2016 Suzuki GSX-S1000 - LONG-TERM TEST INTRO

Naked sportbikes have been a favorite category of the Cycle World staff for decades. The attraction predates CW ‘s CBR900RR project (April 1994) in which we stripped that revolutionary Honda down to its bare essentials and fit a one-piece handlebar. Almost every major motorcycle manufacturer now has skin in the game with a naked or sport standard in one form or another.

Suzuki has hedged its bets with both faired and naked versions of the new GSX-S1000. We opted for the latter, with intent to unleash true street-fighter performance and character from this more practical and affordable alternative to the GSX-R platform.

Not long after our 600-mile break-in service ($206 in parts and labor), we got off to a rocky start when a member of Bonnier Motorcycle Group’s brass suffered a low-speed cold-tire crash leaving his driveway. Plentiful torque at low revs is a beautiful thing unless one forgets they’ve disabled the GSX-S’s traction control on the previous ride (it doesn’t default to on) and fails to notice the illu­minated TC warning light on the dash. In any case, our man was unscathed and the bike sustained only minimal damage. Replacement parts amounted to a bar-end weight ($21.50), muffler cover ($55.99), starter idle-gear cap ($32.70), front master-cylinder-mount clamp ($11.99), and color-matched frame-saving plastic body panel ($37.74). A bent rear brake pedal was also easily straightened.

Admittedly, this was a very low-speed scuff-up in which we got off easy with a total cost of $159.92, but it illustrates one of the attractions to naked-bike owner­ship. Racing forward we will apply suspension and performance mods to enhance the gentleman’s GSX as a back-road weapon and trackday tool.