Suzuki Unleashes Its Turbo

SUZUKI UNLEASHES ITS TURBO

The New XN85 Turbo 650 Joins the Fray.

In a late model introduction, Suzuki has become the third Japanese manufacturer to join the Turbo Wars for 1982, following Honda and Yamaha in unveiling a turbocharged middleweight sport bike. The version shown was an early prototype rather than a production model, which means that nobody has yet been allowed to ride the bike or start it up and there may be some minor design changes before it reaches the local showroom floor.

What we do know is that the bike is called the NX85 Turbo, the 85 for 85 bhp, and that it’s based on the roller bearing GS650E engine. The turbo unit is located behind the cylinders and pumps air

through an electronic fuel injection system, like the Honda, rather than through a set of four sealed carbs, as Yamaha has done. The fuel injection system adjusts fuel flow by monitoring rpm, turbo boost and ignition timing. The engine uses an oil cooler and a 4-into-l exhaust system, and the cylinder head is a twin dome combustion chamber design with two valves per cylinder, which Suzuki says is excellent for minimizing turbo detonation problems.

Suspension combines some of the latest technology from Suzuki’s other new sport bikes. The front end has anti-dive forks with adjustable spring preload and low

friction fork bushings, and the back end gets Full Floater monoshock suspension. The XN comes with some unusual tire sizes; a 16 in. front, RG style, and a 17 in rear. The 16 in. front is supposed to provide easier handling and better steering characteristics. The bike comes with tires especially designed for the XN by Michelin and made to Suzuki specs, though Dunlop may also be building tires for the bike by the time it goes into production.

The Turbo has a big 5.3 gal. gas tank and an enclosed drive chain with a greasefilled cover, similar to that on Yamaha’s XV920. Wheels are new Formula 1 style mags and the bike has two brake discs at the front and one at the rear. Handlebars are of the raised clip-on style like those on the Katana, moving the grips high enough relative to the low seat that the seating position is not as radical as it first appears. Much of the styling influence, of course, has come from the Katana, but the small fairing, tank and seat on the XN85 are a bit more flowing and integrated. That, together with a very tidy turbo installation, give the bike a low, compact and handsome look. Paint, metalwork and finish on the prototype are all first rate, virtues we hope will remain with the new Suzuki when it reaches production.

Don’t go to your showroom yet, as there is no firm delivery date on the Turbo. Suzuki admits the bike w/7/ be produced, but has not yet listed it as an official ’82 model. Could even be we'll see it as an early '83 release. IS