Considering Suzuki are a company that have a reputation for brashness, not to mention a real flair for naked bikes that sell, it seemed remarkable that as the world turned super naked crazy, they were the only manufacturer missing out. Surely they could take their aging, but packed full of grunt, GSX-R1000, rip off its fairing, fit a set of flat bars and hey presto, create a proper full-on super naked? Well, in late 2015 it looked like they had finally done just that as the GSX-S1000 was launched. Or had they…
A deeper delve into the GSX’s spec sheet revealed that it was indeed powered by a GSX-R1000 engine – but not the latest version, one that was based on the K5 lump. Hang on a second, wasn’t that a motor that was released over a decade ago? Why not use the K9 motor? Or better still, the L2? The signs were there that Suzuki had once again pulled their punches and when the GSX-S1000 arrived, things didn’t get any better.
Visually, the GSX-S1000 was far too safe to be appealing. Naked bikes don’t have much in the way of a fairing to make them look cool, but the GSX-S lacked any form of characters, such as funky lights or even a few sharp styling lines here and there. It was, well, a bit bland. And sadly this feeling didn’t dissipate once on the go.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
THE TEST OF TIME
You only have to take one look at these two models to see that a lot has changed over 20 years. But what exactly does two decades of development mean for Triumph’s flagship naked bike? There was only one way to find out…
NAKED ATTRACTION
Fun but flawed, why Suzuki's naked litre bike could now be worth a second Look.
TEN MINUTES WITH...TOMMY BRIDEWELL
From not having a job to almost winning the title in a couple of years, Bridewell really has turned things around. We caught up with him to see what’s changed, how he’s prepping for this season, and get an insight into being a front-running British Superbike rider…
PROJECT MILLE: PART 1
After too many years fighting the temptation, Dangerous has finally parted with some cash and bought himself a Mille. Only, it’s a bit of a shed…
DUCATI DIARIES; SCOTT COWDRYS 899 PANIGALE
Fast Bikes reader Scott Cowdry tells us exactly what it’s like to live with an 899 Panigale.
HYPERSPORT HOOPS
High-performance hoops are all the rage nowadays, but with so much choice on the market, which brands really is the best?
2020 Ducati Panigale V4S Refined Rocket
With its sexy look and raw power, Ducati’s V4S Panigale hasn’t had to try hard to get our juices going over the past few years, but when it comes to setting fast laps it’s proven as user-friendly as a bucking bronco with a sore backside. Thankfully, for 2020 it’s been given some much needed refinement.
HOW TO GO RACING
It may seem like a wild ride, but it’s not as intimidating as it looks. Here’s how to go racing in 2020…
MotoE: BRIGHT SPARK!
Dull, silent snooze-fest? Or the future of motorbike racing? The electric MotoGP support series MotoE has just finished its first season. Our man Alan Dowds went to watch the final round at Valencia, and find out how it’s gone.
JOLLY FAST, GREEN GIANT - 2012 KAWASAKI ZZR 1400
Ian Carson has got a handful of bikes, but when he heads off to Ireland with his son, Aiden, it’s got to be on his 2012 Kawasaki ZZR 1400. In his own words, he tell us exactly why that is…
THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA
Suzuki said the first Hayabusa invented a new category called Ultimate Sport. We said, “Yeah, right,”…until we rode it.
FORBIDDEN FRUIT
WITH CLASSIC 4X4 DESIGN CUES AND AN OLD-SCHOOL 4X4 DRIVELINE IN A PINT-SIZE PACKAGE, IT’S LIKE DRIVING THE JEEP WRANGLER’S LITTLE BROTHER. BUT IT’S NOT FOR SALE HERE.
MASTER BARTON BOEHM'S PATH TO PEACE
THERE’S MORE TO MARTIAL ARTS THAN KICKS AND STRIKES.
Radical Rerun
Going under the sword with the 2020 Suzuki Katana
DESIGN MACHT MUT(H)
How a German designer came to forge Suzuki’s sharpest sword
One Hell of A Week Hellas Rally Raid, Greece
I started riding motorcycles some six years ago in Peru, and it wasn’t because I was always a die-hard moto fan or knew anything about bikes.
Toyota, Suzuki Partnering In Self-driving Car Technology
Japan’s top automaker, Toyota, and smaller rival Suzuki are partnering in the development of self-driving car technology, as manufacturers around the world grapple with innovations in the industry.
Swifter than thou
The 2021 Maruti Suzuki Swift gets a tweaked fascia, more power and an improved cabin. We take it for a spin to see how much has really changed
Toyota Yaris Grows Up As A Clear-Cut
Yaris grows up as a clear-cut, yet still oddly complicated proposition
Year starts on a high for car makers
“We have seen strong bookings fueled by continued demand. Supply shortage of micro-processor semiconductors continues to be a serious challenge for the auto industry. Going forward we are working with our supplier partners to gear up our supply chain and meet the market demand.” Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, automotive division, M&M