Documents show GSX-R600, GSX-R750 likely unchanged for 2018

Despite rumours the Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 would see updates soon, it appears both bikes are likely unchanged for next year.

According to paperwork filed with the California Air Resource Board, emissions figures for both motorcycles remain the same for 2018. That would certainly hint the engines are unchanged, and probably the rest of the bike. It would be very odd for a sportbike to gain a new chassis an electronics package and not receive any engine updates; even the 2017 Honda CBR1000, which sports a very similar engine to previous models, has still seen plenty of tweaks to the powerplant.

However, this doesn’t mean the two bikes are dead-end models, as Asphalt & Rubber’s sources had hinted model overhauls would come in 2019. If that’s true, we might see prototypes on the 2017 show circuit, and we can certainly expect to see them the year after that.

An updated GSX-R600 and is practically a necessity for Suzuki, as both Yamaha and Kawasaki have significantly-updated 600s in the lineup now (Honda’s 600 is rumoured to face cancellation). Suzuki’s 600 is a fair bit behind R6 and ZX-6 at this point, without the latest-generation electronics package and updated engines that are proving their worth on the streets and on racetracks around the world. Without improvements, there’s going to be a growing lack of customer interest—a problem that’s already plagued the whole 600 segment for several years now.

The GSX-R750 is a different story, as there’s no competing middleweight sport bike from Japan. But while there’s no competition, there’s also little reason to buy the 750 right now—it doesn’t have the up-to-date electronics packages of the litrebikes, and it hasn’t really been updated in several years. There’s not much to get excited about when every spring brings Bold New Graphics, and not much else.

Throw in an updated electronics package, a styling update and some other changes, and that story might change. Surely it’s not a crazy idea; even the V-Strom 650 has traction control now. Bring the 750 up to date, and Suzuki suddenly has an interesting bike in a market segment that really faces no competition. It’s hard to see sales not growing as a result.