Despite the Dated Looks, The GSXR1000 is Still The Liter Bike King
Written: Apr 15 '03 (Updated Apr 15 '03)
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Pros: Limitless power, raw grunt, excellent handling, a truly devastating open class machine
Cons: Poor throttle manners, dated looks (despite updates)
The Bottom Line: The epitome of a no-nonsense PowerHouse - The GSXR1000 is king of the hill in power and continues to lead the way for raw-edge motorcycle thrills!
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| nick1326's Full Review: 2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000 |
Ok, so after 6 years, it may still look like the same ol' Gixxer, despite some cosmetic updates and tweaks - but no matter what your feelings about the looks, in terms of raw-edged power and excitement the liter gixxer (GSXR 1000) is unquestionably the open-classer to beat.
Before we get started on this one, I want to make it very clear that I am objective and unjaded here... The gixxer has sparked alot of controversy and I'd even go so far as to call it jealousy -- Especially for other liter bike owners such as Yamaha R1 and Honda 954rr... There was once a time when Yamaha was king of the class- back in 1998 the R1 was introduced and was absolute insanity! Looks, weight, power... NOTHING came remotely close - and so, with the onset of 1 liter orgasmic bliss, Yamaha sparked what would become a war for open-class supremacy. The R1 stayed on top for a couple of years until Suzuki, clearly frustrated by a severe model gap (the GSXR line went from svelte 750cc race machine to the 1300cc Hayabusa... The Hayabusa may have had the power, but in terms of weight and size, it was essentially a blob- the R1 was king at this point and Suzuki needed to do something! Honda meanwhile was refining it's 900cc based RR which would eventually become a 929cc RR and still never quite catch the R1... However something changed then... Suzuki introduced a revolutionary machine, the GSXR1000. With over 142 rear-wheel horse power OUT OF THE BOX, the machine dealt a damning blow to all the competition in terms of outright performance. The machine may not have had the sexy looks of the R1, nor the refined reputation of the Honda, however the GSXR simply rooked its way into power like a Rugby scrummer- and just butted the competition clear off the hill to take the crown for its own.
To prove that I'm not another gloating Suzuki idiot talking out of my hat, I'll be perfectly honest - My choice of open-class sportbike is the Yamaha R1 - I prefer the looks and style, I like the refinement and ultimately, I like the weight-configuration (however that is simply preference and we'll go into that in great detail later). The bottom line is that if you want to have the machine with the most grunt, the most balls, the most raw-edged, audacious and raucous power available, then hands down, the choice is still clearly Suzuki's GSXR1000, no matter what us jealous Yamaha and Honda guys may say! On to the review!
The GSXR begins on Suzuki's well proven GSXR750 platform. The chassis is nearly identical- tweaked only slightly to allow a perfectly snug fit of the liter-gixxers devastating 1 liter powerplant, a fuel-injected 998cc behemoth of an inline 4 cylinder, putting out an absolutely gluttonous 142 horse power STOCK to the rear wheel. The engine has had its fair share of tweeks over the past few years, and new for 2003, Suzuki has made some even more notable improvements for even greater horsepower yield (so far estimates coming in in excess of 146-148 horsepower stock!!!) New for '03, the engine receives newly designed ventilation for low-cylinder pressure equilization and less machanical loss, new lighter and narrown double-barrel throttle bodies, a more precise ECM (engine control management) unit, with more finite ignition timing and air-sensor controls, redesigned ram-air ducts now 20mm close to center for increased pressurization at all speeds, new reduced friction plating on cylinders and pistons and a tweaked stock titanium exhaust for increased breathability (though the exhaust is the first thing to go when we get to the modifications part of the review, so ignore this one).
Chassis wise, the bike has also received a nice amount of updates, including new sleeker body work (not to worry, the GSXR still looks like the same old gixxer with a slightly different tail section - The gix STILL doesn't hold a candle to the R1 in terms of looks or style, but then again it never did - it just out-powered everything. LED taillight/blinker array, compact gauge cluster, updated swing-arm pivot design (now adjustable with add-on kit) and a tweaked sub-frame and lighter 300mm front brake rotors are also new for 03. The forks are 43mm inverted units now with a gimmicky "DLC Diamond Like Carbon" coating on the stancheons - this is just gimmicky sounding, the forks were always considerably stiction free on the Gixxer, so this is a rather salesy-sounding feature. That aside, the Gix has gotten its fair share of updates, and for 2003 it equates to greater power and less weight! Damn.
On the road, it is tough to dislike the gixxer, unless of course you're the one riding next to it highspeed on the freeway... With barbaric horsepower and excellent track-weight configuration, the bike is built to go fast, and the included steering damper is certainly a welcome option, helping avoid tank-slappers and unneccesary drama. (A tank slapper is the result of being a bit over-zealous with the throttle and NOT having a steering damper - the acceleration exerts a lifting force on the front wheel (like a very miniature wheelie) and the lack of traction on straight-tracking on the front wheel causes the handle bars to shake almost out of control going to left and right limits (your hands usually get slammed into each side of the gas tank, thus the term "tank slapper"). Anyhow, the steering damper is a necessary piece- because the power of this bike can easily be overwhelming and without a damper, disasters would be much more likely. Acceleration is effortless with the liter-gixxer - even in 4th fo 5th gear at lower RPM, the engine produces so much grunt at all rev-levels that power seems infinite. However, despite the oodles of power, there is a definite lack of refinement in power-delivery, despite the updates in fuel-injection system and the newer throttle bodies... The gixxer has always lacked manners in thr throttle department- specifically the transition between off-throttle on on the gas- it tends to be jerky. This is still true of the 2003 gix, though the narrower throttle bodies help keed idle-to-on trannsitions a bit smoother- nonetheless, the bike still isn't "well mannered" and requires caution with the throttle hand - especially on low-gear low-speed turns around town, where a bit too much gas can result in a little scare quite easily!
The GSXR1000 comes with very appropriate gearing - the 6 speed transmission shifts pretty smoothly, a convining lock-in click between gears, the 19-plate (yes, 19) clutch is really quite necessary due to the power of the engine. CLutch work is standard sportbike issue - though the feel of the 19 plate clutch is rather racy and enjoyable- shifts are quick and accurate. Rear wheel power delivery is accomplished with a stock 525 chain for lightness (nice job actually, significantly lighter and not too much sacrifice in strength over a 530 - a nice trade-off) the stock Bridgestone tires are 120/190 front/rear - The next set of tires, I highly recomend switching to a 180 rear for much improved turn-in and more effortless lean..
In the twisties, the GSXR is really a hell of a machine- the bikes virtually limitless power means less downshifting and more insanity- the bike leans very well and tracks very true and stable in the tighter corners, thanks to upfront weight confirguration and that trusty steering damper. In terms of weight setup though, the GSXR is much more nose-heavy than the Honda 954 and the R1. The Honda I just don't like because it is way to skittish up front and the bike rides the corners in a way that it feels "untrustable". The R1 however just feels lighter under my body, and this is one of the key reasons why I prefer it (in addition to looks) -- This is a rider preference, and having ridden all these machines extensively, I know I could ride all succesfully, however I've grown used to the more evenly distributed weight of the R1 and I feel like when it is under my body, I can flick the machine around more effortlessly.. Bear in mind, the overall weights of the two machines are extremely close - AND VERY light indeed- sub 385 pounds for both! The difference is something that must be experienced to understand - the gixxers front-heavyness can just as easily be considered as more composure up front as it can be considered sluggishness from lean-to-lean. Again, it is preference, but I will say that with the presence of the factory steering damper, the machine inspires tons of confidence in the corners - it is more a matter of keeping a level head in terms of throttle control, while with the R1, the lightness and flickability can be seen as over-flickability OR a great ability to corner quickly... once again, it is preference and rider skill that will determine the winner in the tight-and-twisties.
In a straight line, please allow to me dispell any myths - THE GIXXER WILL WIN... no contest. The R1 and RR machines may be plenty fast (and belive me, THEY ARE) however they just can't hold up to a machine with the raw brute strength of the gixxer, and in a straight line, the only other bike that will best it is perhaps the Liter gixxers big brother, the aforementioned (and quite BULBOUS) 1300cc Hayabusa. However it's not reasonable to compare these 2 - the GSXR is clearly an open class race bike, like the R1 and RR - the Hayabusa is not-- this comparison was chosen strictly for straight-line acceleration comparison only.
With plenty of updates for 2003, the GSXR is yet again, a VERY serious machine capable of insane speed and alot of brutish acts- clearly this bike is "a troublemaker" and you'll have to be very careful to avoid license revocation- on the open road, it is virtually impossible to resist launching this little rocket into warp-speed, however you'll have to learn, or you won't be traveling with a license for very long! Suzuki, despite considerable lack in the cosmetics dpeartment, has once again chosen to use outlandish power as a way to retail the title as King of the Open-CLass liter bikes. True, I still choose and R1, but I'll be the first to admit that on the road, it's tough to avoid envy when you just can't muscle up to a Gix in the straights... nevertheless, it is rider skill that helps make it up in the turns, and for this reason, I love my R1 and usually send the Gixxer guys scratching their heads in disbleief when the road gets twisty and they see tail lights once again...
The key here is to remember one thing - the open class has gotten so competitive, and the technology SO advanced, that it is safe to say that the vast majority of buyers will never come close to pushing any of these machines anywhere near to edge of their performance envelope. It is also harder to continue to learn on a liter bike as you can learn on a 600 machine- it inherently easier to make mistakes. The gixer is clearly a MEAN motorcycle- it makes insane power and does amazing things, but I can't stress enough that rider-knowledge and experience should clearly be put BEFORE ego, and this stands true for any open class motorcycle. The GSXR is well worth checking out if you can handle it - and although I perfer the R1 myself, the GSXR 1000 is undisputably king of the hill for power and grunt, Suzuki has done its homework and produced one hell of a sportbike.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10,499
Condition: New
Model Year: 2003
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nick1326
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Location: Long Island, NY
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