Suzuki GSX-S1000 Test ride

[lee711]

Today I took a test ride on the new Suzuki GSX-S1000 that was in Millenium, Great looking bike, very comfy and a near perfect riding position, for me (6" 1'), seat height is 810mm and you sit in it plus the bars are just right in both height and width. Mirrors are very good and you can actually see behind instead of looking at your elbows.
Dash display is good with a sweeping rev display, gear indicator, temp, traction level ( of which there are 3 plus off ) fuel gauge and trip computer which actually tells you how many miles you have left in the tank ( about time someone done this ) as well as mpg and trips 1 & 2 etc. Another really neat addition is one touch start instead of keeping the starter pressed.
Around town she was very smooth and well behaved but be under no illusions, there is a monster lurking. Get out onto the open road and open the taps and a surge of torque and power is unleashed from what is essentially a long stroke K5 1000 engine. This thing is fast and wants to go fast. Hit the twisty's and give it the lightest of flicks and she drops in instantly, the front felt a little lite, but seeing as it's just a stock factory setting and the front is fully adjustable, then i dont see any reason why this can't be ironed out, one other thing was the lack of a steering damper as standard, which i think it would benefit from but i'm just picking. All in it makes for a mega fun and exciting ride, certanly keeps you switched on.
Brembo mono blocks as standard soon bring everything to a halt.......... very quickly, superb.
There is talk on the interweb about it having a snatchy throttle, but i didn't find this an issue, if your ham fisted it will lurch but as i said it just wants to play and get going. There is also a nice padded part at the rear of the riders seat which stops you sliding back to far under hard acceleration, which is cool touch.
So after a full hour of pure fun i can report i'm well impressed with it, 9K for standard, 9.5K for ABS and 10K for the half faired with ABS puts it right in the price fight of the super naked market.
143.5 hp ( but was informed that dyno figures returned 160 @ the wheel )
106 Nm torque
17l tank ( apparently +- 40 / 44 mpg which returned about 160 miles to a tank )
209 kg
ins group 10

[Stebinners]

Very nice... I am looking to change my naked bike.... Hmm food for thought? What else you considering?

Steve

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[ListerTheStupid]

Looks nice. You buying?


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[lee711]

Didn't really fancy anything else on the market and this bike ticked all my boxes, so it's a done deal on a Candy Daring Red / Glass Sparkle Black ABS model delivery expected begining of June.

[lee]

Better than the tuono or just different?

Im surprised at the change tbh.

Yours is the best naked out there imo.

[lee711]

Just fancied a change, nowt wrong with TV4 and can always go back, Had it 2 years and put nearly 10k on so to get a decent return and the fact the opportunity arose, as well as another 2 years of warranty backed trouble free, MOT free riding, plus its another model tried.

[Dave]

Hi lee ..nice review …i love these suzukis , seen them at the shows and thought wow ,,great looking bike with that pedigree engine ….shocked your chopping in the Tuono yours is stunning

enjoy the new GS and hope you got a good deal

[Soviet]

Great write up and good to read a proper punters view ! I ride a CB1000R so it is interesting to see what else is on offer - would very much like a go on one at some point !

[Goody]

Seen one at the manc show and loved the looks,enjoy mate and decent write up look forward to seeing it