2001年Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K1

Suzuki GSX-R 1000

When Suzuki discontinued its powerful but overweight GSX-R1100 in 1996, the Japanese firm was left without a litre-class sportsbike. Although its GSX-R750 was an excellent machine, it was outclassed in terms of sheer power by Honda's CBR900RR FireBlade, Kawasaki's ZX-9R and the Yamaha R1.

So the only surprise about this l000cc version of the GSX-R750 was how long it took to appear. Introduced in 2001, the GSX-R1000 instantly went to the top of the performance charts, with the lightest, most powerful engine and chassis package available. Lighter and more powerful than Yamaha's Rl, the GSX-R1000 took sportsbike performance to a new level, with a maximum speed of 290km/h (180mph), a 119kW (160bhp) engine and dry weight less than some 600cc bikes.

The GSX-RlOOO's engine and chassis are both heavily based upon the 2000-model GSX-R750. The aluminium twin-spar frame is identical, except for 0.5mm(0,02in) thicker walls and an extra engine mount, while the swingarm only received minor internal construction modifications.

The engine is the same 16-valve, inline-four layout, with six-speed gearbox and electronic fuel-injection. The cylinder head is the same as the 750, but with a slightly larger combustion chamber, and the overall engine size is only 14mm (0.6in) taller and 6mm (0.2in) longer: both engines are the same width. The fuel-injection is an updated version of the SDTV system first used on the GSX-R750. 

As befits a flagship sports model, top-quality suspension units are fitted front and rear. The 43mm (1.7in) Kayaba upside-down front forks are lighter than the GSX-R750 parts, and have a special titanium nitride coating on the stanchions, reducing static friction, or 'stiction'. A piggyback-reservoir rear shock, also by Kayaba, is fully adjustable and gives superb damping on track and road.

The GSX-Rl000's front brakes use a pair of Tokico six-piston calipers operating on 320mm (12.6in) discs. These calipers and the gold-coloured fork tubes are the most obvious cosmetic differences between the GSX-R1000 and the GSX-R75