Suzuki GSX-S1000F Test Ride Review (Part 2: Riding Report)

It is a SUZUKI GSX-S1000/GSX-S1000F which has a good sales record all over the world since it was introduced in 15 years. To explain why we got into the full cowl spec. F this time which is the main axis in the Japanese market, and I would like to think about the charm of GSX-S. The second part will deliver a test drive impression report.

Characteristics that do not limit the necessary minimum electronic control and application

From 15-year debut, GSX-S1000 has been my favorite, and I planned my own touring plan and ride approximately 1500km in 3 days and 2 night. However, I had some anxiety when I got to ride on GSX – S1000 for the first time in a long time. Anyway, the sports naked and sports touring market has been dramatically changed since 15 years til now.

So to speak, in recent sports naked / sports touring introduce a wide variety of electronic control which becomes normal, and a neoclassical model specialized in daily life which emerged in the world of a naked model, the enhancement of comfort equipment is proceeding in a tourer world. So, before test-driving, the electronic control was only with ABS and traction control, and I had this anxiety about the real character of GSX-S1000 which you can’t say “I might feel old-fashioned or incomplete”.

But to my pleasure, that anxiety was a fear. The words such as oldness and incompleteness do not come to my head that I got on the GSX-S1000F after a long time, but rather that the use of more high-tech devices than necessary is not introduced and the application is not limited. It seemed like a unique beauty point of the model. In recent sports naked / sports tours, as a result of the massive introduction of high-tech devices, it seems that direct feeling has become diluted, and also unexpected usability is unexpected except for applications assumed by the manufacturer. Although I can notice it again, it is not necessarily true that in the world of motorcycles the schema of “Excellent = highest !!”

I wrote down my conclusion from the beginning but I think the biggest attraction of GSX-S1000 is the detuned version of Super Sports (the engine is K5-8, the frame swingarm is L2-5 base), and sometimes it feels like other sports naked” while the development base is GSX‐R1000?” The sign can be hardly felt, and of course, the performance level of high rotation and a high-speed range is truncated to some extent compared with GSX‐R1000, as a street sports, GSX‐S1000 has a riding pleasure in a regular area firmly incorporated.

Even if there is a potential, it does not force to attack

It is the feeling when I ran winding at a moderate speed that does not make the eyes triangle or chase after the back of the four wheels most noticeably. For example, if the 2nd speed ran at the best corner at 3rd or 4th speed, the GSX-R1000 is not very interesting, but in the case of the GSX-S1000, even in the state where no ideal load is applied to the front and rear suspension, A moderate posture change occurs, and an increase or decrease in the contact feeling of the front and rear wheels is felt. Moreover, if you open the accelerator at the start of the corner, clear traction is transmitted along with a powerful exhaust sound that the dosage was effective even in the low revolution range, so you can enjoy sports riding just by running normally.

Of course, if the rider feels that way, it is also possible to run at tremendous speed, relying on the rigid feeling and stability feeling of GSX-R1000 handover. But we’re not to compel it, is it worth the bike? Either way, the scope of the GSX-S1000 ‘s defense is quite wide, and we can not find a situation that is not good enough.

By the way, my new discovery in the test drive this time was the royal road of GSX-S1000. It can be rephrased as true or frank or as sexual quality. It does not adopt an ingenious mechanism for both the engine and the motorcycle body, and the GSX-S1000, which has not been tasted awesome, such as tenderness and aggressiveness, does not require adjustment of riding. With this characteristic, any tire rider must be familiar with nature.

Even so, as it used to be favorable to Buell elsewhere a long time ago, I’m not wise to deny an ingenious mechanism or a seasoned flavor. Rather than saying that if they are directly linked to the direction and fun of individuality, it would be a great ant. But when I go out touring with the GSX-S1000, I can continue running while feeling fun with the road I do not know about it because it is true, straightforward, quality and brilliant, because I can trust the machine under any circumstances think. Although such tourer-like character may be slightly different from SUZUKI’s intention, the GSX-S1000 has more than enough qualities as a motorbike to enjoy traveling.

It is the ability to inherit the new type of Katana and the possibility of customization.

The development concept of GSX-S was “designed to optimize the charm of GSX-R born on the circuit on the premise of the circuit as street sports”, and it was not designed as a sports tourist even if it was a full cowl specification GSX-S1000F. However, as mentioned on the previous page, it is a fact that you can enjoy your trip, so you should set an option for Pania / Top Case, or the screen of the GSX-S1000F should be adjusted, I thought.

But since half a year ago I talked with the four GSX-S1000 owners at the planning of a certain magazine, I was slightly embarrassed myself who was trying to solve my own improvement. Let’s write the words of the veteran rider who became the trigger for the following.

Loading of luggage is enough with a seat bag, I do not feel the necessity of the case, and assuming a hard case, the rear half of the motorcycle will become heavier and the balance of the current situation will collapse. The screen would be convenient if it was an adjustment type, but since there are long type in OEM accessories and export product, it is not as must as I. Since GSX-S1000 is simple in equipment and cheap in price, it is attractive, so the current state I do not want you to change the stance, because it is such a bike, you can enjoy your favorite custom.

I’m afraid of the plain expressions, but this word is for me! It was. And if you talk about that from the viewpoint, I personally want to change the front and rear tires and rear shock to the latest aftermarket in order to realize ride comfort and to make the opening throttle response a little calm. I would like to review the secondary reduction ratio or sub-control.

Writing as such, is it the degree of completeness of normal perfection? I feel like I can have a doubt, but this is not the case. Normally, it is normal and well made, but this motorcycle is equipped with the charm and the possibility of wanting to extend the excellent qualities to your likes. When I think about it again, such charm may be hard to bring with “a reclamation bike” where there is less room to be revealed.

That’s why I want many people to know the fun of GSX-S1000 but as a premise. As for what kind of person this motorcycle is suitable for, I love sports riding, after all, the main stage will be a type called street including winding. But it was the four GSX-S1000 owner mentioned above, this type was only one, each person identity was a big beginner, a returning rider, a transfer from super sports, a transfer from adventure tour. In other words, this motorcycle also has the capacity to accept a wide variety of riders.

As it was already reported on the “Young Machine” magazine and the “WEB Young Machine” site, this is a new type of Katana that will be released from 2019. It is being developed by divertising the basic design of GSX-S1000. There is no doubt that it has the same charm as the GSX-S1000, but the new-style of Katana seems to be a composition that emphasizes motility. If you want sports tourer qualities, the choice of GSX-S1000 / GSX-S1000 F would be great.

GSX-S1000F Main Specification

•Sentence: Tomohiko Nakamura •Photo: Okami Okabe / Satoshi Mayumi
※ It is reconfigured based on the article published in the February issue of Young Machine 2019.

Original Source[ Young Machine ] (*Japanese)

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