New patent indicates Suzuki turbo bike

IT'S BEEN a long wait to see the production version of Suzuki’s ‘Recursion’ turbocharged parallel twin. First shown as a concept way back in 2013, it’s finally looking likely to reach showrooms in 2019.

Over the intervening time it’s transformed from a 588cc single-overhead-cam parallel twin to a 700cc DOHC design, with the near-proddy-spec ‘XE7’ engine revealed by Suzuki in 2015.

And a steady stream of patents has seen the design evolve, with the frame switching from the Recursion concept’s aluminium beam design to a steel trellis and the component layout changing significantly. The original design had the intercooler under the seat, but later revisions have seen it change to a more compact set-up, with the intercooler mounted in a unit with the airbox above the engine.

But what’s never changed is the fact there’s a whopping great turbo sitting in front of the engine.

The latest patent – published today – gives even more detail. Sadly for us, Suzuki has hidden the bike’s bodywork with a blob that gives only its generic shape, but there are details here that haven’t appeared on earlier patents.

Notably, the latest images clearly show that the production bike, which is expected to be called the GSX700T but may also revive the Katana name, carries a single-sided swingarm. That’s a feature that also appeared on the Recursion concept, although the design of the arm itself has changed significantly since that bike’s 2013 showing.

The new patent again confirms the trellis-style frame, and shows a surprising amount of detail when it comes to the bike’s wheels, forks and the mounts for the radial front brakes. Elements including the brake calipers themselves, and the rear sprocket, are missing from the pictures, though. The wheels, however, are a different design to those on the Recursion, with a six-spoke front and ten-spoke rear.

It’s also notable that the riding position has become sportier since the Recursion was shown. While that bike’s 588cc engine made a mere 100hp, even with the aid of its turbo, and was designed with fuel economy in mind, the later switch to a larger, 700cc DOHC engine suggests that the final production machine will be targeting something nearer 150hp, along with far more torque than a similarly-sized, naturally-aspirated engine could hope for.

The new patent shows lower, narrower bars than the Recursion’s, angled downwards in a traditional clip-on style. And while the footpeg hangers aren’t fitted in this image, their mounting brackets appear higher than they were on the concept bike.

Hopefully, after five years, we’ll finally get to see the production turbo Suzuki at shows later this year and be able to buy one in 2019. Fingers crossed that this time the transition from concept to production is more successful than the B-King…