RE: Suzuki GSX-R1000: PH Fleet

RE: Suzuki GSX-R1000: PH Fleet

Tuesday 16th December 2014

Suzuki GSX-R1000: PH Fleet

Time is up for the PH2 Fleet Suzuki; the GSX-R1000 is heading home!



After spending seven months together and covering over 4,000 miles, Suzuki has finally asked for its GSX-R1000 back and to be honest, with the dark nights drawing in, I'm not too upset. Riding a 1,000cc sports bike through summer is a wonderful experience. Riding it in winter is considerably less enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to ride on two wheels all year round, it's just that in winter you are riding out of necessity rather than fun and when that switch happens a sports bike isn't the best solution. Give me upright bars, heated grips and a nice big screen to deflect the rain and cold. And some lights that work!

It's back after seven months and 4K miles
It's back after seven months and 4K miles
The last few months have taught me one big lesson about the GSX-R - its lights are crap. Evening rides home became a bit of an unnerving experience as dip beam is utterly pathetic, I'd surely be better off holding a candle in front of the bike. The dip illuminates a very small section of road ahead and when you hit the brakes this reduces even further. The main beam is excellent, so why is the dip so poor? It's not an uncommon fault on bikes and I can see why so many riders fit HID kits. Fair play to BMW for actually doing something about it with their adaptive system, only 43 years after Citroen first used such a system on the DS...

Long stroke for satisfying grunt
At the start of this year I was genuinely worried about racking up some serious points on my licence riding the GSX-R. However, this hasn't been the case (touch wood, I'm still within the two-week period...) and I reckon it is partly down to the Suzuki's engine. The GSX-R has an 'old-school' motor that relies more on a long stroke than a big bore to make its power. While it lacks at the top end, this gives it a load of low end and mid-range power and that has helped me keep my speed down. The Suzuki is very happy to stay at low revs and you don't feel the need to work the motor. For so much of this year I've simply short-shifted through to top and used the motor's low rpm torque. On a sportsbike with less grunt the revs can creep up and with a 180mph top end it is very easy to accidentally slip over that 100mph barrier and end up with a ban.

Terrible headlights discourage winter riding
Terrible headlights discourage winter riding
There is no way of sugar coating the fact that the GSX-R1000 is behind the game in terms of outright performance and electronic assists, however as a road bike it is still very impressive. Suzuki has always made its sports bikes quite big and roomy and as a result the GSX-R is surprisingly comfortable over long distances. The relaxed engine is very happy to pootle around at low revs and the gearbox is nice and slick. I certainly missed the fact it didn't have ABS (this has changed for 2015) but for summer riding the lack of traction control didn't really worry me, probably because no vehicle I own has it!

Do I miss it? In some ways yes, irrespective of the weather I always picked the Suzuki over a car as it was so practical and I did love that buzz of acceleration and ability to go mentally fast at the drop of a hat. However I can't say I fell in love with the GSX-R. The Suzuki wasn't a bike I formed an emotional bond with, due to no fault of its own. I had a Buell Firebolt a few years ago that was a piece of crap, it fell apart, snapped belts and had a string of mechanical faults, but somehow these all endeared me to it and I still smile when I think about it.

Jon compares notes with ... John (Reynolds)
Jon compares notes with ... John (Reynolds)
The GSX-R performed faultlessly come rain or shine, did everything I could ever ask of it on track and the road, scared me senseless when required and guided me home at two in the morning from an airport when I was knackered and just wanted a hassle free ride. The performance levels of the GSX-R1000 are still well above my riding ability, so I can't really fault it for being slower around a track in the hands of an ex-racer than modern litre bikes, and it is an excellent day to day superbike thanks to its practical side. It may not be the most cutting edge sports bike out there, but there is still a hell of a lot to like about this old school bike - not least its price tag if you shop around.



FACT SHEET
Bike:
Suzuki GSX-R1000
Run by: Jon Urry
On fleet since: April 2014
Mileage: 4,368
List price new: £10,999 (basic rrp)
Last month at a glance: Last month with the Suzuki and Jon is in a reflective mood

Previous reports
A two-wheeled addition to the PH Fleet!
Beer, ferries and speed in month two. Lots of speed.
Suspension and tyre tweaks tested at a Suzuki track day
Winter prep begins for Jon and the GSX-R





   
   
Author
Discussion

dukebox9reg

Original Poster:

1,570 posts

147 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
Both bikers and car owners that fit HIDs to there reflector headlights or even cheapo after market protector lights are selfish gits with no respect for other road users.

There are plenty of legal uprated bulbs you can get on the market along the lines of OSRAM and Phillips extreme etc which wont blind every car within 3 miles.

Slightly lighter note, one of my first bikes was a Suzuki (must be a common theme) with a 6V electrical system. Its lights were that poor on a road I was unfamiliar with I went straight through a hedge when I didn't spot a corner.



Edited by dukebox9reg on Tuesday 16th December 16:17

RemaL

24,967 posts

233 months

Tuesday 16th December 2014
quotequote all
My Fazer 600, Speed triple and Foreblade all have/had crap lights and why I always get uprated bulbs which have always been a cheap and easy way to get good lights on a bike without having to go to the expense of HID or such like

UnluckyTimmeh

3,435 posts

212 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Didn't you get the lights set up on a beam tester? If you don't take pillion they can be set as high up as possible (within the lines)...

black-k1

11,887 posts

228 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
I love my cheap Chinese HID replacements. MUCH better than any uprated halogen bulb, including (illegal) 100w units, and no more expensive.

For a bike with the performance of the GSXR I would suggest that good headlights are extremely important and that HID is the only realistic way to go.

dukebox9reg

Original Poster:

1,570 posts

147 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
I love my cheap Chinese HID replacements. MUCH better than any uprated halogen bulb, including (illegal) 100w units, and no more expensive.

For a bike with the performance of the GSXR I would suggest that good headlights are extremely important and that HID is the only realistic way to go.
And illegal, completely selfish and dangerous to all other road users. I applaud you.

dapearson

4,252 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
I don't know why some bikes have completely hopeless lights (my FZS600 from years ago was terrible. my bandit i have now is pretty bad), yet some have amazing lights! ZZR1200 was like being in a car. VFR800 was the same.

It's so unsafe riding at night on dipped beam with cars coming the other way. Many times i've had to brake because the road in front of me has simply vanished!!

black-k1

11,887 posts

228 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
dukebox9reg said:
black-k1 said:
I love my cheap Chinese HID replacements. MUCH better than any uprated halogen bulb, including (illegal) 100w units, and no more expensive.

For a bike with the performance of the GSXR I would suggest that good headlights are extremely important and that HID is the only realistic way to go.
And illegal, completely selfish and dangerous to all other road users. I applaud you.
bowtie


Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
black-k1 said:
dukebox9reg said:
black-k1 said:
I love my cheap Chinese HID replacements. MUCH better than any uprated halogen bulb, including (illegal) 100w units, and no more expensive.

For a bike with the performance of the GSXR I would suggest that good headlights are extremely important and that HID is the only realistic way to go.
And illegal, completely selfish and dangerous to all other road users. I applaud you.
bowtie
hehe

Obviously someone who hasn't noticed you can adjust lights & normally need to after fitting HIDs.

UnluckyTimmeh

3,435 posts

212 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Are HIDs illegal (in motorbikes) in the uk?

They won't fail you an MOT as long as the beam pattern is correct.....

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
Depends who you ask, IIRC it's never been proved either way in court.

black-k1

11,887 posts

228 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
UnluckyTimmeh said:
Are HIDs illegal (in motorbikes) in the uk?

They won't fail you an MOT as long as the beam pattern is correct.....
There is no law that states retrofit HIDs are illegal but they MIGHT be brought into question on construction and use rules. However, if you were to get such a ticket from plod then all you do is go along to your nearest MoT station where they sign to say it's not an MoT fail as there is no MoT check that covers it!

The UK justice system works on the principal of innocent until proven guilty, or legal until identified as illegal! As retro fitting HIDs has not broken any specific law and has not been shown in court as being illegal then retro fitted HIDs are legal!

You do, however, risk dazzling on-coming internet users regardless of how your lights are adjusted.

wc98

10,334 posts

139 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
says it all about the flagship suzuiki when the discussion about the bikes headlights frown. as an ex owner of several suzuki,s, rg 125, x7 ,96 srad, y,k5 and k6 it is sad to see them slip so far behind the competition.

big_rob_sydney

3,394 posts

193 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
quotequote all
All the top litre bikes these days have more than enough performance. In isolation, they're more than acceptable.

I only ever find its when you get another bike together in a direct comparison that the issue is ever raised to any significant degree.

Seriously, the gixxer had one of the best gearboxes for years, and was the top bike in the early 2000's. Cant be all bad, surely?

I ride a modded s1000rr, but would happily have one of these.

trickywoo

11,701 posts

229 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
big_rob_sydney said:
All the top litre bikes these days have more than enough performance. In isolation, they're more than acceptable.
You can also get a new (albeit prereg) L4 for £8,500.

When you look at K5 prices with bikes on around 20k miles advertised for £5k and likely needing some money spent its a massive bargain.

DuraAce

4,240 posts

159 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
trickywoo said:
You can also get a new (albeit prereg) L4 for £8,500.

When you look at K5 prices with bikes on around 20k miles advertised for £5k and likely needing some money spent its a massive bargain.
I think some K5 sellers must be dreaming a bit with some of their pricing though? I paid way less than that for a K8 with less miles.


998420

900 posts

150 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
DuraAce said:
I think some K5 sellers must be dreaming a bit with some of their pricing though? I paid way less than that for a K8 with less miles.
... But The K5 has better midrange and is lighter, most seem to agree it is the future classic.

Especially the Blue/White ones.



Source : I own a K5 in Blue/White.

dapearson

4,252 posts

223 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I looked at K5s before ultimately going for a new blade. Dealers with mint K5s are asking silly money for them. We have journalists to thank for that - they always absolutely rave about the K5 and keep banging on about how the GSXR1000 went downhill from then.

I seriously considered buying the best i could find and cherishing it, but ultimately it was going to be £5k-£6k on a 9 yr old bike vs £11k for a new blade.

JimClark49

761 posts

150 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
dapearson said:
I looked at K5s before ultimately going for a new blade. Dealers with mint K5s are asking silly money for them. We have journalists to thank for that - they always absolutely rave about the K5 and keep banging on about how the GSXR1000 went downhill from then.

I seriously considered buying the best i could find and cherishing it, but ultimately it was going to be £5k-£6k on a 9 yr old bike vs £11k for a new blade.
Its not about money. The blade cannot hold a candle to the K5. I have ridden my friends 2010 blade and it was good, but nothing special. He rode my K5 and wanted to sell his blade...he could not believe how superior the K5 was over the blade (and any other sports bike for that matter).

The journalists are correct...

SAS Tom

3,398 posts

173 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
JimClark49 said:
Its not about money. The blade cannot hold a candle to the K5. I have ridden my friends 2010 blade and it was good, but nothing special. He rode my K5 and wanted to sell his blade...he could not believe how superior the K5 was over the blade (and any other sports bike for that matter).

The journalists are correct...
I don't think any journalist has said that the K5 is superior to anything ever since...

dapearson

4,252 posts

223 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
quotequote all
I did test ride a K5 and it did feel quite nice. I particularly liked the induction roar...BBAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

However i've not come across a GSXR of that vintage that didn't look just a little rough around the edges. Even supposedly mint ones looked a bit tired. Plus the overall design felt dated next to the 2012+ blade.

Horses for courses. I'd still have a K5 but my last shopping effort failed and i've kind of ticked the litre bike box nicely now.