Fast_Bikes__Issue_328__July_2017_

CORE TEST
Suzuki GSX-R1000R
O
h look. An enormous
exhaust can. Yawn…
Once you’ve walked
around that enormous can
and circumnavigated the
globe inorder to do so, jumping
aboard the 2017 Gixer isn’t
arevolutionary feat. It all
remains very GSX-R despite
the somewhat tawdry 1980s
Casio-esque dash and snazzy
Showa fork tops. I won’t get
embroiled in the samey
cosmetics debate but even
theridingpositionisn’t too
The Gixer needs no
encouragement...
dissimilar, although it’s rather
like getting into bed with the
previous model’s muchthinner,
sexier twin sister given its
slenderness. And then you
ride it.
I’d ridden the 2017 model at
Jerezjustaweekbefore thistest.
Youcan’ttangibly sense the VVT
(Variable Valve Timing) working,
but you can certainly hear it.
Upon encountering this strange
clatter, at first I thought the old
girl had shit herself. It’s a bizarre
cacophony of metallic mayhem
that only adds to the intrinsic
Gixer induction blare and the
sheer involvement of thrashing.
I wouldn’t claim revolutionary
significance but the VVT
obviously works. The Suzuki
uses the same bore x stroke
figures as the Kawasaki, yet the
GSX-R absolutely beasts the
ZX-10 during early throttle
openings, bottom-end and
midrange. It’s still quite subtle in
its delivery and perhaps isn’t as
unruly as the BMW but you can
sense the factory-set ECU culling
your wrist inputs. That said,
third gear roll-on at 50mph
wasn’t a minor victory for the
Suzuki against the Beemer – it
was an utter obliteration, gaining
several bike lengths within
seconds. I’d love to ride one with
an ECU reflash and 1:1 throttle…
Regardless of straight-line
aptitude, the 2017 bike isn’t
without its defects. Most of
which, ironically, are electronicbased
to bring the GSX-R up to
21st century status. While I
applaud the mode toggling and
ease of selection, A is sometimes
too abrupt when asking for
throttle from closed at certain
midrange RPM, during constant
radius curves and urban
drudgery, and B softens the blow
too much. The auto-blipper is
also snatchy and unpredictable,
and inagroupoffourbikes
spanking across the Yorkshire
dales, it was the Suzuki and its
puny 16 litre tank that caved first
for petrol. And finally, it suffers
from that good old GSX-R guff
brake syndrome where, even on
the road, there’s too much fade
BOOTHY
SAYS...
The new Gixxer isareally tight
bike. Itfeels like a600 to sit on
and the low centre of gravity
makes it asuper stable bike
The Suzuki's proper
planted in the bends.
26 JULY 2017 WWW.FASTBIKESMAG.COM