2012–2015 · Sport Tourer · Buyer's Guide
Sold in the US as Suzuki GSX1250FA
Quiet Torque, Honest Miles
Suzuki built this one around the same 1255 cc inline-four that powers the Bandit 1250, and that engine sets the tone for everything else: 98 hp at 7,500 rpm, 80 lb-ft at 3,700 rpm, and a thick slab of drive from just above idle. Wrap it in a full fairing, hang it on a steel double cradle frame with 17-inch wheels front and rear, and you have a genuine sport-tourer rather than a faired standard. ABS is standard, both ends of the suspension adjust, and the seat height is adjustable too. What you are buying here is substance at a price, not a spec sheet.
It asks very little of you. With peak torque sitting that low you can leave it in top gear for most of a day and still have a pass in hand, and it stays composed as the miles pile up. Reliability is where it earns its keep; these engines take mileage and indifferent maintenance and keep running. It suits the rider doing 200 to 400 mile days on roads like the Blue Ridge Parkway who wants comfort and pulling power without paying for electronics. The honest caveat: 567 lb (257 kg) is real weight, and 34 mpg from a 5.0 gal (19 L) tank puts fuel stops closer together than you would like.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 98 hp (72 kW) @ 7,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) @ 3,700 rpm |
| Displacement | 1255 cc |
| Engine | Inline-fourMotorcycles With Inline-Four Engines → |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 58.5 in (1485 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) |
| Wet weight | 567 lb (257 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 5.0 gal (19 L) |
| Top speed | 145 mph (233 km/h) |
| Fuel economy | 34 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
This part comes from listening rather than riding. It is built from years of paddock talk, club nights, owner conversations, and the messages riders send me directly. The pattern for this one is steady: owners rate it for what it does, and the complaints land on the parts around the engine rather than the engine itself.
Effortless is the word that keeps coming up about the motor. Riders say the pull sits low enough that they rarely go hunting for revs, and that cruising and overtaking ask nothing of them. Close behind is the money: owners feel they got more machine than the price suggested. Comfort over a full day draws steady praise, and the chassis gets credit for feeling predictable at speed.
Suspension is the gripe that comes up most. Owners call the fork and shock basic, and say rough surfaces still get through even after working with the adjustment. Weight is the other steady theme, showing up in slow maneuvers that demand deliberate input. A smaller group flags corrosion on fasteners and fittings unless the bike is cleaned and protected, winter especially. The gearbox draws the odd complaint too: notchy, a little noisy, wanting a firm foot.
Secondary throttle position sensor (TPS) malfunction
Faulty TPS can trigger Fi fault codes, affecting throttle response. Requires careful professional calibration after replacement.
Neutral switch failure
The neutral switch can stick, either falsely indicating neutral constantly or failing to engage, causing starting issues. Cleaning or replacement resolves it.
Starter motor burnout
Over time the starter motor can fail; replacement with a heavy-duty aftermarket unit is a common fix, as OEM replacements are costly.
Where this Suzuki GSX 1250 F pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the GSX 1250 F is actually built for.
This is your bike. Upright, faired, and torque-rich enough to make a 300 mile day feel short. Just plan your own luggage and accept that there is no cruise control for the slab miles.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
You will run out of nerve before it runs out of ground clearance, and it never gets nervous mid-corner. Good for smooth, repeatable lines. Too heavy to enjoy hairpin drills all day.
Made for Tail of the Dragon · Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Suzuki GSX 1250 F. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Compare it with every bike that shares the same spec or equipment.
