Gen 3 over a gen 2 ?

[sixpack577]

As I've said many times, I loved my gen2, had it 3 1/2 years.
Had the spare key to a friend's gen1 before, rode it more in 2 years than he ever did.
But I was never comfortable, and traded mine for a Bking because of it(no regrets).
I sat on a gen3, 100% convinced it was going to feel identical, and was immediately shocked that the small tweaks in ergonomics were exactly what I needed.
I loved it, I'm thrilled to know I will soon enough be back on the best motorcycle engine ever...finally comfortabley.
We're all built different, and I could tell you blindfolded which of the 3 I'm sitting on.
And to hear it handles quicker...I can't wait.

 

[Bumblebee]

Ya I'm not saying that his wife does not have issues at .It's just me as a buyer have to look at the whole situation and if I was dealing with the seller not a car salesman things whould be way different.
But at the end of the day I think the smart choice for me is to buy a new one and do the mods I want and blame my self for any mistakes I make along the way.
That white one sure has my eye I used to like the black o es or blue but that white just looks really good .

Sounds like your mind is made up....which is a good thing...now time for you to get on the hunt and let us know which color of gen 3 you get (just for our curiosity of course).

 

[Bumblebee]

As I've said many times, I loved my gen2, had it 3 1/2 years.
Had the spare key to a friend's gen1 before, rode it more in 2 years than he ever did.
But I was never comfortable, and traded mine for a Bking because of it(no regrets).
I sat on a gen3, 100% convinced it was going to feel identical, and was immediately shocked that the small tweaks in ergonomics were exactly what I needed.
I loved it, I'm thrilled to know I will soon enough be back on the best motorcycle engine ever...finally comfortabley.
We're all built different, and I could tell you blindfolded which of the 3 I'm sitting on.
And to hear it handles quicker...I can't wait.

So you had a gen 2 which you extensively modified and it wasn't comfortable yet a stock gen 3 is??

They must have made some serious changes-more than what the rider reviews have reported....most of them have said the only thing they noticed was the bars being slightly closer and the feet were pretty much a little higher and back....

Why are many of the gen 3 threads talking about aftermarket bars, bar risers and helibars along with drop pegs? Pretty much all the same things other gen riders are looking for.

 

[Martin.UK]

Why are many of the gen 3 threads talking about aftermarket bars, bar risers and helibars along with drop pegs? Pretty much all the same things other gen riders are looking for.

IMO i think most of it comes down to age, and not wanting that head down, ass up. but still want that sort of sporty ride.

 

[Bumblebee]

IMO i think most of it comes down to age, and not wanting that head down, ass up. but still want that sort of sporty ride.

I get you, I'm not a youngster either and my bike has those mods.

The point I was making is that Gen 3 riders are seeking out these mods as well which leads me to believe the riding position isn't all that different compared to the other generations.

I personally haven't sat on one, I can just go by what I read.

 

[Martin.UK]

Why are many of the gen 3 threads talking about aftermarket bars, bar risers and helibars along with drop pegs? Pretty much all the same things other gen riders are looking for.

IMO i think most of it comes down to age, and not wanting that head down, ass up.

I get you, I'm not a youngster either and my bike has those mods.

The point I was making is that Gen 3 riders are seeking out these mods as well which leads me to believe the riding position isn't all that different compared to the other generations.

I personally haven't sat on one, I can just go by what I read.

I sat on one last year and i could not see feel much in it if any.
The riding position may feel better when moving, i dont know. Could it be down to "they knew these little mods made the other Gens better, so its a must do mod on the Gen3" ? I dont know i'm just guessing

 

[Bumblebee]

IMO i think most of it comes down to age, and not wanting that head down, ass up.

I sat on one last year and i could not see feel much in it if any.
The riding position may feel better when moving, i dont know. Could it be down to "they knew these little mods made the other Gens better, so its a must do mod on the Gen3" ? I dont know i'm just guessing

I've also read they changed the rake slightly to make it turn in a bit quicker even though it is almost the same length...

Suzuki was smart in knowing generally the riders would do all the mods for them.

 

[sixpack577]

So you had a gen 2 which you extensively modified and it wasn't comfortable yet a stock gen 3 is??

They must have made some serious changes-more than what the rider reviews have reported....most of them have said the only thing they noticed was the bars being slightly closer and the feet were pretty much a little higher and back....

Why are many of the gen 3 threads talking about aftermarket bars, bar risers and helibars along with drop pegs? Pretty much all the same things other gen riders are looking for.

Yep
The gen3's seat is narrower at the front, and the tank is narrower at the back.
There is a difference there, proof being that none of the 3 gens seats interchange.
The gen1 and 2 as result put my back in the wrong lean, gen3, nope, fixed.
Keep in mind I tried 5 seats, 2 riser heights, Spiegler dirtbike bars on my gen2, and Vortex rearsets.
As I said, it's subtle, but it's different.
If you're over 6', maybe not so much.
And I also figured, same frame same pain...nope.
Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten rid of my gen2, nor been excited about a gen3.

 

[Bumblebee]

Yep
The gen3's seat is narrower at the front, and the tank is narrower at the back.
There is a difference there, proof being that none of the 3 gens seats interchange.
The gen1 and 2 as result put my back in the wrong lean, gen3, nope, fixed.
Keep in mind I tried 5 seats, 2 riser heights, Spiegler dirtbike bars on my gen2, and Vortex rearsets.
As I said, it's subtle, but it's different.
If you're over 6', maybe not so much.
And I also figured, same frame same pain...nope.
Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten rid of my gen2, nor been excited about a gen3.

I'm surprised even with all those mods you did you find a stock gen 3 more comfortable...

 

[sixpack577]

After sitting on the gen3, I think the big thing is the narrower seat and tank, not so much the reach to the bars anymore.
The gen3 bars are noticebly higher than the gsxr too.
For me personally, what I originally thought my problem was, the Busa tank being longer than the gsxr's, I now think/know it is the gen3's narrower seat and tank, which makes it feel more like a gsxr, with slightly taller bars that are a little further away.
Without having to straddle a seat and tank so wide, the lean isn't as bad to ME.
I'm 5'10" with a 32"-33" inseam, and flat foot the Busa seated with a slightly bent knee.
As said, if you're a bigger guy, it may not be as noticeable.
But if you exagerate things in your mind, and try straddling a really wide seat, wider than personally comfortable(regardless of seat shape or brand), then lean forward, like a gymnist in a side split then laying her stomach on the floor, even though I'm flexible, that hurts me to even think about doing it.
It's the same effect.
Now sit on a narrow dirtbike seat and lean forward. It's more like a standing toe touch, as your hips aren't spread nearly as far.
Once again, it's a small change from gen2 to 3, but it IS there, and was just enough to put me back in that comfortable gsxr feel.
I know Suzuki designed this change, they said they did.
I honestly think that it is because Japanese people are generally smaller than me, and the average sportbike rider is my size or smaller.
And that Suzuki did this to better accomodate guys my size or smaller.
While also realizing that bigger guys would not be effected or notice.
This is the best way I know how to describe it.
But again, the change is there, that is a fact. I just happen to be of the size to really notice it, and appreciate it.

 

[sixpack577]

I'm surprised even with all those mods you did you find a stock gen 3 more comfortable...

So was I, I was literally shocked.

 

[Bumblebee]

After sitting on the gen3, I think the big thing is the narrower seat and tank, not so much the reach to the bars anymore.
The gen3 bars are noticebly higher than the gsxr too.
For me personally, what I originally thought my problem was, the Busa tank being longer than the gsxr's, I now think/know it is the gen3's narrower seat and tank, which makes it feel more like a gsxr, with slightly taller bars that are a little further away.
Without having to straddle a seat and tank so wide, the lean isn't as bad to ME.
I'm 5'10" with a 32"-33" inseam, and flat foot the Busa seated with a slightly bent knee.
As said, if you're a bigger guy, it may not be as noticeable.
But if you exagerate things in your mind, and try straddling a really wide seat, wider than personally comfortable(regardless of seat shape or brand), then lean forward, like a gymnist in a side split then laying her stomach on the floor, even though I'm flexible, that hurts me to even think about doing it.
It's the same effect.
Now sit on a narrow dirtbike seat and lean forward. It's more like a standing toe touch, as your hips aren't spread nearly as far.
Once again, it's a small change from gen2 to 3, but it IS there, and was just enough to put me back in that comfortable gsxr feel.
I know Suzuki designed this change, they said they did.
I honestly think that it is because Japanese people are generally smaller than me, and the average sportbike rider is my size or smaller.
And that Suzuki did this to better accomodate guys my size or smaller.
While also realizing that bigger guys would not be effected or notice.
This is the best way I know how to describe it.
But again, the change is there, that is a fact. I just happen to be of the size to really notice it, and appreciate it.

See, this is important for potential new owners to know....

Suzuki talked about a redesign in the seat but nothing as substantial as what you noticed...

Good information.

 

[ottafish]

I've also read they changed the rake slightly to make it turn in a bit quicker even though it is almost the same length...

Suzuki was smart in knowing generally the riders would do all the mods for them.

After hearing all these reports on how well the Gen3 handles so much better, I’d be interested in a proper report one day identifying what the exact differences are between say a gen2 to a Gen3.
Is it just better forks and shocks and wheels?
As I believe the frame is the same

 

[Bumblebee]

After hearing all these reports on how well the Gen3 handles so much better, I’d be interested in a proper report one day identifying what the exact differences are between say a gen2 to a Gen3.
Is it just better forks and shocks and wheels?
As I believe the frame is the same

I've read Suzuki adjusted the rake slightly differently making it handle faster...kind of the same as they did to the gen 2.

 

[E Zurcher]

I have helibars on my gen 2 and that took some getting used to because the bike definitely handled different. I do feel a bit more pressure on my wrists with the gen 3. I hope that is not a problem for me because the reason I installed the helibars was because I was having neck issues, a lighter helmet and the helibars cured the problem. I also need to rotate the controls down a bit but the new bodywork does not leave a lot of room for that at full lock, levers are very close. The longest ride so far was around 70 miles in town. The gen 3 feels very similar, definitely quicker in responsiveness at the bars and the throttle. The overall quality is a couple steps up from the gen 2. Since I only have 320 miles on it so far, I have only had it up to around 6K and I'm looking forward to feeling the full monty.

I never thought of the Gen 2 as ugly, more like a work of sculpture. Aesthetically the Gen 3 is a much prettier bike. The back end is a brilliant mix of gen 1 and gen 2 with its own uniqueness. The front is much more purposeful performance wise and still looks great, The bike is beautiful and I love the way each color brings out something different. Can't wait to see the BNCG versions in the future. Lots of thumbs-up from other drivers so far.

Lastly, I am a gadget guy so I am looking forward to playing with the goodies. I the end it will probably stay on "A" mode or a user mode with minimal tweaks. I will be using the cruise control every day on my way to and from work though.

I will have no problem selling my Gen 2 because I really like the Gen 3

 

[Bumblebee]

I have helibars on my gen 2 and that took some getting used to because the bike definitely handled different. I do feel a bit more pressure on my wrists with the gen 3. I hope that is not a problem for me because the reason I installed the helibars was because I was having neck issues, a lighter helmet and the helibars cured the problem. I also need to rotate the controls down a bit but the new bodywork does not leave a lot of room for that at full lock, levers are very close. The longest ride so far was around 70 miles in town. The gen 3 feels very similar, definitely quicker in responsiveness at the bars and the throttle. The overall quality is a couple steps up from the gen 2. Since I only have 320 miles on it so far, I have only had it up to around 6K and I'm looking forward to feeling the full monty.

I never thought of the Gen 2 as ugly, more like a work of sculpture. Aesthetically the Gen 3 is a much prettier bike. The back end is a brilliant mix of gen 1 and gen 2 with its own uniqueness. The front is much more purposeful performance wise and still looks great, The bike is beautiful and I love the way each color brings out something different. Can't wait to see the BNCG versions in the future. Lots of thumbs-up from other drivers so far.

Lastly, I am a gadget guy so I am looking forward to playing with the goodies. I the end it will probably stay on "A" mode or a user mode with minimal tweaks. I will be using the cruise control every day on my way to and from work though.

I will have no problem selling my Gen 2 because I really like the Gen 3

Suzuki was wise in keeping it familiar yet still updating it...I think if it would have been too radically changed, it might have made people turn away from it...

The only thing Suzuki missed out on is the weight and performance....remember when it was first announced and we started our gen 3 thread in earnest how many of the old posters came back to check it out only to leave again and vowing to keep what they have as they were disappointed.

I personally think Suzuki was sly as a fox...make a base bike and have the users create what they didn't. The base bike is more than adequate and most will never use what it has to offer.

 

[Fernando]

I'm agree with most of the comments through this channel. Of all the generations Suzuki has made, the GEN 3 is the best machine Suzuki has ever made. Don't think about it and buy a GEN 3, you won't regret it!!!

 

[dadofthree]

All depends what you’re looking for and how hung up you are on the electronics and having a new bike. I almost pulled the trigger on a new Gen 3 til I rode it back to back with my almost stock Gen 2 and unfortunately couldn’t see the value or the need to upgrade to a bike that was identical.

 

[GMbusa]

Find a really clean low mileage Gen2 and save about $10k

 

[InfiniteReality]

I've owned all 3 generations, hands down the Gen3 is my favorite. The fine tuning they did on the engine makes it ultra smooth compared to others, reminds me of how liter bikes feel as far as smoothness. Way better lighting thanks to the better LED technology than the Gen2, quick shifter is fantastic and quickly becoming my favorite aspect. I love the Gen2 looks over the Gen1, but the Gen3 looks even better to me. Also resembles a peregrine falcon more than previous generations

Gen3 vs Gen2... Gen3 is a no brainer, totally worth the extra money IMO.