When you're talking about motorcycle manufactures, you simply can't ignore the immense success Suzuki has found in the market. Suzuki is a part of Japan's "Big Four" and is known around the world for its automotive brilliance. When you're talking about cars Suzuki is well known for its small, economic vehicles. However, when you flip the switch and look at their bikes, you can easily understand why the bikes are so popular.

Suzuki is responsible for making some of the best bikes in the world. Their offerings vary from cruisers, dual sports motorcycles, and the legendary GSX-R series. The quality present in their varied offerings is undeniable, and you can easily find a bike that suits your needs. However, their journey was not easy and a smaller company would have easily given up. If you're interested in knowing the story behind Suzuki's rise to Motorcycle greatness keep on reading, and we'll try to cover every monument event.

15 Founded In 1909

Suzuki came to life in Japan in 1909, and like Yamaha and Kawasaki, they didn't immediately start with motorcycle production. Founder Michio Suzuki immediately directed the company towards building industrial looms for the Japanese silk industry, as it was a fast-growing industry. For the next two decades, the company established its name in the industry.

14 Motoring Credential

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Suzuki never wanted to just settle on becoming a looms manufacture and soon began plans to diversify their activities. Right before the start of World War II, Suzuki was experimenting with several small car prototypes. However, none of them saw production.

13 After The War

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Once the war was over Suzuki went forward with their plans to make automobiles, and fell into a very competitive market. Honda and several others were all looking to get into the market. It was around 1951 that Suzuki took their expertise to create clip-on motors for bicycles, which led to the manufacturing of their first bike.

RELATED: The 10 Best Suzuki Motorcycles Ever Made, Ranked

12 The Diamond Free

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While technically not a motorcycle, the Diamond Free is Suzuki's first-ever motorized bicycle. The company wanted to make sure that the bicycle was inexpensive while being easy to maintain as well. It's powered by a 36cc two-stroke engine and also uses Suzuki's brilliant double sprocket gear system that was very revolutionary.

11 First-Ever Motorcycle

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Two years after the inception of the first motorized bicycle Suzuki went forward to continue its innovation. They were responsible for releasing the Colleda COX, which was a 125cc bike that put the company on the market. The vehicle features a four-stroke OHV single-cylinder engine, and power is distributed through a three-speed transmission.

10 Monumental Change

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While most people didn't expect anything from Suzuki, the Colleda COX was so immensely popular that it took the company to the next level. The bike was so successful that in 1954 the company went forward and changed its name to Suzuki Motor Company. Additionally, it also gave birth to the iconic red Suzuki logo in 1958.

9 The Ernst Degner Effect

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Ernst Degner during his days was one of the best motorcycle riders on the planet. He defected from MZ racing after the Swedish Grand Prix and took with him their most valuable secrets. This was knowledge regarding Walter Kaaden's expansion chamber design. Getting this information was absolutely crucial for Suzuki in the future.

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8 Continued Success

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Suzuki made great use of the brilliant new MZ technology and took their bikes to another level. The result was Suzuki winning the 50cc class in the 1962 World Championship. They would continue to dominate the class and win the next five championships. Firmly establishing themselves as a major player in the motorcycle industry.

7 Move To America

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After their success in the World Championships, Suzuki wasn't going to rest on its laurels and enjoy the success. The organization started looking towards going international, and open its doors in America. They opened the first branch of U.S. Suzuki Motor Corp. in Los Angeles and immediately found success offering brilliant performance and economical prices.

6 Dominance In The 70s

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By this point in time, every single motorcycle enthusiast knew about Suzuki. However, during the 70s their domination in International motorcycle racing competitions led to an even better reputation. They managed to win international races five times in a ten-year span. Additionally, they also made their first four-stroke, four-cylinder road bike.

5 The GSX Series

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Suzuki's GSX750 is arguably the defining motorcycle of the 80s, it features a Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber, and a DOHC engine that features four valves. Furthermore, the bike also incorporates a brilliant new front suspension that significantly improves the quality of handling. Fans were immediately in love with the brilliant superbike.

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4 Dominant Superbike

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Suzuki went on the attack with the GSX series and won several championships, confirming the reputation of their flagship series. Throughout the 90s, they continued to innovate and wow fans with newer models of the GSX series. Them staying on this path of innovation meant that they would continue to gain fans.

3 The Hayabusa

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The start of the new millennium saw Suzuki transcending what everyone thought of superbikes. It was designed using top of the line aerodynamics and is a shape that still excites to this day. Not only does the Hayabusa look incredible, it performs even better. For several years, it was the fastest bike on the market

2 Global Motorcycle Powerhouse

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Suzuki is right up there with Honda and Yamaha in terms of motorcycle sales. This is because the company doesn't restrict itself and is looking to expand all over the world. They're especially targeting regions that provide the heaviest motorcycle traffic like Indonesia and Thailand. Suzuki's diverse line up makes it very attractive to customers.

1 Continued Innovation

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The biggest reason for Suzuki's success in the motorcycle industry is their insistence on innovating their lineup of motorcycles. They continue to make improvements in their models, making their motorcycles more efficient and increasing their power. The Suzuki engineers are responsible for creating several innovations that redefine the motorcycle industry.

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