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In Hamamatsu they have been absent from the sports segment for some time. The low activity in the Suzuki factory is due to a channeling of resources to achieve a competitive MotoGP GSX-RR with which Máverick Viñales could reach the podium at Le Mans and victory at Silverstone.
But they have not been left out in the increasingly fierce war of ultra-specialized Superbike, and this 2017 they release a new sports car, the highly anticipated one. Suzuki gsx-r1000 and its most radical version, the GSX-R1000R. More powerful engine, IMU, electronic aids and top-notch cycle part are made available to all fans, and drivers.
Electronics to power
After several and consecutive delays that have kept Suzuki's liter sports car almost unchanged, the development of this Superbike is revealed at INTERMOT 2017 with many very interesting changes. Perhaps the most important is that as in the rest of its category rivals, the new GSX-R1000 incorporates in its guts a Inertial Measurement Platform (IMU) with three measuring axes
The powerful control unit receives data from a multitude of sensors distributed throughout the motorcycle and makes a wide range of countermeasures available to the rider to be able to give their best on the track and ride safely on the road.
The traction control It offers an exaggerated 10 levels of performance to which we must add three modes of power delivery, the intelligent ABS or the fast gear change without clutch to raise and lower gears (the latter two only on the GSX-R1000R).
The Suzuki GSX-R1000 promises
The four cylinder drivetrain is brand new but the stroke has been shortened (now 76.0 x 55.1mm, previously 74.5 x 57.3mm), the compression is raised to 13.2: 1, new titanium valves and, yes, finally has incorporated a system of variable distribution secretly developed by Suzuki in MotoGP. Inside we find new intake ducts that feature a double injector per cylinder.
The red line on this engine runs until 14,500 laps, but Suzuki has not released a power figure at the moment, but it will be between the average of the Superbike with not too much difficulty, taking into account that the previous GSX-R1000 were already placed among the best engines in the category in 2009, last major evolution of the model.
Both the more compact engine dimensions and a new cylinder arrangement help to better position the engine on the chassis, bring it closer to the front wheel and lower the center of gravity.
The chassis It couldn't be left unaltered, of course, and it's brand new from the head tube to the tip of the swingarm. Its dimensions change to provide more stability and shoot lightness. And here is the other unknown because Suzuki has not released a garment in this regard either, so we do not know anything about the two most relevant points (power and weight) beyond simple speculation.
Very GSX-R
On the outside, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 is very GSX-R, although it has a more exterior compact and minimalist, his figure is still recognizable as family. The front reduces the LED headlights to a minimum to make way for large air intakes on each side while under the dome there is a fully digital control panel that condenses all the data and the interface of the electronic section (traction control, regulation ABS, driving modes …).
Versions GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R differ Mainly in the suspensions and electronics, because at the engine level they are traced. In both the suspensions are Showa but the R equips Showa BFS forks with oversized triple clamps. The electronic support in both is the same, but it changes the programming to offer an extra in the GSX-R1000R with quick change, ABS in tilt and launch control.
As for the brakes, they are identical with a new brake system Brembo with radial monobloc calipers that bite into 320mm steel discs, commanded by intelligent non-disconnectable ABS with cornering braking function.
On paper, this Suzuki gsx-r1000 2017 is very advanced, but not as advanced as the top of the category that, for example, use a six-channel IMU. This means that probably and continuing with its usual price policy, the Hamamatsu Superbike will be the most humane option, comfortable (if it keeps the size of the Concept that we saw in MotoMadrid) and affordable.
