Suzuki is not unheard of, but Suzuki has nowhere near the "clout" that they had 15 years ago.
A number of years ago, Suzuki had some financial issues that they were not able to effectively deal with. As such, some of their product line vanished as a cost savings. To my knowledge, they have never really bounced back. We get publications at work that are specifically for dealers; and a lot of it is advertising similar to "cycle world" and the like. Suzuki hasn't been mentioned in YEARS. Aside from the GSXR's, they don't have anything really new. A lot of the older stuff that has been bandaged up, updated to meet emissions, etc but nothing really new-at least on the motorsports side of things. Suzuki has always been known for motorcycles. Well, motorcycle sales across the board are DOWN about 80% in the last few years. With them relying so heavily on motorcycles, they have lost a TON of the market share by not expanding into the side-by-side and ATV markets; and also the outboard market. They got into the side-by-sides with the QUV which was about the same time they had a joint venture with Kawasaki. The QUV was a Mule with different colored plastic; and some of the Kawi's were Suzuki's with different colors and stickers. They did that for a few years.
On the OB stuff, I've tested some of them-and most of them sub 25hp. Some before they were officially released to the public. I'd honestly say that I was not impressed with any of 'em. If I were, I'd certainly tell you about it here first. It's almost as if they've got great ideas and intentions but seems like never goes anywhere?
Maybe Suzuki stuff is more popular in other areas of the country. Dunno. I'd like to know the whole lowdown though.
Locally there used to be 3 dealers that sold OB's and outdoors stuff (ATV's and motorcycles). All 3 of them are gone. I was working at a Kawasaki dealer and they were hit by the IRS, the agents let us shop guys leave earlier than the sales maggotts, and I ran right over to Suzuki dealer and applied for employment. Got an offer immediately and I said let me give my boss a 2 week notice. He was fine with that. So I did, the next day. A week and a half later, I go back over to Suzuki dealer to reserve a place in the shop, to park my boxes and get acclamated. This was on my lunch break. Bought an oil filter and 4 quarts of oil for my bike while I was there and was impressed with the facility and it's personnel. Looked forward to working there. That evening I realized that I had gotten the wrong oil filter. Next day on lunch I ran back over there to exchange, sign in the window "closed indefinitely". And they-and 2 other dealers within 40 mile radius-are gone. All close to the same time frame, well within a month of each other. I hated it for 'em. And I hated the fact that I had to go back to the Kawi dealer and tell the boss I wasn't leaving after packing my stuff up, cleaning the work area up, etc. Made me look like a shifty idiot, but I will say that he was understanding given the circumstance. Some bosses would say hit the road. Nowadays, if you want a new Suzuki outboard, you can order it, or drive a MINIMUM of 110 miles from where I sit right now to get one. And even then, it's one dealer, in the worst possible part of that town, so bad that they had to put up razor wire around the perimeter. So you feel like you're going to jail. And then once inside, they all look at you like you're fixin' to rob the place at gun point. Not for me, although I have stopped in once or twice on the (quick) way through town.
I have a class tomorrow and will speak with some higher-ups, may be able to get some more lowdown on Suzuki and why I don't hear much about 'em anymore.