- 1 day ago
The 2027 Suzuki GSX-R1000R returns with updated engine internals, revised aerodynamics, new winglets, updated electronics, and special 40th Anniversary styling. Suzuki invited journalists to Spain to test the new GSX-R1000R during a unique six-hour endurance race format, providing the perfect opportunity to evaluate its performance, rideability, and consistency on track. In this first ride review, Michael Gilbert breaks down the latest GSX-R1000R updates, including the revised 999cc inline-four engine, VVT system, chassis, suspension, braking performance, rider aids, and how Suzuki's legendary superbike stacks up against today's competition.
Check out the full story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/suzuki-gsx-r1000r-first-ride-review/
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Check out the full story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/suzuki-gsx-r1000r-first-ride-review/
Find us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/cw/CycleWorldPodcast
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Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6CLI74xvMBFLDOC1tQaCOQ
Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/
Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld
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00:26hey everybody we just got wrapped up
00:28riding the updated Suzuki GSX-R 1000R here at Circuit Montblanco in Spain.
00:35Now this will be delivered to the United States as a 2027 model despite it being delivered in
00:42summer of 2026. The big news is that this returns to the European market for the first time since
00:492022 when the motorcycle failed to meet the Euro 5 emission standards. The European market is
00:56extremely happy to have this back in the lineup. Now this is the 40th anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R
01:03and the 25th anniversary of the GSX-R 1000. Suzuki treated us to something really special today.
01:09We actually did a six hour endurance at Circuit Montblanco here in Spain. Now that really pays
01:15homage to Suzuki's racing heritage and really its success in the endurance world championship series.
01:22They have a total of 15 world titles and most recently a pole position and a victory at the
01:302025 24 hours of Bulldor in France. So at the end of the day this was something really special and
01:37a
01:37really unique experience. We had teams of three riders each. We each had four 30-minute sessions
01:44and we really got a taste of what the endurance world championship would be like. In fact we had
01:49the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team on site helping us guide through this new format if you would.
01:56Now arguably every single GSX-R that Suzuki has created has that same rideability and comfort
02:03creatures literally since the inception and this is the perfect proving grounds for the Suzuki GSX-R.
02:09It's a motorcycle that's so rideable, so easy to connect with, so confidence inspiring to run it off
02:16into a corner and just pound out the laps one after another and put in good stints. It rewards
02:23consistency rather than a heroic lap.
02:27Now it would be really easy to look at the new GSX-R and think this is just bold new
02:31graphics, it's got a couple
02:33winglets on it, but Suzuki has really gone to town and really updating this motorcycle and a lot lies beneath
02:38the
02:38fairings. The big news is a significantly revised engine. This is primarily aimed at Euro 5 and Euro 5 plus
02:45emission standards,
02:46which allows it back into the European market, but it has also been redesigned with racing in mind. This being
02:54a higher
02:54ceiling of horsepower and more durability, also aimed at the Endurance World Championship.
03:00In a nutshell, that means a new crankshaft, pistons, valves, camshaft, throttle body injectors, and an exhaust.
03:07The goal here wasn't lethal horsepower. It was aimed at these rules. It was aimed at durability.
03:14And out on the racetrack, truthfully, there wasn't too much of a difference. I think, if anything,
03:19it was a little bit stronger in the mid-range from 9,000 to 11,000 RPM. I really felt
03:25like I was
03:25coming out of second gear corners and feeling this thing really pull, whereas maybe before in the
03:30previous model that was originally introduced in 2017, it didn't necessarily have that same feel.
03:36I consistently came out, lofted the front tire, and had the front tire getting really light under
03:42acceleration despite the added winglets. It's still that same GSXR platform, really easy at the touch,
03:50very confidence-inspiring to grab a handful of throttle and let the thing rip off of the corners.
03:55Now, at the end of the straightaway, we're fifth gear tapped out, doing 290K. This thing has no shortage of
04:01power.
04:02Now, that's not to say that the lethal horsepower of the European competitors wouldn't stand out against the GSXR,
04:08but the rideability and the approachable characteristic of the engine really allows the rider to drive that much harder,
04:16put the emphasis into actually riding the motorcycle, and get off of the corners.
04:20I've always said that the GSXR is such a sleepy, fast motorcycle. You come out of corners, you get it
04:25going,
04:26and, man, like, I felt like I could have even rode a little bit harder out of that corner, and
04:29the next thing you know,
04:30you're at the braking zone in the next corner, and it's like, oh crap, we're already here, and I'm trying
04:36to slow down as much as I can.
04:37It's really sleepy fast. It almost catches you off guard because of how simplistic it is and how friendly it
04:44is getting off the corner.
04:46Now, Suzuki has also updated its electronics package just slightly with the 2027 model.
04:53They added roll control. They updated the algorithms of the traction control and the wheelie control,
04:59and truth be told, it was noticeable. Is it as refined, again, as those European models?
05:06I wouldn't say so, but again, with the natural power characteristic of this motorcycle, do you need that?
05:12I do not think so.
05:14The beginning of the day, when we're fresh, when we're not so fatigued, I was riding around in A mode,
05:19and it really was spirited getting off the corner.
05:22The throttle is very one-to-one, a very natural and direct connection, and it rewards hard acceleration.
05:29Now, as the tires wore out, as I got a little bit more tired, I actually went back to the
05:33B mode,
05:34which is a little bit softer, and it made it just even more linear getting off the corner.
05:41Overall, the GSX-R engine platform remains that friendly power plant that we're able to use and get around the
05:48racetrack as quickly as possible.
05:50It may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but damn, does it sure get it done.
05:54Now, the chassis essentially remains identical as well.
05:58It's still got the same basic frame.
06:00It's got the Showa Balance free fork and shock, just as we had seen with the previous model, and everything
06:05remains the same.
06:08Bridgestone was here on site as well, and they fitted the latest and greatest RS-12 tires,
06:13and truthfully, I couldn't be more impressed with the front tire.
06:16It felt like a race tire, it begged to be run into the corner harder and harder, and not once
06:22did I have a slip.
06:23Now, that being said, the rear tire, I had a few slips here and there.
06:28Again, going back to the electronics and the engine package, when I tailored it back to the B mode, it
06:33settled itself down.
06:35But again, at the end of the day, you have to remember this is a street tire and not a
06:39race tire.
06:40Overall, super impressive.
06:43Going back to the brakes here, Suzuki is continuing on with the Brembo M4.32 calipers.
06:49And truthfully, when this bike was introduced in 2017 with the last big update, those calipers were almost dated at
06:56that time.
06:57Since then, we've moved on from the M50 to the Stylima and the latest and greatest Brembo,
07:02and it is a little bit hard to see that they've continued on with the same brake package.
07:05It really requires a lot of effort at the brake lever to get the motorcycle stopped.
07:09And on top of that, there's a lack of feel at the brake lever.
07:12What that means is I don't quite understand how much brake pressure is actually being applied at the rotors and
07:18how much there is left to work with.
07:20Now, a race pad could play benefit here, especially at the racetrack.
07:24But overall, it seems that the motorcycle just needs better and more upgraded brakes.
07:31That being said, let's not forget that in 2020, Suzuki actually updated the motorcycle from rubber lines to now to
07:38steel lines,
07:39which did improve consistency throughout the session and consistency throughout the day in terms of actually brake play.
07:47The one thing they did upgrade with the brakes is a new ABS unit, which is not only lighter, but
07:52more efficient on the racetrack.
07:55The previous generation, you'd pull on the lever in a very hard braking zone,
07:59and the lever would pulse out from underneath you and really cause inconsistency when trying to get down to an
08:04apex,
08:05often sending you wide or even off track.
08:07Now, the new ABS unit is a lot more consistent with a lot less intervention and really allows the rider
08:13to do the job of actually stopping the motorcycle.
08:16Overall, a big improvement, especially at the racetrack.
08:20Now, Suzuki has also left a lot of the other things the same, an LCD dash, right?
08:25We live in 2026 where everything is more modern, more digital, has moved on.
08:30I think just about every other competitor on the market has moved on to big TFT dashboards,
08:36and they keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
08:37This is the same dashboard as the 2017 model.
08:42So at the end of the day, this is a big win for the European market.
08:45This Suzuki GSX-R 1000 is coming back.
08:47It's back in the lineup.
08:49It's the flagship GSX-R.
08:50It's being sold as a super bike, and everyone is so excited about it.
08:55And truthfully, I am too.
08:57I love this motorcycle.
08:58I always have.
08:59I've found the rideability, the connection at the throttle, all the confidence-inspiring attributes that this motorcycle has.
09:05It has been so much fun.
09:07And truthfully, I personally have chosen this motorcycle even over some of its European super bike counterparts,
09:14even despite its sometimes simple attributes and features.
09:19That being said, sometimes I would like to see some more updates to the GSX-R 1000.
09:23I think it's a phenomenal motorcycle.
09:25But again, going back, it's 2026.
09:28We left some room to be desired on the brake side.
09:31The engine spec, while redesigned for racing and to meet those Euro 5 emissions,
09:36it does leave some to be desired in terms of outright horsepower.
09:40That being said, we go back to the chassis.
09:43The chassis is phenomenal.
09:44It's so confidence-inspiring.
09:46It remains one of the best chassis on the market.
09:49And truthfully, I would pick it every single time.
09:51This is the tried-and-true GSX-R platform dressed in the 40th anniversary colors and given a whole host
09:59of updates.
10:00And it remains a competitive super bike.
10:03Now that's a wrap here for the Suzuki 6-hour endurance race here in Spain.
10:08What a time we had.
10:10Thank you to Suzuki for giving us such a unique and wonderful opportunity to try this motorcycle in an area
10:17where it really shines.
10:18We really had a lot of fun.
10:20We got plenty of laps in and made the trip over here from California well worthwhile.
10:27Now if you like this video, go over to CycleWorld.com, read the full review, give us a like, comment,
10:33and subscribe, and we'll see you guys next time.
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