. But I can see why having the bars lower would be good for really carving the corners. But, I don’t really have any trouble with my hands or wrists. Once I got the right gloves, my hand pain went away. Only after four hours do I start having pain.
Ride/Performance
Well, here it is. The part you really care about. Admit it; just kidding.
Ok, the bike is quick. One magazine said “It goes like stink” and I can say that I concur with that. Off the line it just gets to it. Lots of torque. There is a bit of a flat spot in the curve around 3-4000 rpm. If you need to make a pass in the minimum amount of space, I find it best to stay above that. Just drop a gear and gun it. Oh and hang the hell on, because when it hits 6-7k the bike feels like it would rather leave you behind.
The change of speed, such as passing, is one of my favorite things with this bike, but you gotta let it go. Don’t shift too early trying to find the low end torque. It will kick you in the pants at 6k and run hard up over 11,000. That is where you start to really feel what the GSX650f has for you.
Oh, and the sound at 10k is something else!
The Suzuki is very stable at all speeds, even when hit with side winds this bike has not once every felt scary/sketchy to me. You just keep tucked. Oh, but keep in mind that like all motorcycles, the speedometer reads 5-10% high. Mine is 10% (I checked with my car pacing me), so the number you see is not quite as impressive as you want it to be.
The brakes seem, to me to be quite good, but I do not have any experience with “real” brakes. Every so often, they seem not to grab like I would like, but never anything that I felt was the fault of the bike.
It is maybe a little heavy. I notice when trying to play in truly twisty roads that you need to really muscle this thing. Sweepers are no problem of course. Being that this bike is not a true superbike (and is not pretending to be) it does a pretty good job keeping me entertained though.
What else?
Please let me know if you have anything else you want to know about it. I’ll write more as anything changes or comes up.
Posted in Reviews