New 2015 Suzuki GSX-S1000 spy photo

Suzuki's forthcoming new liter-size naked bike was spied during a recent photo shoot for company promotional materials, and judging by this close-up shot, the new model's designation will be GSX-S1000. Word had been leaking out since last year that Suzuki had been working on a new liter-size naked bike, and utilizing the existing GSX-R1000 as a base platform was an easy assumption. This basically confirms those rumors, although a closer look reveals that the new GSX-S1000 is much more than just a stripped-down GSX-R with upright handlebar and different styling.

Besides the conventional tubular handlebar and single halogen headlight, the ABS reluctor rings on both wheels (as well as the ABS logo on the front fender) are readily visible, signifying that ABS will be part of the new GSX-S1000, either as an option or standard. Having ABS sensors and infrastructure in place makes it easy to install a traction control system, and other photos show what appear the same handlebar-mounted control switch for TC as the 2014 V-Strom 1000 (the first Suzuki to come with TC standard), so it's highly likely that the new GSX-S1000 will have TC. Suzuki has been slow to join the TC brigade, but our experience with the V-Strom 1000 shows that the company made sure its system was well-refined before entering production.

Although it appears that the chassis and swingarm are basically GSX-R1000 units, while the swingarm looks identical to the supersport model, a closer examination shows the frame is different. The frame spars on the new GSX-S are relatively flat, presumably for a slimmer midsection due to the different riding position; the GSX-R supersport model's frame spars are much larger and bend outward much more for additional material and strength. With the new frame section, it's highly likely that Suzuki engineers massaged the steering geometry numbers to provide additional stability due to the different riding position that puts less weight on the front end. The difference in weight distribution is also readily apparent in the larger rear brake disc that dwarfs any of the tiny GSX-R units.

It's hard to discern much from looking at the engine externally, as although the engine case sidecovers are different, that has often changed through the generations without much internal modifications to show for it. The clutch cover is smaller than the GSX-R item, but it's doubtful that Suzuki would leave out the slipper clutch ramp system on a high performance bike such as this. The exhaust is a 4-into-2-into-1 under-engine chamber unit with a connector pipe between cylinders 2 and 4 header pipes, so there's likely not major changes with the engine other than the usual "retuning for midrange" (here's hoping they don't...).

The new 2015 Suzuki GSX-S1000 will very likely be debuting at next month's European shows, so stay tuned.