Suzuki GSX-S1000 Review (2015)

What Is It Like?

First Impressions

Well, the new bike is here and the Street Triple has gone... sniffle, sniffle! I thought it would be worthwhile to record some initial impressions of the 120 mile trip home on a new bike and contrast them where appropriate with the Street Triple and Blackbird before those thoughts become blurred.

Travelling in heavy traffic on the motorway at slow speeds and indulging in a bit of filtering confirmed that despite the 40kg difference in weights, the Suzy carries its weight very low and is ergonomically similar to the Triple – instant confidence!

I could also get my feet flat when the traffic stopped - important for an err... mature guy with stuffed knees!

Power

Reading ride reports on the Suzuki in the press, one common complaint is that it’s a bit snatchy from a trailing throttle. That's actually a fair call but the same complaint was levelled at the Street Triple when it first came out.

Leaving the motorway and getting out on to the country roads, it was nearly as nimble as the Triple, but not quite. It did take a bit more effort to change direction through tight twisties.

As the traffic thinned out, the ability to get on the throttle improved, even though running-in revs and engine loads were strictly observed.

The Suzuki has about 45 bhp more than the Triple but that’s not the end of the story. The power to weight ratio of both bikes aren’t miles apart. Coupled with the wide torque spread of the Triple, it's only when wind drag starts to kick in above 62mph that the Suzuki has a significant advantage and clears off.

For everyday riding where corners, road conditions or other traffic impact on speed, the difference between the two bikes is nowhere as much as you might think.

Handling

Handling over bumpy surfaces saw the bike skitter about far more than the Triple, but not in a particularly alarming way. You certainly had to be a bit careful getting on the throttle!

It’s not a fair comparison at present though as the new bike running gear needs to loosen up before sag and damping can be properly adjusted for my weight. I set the Triple up properly for my riding weight using quality aftermarket componentry and besides, international road tests say that not many bikes can live with a Triple in the tight stuff.

Tyres

The ride was in warm, dry conditions and the D214 sport tyres stuck well. Rain grooves are minimalist and like most sport tyres, they require heat to make them stick.

From experience with the OEM Dunlop Qualifiers on the Street Triple, the prospect of riding in the rain in cooler conditions does not fill me with excitement, particularly as I have to do instructing in all conditions.

The good thing is that the D214's should be dead pretty quickly and can be replaced with Michelin PR4's, which I love to bits. Oh, and a real plus is that the turning circle is miles better than the Triple.

Exhaust

The muffler is one of those stubby Moto-GP jobbies slung low for mass centralisation. It's got quite a bark too which is pleasing.

At certain motorway speeds and a neutral throttle, there is a droning harmonic-type noise. I'm unsure whether it's from the airbox, muffler or both.

Run In

I don't seem to be jumping out of my skin about the Suzuki. That would be a wrong impression - I love it and am really looking forward to riding it how it's meant to be ridden.

If anything, it's a complimentary reflection on just how good the Street Triple is. Totally bullet-proof in the 6 years of ownership, sublime handling and the power to weight ratio means that it won't be embarrassed in bigger company - horsepower is only one side of the equation.

Well, I've been able to cut loose for the last few hundred miles after diligently completing the running in and what a brute it is! If the Street Triple was a rapier, the Gixxer is closer to a broadsword or battleaxe!

The additional 27 kg of the Suzuki isn’t at all noticeable because it’s carried so low. Mass centralisation was clearly a major feature of the design brief, including the low stubby exhaust system.

Dash

The instrumentation display on the Suzuki is superb, although overwhelming at first glance! As well as the normal speedo/odometer/tacho/temperature functions, there is permanent ABS and 3 stage traction control which can loosely be described as rain, spirited road riding (2) and track day (1).

There is also "off", reserved for those who's surname rhymes with Rossi. The rocker switch on the left bar also allows several fuel consumption options. The one I particularly like is the one which counts down the miles before fuel is needed.

Mods

• Front mudguard extender
• Radiator guard
• R&G aero-style crash protectors
• Higher output Xenon bulb
• Small fly screen
• 3M anti-scuff film

After 1,250 Miles

It’s very good indeed for a sport bike with taut suspension and feels more like a 600 than a 1000. I noticed that on the most sensitive traction control setting that it actually activates on tight corners when "pressing on" in dry conditions.

You can’t feel it, but the TC warning light flickers on and off showing that it is changing power delivery characteristics. Rider comfort, at least for a person of my height is surprisingly good and even with stuffed knees; the footpeg height is relatively comfortable.

Forget the top speed stats, it's the brutal acceleration which is the really impressive feature. With grunt like this, traction control is clearly a real advantage in reducing unfortunate consequences from a ham-fisted approach to throttle control! It raises the question of how much power is sufficient for everyday road use.

To slow the bike down after the brutal acceleration, the Suzy is equipped with radial 4-pot Brembos up front and a single pot Nissin out back, with ABS to make the whole thing civilised. 

I've done one deliberate hard straight line stop, to test the ABS. The feeling left me a bit underwhelmed as there was no savage, wedding tackle squashed into the back of the tank-type deceleration. Perhaps that's the point of it - no dramas during heavy braking.

With a sympathetic right hand, it’s quite possible to get around 180 miles per tank. An excellent feature of the instrument panel is a "range until empty" readout, giving the rider real-time information. Allied with this are instant and cumulative fuel consumption readings in several different output measurement formats.

Six Months and 6,000 Miles

I've sorted the suspension, it's now got good rubber, done a trackday and lots of mentoring with the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

A worthy replacement or step up from the Street Triple? Well actually, that's highly debatable and if pressed, I might say no. I'm certainly not disappointed with its performance but it's not light years better than the Street Triple for my everyday road use.

So what's the reason then? Riding it is enjoyable and fun, but it's not exhilarating. Bland is not quite the right word, not feeling "as one" with the bike is not quite the right description either. To be candid, I can't give you any concise specifics that make sense, but in a nutshell, there's no emotional connection.

Looking back on the test ride, it didn't "sing" to me like the Triple did and I should have listened to my heart. It gets properly cleaned and detailed because I'm an anal retentive engineer, not because it's a labour of love. It doesn't get patted when I walk past it in the shed and that's probably the most telling thing of all.

Does this mean that I'm looking to replace the Gixxer? Well no, at least not in the immediate future but it's unlikely that ownership will continue for more than another year or two at most. It's enjoyable but I want more than that.

Any Downsides?

Well, it is a sport bike so a pillion rider is unlikely to thank you for the minimalist seat and high rear pegs on anything but a shortish run.

Quite a few riders have complained that the engine is snatchy off a trailing throttle. Coming from a Street Triple which had a similar reputation, I would have said it's a touch sensitive at low openings but not something which can't be lived with.

On a constant throttle at slow speeds, it is a little lumpy but it's not particularly annoying. However, if it's used for regular commuting in heavy traffic, it might become irritating.

Another thing which may or may not become irritating is a combination of the exhaust and induction noise. It's noticeable when rolling off from fairly high revs in the lower gears, there appears to be a harmonic which can be quite intrusive; I personally like it up to now but acknowledge that it might not be to everyone’s taste.

To Sum Up

It's a beast of a bike and a lot of fun to get to grips with. As mentioned earlier, very much like a big Street Triple with added steroids.

It's also pretty sophisticated in terms of electronics and is a good example of just how far bikes have developed in the last few years. Value for money? Heck yes! Fun? In spades!

- Geoff J, 2016

Related Bikes

Suzuki GSX-S1000F - Essentially the same bike with a fairing.

Suzuki Katana - The same bike with 80s styling, paying homage to the GSX1100S Katana.

The Second Opinion

About Me

I'm a 56 year old male, 5 ft 10 in with 40 years on and off experience. I'm an advanced rider with an IAM F1RST and I have owned at least five new bikes, countless secondhand.

Why Did You Choose It?

I test rode one and didn't want my MT-07 after that as it felt like a Honda C90.

What's Good About It?

Everything - performance, handling, manoeuvrability, the way it rolls into corners. The list is endless.

What Could Be Improved?

In all seriousness I don't think they could improve it.

What's The Economy Like?

Approximately 50 mpg, which is good considering I do ride outs with a bunch of Advanced lads who are progressive, as you'd expect.

Any Mods or Upgrades?

Just a tail tidy, rear hugger, crash bungs (untested) and a screen. I'm a big believer in factory parts, the manufacturers spend a fortune on R'n'D, so why fix what ain't broken?

Handling

It handles bends like it's on rails and makes short work of the straights too.

Brakes

They produce all the stopping power I've ever needed.

Comfort

With spinal injuries, knee surgeries and wrist ligament reconstruction riding sports bikes is no longer an option. This naked bike offers the sit up stance which is akin to sitting in your favourite armchair, and the added performance of the old GSXR.

Reliability

It has never once missed a beat or let me down. I use a very knowledgeable and trusted mechanic for servicing etc.

To Sum Up

I love it. It has similar torque and grunt of my ex sports tourer (ZZR 1100) and the agility of my old trails bikes, XT 350 and TS 250 ER.

- Colin A, 2020

Add Your Review

Do you own this bike? We would love to hear anything good, bad, unexpected or that you have changed plus anything that a prospective new owner might find interesting or useful.

More Info

Check out this video review from spicy110.