ROAD NEWS

( finally) fessed up and launched the latest 1000cc GSX-R1000R. More evolution than revolution, Suzuki’ s marketing aims squarely at the durability and racetrack pedigree rather than claiming to be the pinnacle of power. Still, at 192.4hp and 203kg curb weight, there has been more than a set of trendy stickers applied to balance power and emissions. New valve train, pistons, a full suite of lean-sensitive electronics, exhaust, wings and a Euro5 + tick, mean the new model debuts in the endurance racing scene straight away as a fully homologated( they made a whole batch already) race legal machine and we get a sportsbike that still promises to retail well under many and most of the litre-class. It was a bit of a surprise when Suzuki stopped the GSX-R1000, and it has been made obvious now that making the engine Euro5 + wasn’ t a major. Sure, it has dropped around six or seven hp, despite upping compression to 13.8:1 but the fundamentals remain, so it wasn’ t a seismic shift.

Thankfully, Suzuki has relaunched the bike that carried 40 years of racing pedigree since the 1985 launch of the GSX-R750 and maybe, just maybe, Suzuki will get serious about racing in the WSBK fray once again … At a glance, other than the bolt-on winglets, the bodywork looks pretty much unchanged but we’ ll have to wait and see what has and has not been altered for the re-release. Letting the bike breathe without the Euro5 + gag will let its potential loose with a geek and a laptop, or better, a dyno and a good operator and with the frame and suspension also very familiar – welcome back Suzuki. Long Live the GSX- R1000R!

KIWI RIDER 77