I read a teen sci-fi book around 15 years ago (the book could have
been much older) set in the future and about a boy who graduated from
some military-style school and was very gifted, and was given a
talking red suzuki motorbike by the government, which I think he
called 'Suzy'. I can't remember anything apart from that... but I know
it was a life-changing read! Any ideas what book this was? I thought
it was by Nicholas Fisk, but my research has suggested otherwise so
far... thanks for your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 29 Jul 2002 12:17 PDT

I have a hunch that you're talking about "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott
Card.

It's a hugely popular sci-fi book about Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, a
super-intelligent boy who's enrolled by the government in a
military-school where he trains to fight alien invaders.

It was originally published as a short story in 1977, and was later
expanded to a novel in 1985. There have been several sequels as well.

See this listing on Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/0812550706/glance/002-9865455-2848045

If this is the right book, let me know.

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Clarification of Question by thawishbone-ga on 30 Jul 2002 01:26 PDT

Having looked at the excerpts, it sadly isn't 'Ender's Game'. No motorbike...

Could it be Nicholas Fisk's "Wheelie in the Stars?"

Nice try but I thought the same, ordered it from a tiny bookshop in
Scotland and when it arrived... no joy!

I think the book you speak of is "Futuretrack 5", by Robert Westall.
The boy you speak of, "Kitson", scores a little too highly in his high
school, and is sent to an institution for very gifted people, who
operate the computers that run britain.
He runs away, as opposed to graduating, and his father buys him a read
Mitsubishi, which he names "Mitzi". =)
It just so happened i had the book on my desk when i saw the question.
My edition was pbulished by Puffin, and i bought it  second hand years ago.
Futuretrack 5 was first published in 1983.
I loved the book, and i hope you can find it.
Was i right?