Suzuki GSX1100F
1988—1994

I have tried to tell the Suzuki GSX 1100 F model history on this page as I know it. I would be grateful of any contributions — sales brochures, magazine ads, magazine articles, pictures, specs, facts, corrections etc. Please scan the material in JPEG format (large enough that all the details are visible) and send them to me. Please tell me the source and the publication date if possible. If you send me pictures of your own bike, please follow these instructions.

1988 Suzuki year code: J

GSX1100FJ was introduced in October 1987 as a sports tourer with 16 valve engine, five speed gearbox, 16-inch 3-spoke alloy wheels. The premier model had twin front discs with gold finished disc centres and single rear disc, all three with Gold finished calipers. GSX1100F was a high-performance sports tourer with full touring fairing with electrically powered height adjustable wind screen and wide dual seat with twin pillion grabrails. Its powerplant came originally from the GSX-R1100, retuned to provide more low-end and mid-range power. The fine aerodynamics of the GSF1100F and the 136 hp engine gave the bike very high top speed. GSX1100F was among the fastest bikes in the world at the time, if not the fastest. The Swedish Bike magazine measured 252 km/h top speed, the Yamaha FJ1200 with similar engine performance was much slower with ”only” 236 kph. It was the aerodynamic fairing of the GSX1100F that made the huge difference. With a GSX-R powerplant, there is no shortage of aftermarket enhancements. But there's some differences to be noted: The GSX1100F engine inhales through 34mm Mikuni flat-slide constant-velocity carburators rather than the round-slide 34mm ('86-'88), 36mm ('89-'90), or 40mm ('91-'97) mixers on the GSX-R. The sport-tourer had 4 into 2 exhaust system instead of the GSX-R's 4 into 1. The engine has a 2 mm bigger bore compared to the GSX100R, that gives a 75 cc larger cylinder volym. As a result of the well-behaving engine and the heavier touring friendly chassis (30 mm/1.2 inches longer wheelbase) along with slightly taller overall gearing the GSX1100F doesn't feel like a factory racer. It feels more like a well-behaved streetbike. Power flows in a steady rush from 3.000 RPM all the way to its 11.300 RPM redline which keeps shifting to a minimum. 1988 GSX1100F had suspension problems (too soft fork springs at the front) with unstability problems as a result, despite of the heavy steel double cradle frame with back bone spars (reinforced the following year). The rear fork springs were later replaced by the importers for harder ones at no cost in Sweden. The 1988 also had smaller carburetors (Mikuni BST34SS) than the later models (Mikuni BST36SS), a carb kit for an 89-94 GSX1100F will not work. Four different colors: Blue, Maroon, Blue/Grey, Silver/White. A luggage system, designed by Krauser of Germany, was an option. The electric windshield, SPS (Suzuki Power Shield), was standard on the 1100 cc models, the GSX750F didn't have it.

1988 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2,185 mm (86.0 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1,490 mm (58.7 in) Dry Weight: 248 kg (546 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1,127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. TSCC, SACS. 136 hp @ 9,500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m)/ 7,000 rpm. 5-speed. Click on the image for larger format.

1989 Suzuki year code: K

GSX1100FK replaces the GSX1100FL as the second edition of the GSX1100F. The changes include a longer swingarm to aid staight line stability, rubber mounted engine, modified rear suspension and revised head angle, revised graphics and new finishes in Blue or Black/Grey GSX1100F got a reinforced frame on the second model year, longer wheelbase and better suspension for better stability at high speeds. A rear shock reservoir was added. Newdesigned rear mirrors. Three different colors: Black, Blue/Silver and Maroon. The new specifications were introduced in some countries in 1990, as the GSX1100FJ was sold there in 1989.

1989 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9,500 rpm, 112 Nm (11,4 kg-m)/ 7,000 rpm. 5-speed gearbox. Click on the image for larger format.

1990 Suzuki year code: L

GSX1100FL replaces the GSX1100FJ in January 1990. Rear mirrors redesigned again. The muffler ends got also a new design. Three colors: Blue, Maroon and Silver/Black.

1990 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed gearbox. Click on the image for larger format.

1991 Suzuki year code: M

GSX1100FM replaces the GSX1100FL in January 1991 with revised graphics. The 1991 year's model GSX1100FM was similar to the GSX1100FL, except for the painting scheme. The model was now available in three colors: Red, Black-Grey and Silver/Black.

1991 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed gearbox. Click on the image for larger format.

1991 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed gearbox. Click on the image for larger format.

The bike in the picture below is a U.S. model with ”Katana” added to the model name.

1991 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed gearbox. Click on the image for larger format.

1992 Suzuki year code: N

GSX1100FN was introduced in the same specification as the GSX1100FM with revised finishes. New stripe graphics, similar to the GSX-R1100. Three colors: Purple/Silver, Black/Lead and Red-Maroon.

1992 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed gearbox. Click on the image for larger format.

1993 Suzuki year code: P

The 1993 GSX1100FP was exactly the same bike as GSX1100FN, there's no way of telling what year's model it is without looking for the frame number. Even the colors are the same: Purple/Silver, Black/Lead and Red-Maroon. 1993 was the last year for the GSX1100F to be imported in the USA. The model was called GSX1100F Katana there, although the ”real Katana”, GSX1100S, was still manufactured in Japan.

1993 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed. Click on the image for larger format.

1993 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1 127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. 136 hp @ 9 500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m) @ 7 000 rpm. 5-speed. Click on the image for larger format.

1994 Suzuki year code: R

Introduced in January 1994, with revised graphics. The last model of the GSX1100F, although GSX1100F was sold in some countries as late as 1997. The last model year for Sweden was 1995. Two colors: Black and Maroon.

1994 Suzuki GSX 1100 F Overall Length: 2 205 mm (86.8 in) Overall Width: 765 mm (30.1 in) Overall Height: 1 290 mm (50.8 in) Seat Height: 795 mm (31.3 in) Wheelbase: 1 535 mm (60.4 in) Ground Clearance: 130 mm (5.1 in) Dry Weight: 266 kg (585 lbs) Engine: air/oil-cooled 1127 cc inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves. Sweden: 92 hp (68 kW)/ 7,000 rpm, 94,7 Nm/ 6,600 rpm. Unrestricted: 136 hp @ 9,500 rpm, 112 Nm (11.4 kg-m)/ 7,000 rpm. 5-speed. Click on the image for larger format.

More: GSX1100F specifications

More: GSX1100F magazine articles

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More: Suzuki GSX models

More: All Suzuki models


Sources: Swedish Bike magazine, What's GSX1100F, Walt's GSX1100F Katana Site
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