Suzuki GSX-S1000F
The oldest bike here, with the least tech and smallest wow factor – but there’s much to love about this rushing inline four
Love the riding position, the poise on the bike and its compact, taut, agile feel. Low-speed balance is great, the handling intuitive and easy. And it sounds great, with a brilliant raspy mix of exhaust and induction as it pulls and pulls from almost nothing to 10,000rpm with blurring acceleration. And it’s easy to ride smoothly, as you don’t need to change gears.’
It’s easy to dismiss Suzuki’s GSX-S1000F. No phone connectivity? Sounds like something Fiona Bruce should be showcasing on a Sunday evening. Yet as Hugo’s excited comments clearly show there’s plenty to get enthused about with the Suzuki because they’ve got the essential bits – engine, chassis, rider connection – pretty well nailed.
The GSX-S feels and sounds more like a high-barred GSX-R1000 than a wishy-washy sports-tourer which is, of course, a fair description of what it is. The 999cc, 150bhp inline-four engine is based on the one from the 2005 GSX-R (all together now: ooh, K5…), the chassis has more than a hint of the superbike, the one-piece brake calipers are a straight lift, and painting the thing blue and white is no mistake. And so it’s the sportiest bike here. It feels longer legged than the SX and has a far wider rev range than the snappy Yamaha triple and blunt BMW twin. Fastest here in terms of feel too, thanks to glorious old-school rushing drive, the gruff, hollow GSX-R soundtrack, and close gear ratios – shift from fourth through to sixth at 60mph and engine revs drop by about 50rpm. ‘You can hold gears forever,’ continues Hugo. ‘Normally I’m an early
upshifter, but I hold short gears for longer on the way up, and tall gears for longer on the way down.’
Like the BMW you sit ‘in’ the Suzuki, rather than ‘on’ like the Kwak. It’s a lower, firmer, thinner seat, and there’s less leg room to the most sportily positioned footpegs. The cool Renthal handlebar gives an upright stance, though it somehow still feels purposeful. The ride is firmer than on the Kawasaki and doesn’t have its suppleness at low speed. It’s more accurate, though. They might have knocked the SX into shape, but it’s steering still doesn’t have the ease and crispness of this GSX-S on the flicking B1176, and the Suzuki traces more precise arcs. Pity its previous-generation Brembos don’t have the grab of the posher-looking anchors on the other three bikes, though they’re not exactly weak. For that once-a-year trackday the Suzuki is the obvious choice. This bias towards moving swiftly means the Suzuki lacks a little all-rounder-ness, however. Its mirrors are good, the dash is easy to read and an average 45mpg is the same as the benchmark Kawasaki. And though there are high-frequency tingles through the ’bars and fuel tank at a sustained 75mph they’re not intrusive. But the screen height isn’t adjustable (this bike’s super-tall affair is effective but a £285 accessory).
There are no in-built pannier mounts, pillion accommodation is pokey, you don’t get cruise control, or a remote preload adjuster, or a ‘lazy Sunday morning’ riding mode. Or any colour on the LCD dash. Heated grips are a £235 bolt-on accessory, and they don’t offer a quickshifter. Suzuki purposefully make the GSX-S lean to the all-action side of the sports-tourer compromise, and that’s fair enough. But not including such things doesn’t add anything, it only detracts. Worse, next to the spangly Kawasaki and fully loaded BMW the lack of standard-fit goodies makes the Suzuki look dated. This isn’t helped by styling and materials that make it feel like it could have been made 15 years ago… or that the fairing has been nicked of some cityhopping maxi-scoot.
But we’re getting bogged down with nonessentials here the basic bike, underneath its peripheries, is lovely. Sure, it doesn’t look as fresh as the Kawasaki, as high-tech and strong of bearing as the BMW, or as attention-grabbing as the loopy Yamaha. Yet unexpectedly this could be the Suzuki’s advantage: if you want a bike full of Noughties sportsbike feel, sound, aura and performance (and looks…) but with a small nod towards usability, a less rowdy image and a riding position that suits our aging physiques, the Suzuki is clearly the one. In that respect it’s unique.
‘More like a highbarred GSX-R1000 than awishy-washy sports-tourer’