NOW here’s something you don’t get to do every day… when those lovely people at Suzuki invited me to recent celebrations for their 100th anniversary there were more than just cars to try out.
For over those 100 years Suzuki have sold many more vehicles with two wheels that four and are also experts in marine propulsion. So if you want to go fast on land or at sea then Suzuki have just the thing for you.
In a day that ranged from off road fun in their diminutive but highly capable Jimney 4×4 to blasting around Cardiff Bay in a 300bhp patrol boat it was a real showcase of what the company can do.
Also there to be enjoyed were a selection of motorbikes and quad bikes including machines from their historic collection ridden by track Legends like Barry Sheene.
Now I am far from a born again biker so sadly I had to pass on the two wheel stuff and I am glad to say organisers had more sense that let yours truly loose with a £250,000 super speedboat, although taking a ride was thrilling, if somewhat damp.
Also there to be enjoyed was Suzuki’s current range of SUVs from the compact but capable Ignis up to their flagship motor the S-Cross Hybrid. Us motoring hacks got to go on a scenic on road route in a selection of Suzuki’s current line-up which also included the Vitara Hybrid, Swift Allgrip and Swift Sport Hybrids. And to make the point that small really is beautiful there was a cute 1980s Suzuki SC100 on show from their heritage fleet which looked like you could pick it up and take it home.
The bikes present included a DR800 and Barry Sheene’s TL1000S, a GSX-R750F, Hayabusa, GSX-S1000, SV650 and Burgman 400. Quads were also there (ATVs) – the LT-125 and King Quad 500X and 750XP.
Fun off road came at the wheel of Suzuki’s latest Jimney and we all took turns getting these amazing little SUVs very muddy over terrain that would have challenges much bigger mud-pluggers.
And as if that was not enough for the assembled petrol heads there were rides in power boats which had Suzuki’s latest DF300 engines… 300bhp in a boat is something to experience!
A great time was had by all… helped out by an England victory in the Euro quarter finals to really put us all in a good mood.
By Motoring Editor Steve Howarth