Sportbike sales have slipped in recent years, yet the manufacturers for whom this segment remains important refuse to throw in the towel. Already this year, Aprilia has launched a more potent RSV4 1100, BMW rolled out a brand-new S1000RR, Kawasaki updated its Ninja ZX-10RR, and Ducati brought World Superbike to its knees with the MotoGP-derived V4 R. Suzuki, meanwhile, soldiers on with the now-three-year-old GSX-R1000, which, in the hands of 2010 Moto2 World Champion Toni Elias and the veteran Yoshimura Suzuki squad, won the MotoAmerica Superbike crown in 2017, the debut year for the latest version of the liter-class Gixxer.
Suzuki offers two versions of this potent four-cylinder open-class racer-replica, the GSX-R1000X and the GSX-R1000R. The former is the least expensive of the pair, and it now comes standard with Suzuki’s Bi-Directional Quick Shift System. The bikes are equipped with different versions of Showa’s exceptional Balance Free Front (BFF) fork, while the R model further benefits from a Balance Free Rear Cushion lite (BFRC-lite) shock. The latter machine is now even more capable due to its two-position swingarm pivot, Brembo T-drive front brake discs, steel-braided lines, and Bridgestone RS11 radials.
Likes: Blistering performer on the road, proven winner on the track; standard quickshifter
Dislikes: Torque output parallels that of competition, but top-end punch falls a bit short
Verdict: In a category where details make a difference, the GSX-R1000 is half a step behind
“The new GSX-R1000R is well worth every cent of the $2,100 premium over its base counterpart,” Don Canet wrote about the 2017 model. “Its suspension epitomizes plush yet controlled handling, the quickshifter is the best I’ve yet tested, and the addition of cornering ABS thanks to the IMU’s added functionality is a safety bonus.”
For years, the major motorcycle manufacturers from Europe and Japan—Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha—have treated the open-class sportbike segment with laser-like focus. All employ the latest engine and chassis technology, electronics, and, in the case of Aprilia and Ducati, even aerodynamic winglets first seen in MotoGP competition.
For 2019, the GSX-R1000X is available in Pearl Glacier White/Glass Sparkle Black or Glass Sparkle Black/Metallic Matte Black No. 2. The Metallic Triton Blue GSX-R1000R has a bold Team Suzuki Ecstar MotoGP design. That model is also available in a Glass Sparkle Black/Pearl Mira Red paint scheme.
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