2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000 revealed
It's new, honest.
SUZUKI has revealed the first pictures and details of its 2012 GSX-R1000 – and dashed any hopes of a revolutionary new superbike class leader in the process.
The new bike is comprised of a series of tweaks rather than a radical rethink. The key changes – most of which are under the almost unchanged exterior – include:
Better throttle response, acceleration and fuel efficiency thanks largely to a new exhaust with a single end can rather than two. Less weight, particularly at the back of the bike thanks to the single can, improves handling, too. Apparently.
Inside the motor, there are new pistons (11% lighter) with revised valve recesses. Wake up at the back. You probably don't want to know too much about the ventilation holes in the cylinder bores (pentagonal rather than rectangular, you know) which make the engine lighter and reduce pumping losses. New tappets and a higher compression ratio – 12.9:1 instead of 12.8:1 – just about round up the engine changes.
Chassis changes are limited to a switch to Brembo monobloc brakes, thinner discs, 7mm shorter forks with 5mm less stroke, a lighter front tyre and a lighter front axle. After that, changes turn from the slight to the minuscule, with tweaks like new seat coverings described as high-grip 'leather' in the offical press material, and a lighter wiring harness thanks to 'a new waterproofing method'. In total, a whole 2kg is shaved from the bike – most of it presumably in the new exhaust.
Exhaust aside, styling changes are limited to red pinstripes on the wheels, black fork legs and new GSX-R graphics with a bit more blue paint on the bodywork. Oh, and the rev counter is black now, instead of greyish.
And yes, a year or so ago we were told by a man in Japan that the 2012 GSX-R1000 would be amazing. Presumably this isn't the bike he was talking about...
With the 2012 GSX-R1000 now in the open, we've seen all the new Japanese 1000s – with Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki all tweaking their old designs for 2012, and Kawasaki sticking with its new-for-2011 machine for a second year. When it comes to the 1000cc class, the BMW S1000RR – also improved for 2012 – is looking like it will remain the four-cylinder superbike of choice. Those looking for a totally new superbike next year had better start queueing outside their local Ducati dealer for the Panigale.
Discuss this story
I wonder who's going to buy this? Maybe a few of the old 'gixer' faithful but it's hard to see who else would; same goes for the 'new' R1 and even the Blade (which is, at least, well-made and user-friendly for its target market). I'd love to speak to one of the senior executives at Suzuki who managed to get the authority to spend investor funds on this, he must be an amazing salesman. I wonder when the penny will drop? This isn't what the market wants. BMW finally woke up and gave all those thousands of car-buyers with bike licenses a reason to stay faithful, whilst listening to all the sport-bike riders who knew the K5 was the pinacle of recent sports bike design. Ducati now combine emotion with enough logic to make the purchase viable, KTM sell crazy-but-engaging and reliable, while MV satiate the niche desire for class on two wheels. Perhaps the oriental manafucturers should get off the fence and build something exciting again, 400KM/H, (Bugatti can, why can't Kawasaki et al?) 200/300+hp, -200kgs, TC, ABS, Comfortable & Adjustable, stylish in a manga/GTR way with a decent warranty, turn-key reliability, reasonable servicing costs and a bespoke long-term ownership/finance package - and no stupid 'training-shoe' graphics. Oh, and please make them sound good again too, Aston/Maserati/Porsche can do it within the regulations, so should you. I very much respect, and am eternally grateful for, the Japanese manufacturers persistance with making good-value products our Governments would surely rather they didn't, but I fear they've lost their way a little. Just speak to the people who used to (and could again) buy the product, not accountants and politicians. Supercharge the damn things, loose the 300km'h limiters, use current technology to harness the excess, colour code the plastics, use stainless lines, high-quality seats, grips and footrests (the parts the humans touch) and make them look like something we want to buy - look at Apple or Fisker for inspiration. Or just carry on as you are and let your conservative approach take you further down the wish-list of any potential customer. If I need to prove my point, just go place a deposit on a Ducati Panigale and see how far you're down on the list of people who already have; I fear the same amount of enthusiasm won't be found at your local Suzuki (or Kawasaki/Honda/Yamaha) dealer - I'm sorry to say.
Posted: 25/10/2011 at 11:01
Oh dear another disappointment!
The exhaust looks out of place and the rest looks too much the same. I think it's paintwork that makes them all look identical. I'm all for family resemblance but GSXR's appear to have been inbreeding for years. I think the K5/K6 exhaust looked better although I took mine off for a Yoshi that was much lighter.
Maybe 2013 is the year they truly update it? The steady evolution of performance is fine but the looks need an overhaul. Maybe lots of electronics are not necessary for the road but aren't they needed for some of the Superstock type race series? Maybe manufacturers should split the models as the Europeans do; sell a electronically loaded version and a cheaper road version. That way you can pay yer money and take yer choice.
Posted: 25/10/2011 at 12:57
Well it is hardly a shock that a radical new model has not appeared from japan and especially from Suzuki who always seem the last company to introduce any new tech.
I suppose this model is better than the previous one but not by much and I can not imagine a single owner of the current GSXR1000 trading up for this, pretty much everything "new" on it can be replicated with aftermarket parts, even the 4 in to 1 exhaust.
I guess it is possible that if it is priced right (which it will not be of course) or there are some AMAZING finance deals that Suzuki will sell a few of them but at 11k it is hardly the sort of thing you would buy on a whim.
I have always been a Suzuki fan but for my money the "new" Blade is the best jap 1000 out there at the mo, although even that still leaves a big gap to the RSV4R and S1000R. The japs have a lot of catching up to do but their economy is seriously holding them back, although I imagine they will bounce back in due course with some very good models which will also hopefully be cheaper than the euro exotica instead of costing pretty much the same and being arguably worse. (R1, great bike, INSANE price.)
I doubt we will see any genuinely new 1000cc superbikes come out of japan until 2013/14 which is crap BUT it does give them all a long time to come out with somr truly amazing ground breaking equipment.
Fingers crossed.
Posted: 25/10/2011 at 13:40
One thing I like about the Suzi is their more RL riding ability .They've always offered good grunt down low and are comfortable compared to other Hyper bikes.
I beleive too that alot of these other bikes are going tech crazy and becoming extremely highly strung for normal road use.
The exhaust; How many people keep the original exhaust ? ..case closed in that dept.
Apart from that I can't see the complaint .
Great motor , good handling , nice ergos ,reasonably light and ,yes , apart from the can , and it's not a bad looking bike.
I reckon too they have made sensible mods , and not modding it for modifying sake .
Together with the blade , I think the Suzuki looks the goods .
So long as like the Honda , it's not dripping with antiwheeling , mode riding , traction control crap , I think the Suzuki will be a good bike to live with in RL.
What the hell are you fellas expecting from them ? Practical it is , exotic it ain't .
Good on you Suzuki .Nice bike, now give us the specs
Posted: 26/10/2011 at 12:21
I am disappointed, because three years after the launch of a completely new generation of sport bikes .. 1000cc Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha has hidden your best designs with dark purposes ... who would not doubt, as Wayne Gardner said at the beginning of the year Honda had prepared a powerful V4 Honda Fireblade, making an approximate power of 200 hp at the crankshaft or Yamaha ... with a new engine or a 2.0 crossplane whole new screamer. Masao Furusawa had said at the end of last year that one of his final missions in the Yamaha was to regain market share lost by R1. And what about the Suzuki .. that where an influential Japanese chef spoke to this same Visordown, the model GSX-R 1000 2012 would be "very very awesome" ... maybe they have a very, very good engine with more horsepower to the rear wheel of the BMW,but Suzuki may be keeping this new model as well as Yamaha and Honda .. . no one would doubt that coming from Suzuki traditions, especially when it comes to pedigree GSX-R 1000.
Something happened, maybe they want to leave a message for BMW ... but I think that delaying the market and technology is a disrespect to the consumer, because the man's creativity never stops and we should always open the market for new technologies and ideas so that they are born every day renewed, why stop the inevitable? (a philosophy that Steve Jobs would approve, I believe)
Posted: 26/10/2011 at 23:10
Looks fab, from a die hard gixer fan. And, having been offerred an ex-demo, no miles for 9K, brank new, on 3% APR over 3 years- how can you say no. In 1 years time, it'll be worth circa 8K, so you lose 1k and own a great sportsbike. No the fireblade or bmw or panigale- very nice, techno brilliant, but you'll lose 3k in the first year, maybe more on some. I know where my money's going for a road bike that's fun fun fun!
Posted: 27/04/2012 at 15:21
I rode the new GSX-R1000, 2012 Blade, 2011 Blade & the 2012 BMW back to back on the road. BMW was smooth , handled really well with an unbelievable top end. Both Blades were gutless low down, massive mid range with smooth refined handling. GSX-R had massive bottom & mid range power, involving if harsh handling & best sound track. Biggest grin was without a doubt the GSX-R followed by the BMW then the two Blades. I ride bikes for pleasure so I bought the GSX-R.
Sorry I forgot to mention all the must have electronics (may be I didn't notice them) too busy riding.
Posted: Today at 00:36
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