You would assume that touring bikes have it easy. They’re made for the open road, and they don’t have to be constrained by things such as having small dimensions or extracting every last mile from each gallon of fuel. You’d be at least partly wrong, though. They are still required to do a few things really well, such as all-day comfort for both occupants, or enough power to lug the pillion and luggage with ease.
Add to that sportiness, and the challenges become bigger. This is where balance comes in. A sport-tourer that nails the balance between speed, distance, and common sense lies at the center of what a thinking touring rider wants. There aren’t too many motorcycles that can pull this off, but there is one that can and does walk this tightrope with ease.
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Nails The Balance Between Speed, Distance, And Common Sense
Suzuki is a master at delivering value from old platforms, and the GSX-S1000GT is another example. It makes use of old GSX-R bits like the chassis and driveline to great effect, giving them a new lease of life and offering the value-minded consumer exactly what they want. At the same time, it has been modernized where it counts, so you get amenities like a TFT display with Bluetooth and navigation, ABS, and traction control. This is it is the sport-tourer that nails the balance between speed, distance, and common sense.
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Price: $14,399
Suzuki has one thing really very right with the GSX-S1000GT: the price. The intelligent inclusion of features and leaving out others means that it isn’t overflowing with tech, but it has everything you need for a good time and a long ride. The result is a very competitive price that undercuts all its rivals handily, and makes it a real threat to premium midsize tourers.
A Superbike Engine Ensures 150 Horsepower
The GSX-S1000GT has an old GSX-R liter engine. This 999 cc inline four has been detuned for better torque, but it doesn’t change the fact that it still has a 12.2:1 compression ratio. The result is 150 horsepower at 11,000 RPM and 79.6 pound-feet at 9,250 RPM. This engine is asleep at low revs by the standard of a typical tourer, but rev it even to the midrange, and it’s “Warp speed, Mr. Sulu”. If you like revving your tourer’s engine and are on a budget, you probably couldn’t do better than this.
The six-speed manual transmission has a two-way quickshifter fitted as standard. There is an assist and slipper clutch as well, which is good, since you’ll probably have to shift quite a bit around town. Final drive is via a chain. Lastly, for the tech, there is a by-wire throttle to enable ride modes, five-level traction control, cruise control, and Suzuki’s low-RPM assist that helps prevent it from stalling at low revs.
An Aluminum Twin-Spar Chassis Underpins The GSX-S1000GT
Under the skin lies a twin spar aluminum frame, with the swingarm also made from the same metal. This is because it, like the driveline, has been borrowed from an old GSX-R. The inverted front forks and rear shock are fully adjustable, and offer a decent 4.7 and 5.1 inches of travel. Braking is via twin 310 mm front brake discs paired with radial four-piston fixed calipers, and the rear 240 mm brake disc has a single-piston caliper. Suzuki has chosen Brembo monobloc calipers for the front, and a Nissin caliper for the rear. ABS is standard and can be adjusted to different sensitivity settings, but cornering ABS isn’t present.
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Dimensions
The GSX-S1000GT is a little larger than a liter sport bike, with an 84.3 inch length, 31.9 inch seat height, and a 57.5 inch wheelbase. The 498-pound curb weight is par for the course and lighter than its peers. The fuel tank is appreciably large at 5 gallons.
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Features
A 6.4-inch TFT display is front and center, and is equipped with Bluetooth and navigation. The US market gets the GSX-S1000GT+ only, the ‘+’ denoting that this is the variant that gets the color-matched hard luggage as well. In the interests of keeping costs down, the features list doesn’t include much more than these items and a USB charging port. The options list is a little more generous, with things on it like heated grips, engine protection, billet aluminum levers, and a taller touring windscreen.
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Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Competition
Today, the list of true sport tourers, the ones that are derived from sport bikes, has dried up. The GSX-S1000GT is one of a dying breed when it comes to the non-premium segments. There is a marked shift to crossovers, and should you want one of those, the $12,599 Yamaha Tracer 9 would be our pick. If you’re willing to spend some more money, then the $20,499 KTM 1290 Super Duke GT is a pricey option as well. There is also the BMW R 1300 RT, but its $22,645 price is way out of the Suzuki’s league.
There is one direct competitor to the Suzuki, though, and that is the Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX. It has a larger engine but in the same format. However, it focuses on torque rather than power, which is why it might not be quite as exciting as the GSX, but it will be much better on a daily basis. It also has a six-axis IMU, so safety is arguably better. It has a twin-spar aluminum frame as well, but it could use an upgrade for its much smaller 4.3-inch TFT display.
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT Vs Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX
|
Model |
Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ |
Kawasaki Ninja 1100SX |
|
Price |
$14,399 |
$13,999 |
|
Displacement |
999 cc |
1,099 cc |
|
Power |
150 HP @ 11,000 RPM |
134 HP @ 9,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
79.6 LB-FT @ 9,250 RPM |
83.2 LB-FT @ 7,600 RPM |
|
Curb Weight |
498 LBs (wet) |
518 LBs (wet) |
Source: Suzuki Cycles