Thanks, Andre. I have seen this, but it’s just the usual ‘exhibition’ bike that all manufacturers show at motor shows. Honda showed a SW600 with a short screen but haven’t manufactured it. Why bother? They owner can do that themselves quite easily from a myriad of screens available… Honda did bring out a Sports model last year, however, that has the standard model’s aluminium coloured forks, frame, brakes, etc replaced by black coloured items. They are selling well, here. No doubt the addition of an AN650 style Power Mode button has helped, too. :lol:
In reality, the bike pictured here is only a simple custom – muffler change, handlebar conversion and short screen. They’d be hard pressed to ask buyers to pay more for that over a standard model.
The true Suzuki’s Type S formula is:
• Black front forks
• Black brake calipers front and rear
• Short screen
• Metallic handlebar conversion
• Sporty instrument panel
• Exhaust pipe must stay as standard to pass emissions and noise regulations
If you look at the Suzuki Japan website or Suzuki Canada website and see the AN250/400 Type S and standard models, you will see that a simple handlebar conversion, and loud pipe won’t hit the spot.
http://www.suzuki.ca/en/bike/intro.cfm? ... ry=scooter
Factory customs only appear once a significant number of buyers for the standard product have been customizing their vehicles, or when the standard model needs to be jazzed up to stay competitive. This is the case in Japan where 250/400 riders routinely customize their machines, and the new in 2000 Forza (Reflex) was sold with black wheels as standard, and marketed as a one model “Hi-Sports” range (changing the face of big-scooter design forever). Suzuki responded by rushing out the Type S in 2002 to keep their AN250 in the ball park. You rarely see a non-Type S An250/400 here.
I’ve seen one customised 650 in 12 months, but customized SW600s are often seen – probably because they have sold the most. The TMax’s looks match it’s niche well enough as standard to not required customization. Suzuki will only offer a Type S 650 from the factory if they know they can sell it in large numbers. No market is returning enough orders to make this feasible now. Hopefully it will become feasible, but this won’t be it – especially as the exhaust pipe makes it illegal in most countries. :?
End of lecture. :wink:
A real Type S style conversion is available now via standard customization:
US$200 – metallic handlebar conversion
US$500 – wheel painting
US$0 – short screen – the standard screen is short enough!
US$n - analogue rev counter, speedo, oil temp gauge, that can be mounted on the metallic handle bars
That said, the 650 is already in a state of mild Type S customisation as standard – especially when in white - so the main thing to do is to paint the wheels black. I’m looking into doing this now, and should be enough of a Type S conversion for a start. Following that, I’m nearer to fitting full colour car-type DVD satellite navigation on the standard handlebars, and fitting the OEM electric mirror conversion than going the full Type S custom route on the handlebars, etc. I'll post up pictures in a couple of months once it's done. 8)
