2018 Suzuki GSX-S1000Z
As we informed you back on March 1, in Europe Suzuki made some surprise improvements to the GSX-S1000 line with increased horsepower and a new slipper clutch. It turns out that those modifications will be included in the 2018 U.S. models.
Late last week, Suzuki announced that the 2018 GSX-S1000 ABS and GSX-S1000F would both benefit from increased horsepower and torque thanks, in part, to new crankcase ventilation holes and revised fuel injection mapping. Additionally, the 2018 models will receive the slipper clutch, which Suzuki has named the “Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS)”.
2018 Suzuki GSX-S1000 ABS
A new family member appears in the form of the blacked-out GSX-S1000Z. This model will carry a U.S. MSRP of $10,999 ($200 more than the standard GSX-S1000 ABS model), while the faired GSX-S1000F is priced at $11,299. Only a single color scheme is available for the naked versions (see photos), while the S1000F will be available in either White or Blue/Black. Each of these models should be in U.S. dealers this month.
2018 Suzuki GSX-S1000F
See more of MD’s great photography:
Rode a 1200 Bandit for 12 years and found it to be fast enough with a pipe and jet kit but perhaps a bit on the heavy side. It had a seat that was useful for carrying whatever I needed to bring along, and that included a passenger. So what is the tiny seat on the GSX-1000 supposed to be used for? Too small to even bungee a water bottle on (doesn’t even have bungee hooks!) and no passenger would last long on it. Why didn’t they just leave the rear seat off and make it a storage compartment? I’m sure this bike is a hoot to ride, but just a bit too focused for me.
I am a fan of these bikes, and there are two Z’s and one S model that I see regularly around where I live. I think Suzuki offers a ridiculous value with these machines, and I think they look good in person.
They DO look pretty good in person, thanks to a semi-normal, non-reptilian headlight. The guy I know who rides one (S) is a one-time squid in his mid 30s who doesn’t ride 2-up and is now too out of shape to ride a sport bike. Fits the demo perfectly.
I like that! “Non-reptilian headlight.”
So… quick question…
The Z model only denotes a blacked out model? For some reason it still doesn’t look smaller, but oh well… this bike in 3 years is mine… Price? 4500
A local dealer here has NOS ’16 non-ABS models for $7999. At $10k, these are a great sportbike value. At $8k, it’s ridiculous! And you’re correct – in a few years, these will likely be sub-$5000.
So for three years you don’t ride?
In case you haven’t noticed, manufacturers have been building bike for decades. There are literally millions of bikes available under $4500. Craig probably owns a few of them. You can check out Craig’s list where he puts them all up for sale once he’s done with them.
SHAMU…!!!
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BZZZZ Orcas are graceful and even beautiful. This is… A BUG HUNT MAN
OR EVEN
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One could argue that Suzuki is chasing the same buyer who bought the GSXR 10 years ago. What it failed to realize is that the same buyer now has more practical needs besides comfort. When you are in your squidly teens and 20s, you don’t much care for practicality….
I understand why the complaints about no luggage accommodations and the lack of range due to the small tank, but I wish everyone just shut-up about the lack of passenger accommodations. No one should buy a bike like this if they want to haul a passenger. They are just not intended for that purpose regardless of the seat type. Flat, curved, square, whatever. If you want a sporty bike and you want to carry a passenger that won’t be begging to get off after 10 mins get a Concours or FJR.
These are nice looking machines but the focus is a little narrower than a Ninja 1000. If Suzuki has corrected the throttle response there is not a lot to complain about. Get one and enjoy it.
I just bought a 2017 Kawasaki Z900. I don’t carry passengers. It goes 150 miles before the low fuel light comes on. It is relatively comfortable, lightweight, has a great motor, and near perfect fueling (for a modern bike that meets all emissions). The looks are growing on me. Most importantly, at 50 years old I am really enjoying riding again. Cheers
The people complaining about the accomodations WON’T be buying this. What they are saying is, Suzuki does a wonderful job with motors, transmissions, brakes, weight and this would be a bike they would consider IF the accomodations were softened a bit to let their significant other ride along and enjoy the motorcycle experience. Not just Suz either, this goes for Hon yam and Kaw too.
I suggest 2 models using the same drive train. One with a larger tank, and more reasonable accommodations. All it would basically take is a redesigned tank to fit the same space and a different rear subframe and seat and passenger pegs relocated down and forward. How hard could that be?
Look, I just read an article in Rider Magazine about the new GSX-R1000. Wonderful bike by all accounts. 199 horsepower, 87 ft lbs of torque, throttle by wire, 3 ride modes, slipper clutch, TC, ABS, Brembo monoblock brakes w/ 320 mm rotors, fully adjustable suspension, a full fairing, aluminum frame,6 speed trans, 441 pounds wet, for $14,600. I finish reading the article and I’m thinking why can’t I have THAT, only with a sport-tourer package?
Modify that same exact bike by dropping the HP and torque into a reasonable range ( 150 hp under 10,000 rpms would probably do), with a more comfortable seat for two and a seat height in the 31” range, a 5.8+ gallon fuel tank, taller bars, heated grips, cruise control, some tie down hooks for soft luggage, (maybe offer optional hard bags) a lower slung exhaust, and that is the light weight bullet sport-tourer that people are begging for, and something current sport bike riders can move up to without feeling like they are riding an old man’s luxo-barge. Bring the weight in around 500 pounds wet and price it in the $16K range.
People have been begging for a non-neutered sport bike in sport-touring bike guise for years. Manufacturers just won’t listen. Instead they bring out Cruisers, ADV’s and sport bikes. Given the options no wonder ADVs are so popular. If I had to choose between only those three options, I’d go with an ADV too because I can’t ride a sport bike anymore, and I can’t stand cruisers. I keep hoping, but as it stands now, I might have to live with my ST 1300 forever.
Honda has nothing, with both the ST and VFR1200 discontinued, think the Kaw Concours is discontinued, the Bandit 1250 is discontinued, and the Yamaha FJR is suddenly the only Japanese option at 600+ pounds. BMW makes the R1200RT but it’s 571 lbs wet, and costs 21K if you get the least expensive option pkg (dealers don’t stock the $18K base model). A friend just got one and I hear it was over $25K with options.
“light weight bullet sport-tourer that people are begging for,”
After you add all the stuff that a sport tourer needs, it’s no longer light weight.
(Some) People begged, the makers delivered, and too few followed through and purchased. We can’t get them to make “perfect” when we won’t support “very good” at the showroom. Bikes like ZX14’s, CBRXX’s, Hyabusas are very near to what you’re describing. After 2-3 years, everyone who wants it, has it, and it’s time to move on to the next thing.
lets not forget the beloved ZZR 1200…but I think the Ninja 1000 and Versys 1000 come close
Yes, both great options. Point being, bikes like those offer some of the all-time great engines (Ninja 1k, 05 GSXR) with a less than ideal saddle/packing option. If this bike doesn’t sell to the guy who says he wants a high performance, lightweight sport tourer, then the signal to Kawasaki and Suzuki is that there is no market there.
No one is ever going to confuse a Hyabusa as a sport tourer (or use one for that). The Honda Blackbirds were very well liked by all who owned them but in the end were 575 lbs, and Zx14’s was another 600 pound beast. All 3 were very bloated looking in the back end. No bag accommodations. The ZZR was a pretty good sport tourer with Givi Bags but also weighed close to 600 pounds. None of the above had cruise, heated grips, ABS, TC etc to the best of my recollection
The 2017 Ninja 1000 comes the closest but again no cruise, no heated grips and passenger accommodations are nearly non existent and wind protection minimal. But it IS the closest to what I described.
The Versys 1000 is an ADV with a very tall seat height
i liked the old duc st2 / st4 range- light,fastish and stylish. It didn’t last long although they will sell you 10 different types of monster
Almost nobody offers a 5.8+-gallon tank anymore, unless it’s a monster sport-tourer like the ST or FJR. You certainly won’t find a tank that size on anything with real sporting pretensions.
That being said, you basically just described an accessorized Ninja 1000.
My 2009 fz1 too me from Fla to Grand Canyon and back. GIVI hard backs & puff windscreen. 9200 miles in 6 weeks. Now has 30k+ miles and just keeps on keepin on. From deals gap to grocery store, it does it all.
To my thinking, it wouldn’t detract much if anything from the bike to provide a decent passenger seat, or a tail section that’s not so tall, or with some reasonable provision for mounting hard or soft luggage. Can’t see why that would likely scare off potential customers looking for a comfortable sport bike (unless they’re really into super-high tail sections and seats that lock you in one place?), while making this bike more palatable for guys like me who would like to use it as a sport-tourer. Does Givi make a side-rack solution for this bike?
I suspect many of these comments are from Americans, and I think these bikes, specifically the faired “F” are kind of lacking for our market. Not enough luggage/comfort/fuel range for atrue sport touring application, especially in the western US where a back road range of 200 miles is needed. But maybe in Europe, where gas stations are closer and riders are more willing to accept sportbike ergos, these bikes will do OK. Not sure I’ve ever seen one on the road in California.
Very nice bike the F model. But a little tall and straight the handlebar.
Wish they would have just updated the naked Bandit with a ‘Busa motor instead. At least I’d buy that.
I think they look great. The engine was always well regarded in the ’05 GSXR.
What they lack is any luggage options last time I checked, due in part to the minimal rear subframe. Sad, it would be a great sport-touring bike.
Agree with earlier posts: unattractive bike with no clear utility or niche, uncomfortable ergos, and rejected by big swaths of the target audience – why waste corporate capital producing this thing? You could make more money investing in real estate!
It’s (the faired one) an upright liter bike. Not my cup of tea, as I never got around to literbikes, but lots and lots did. Some of those must by now be getting old enough to be looking for more upright ergos. For them, I doubt you can do much better than an upright with a K5 Gixxer motor, a proper literbike twin beam alu frame, and a track stiff swingarm.
Neighbor kid has one. Starts it and never lets it idle, just vroom, vroom, vroom. Rides up the street on back wheel. Stoppies coming back. Back and forth, back and forth. T-shirt blows up in the back exposing his blistered fat back. Finally he vroom vrooms back into his garage. Thats sorta it, and I have to assume that’s all you can do on a bike like this. Anyway, he’s fun to watch, and I guess there are a lot of them out there or they wouldn’t invest money in production. Live and let live.
vroom vroom LOL
I draw the line at looking at blistered fat backs
Your neighbor is not the whole world. Nice bike – fair price.
Anyone know if the GSX-S1000F has an IMU/ lean sensitive ABS/TC?
No it doesn’t. 2018 GSXR1000R has that tech and I would say the GSXS1000 will never get it as it’s 3 years old now and a budget bike, not a stripped GSXR.
Suzuki has a website, ya know. You could, like, get off your digital ass and check for yourself…
I really want to like this bike, and ones like it. Esp since they have a faired version. But current styling is just heave city.
Another “standard” bike from Japan with a stinkbug/seatless rear end. Y – A – W – N….
“Stinkass”
I like them, especially the blue one, and the F would make a good touring bike. Maybe I’ll get one.
I’m going to wait for an update to a traditional Bandit 1250FA. You know, cruise control, self-cancelling indicators, analogue temperature gauge, gear indicator, two-up suspension and flat seat, that sort of thing, like on the 1983 GS model.
These are wonderful bikes, but they’re tiny little things and not really suitable for more conventional riding. Curved seats make no sense to me, at all.
So you want a bunch of old-style crap, but with new technology, too?
Sounds like you don’t know what you want. Or maybe you should just go find a 1983 GS like you really want.
Analog fuel gauge? Really? It’s 2017, pops.
Honestly, has anyone seen two people on one motorcycle that is not a Harley Davidson or a Goldwing? I can’t recall it. So let’s give the bike designers some credit: bikes are made basically for solo riders, and a biker buying this level of displacement expects horsepower over any creature comforts for the nonexistent girlfriend riding on the passenger seat.
yup, plenty
> Honestly, has anyone seen two people on one motorcycle that is not a Harley Davidson or a Goldwing? I can’t recall it.
Yes, the first question when choosing all three motorcycles I own was whether it would fit a passenger well. Passenger seating and leg room are a deal-breaking factor. Right now there are several motorcycles I have the cash to buy and otherwise would buy except either the seat of foot pegs are wrong. Thanks for asking.
Yes, lots since Harleys only make up about ten percent of the bikes I see around here. Typical Harley has a solo rider. Goldwings Aren’t that common. .
I, too, see VERY few passengers that are not on an H-D or a Gold-Wing style touring bike. Race replicas? Hardly see those anymore to begin with. Sport-tourers? Hardly see those anymore, either. ADV bikes? Almost never see passengers on them, aside from the couple on a V-Strom 650 I’d seen a couple weekends ago.
I’m just one rider, but count me in the “doesn’t give a good damn about passenger seats on sportbikes”. However, I am one that at least wishes a manufacturer put enough space for me to bungee a tail bag back there somewhere! The GSX-S passes on that count, even if it’s by a pretty thin margin! I already have a bike for carrying people and stuff.
I’m glad this bike didn’t go down the “550+ lb. sport-tourer” path. This is just a plain old fast damned sportbike for folks that want to do sportbike things without breaking their backs and wrists. It’s relieving to see them with no real pretensions about being something it’s not – not being built with an eye towards commuting, touring, or just puttering around town. “Back in the day”, folks used to be able to actually ride sportbikes without having to be bent into a pretzel. I see these bikes (naked or faired) as a return to that.
My wife has been riding pillion with me all over the country and in Europe since 1973, on many different bikes, from RD350 Yamahas, to our current Honda ST 1300. I too choose a bike based on suitability ( seat and passenger pegs) of carrying a passenger.
I so wanted to like this bike and make it into a sports tourer. Tank is too small so not enough range. They kind of shot themselves in the foot with this bike as a few changes would open it up to a much wider audience. Better passenger seat, larger fuel tank, some way to attach even some soft luggage would do.
You, and so many like you, are missing the point:
This is not a touring bike. It’s a comfortable sportsbike. Big F’ing difference.
If you want to go sports-touring, get and FJR already…
Or a Ninja 1000. Or an Interceptor. This one is supposed to be a K5 Gixxer, for K5 Gixxer bros who have aged out of that ergonomic.
I concur with many others that what these bikes need more than anything is more “real world” usability, not more power. Give them better seats, and stay way from the awful matte paint finishes, and I’d be first in line to buy one, and they’d finally have a great seller on their hands for a change. As with most other manufactures these days, they are seriously limiting the appeal and sales of their various models by over-narrowing their scope of real world usability, over-specializing, and pigeonholing them.
Have you looked at the new Harleys?
LOL
> I concur with many others that what these bikes need more than anything is more “real world” usability, not more power.
I look for real world usability as well, but not every bike has to fit that mold. The riders who buy these are willing to forego utility for performance. That market segment still exists.
Yes, but just barely, and those are the people that are still buying full on race replicas, not many like these. Suzuki has really shot itself in the foot with this line, including the 750 version.
I’m really, really looking forward to the 750, now that it’s supposed to be all states legal. At least on paper, it looks like the closest one can get to a 600 with comfortable ergos.
I’ve been interested in the new 750 myself. I tend to like Suzuki bikes the most over the years, and currently own 2 of them. They have the new 750 at my local dealer. The bike was a little tall for me (I’m a shorty) unfortunately, but could be manageable for me I think. As for ergos, I’d have to get a different handlebar or some up and back risers for it, because it was just too leaned forward for me. A lot more than I expected. What killed it for me was the weight. Suzuki really needs to knock at least 15-20 lbs. off that bike. It weighs 8 lbs. “more” than the 1000!
Perfect! (I prefer more forward lean than the 1000/ninja 1000) And taller than the SV650. Didn’t know they were at dealers yet.
The added weight of the 750, is largely due to the heavier, steel, frame. Which, like all frames on sporty bikes, is mostly situated close to the roll center. So while it’s certainly no dynamic advantage, it’s less of a disadvantage, at speed, than it may first seem.
I disagree strongly.
I would not buy a race replica again. I *would* buy a sportbike again, though. GSX-S, Duc Supersport, Z900… that type. LOTS of fun, LOTS of fast, great brakes and suspension, all without the severe discomfort.
I’m 38, so not exactly ancient, but not a young pup anymore, either. I loved my 600cc supersports, they were incomparable to ride… for about 1/2 hour. Then they sucked unless you were on the track. These fast bikes with good supporting components are a great solution.
All this said, I do understand your assertion that these likely wouldn’t gain all that much market share, but I’m of the mind that the primary reason for this isn’t because people want them as commuters or touring bikes on top of being sportbikes. It’s because of the lack of pose factor, something that is crucial in any bike market here in the ‘States. They simply don’t look as sexy as an MV, as shiny and chrome-filled as most of H-D’s lineup, and absolutely 0 cool-hipster-guy value like the modern Scramblers and wannabe cafe’ racers.
I would give up 20 HP and the slipper clutch for a FLAT SEAT that covers both rider and passenger zones.
Exactly! I was surprised how much Suzuki pigeonholed these bikes, and they still are; what a shame! They sure aren’t doing their sales figures and bottom lone any favors!
Right. Also normal rear fender.
Then go buy a Bandit and STFU already.
STFU?
Really?
Do these bikes as sold in the US come with EURO 4 engines?
Yes, it is an all States bike.
Still love these, and still want one. However, more power is *hardly* what these things needed. I would guess that a bit of refinement where power delivery is concerned is more of what it needed, judging by what many GSX-S1000 owners are saying. Hopefully their revised FI map helps on that front, as well.
The flat black is also something this bike desperately did not need, but that’s a matter of taste, I guess…
yup
As an Owner, that would be appreciated. Some bikes are excellent fuelling while others are poor. The trouble is the fuel is suddenly cut off when you minutely back off the throttle, the bike slows too much, too quickly.
I think the previous year models may be able to be flashed by the dealer to the latest version of the ECU programming; which if so, should help. Beyond that, surely something like the “Rapid Bike” system would work wonders for this bike, and also in ways beyond simply smoothing out the throttle for you.
i like the flat black lol
Nothin’ wrong with that at all. I’ve just never been a fan. On bikes especially, where small details, curves, character lines, etc. are important to the design of the bike, I tend to think non-gloss colors kind of wash out a lot of those types of details and make them invisible, so it’s not for me. To each his own!
Wait, did they find a new way to make the old engine from 05/06 better?
I doubt they ever even tried that. The 05 is wicked. Instead, the focus is on meeting the latest requirements, without losing too much of the the awesome that was the 05-08.
I read that Suzuki only used the cases and bore. The internals are new design.