‘I think it’s very underrated...’
Ian Owens admits he has a thing for Suzukis. “You could say I’m a fan,” he says as we look over his impressive stable of seven bikes, four of which are made by the Japanese giant. “There’s just something about them that appeals to me – I’ve owned GSX-R1000s and 750s and currently have both V-Stroms - I think they’re usually good value. But I’ve owned all kinds of bikes in my time, everything from Yamaha Diversion 600s to Kawasaki ZZR1400s.”
It was this combination of an open mind and preference for Suzuki that lead Ian to purchase his GSX-S1000. He explains: “I originally wanted a GSX-S750 so took one on a test ride but before I left the dealership the salesman said I should also give the 1000 a go – and I’m glad I did because the engine suited me so much better than the 750. It’s got loads of grunt and is really tractable meaning that I can just cruise around on its bottomend power rather than having to rev it all the time.
“Having done a little over 2000 miles on it, I definitely think the GSX-S1000 is a very underrated bike. The engine’s brilliant, it looks good, is cheap to run, it handles really well plus it’s such good value. I don’t think its rivals can offer the same package for the same price. Sure, it’s a little behind the others in terms of electronics and technology, but the basic package is good and the price is right, too. And, with a few modifications, you can make it look and feel even better still.”
miles 0
I bought it from Via Moto in Sheffield because I got a really strong deal on it – but I wouldn’t buy from there again. The bike wasn’t prepared properly – the TPS (throttle position sensor) was way out, which made the GSX-S’s famously snatchy throttle response feel even worse, and they’d not even set the clock on the dash, so I didn’t go back.
miles 600
The first service was done at my local Suzuki dealer – Powerslide in Stoke-onTrent – who have been brilliant. They set the TPS for me which improved the snatchy throttle but didn’t cure it completely so I then had the ECU reflashed. Hilltop Motorcycles did it for me at a cost of £300 – I’ve since noticed quite a difference to the throttle response and it has also added a few more bhp, too, which is nice.
miles 1000
I rode over to North Wales for an off-roading experience. It was fine on the motorway and brilliant fun on the twisty country roads once we got to Wales but while I was there I got a puncture in the rear tyre, which was a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to get rid of the OE Dunlops. I replaced them with Pirelli Rosso IIIs which are much better. I scraped the paint off the wheel when I took it out to get the tyres fitted but it encouraged me to get the wheel powdercoated so I could start upgrading the styling.
‘The package is good and the price is right’
miles 1200
I’ve been doing bits and pieces as I go. The extras are mostly from eBay and I put them on myself. I’ve added a seat cowl, Ixil Hyperlow slip-on exhaust (£279), a few carbon-fibre bits, and added a bit of red paint. I might have a look at doing the suspension. I’m not a hard rider but I’ve read that the shock is a little weak so I might look at getting a K-Tech shock to see if it improves the ride at all.
miles 1500
To improve the brakes I’ve installed braided lines. It’s got Brembo calipers but the lines were rubber so it suffered from that old Suzuki problem of lacking bite. Powerslide Motorcycles carried out the work and the technician said it was a pig of a job, not just because of the ABS but as there were so many panels that needed removing. For a naked bike it’s not very easy to work on, apparently.
miles 1800
Suzuki really need to play ‘catch-up’ with some of the electronic extras. They don’t offer a quickshifter as part of the genuine accessories range so I’ve had to fit this Translogic one (£415). I really think they should be fitting quickshifters as standard, especially to more premium bikes like the Katana, just to keep them in line with the competition.
miles 2000
When the Katana was launched earlier this year it turned my head a little so I had a go on one. But the riding experience is pretty similar to this bike, as the Katana is just a dressed-up GSX-S, so I didn’t think I’d gain much by trading up. Plus, I’ve invested a fair bit of time and money in this bike now and it’s unique, too, so I’m in no rush to get rid of it. I know the GSX-S1000 has its critics but I think it’s a really underrated model that can be made better with a few choice modifications.