CRUISE MISSILE

This is the latest iteration of the Suzuki M109R called the Black Edition, a name I checked twice given the amount of glaringly white pearlescent paint on our test bike (it makes a bit more sense with the more subdued Candy Red version). A combination of gloss and matte black parts make up just about everything that’s not bodywork or wheels, the acres of white on our bike split down the middle by a bold, metal-flake-blue stripe running from nose to tail. It’s a striking look that helps make the bike appear lower and longer — as if it needs help in that department with a wheelbase of 1710mm and a 705mm seat height.

When I was doing my research on the M109 (and you lot think we just make this stuff up) I discovered that the other vehicle out there with the same name is a self-propelled, 39-calibre howitzer firing what is called an HVP or hyper-velocity projectile. This