Silent Assassin
Arriving on the scene in 2015, the S1000 was Suzuki's answer to the naked superbike craze. Streetsquids and Gixxerbro's celebrated en masse and all was well with the world and then..... nothing. The 2022 model is the first major update to the machine and to be perfectly honest Suzuki has absolutely nailed it. The bike looks so much more aggressive and with the addition of some new styling, electronics, and some under the skin engineering, the new S1000 not only looks and sounds the part, it is a palette cleanser of note after riding numerous machines back to back.
Related: Suzuki Hayabusa (2022) Review
We spent a week with the 2022 model and no matter where we went it turned heads. Every time you stopped somewhere the questions followed and everyone wanted to sit on it or take pictures, that's not a bad thing as it shows that there is still massive interest in the naked sportbike. Our test left us wanting more time with the bike, but all good things must come to an end.
Style
I will admit that I am not a fan of the headlight arrangement of most of the new nakeds, but after a few days, it was starting to grow on me. Suzuki has done some work on the body panels, and you now get small winglets down by the radiator shrouds which are edged by this faux forged carbon style paneling. The tank is ever so slightly larger due to an increased fuel tank size now up 2 extra liters to 18l capacity. Handlebars are also slightly wider for better control and there are three color options to choose from, ours being the matt gray which looks a bit primer-ish.
Most people that had spoken to me about the styling said unanimously that the rear tail number plate/indicator section looked terrible and everyone said they would remove it and do a tail tidy, I tend to agree, but it really has no bearing on the performance of the machine. The GSX also gets a new exhaust system that really quiets things down
Tech
Information is relayed to the rider by a new LCD screen and low light conditions are sorted by new LED lighting front and rear. The S1000 now has SIRS (Suzuki Intelligent Rider System) encompassing a ride by wire throttle, three rider modes A, B and C, traction control with 5 levels and off as well as ABS front and rear, and Suzuki's One Touch Start and Low RPM Assist. The only bugbear I have is that in certain lighting conditions the LCD screen becomes difficult to read when backlit, and it's rather busy.
Engine and drivetrain
As the old saying goes if it ain't broke don't mess with it and that is the mantra that Suzuki has followed with the powerplant in the S1000. The pulled the tried and tested K5 motor out of storage and gave it a refresh making it Euro5 compliant. Power is up a few clicks to 115kW and torque is down to 105Nm, but the usable power range has shifted to the center for a much-improved riding experience. The addition of an excellent quick shifter elevates the 6-speed transmission to a new level while the tunable KYB suspension delivers a medium ride, not too soft but a little on the stiffer side.
Let's ride
The rider positioning on the S is very comfortable, you don't sit on as much as in the bike. The handlebars are higher and, as mentioned, wider giving you a command riding position. This leads to a ride that feels incredibly lean and agile with the bike giving you the sense that it is infinitely agile and surefooted. It is indeed both of those things, on the street, things get a little more hair-raising on the open road when you can give it some beans. The lack of any sort of wind protection means that once you get up past the legal speed limit you really need to hold onto the bars to keep from being dragged off the back by the wind sheer.
Get the S1000 into the twisties, and you will end up with a grin wider than the handlebars, It's that good. Once you have found the mix of settings in the SIRS that suits your riding style and the environment that you find yourself in, you are going to find any reason you can to be off buzzing around town. Power delivery is smooth and linear and the bike really comes alive in the midrange, where most sane riders will find themselves. This machine really is a street assassin, agile, surefooted, and with its new exhaust, quieter than usual.
Pro's and Con's
- Superb riding position
- Smooth power delivery
- Sharp handling
- New rider assistance tech
- No wind protection
- LCD screen difficult to read in sunlight
Model and Price
Suzuki GXS S1000 - R 225 900
* Pricing correct at time of publication and subject to change without notice
Verdict
The GSX S1000 is a superb machine to ride. Is it the best out there? No. It has a metric ton of competition from all corners of the globe but at the price, it is better than all comers. You get a lot of bike for the money and that is hard to beat. Personally, this had made it to the very top of my shopping list as it is new bike season. That was until the GSX S1000 GT arrived and absolutely dethroned it! You will have to wait for my next review to see just what I am on about!
If you are however in the market for a naked sportbike but aren't willing to part with a ridiculous amount of money to tick all the boxes, then the S1000A is the bike for you.
