Suzuki: history as a producer of motorcycles
Suzuki is one of the "big four" motorcycle builders to come out of Japan, and it has won championships in every form of two-wheeled racing. Whether it's crossing the line first in motocross with the RM-Z 450 or taking the checkered flag in a World Superbike road race on a GSX-R 600, it's clear that Suzuki is very skilled at building motorcycles that can win races.
However, the company wasn't always known for building championship-caliber bikes. Suzuki got its start in the textile industry of Japan in the earliest part of the 20th century. After WWII, it began building bicycle-mount engines to meet the need for cheap transportation; not long after that, Suzuki built its first motorcycle.
In the time after it entered the motorcycle business, Suzuki also entered other segments of the transportation market with its smaller vans, cars and trucks. It also got into the boat engine industry; today, Suzuki has a thriving marine and auto building industry. Racing has long been part of Suzuki's history; throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it dominated both the roadracing and off-road scenes. Riders such as Roger DeCoster and Danny LaPorte won numerous Trans-AMA and 250cc/500cc championships.
With its experience in both the auto and motorcycle industries, Suzuki produced the first four-wheeled ATV, the QuadRunner 125. That machine was the forerunner to the QuadSport and QuadRacer lines. Also available is the KingQuad utility line; the best model is the 750AXi 4x4. Today, Suzuki continues its tradition of innovation with models like the Hayabusa and the B-King, but it doesn't neglect classics like the DR650SE and the Bandit 1250, the Boulevard and the Marauder. For those looking for a simpler ride, it also offers Burgman scooters in displacements from 125-650cc.