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2001 to 2002 – GSX-R1000, improving on the GSX-R1100 legend
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2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000
The 1000 is the most nimble, powerful and lightweight one-liter model yet, as well as an especially rider-friendly bike. – Suzuki
A Little Background History of the Suzuki GSX-R1000
To understand the GSX-R1000 is to look back upon it’s roots in history. The GSX-R1000 was more of a progression of an ideal than it was a new idea. The design idea for the GSX-R1000 actually started in 1976 with the Suzuki GS750 (a massively successful bike in it’s own right) which inspired the idea behind the 1978 Suzuki GS1000. In 1980, the introduction of the 16 valve DOHC engine arrived creating the GSX1100 Katana and it’s radical design. But the idea for the GSX-R1000 wasn’t based on the GSX1100 Katana nor the GSX-R1100, but actually the 1984 Kawasaki GPZ900R Ninja. Thus the very first GSXR was born in 1986, the GSX-R1100 and the GSX-R1000 is an evolution of that model.
With the GSX-R1000 engine you can find it’s roots are deep in history as well. In the late 1970’s Suzuki engines became known as bulletproof and gained a well deserved legendary reputation for performance on the drag strip and the street. The 1980 GS1100 engine (which evolved from the GS750 and GS1000 engines) was Suzuki’s first 100hp 16 value design and a design starting point for the first 1986 GSX-R1100. By 1989, Suzuki improved the engine to a 1127 cc oil-air-cooled design and amazingly was used in the Bandit 1200 until 2006. In 1993, air and oil cooling was swaped for water cooling and engine horsepower went to 155hp. The new 2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000 engine was a technological mix of the 1998 GSX-R1100 and 2000 Suzuki GSX-R750 engines. Not only was it more powerful (160hp) but also much lighter than the GSX-R1100 engine.
The Unrelenting Mission of Excellence Continues
In 2001 the youngest member of the family was born, the GSX-R1000. Thrilling all riders and garnering one racetrack victory after another, the 1000 has become the flagship of the GSX-R line with its phenomenal potential. This year, the third-generation of the GSX-R1000 is going to the market with an even bigger displacement engine to deliver more power, torque and acceleration, as well as a totally redesigned body with less weight and higher aerodynamics.
Hiroshi Iio, the engine designer of early-1990s GSX-R750s, is now working as the chief engineer on the 2005 GSX-R1000. “Every GSX-R in history has been created to become the best and strongest sportbike of its time,” he recalls. “Of course, the latest GSX-R1000 brings the original GSX-R concept to an even higher level. The 1000 is the most nimble, powerful and lightweight one-liter model yet, as well as an especially rider-friendly bike. I wanted to achieve a charming machine that give every rider exceptional joy of ownership. The chief styling designer and I collaborated to create functional yet attractive styling worthy of a new-generation sportbike.”
2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000
2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000K1
The GSX-R1000, flagship of the GSX-R line with phenomenal potential.
Based on the compact and efficient GSX-R750 and GSX-R600 design philosophy of a well-balanced design with increased power and reduced weight the GSX-R1000 was born. As the successor to the GSX-R1100, the GSX-R1000 had to better on all fronts, and it was, winning Bike Of The Year in 2001 by 13 bike magazines worldwide.
Engine size was 988cc, thus the GSX-R “1000” model designation. The new 2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000 engine was a technological mix of the 1998 GSX-R1100 and 2000 Suzuki GSX-R750 engines. Not only was it more powerful (160hp and 80 ft-lb of torque) but also much lighter than the GSX-R1100 engine. Featuring a 12,000 rpm redline, 1 mm (0.039 in) bigger bore and 13 mm (0.51 in) longer stroke, newly designed pistons with lower crown, and gear-driven counter balancer. The GSX-R1000 a top speed of 179 mph (288 km/h), a 1/4 mile time of 10.1 seconds at 141.7 mph (228.0 km/h), and a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) time of 3 seconds.
Suzuki claimed the torsional rigidity of the frame had increased 10% in comparison with the GSX-R750 thanks to its .5 mm thicker main frame.
With the 2001 model of the GSX-R1000, the 1998 Yamaha YZF-R1 was finally surpassed with the GSX-R being lighter and more powerful.
NEW MODEL: GSX-R1000 – OPEN-CLASS SUPREMACY
If there was ever a family of motorcycles that “owned the racetrack” the GSX-R line is it. Not surprising considering the thousands of GSX-R motorcycles sold worldwide since the model’s inception, and their popularity at all levels of roadracing. Now, the new generation of GSX-R motorcycles is complete with a new 600 supersport contender and an open-class machine with the best power-to-weight ratio in its class.
If the GSX-R750 already delivers open-class performance, then imagine what it would be like to have a machine of similar light-weight design, but with a liter-size engine. You would probably think of a motorcycle like the new GSX-R1000. So it’s no surprise that externally, the GSX-R1000 isn’t much bigger or heavier than the GSX-R750. In overall terms, the GSX-R1000 weighs just 4.5kg (10 lbs.) more than the GSX-R750, but the same wheelbase and nearly identical width and overall length. The engine itself is the same width as the GSX-R750’s engine, and just 15mm taller and 6mm longer front-to-rear.
The GSX-R1000’s 988cc 4-stroke, four-cylinder, 16-valve liquid-cooled engine is similar in layout to the GSX-R750, but with an increase in bore and stroke. The crankcase is larger to accomodate the change in bore and stroke, larger crank journals, larger clutch, wider transmission gears, a new oil cooler system, plus the addition of a compact counterbalancer mounted in front of the crankshaft. The engine is also equipped with a digital fuel injection system similar to the GSX-R750, but the secondary throttle valve system is controlled by a stepping motor mounted directly to the throttle body.
Unique to the GSX-R1000 is its 4-into-2-into-1 exhaust system which is constructed of titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum parts to reduce weight. The exhaust system features new digitally-controlled Suzuki Exhaust Tuning (SET). This system uses a servo motor-controlled butterfly valve in the exhaust to regulate back pressure. At low rpm, the valve closes, increasing back pressure and improving low-end torque while also reducing exhaust noise. As rpm increases the valve progressively opens to reduce back pressure and increase mid-to-high-range power.
Although built to the same basic design as the 750, the GSX-R1000’s chassis is balanced to match its engine size, weight and power delivery. The aluminum alloy main frame spars are stronger and 0.5mm thicker with two engine mounts on each spar compared to the 750 with two on the left and one on the right. The rake angle and trail remain the same, and the seating position and relationship between the handlebars, seat and footpegs are unchanged. The suspension consists of fully adjustable KYB 43mm inverted forks with titanium-nitride-coated stanchion tubes to reduce stiction, and a fully adjustable aluminum-bodied shock absorber. The front brake calipers are a staggered-diameter six-piston design that are lighter than six piston calipers used on previously models. Lightweight 17″ wheels and radial tires have also been developed for the GSX-R with a wide 6.0 inch rear wheel and 190-size rear tire. Topping off the package is aerodynamic bodywork with ram-air inlets, a narrow headlight assembly and a compact digital instrument cluster.
2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Specifications
Suggested Retail: $10,399 USD
Overall length:
2 045 mm (80.5 in.)
Overall width:
715 mm (28.1 in.)
Overall height:
1 135 mm (44.7 in.)
Seat height: 830 mm (32.3 in.)
Wheelbase:
1 410 mm (55.5 in.)
Ground clearance:
130 mm (5.1 in.)
Dry mass:
170 kg (375 lbs.)
Dry mass (2003): 168 kg (370 lbs)
Engine type:
Liquid-cooled inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves, TSCC
Bore:
73.0 mm (2.835 in.)
Stroke:
59.0 mm (2.323 in.)
Piston displacement:
988 cc
Compression ratio:
12,0 :1
Horsepower: 160 hp (118 kW)/ 10.800 rpm
Torque: 110 Nm/ 8,500 rpm.
Fuel system :
Fuel ignition
Air cleaner type:
Paper
Starter system:
Electric
Lubrication system:
Wet sump
Clutch type:
Wet multi-plate
Transmission type:
6-speed constant mesh
Gearshift pattern:
1-down, 5-up
Final drive:
#525 chain
Front suspension:
Inverted telescopic, coil spring, fully adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping
Rear suspension:
Link-type, gas/oil damped, fully adjustable spring preload and compression
damping, 4-way adjustable rebound damping
Front brake:
Dual hydraulic disc
320 mm disc, six piston calipers
Rear brake:
Single hydraulic disc, 220 mm disc
Front tire size:
120/70-17ZR, tubeless
Rear tire size:
190/50-17ZR, tubeless
Ignition type:
Digital/transistorized
Generator type:
Three-phase A.C. generator
Fuel tank capacity:
18 liter (4.8 US gal)
2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000
2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000K2
The 2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000 offered minor changes such as modifications to the fuel pump, clutch, front axle, torque link, mirrors, luggage hooks, uncoated exhaust pipe and new graphics. The manual fast-idle was replaced with a computer operated implementation (the “STV servo”).
2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Specifications
Suggested Retail: $10,399 USD
Overall length:
2 045 mm (80.5 in.)
Overall width:
715 mm (28.1 in.)
Overall height:
1 135 mm (44.7 in.)
Seat height: 830 mm (32.3 in.)
Wheelbase:
1 410 mm (55.5 in.)
Ground clearance:
130 mm (5.1 in.)
Dry mass:
170 kg (375 lbs.)
Dry mass (2003): 168 kg (370 lbs)
Engine type:
Liquid-cooled inline-4, DOHC, 16 valves, TSCC
Bore:
73.0 mm (2.835 in.)
Stroke:
59.0 mm (2.323 in.)
Piston displacement:
988 cc
Compression ratio:
12,0 :1
Horsepower: 160 hp (118 kW)/ 10.800 rpm
Torque: 110 Nm/ 8,500 rpm.
Fuel system :
Fuel ignition
Air cleaner type:
Paper
Starter system:
Electric
Lubrication system:
Wet sump
Clutch type:
Wet multi-plate
Transmission type:
6-speed constant mesh
Gearshift pattern:
1-down, 5-up
Final drive:
#525 chain
Front suspension:
Inverted telescopic, coil spring, fully adjustable spring preload, rebound and compression damping
Rear suspension:
Link-type, gas/oil damped, fully adjustable spring preload and compression
damping, 4-way adjustable rebound damping
Front brake:
Dual hydraulic disc
320 mm disc, six piston calipers
Rear brake:
Single hydraulic disc, 220 mm disc
Front tire size:
120/70-17ZR, tubeless
Rear tire size:
190/50-17ZR, tubeless
Ignition type:
Digital/transistorized
Generator type:
Three-phase A.C. generator
Fuel tank capacity:
18 liter (4.8 US gal)