The sixth and latest generation of Suzuki’s litre-class superbike, the GSX-R1000 was unveiled to the world late last year. Now, both the versions of this 2017 model, the standard and the R, have been launched in India. This bike has been built all-new from the ground up and shares next to nothing with the outgoing model. And Suzuki says that this is the lightest and fastest GSX-R ever made!
It gets an all-new frame that’s 20mm narrower and 10 percent lighter than the one from the outgoing model. This has kept the kerb weight of the bike down to 202kg for the standard GSX-R1000 while the GSX-R1000R tips the scales at 203kg. These are certainly not the lightest bikes in this class, but the brand new 1,000cc inline-four motor puts out a tremendous 202hp of peak power – that’s an insane power-to-weight ratio of 1,000hp per tonne!
The new motor too is physically smaller and lighter than before and, thanks to the inclusion of Suzuki Racing Variable Valve Timing technology, is said to be significantly more tractable at low to medium engine speeds. Peak torque is a healthy 117.60Nm at 10,800rpm.
The bike is tricked out with a whole new set of electronics as well. A six-direction IMU continuously monitors the bike’s attitude in terms of its pitch, yaw and roll, and then feeds this data to the 10-level Motion Track traction control system. The new Motion Track ABS also reads from the IMU to provide optimal braking depending on the bike’s speed and orientation, and can also mitigate rear wheel lift when braking especially hard. That being said, this new GSX-R1000 continues the tradition of the company’s simplified A, B and C riding modes and doesn’t allow riders to customise individual aspects of the electronic controls.
Suzuki has spent a lot of time in improving the new GSX-R’s handling, and for this the bike gets Showa Big Piston forks at the front, Brembo monoblock calipers for the front brakes and comes shod with Bridgestone RS10 radial tyres. The GSX-R1000R however gets the even more high-tech Showa Balance Free suspension at both ends, a quick shifter for clutchless up and down shifts, cornering ABS as well as LED position lights.
Speaking at the launch, MD of Suzuki Motorcycle India, Satoshi Uchida, stated, “After three decades and more than one million GSX-Rs sold worldwide, Suzuki is proud to launch the sixth-generation GSX-R1000 for its enthusiastic customers in India. This is the most advanced and most exciting Suzuki GSX-R in history and embodies Suzuki’s passion for riding and racing motorcycles. We are sure the discerning riders will appreciate the legacy and enjoy the technology and riding pleasure from this cutting-edge motorcycle.”
Both the versions of the bike will be coming to India as Completely Built Units (CBUs). The GSX-R1000 will be available in two colours – Metallic Triton Blue and Metallic Mat Black, and is priced at Rs 19.0 lakh, while the GSX-R1000R will be offered in Metallic Triton Blue and Glass Sparkle at a price of Rs 22.0 lakh (both prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
