REVIEW RIDE: 2023 Suzuki GSX-S 1000

It’s been quite some time since I last saw, and rode a 1,000cc motorcycle with an accompanying huge tank upfront. In terms of in pictures seen of the new, Year 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 naked sports motorcycle, the overall length looks compact and agile but show nothing of the somewhat huge tank. Until it’s time to collect the Suzuki for this review ride.

That huge tank, coupled with its somewhat hideous width upfront, prompted me to dub the new Suzuki GSX-S1000 as the “Fat Boy from Land of The Rising Sun…”

In fact, I wasn’t sure if I could ride this latest Streetfighter from Suzuki as agile as its younger sibling, the GSX-S750, which was reviewed back in 2021. After the first 22 minutes of riding, I found the GSX-S1000 to be agile and easy to navigate traffic, multiple S-Curves with surprising ease. And there’s none of its bulkiness to slow the performance and handling of this 1,000cc Streetfighter at all.

The 2022 (and 2023) Suzuki GSX-S1000 is a Euro5-specs emission machine, means it burns cleaner than all its predecessors including the GSX-S750, which is a Euro4-specs. Other specifications are: 999cc 4-stroke, inline4 liquid-cooled DOHC engine, with a 12.21 compression ratio, a maximum horsepower of 150bhp, factory fitted with sticky Dunlop D214T tyres of 120/70-ZR-17 for the front and 190/50ZR-17 for rear.

Stylish exhaust muffler, same as Katana 1000

Suzuki has paired it with a generous capacity for its fuel load – approximately 19-litre, which explains the huge tank size, and overall width on the front end. But that amount of fuel doesn’t go quite far, averaging 300 KM at best, or between 235-286km mileage per tank load should there’s an itch to rev it up faster during a ride. But no worries, when the low fuel warning blinks with 1 bar remaining in the GSX-S1000's fuel gauge, there’s still 4-litre remaining to allow ample (approximately 76km) distances of finding a station to refuel.

Overall, the GSX-S1000 doesn’t look appealing as a Streetfighter machine. Its appearance isn’t as sharp as competing rivals from the likes of Kawasaki’s Z1000 and Yamaha’s MT-10, and nowhere as irresistible as the Panigale Streetfighter V4 S. In terms of a bland-looking naked sportsbike, the nearest contender is none other than Honda’s CB1000R Neo Sports Café Racer.

Over at Route 51 aka Jalan Kuala Pilah – that connecting Federal road between Kuala Pilah town to the outskirts of Seremban city border & Lekas Expressway entrance/exit, is one lengthy road which is infamous for traffic congestion in the morning, afternoon and evening including public holidays and weekends. However, for motorcyclists, that's not an issue as they could do lane splitting easily especially on kapchai. Well, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 can do that equally well too. It's simply amazing that the naked Gixxer is able to perform lane splitting without scrapping any vehicle or their side mirrors despite its width!

Many brands normally spend their marketing campaigns with special emphasis on sporting performance, a feat inherited from their participation in WorldSBK and MotoGP to entice potential customers. Well, real world riding is less to do with sporting performance but more on leisure and comfortable commuting. Euro-specs emission standard is unheard of at the sporting arena, but consumer streetbikes are compulsory to have it. And they must provide comfort when riding the machine over long distances.

The GSX-S1000 visits SplashMania Waterpark @ Gamuda Cove

For real-world commuting, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 has all that (and more) nicely. Despite its size and bulk, weighing in at 214 kg dry, its centre-of-gravity is more agile than a Kawasaki Z800 & Z900, both of which are 212 kg.

While every biker speaks of top speed performance as a gauge, the GSX-S1000 can achieve a top speed close to 240km/h – with strong wind resistance, I don’t think many would be able to resist the pressure just to reach that. We are comfortable with riding the GSX-S1000 within its sweet spot of between 90-140km/h, which included navigating multiples S-Curves, and with just a slight twist of the throttle, it could travel from 110km/h instantly to 178km/h once the road is clear of traffic!

I see the twin LED headlights upfront as “very cute” for the GSX-S1000 although some may see it as “too small” but they are designed to the job well – light up the road upfront at night. The normal beam alone is adequate for most sights while the Hi-Beam can be seen a kilometer away by the opposite vehicles during daytime ride.

It is quite affordable for a 1,000cc Streetfighter bike as it is priced at only RM76,900 which is slightly cheaper than its cousin, the Suzuki Katana 1000, which shares the same engine configuration and compression ratio.