2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Evaluate | Bike Check

2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Evaluate

Evaluate by Wayne Vickers

It’s a little bit of a mouthful saying GSX-S1000GX out loud, so I ended up simply referring to the bike as “The GX”. Suzuki calls it a crossover, which is sensible in that it’s virtually precisely midway in between the GSX-S1000 GT (Sport Tourer) and the V-Strom 1050 (Journey Tourer), when it comes to ergos and the seat-pegs-grips triangle arithmetic.

These ergos are the very first thing that hit you, and relying on what bike you’ve simply stepped off, they could take a while to get used to. In my case, I simply received off the CFMoto 450MT, so I had some adjusting to do! You sit very a lot on high of the GX, and your palms really feel fairly a great distance away from that entrance wheel, as a result of they’re. Tall risers and an honest bar-bend has them good and excessive with no weight in your palms in any respect.

Steering effort is not any drawback, and it actually shifts back and forth nicely sufficient, however there isn’t any denying the sensation that the centre of gravity is pretty excessive. I used to be actually extra conscious of the load of the bike within the moist than within the dry, but it surely didn’t make any missteps and we weren’t precisely hanging round.

Once more, it’s not a problem – particularly when you study to belief the GX. Pitch it right into a bend at pace, and the bike truthful hunkers down and howls round that nook. It’s extra a ‘take it by the scruff of the neck’ bike than a finesse-dependent machine when it comes to angle. And when you really feel like punting it alongside exhausting, it’s fairly rewarding if you get into the groove. As a result of you may punt it exhausting.

It runs a model of the sensible in-line four-cylinder engine and field that harks again to the K5 GSX-Rs, and is broadly thought to be one of many biggest litre bike engines of all time. It’s easy, grunty, has a turbine-like spool-up that turns right into a growling consumption snarl because it comes on track within the meaty mid-range. Severely good things.

That engine is pumping out 150 hp (112 kW) and 106 Nm on this tune and is mated to a terrific six-speed with quick-shifter that’s slicker than a really slick factor. Brief throw, with nice electrics at any throttle opening or pace. It simply will get it accomplished.

Experience modes are customary Suzuki fare with A (Lively), B (Balanced), or C (Consolation) accessible. I most well-liked the marginally extra relaxed mapping and throttle really feel of the Balanced mode, which nonetheless had greater than sufficient immediate hump if you requested for it.

Traction management can be pretty simply adjusted on the fly. As with most TC it must be totally off to drag wheelies. Even at its lowest setting of 1 (from seven), it can hold the lid firmly shut on shenanigans.

And sure, it’s more than pleased to raise its head and loft the entrance. I did have one little wriggle when dropping it down at pretty huge numbers that put the digital suspension in a tizz (however to be truthful the entrance wheel pace was again to zero when it dropped down.. it was an honest wheelie). Apparently, when the wheel speeds are vastly totally different, the system thinks there’s one thing improper, nothing a key off-on couldn’t type out.

Talking of suspension. It’s the opposite speaking level of the GX because it introduces Suzuki Superior Digital Suspension (SAES – Gee, they love an acronym at Suzuki, don’t they?). The system makes use of sensible Showa forks and shock to routinely regulate to circumstances at a fee of 1/1000ths-of-a-second to close excellent damping settings on the fly, based mostly on stroke-speed and driving circumstances.

In actual phrases, when you’re going over corrugations, the damping might be adjusted as you go. Hit a giant gap or encounter a floor change, and the damping might be adjusted. You gained’t concentrate on the change, but it surely permits for better breadth of usable damping. The bike appears virtually oblivious to huge hits.

We put it by a good vary of circumstances, from tough corrugations, huge floor change hits, tight radius corners to quick sweeping bends. Dry roads, moist roads, gravel roads – nothing appeared to section it on the Victorian press launch. All the settings are fairly simply managed and adjusted on the fly shortly (and settings are remembered with the important thing off).

You additionally get digital pre-load that may be set to both rider solely, rider with baggage, rider with pillion, or auto. I tended to seek out I most well-liked a ‘rider with pillion’ setting on related programs, so went to that first. However ended up coming again to ‘rider’ which tells me Suzuki has this dialed in fairly nicely. I additionally caught with a ‘medium’ damping setting – from Arduous, Medium, Delicate, and Consumer (Customisable) choices.

On the highway it’s a good mile-eater. Having a 19-litre tank, I’d count on to get to 300 earlier than a refuel relying on how spirited you get together with your proper mitt. And with a comfortable seat (and an non-compulsory ‘premium’ seat that was much more snug by all accounts), you’d see huge days within the saddle with out a problem. That entrance display labored a deal with too. It’s adjustable by way of three steps and throws wind means above my melon, so riders nicely past my 181 cm can be completely superb.

First rate pillion lodging and a serious-looking rear rack and built-in handrail make for ample tie-down factors. My Big Loop saddle bag went on in a matter of minutes as a check (easy-peasy with the low-slung exhaust staying nicely out of the best way).

The sprint structure, whereas not essentially the most visually interesting on the market, is definitely readable and has recognisable Suzuki patterns. Acronym overload is a little bit of a factor right here, however when you get your head round what all the pieces means, it’s very simple to regulate fairly shortly. You additionally get cellular integration by way of USB charging port or Bluetooth, in addition to the choice of utilizing the free Suzuki mySpin app, which permits iOS and Android integration.

Brakes are Brembo monoblocks on twin 310 mm rotors up entrance, which want an honest squeeze to drag up the 232 kg crossover. And after leaping forwards and backwards onto the GSX-8R, which has wonderful brakes, I’d in all probability go for some softer pads with just a little extra chunk for the GX. (The 8R evaluation is coming quickly).

Styling-wise, it’s received some attention-grabbing components, and I fairly just like the blade-like floor styling. Suzuki’s stacked headlight theme appears well-suited right here, with flanking LED working lights giving the frontal therapy an actual face.

And it’s accomplished nicely with the colors, too. I used to be instantly drawn to the black and gray (as per regular), however the blue and silver actually grew on me, with the blue wheels and gold forks setting it off. I’m tipping that’ll be the preferred color.

Different niggles? None, actually. I used to be discovering myself nudging the excessive beam toggle once I first jumped on board and felt the indicator toggle was just a little cramped. Which it could be when you put on thicker gloves. However I quickly received used to it (and I used to be carrying my Spidi leather-based gloves which might be good and skinny). The cruise management buttons had me stumped a bit too, till I discovered it wanted to be turned on by way of a button on the RHS switchblock.

It’s coming in at $25,890 ride-away, together with the non-compulsory exhausting baggage Suzuki is throwing in totally free when you pre-order. These panniers regarded fairly respectable and are available colour-matched. 1800-bucks price, proper there – that’s a bloody good introductory supply. The boys in blue do stuff like this fairly nicely.

The GX additionally has a bunch of choices to select from, together with the aforementioned panniers and premium consolation seat, however there’s additionally a centre-stand, heated grips, tank safety, billet levers, smoked quick display, tank ring, and tank luggage.

So, who’s it for? Properly, when you’re searching for a full-size bike for largely sealed highway duties however with the flexibility to deal with some gravel if wanted, I’d take a look at one. The GX has severe, bulletproof engine-performance and suspension that can absorb the roughest of Aussie roads, in addition to present corner-carving grins. This might be proper up your alley. It could commute, tour and scratch that weekend itch with ease.

I just like the GSX-S1000GX as a result of:

• The K5-derived engine and gearbox stay as sensible and bulletproof as ever.
• Digital Suspension breaks new floor for Suzuki – and appears to work nicely.
• Is that this Suzuki’s reply to the BMW S1000XR? Most likely. For much less coin…

I’d just like the GSX-S1000GX extra if:

• Entrance pads might have some extra chunk.
• For 26 grand ought to it have heated grips? Most likely.
• I’d be tempted to place a pleasant little Yoshi stubby muffler on there to liberate some extra bark.

Head to the Suzuki Motorcycles Australia website for more info (link).

2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Specs

2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Gallery