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Adam Waheed
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2008 Suzuki B-King
Written by: Adam Waheed
Motorcycle-USA.com   http://www.motorcycle-usa.com
07/02/2008 - 06:09 PM
 
The Suzuki B-King looks big and mean and has the spec sheet to prove it. Come with MotorcycleUSA as we test the naked sportbike's high-performance claims. (Photo: motorcyleusa.com) ยป More Photos

It's big, it's intimidating and it turns about as many heads as an NBA player at Grandma's Bingo night. Now, we're not talking about an oversized jewelry-clad basketball player; we're talking about Suzuki's B-King. Originally debuted seven years ago at the Tokyo Motor Show, the B-King is one ultra-cool streetfighter prototype that actually made it into production.

The B-King is proof of Suzuki's unequivocal embrace of America's 'bigger is better' mantra. It is the largest, most powerful muscle bike ever manufactured, period. With this one it's hard to find anything that isn't big: big power, big brakes, big proportions and big weight.

I can't help but feel just a little bit intimidated as I gaze at its bulging body pieces and huge twin underseat exhaust canisters protruding like trapezoidal double-barrel artillery guns. Twin ram-air intakes large enough to inhale witless birds sit underneath the fashionably integrated front turn signals. Stylized pieces like the chrome bezel
on the top of the fuel tank, sculpted brake and clutch master cylinders and the refined-looking instrument package give the Suzuki a high-end, premium feel. Equally impressive is the high level of overall fit and finish. Unsightly fasteners are kept to a minimum and the body components fit together as if they were crafted out of one complete piece.

Once in the saddle, there's no hiding its 578-lb mass (fully fueled, ready to ride). Due to the substantial width of the gas tank your legs are spread far apart, so riders with minimal dexterity better bring their A-game when riding the B-King. But things get better as soon as you reach out to the widely-spaced tubular handlebars. The relaxed, upright riding position and tallish bars make it a very comfortable machine. However, the high mounted foot pegs force the rider's legs into a more aggressive bend than seems necessary.

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