Review Suzuki GSX-S 1000 GT – Sport Touring with an accent in Sport

At a time when everyone wants a trail bike and these bikes are dominating the market, either for everyday use or for big trips, Suzuki is betting heavily on the sport touring segment. The direct competition is slim, with the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX being probably the only one worth a direct comparison, although there are many more models from different brands that claim to have the GSX-S1000 GT features. But does it make sense to have a Sport Touring in this day and age?

Suzuki is entering a segment that has seen better days but is still alive for the purest two-wheeler enthusiast. The concept is simple: cover many kilometers in comfort, with the sporty character always present. But comfort and sportiness don’t always go well together and Suzuki’s task was not easy. But it doesn’t take much more than stepping onto the GSX-S1000GT to realize that the Japanese brand hasn’t hesitated to merge the two concepts.

COMFORTABLE IN ITS OWN WAY

The GSX-S1000 GT has all the ingredients to fit into a touring bike category, but also shares many components with its naked sister, Suzuki does nothing to hide it. The handlebars are similar in every way, which immediately gives the new Japanese bike a very comfortable position. On city routes that require a little more “hand-holding,” the Suzuki proves comfortable and easy to manoeuvre. On longer rides, we never felt like we were in an awkward or tense position due to the handlebar width and height, which kept every ride comfortable. Still, the seat proved a little uncomfortable on longer rides, which isn’t surprising given the intended use of this bike. The solution? Not staying in the same position on the bike for long, trying to exploit its sporty character, enjoying the fusion of comfort and sportiness. The leg position and the way they “hug” to the fairing clearly tell us that we’re on a bike looking for turns. Not in the city, but on side roads, preferably quite winding. The handling has to be adapted to the mixed characteristics of the bike, but we quickly get the most out of this Sport Touring. We can also opt for a gel seat, but there would be no more excuses for a sporty driving style.

HEART AND SOUL

The engine of the GSX-S1000 GT is probably one of the best known in the supersport motorcycle segment. The famous GSX-R 1000 K5 is still considered by many to be “THE” supersport bike and an integral part of that is its engine. Of course with many changes – intake system and electronics were the most important changes – in the new Japanese Sport Touring this engine continues to inspire and generates strong emotions in all speed ranges. At low and medium speeds we can feel the 150hp in this 999cc block still waking up, but it’s very lively and ready to spring into action. From 7,000 rpm this engine really makes itself felt and reveals all its character, but its linearity is delicious. The electronics contribute significantly to this smoothness, and the different driving modes – there are three – are noticeable and provide very different sensations. The final gear ratio seemed a bit short for a bike meant for long distances, but this brings advantages in city traffic and on winding roads where gear changes are less frequent. This may bother some given the effectiveness of the bi-directional Quick Shift system, which makes us want to make constant gear changes. The sound of the exhaust system is fantastic considering all the limitations of the EURO5 standard, especially when using Quick Shift.

SUZUKI AND TECHNOLOGY

Suzuki’s relationship with the technology in their bikes hasn’t been the best, or at least the most current. But the GSX-S1000 GT is very well equipped in this department. The typical LCD panel with blue tones that we are used to from the Nipponese brand models has been replaced by a 6.5-inch color TFT that integrates the SIRS system (Suzuki Intelligent Riding System), which is equipped with several electronic Help counts. The panel also allows the mobile phone and intercom to be paired directly with the bike and, in addition to the audio indication, displays the complete map with the indications up to the destination, which we do not find on many bikes, even those intended for long rides Die Control is not very intuitive, but due to its simplicity it takes a little getting used to.

PURITY

Purity is practically the word to describe this bike. Despite all the (good) electronics, we always feel connected to the road and the sensations that pass always turn out to be the right ones, much for the good suspensions (fully adjustable at the front) in full harmony with the frame . The engine excels at high revs and when driving more moderately it is civilized and very easy to operate. But fewer positive points need to be mentioned, like the brakes that require some effort to do what we want and the glass could be more generous in terms of the protection it offers. However, the final balance is quite positive and the Suzuki GSX-S1000 GT presents a great set. The travel capacity – reinforced in the tested version by the additional side pockets – is well present, as is the possibility to turn the right handle at any time and feel the emotion of sitting in a sports motorcycle. There are no tricks here and Suzuki offers what it claims to have, a Sport Touring in the truest sense of the word.

SUZUKIGSX-S1000 GT
ENGINE	Liquid-cooled 4-cylinder in-line engine
cylinder	999cc
PERFOMANCE	152 hp (111.8 kW) at 11,000 rpm
TORQUE	108 Nm at 9,250 rpm
TRANSMISSION	6 speeds
FRAME	Aluminum dual brake chassis
TANK	19 litres
FRONT SUSPENSION	inverted telescopic fork, 120 mm stroke
REAR SUSPENSION	Cantilever shock absorber, 130 mm stroke
FRONT BRAKE	Two 310mm discs, 4-piston Brembo calipers
REAR BRAKE	240mm disc, Nissin caliper
FRONT TIRE	120/70ZR17
REAR TIRE	190/50ZR17
WHEELBASE	1,460mm
SEAT HEIGHT	810mm
WEIGHT	226kg
PVP	(AB)15,449