2 x 310 mm Discs radial mount Brembo monobloc 4 piston caliper
Rear Brakes
Single 220 mm disc
Front Tyre
120/70 ZR17 M/C (58W), tubeless
Rear Tyre
190/50 ZR17 M/C (73W), tubeless
Dimensions
Length 2045 mm / 80.5in
Width 705 mm
/ 27.8in
Height 1130 mm / 44.5in
Wheelbase
1405mm / 55.3in
Seat Height
810 mm / 31.9 in.
Ground clearance
130 mm / 5.1 in.
Wet Weight
203 kg / 448 lbs
Fuel Capacity
17.5 Litres
/ 4.6 US gal / 3.8 Imp gal
Standing 0 - 100 km/h / 62 mph
2.8 sec.
Top Speed
299 km/h / 185.8 mph
Colours
Pearl Glacier White
.
The Suzuki GSX-R1000 has always been an accessible sportbike;
whether your desire is to win superbike races or to carve up your favorite road,
the GSX-R1000 has been ready for all enthusiasts who desire its class-leading
performance. In honor of its 50th Anniversary in America, Suzuki introduces the
exclusive, limited-production Suzuki GSX-R1000 SE – with a total of just 50
numbered motorcycles to be sold through Suzuki dealers in America.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) announces the limited-production GSX-R1000
SE, a sportbike with many custom-designed features found on no other GSX-R
sportbikes. A total worldwide production of 100 models means the 2014 GSX-R1000
SE is a highly exclusive motorcycle.
Built around the Suzuki GSX-R1000 that has won more AMA Superbike Championships
than any other motorcycle in the class, this SE model adds singular style that
is most evident in the polished and chrome-plated frame, plus the machined and
polished chrome rims with clear-coated blue spokes.
From its front air intake to the muffler end cap, this GSX-R SE serves up
special appeal. Matching the blue wheel spokes and ram-air intake ports, the
SE’s fork tubes and other specially selected components are anodized blue. That
exclusive component finish is added to the fork adjusters, the steering stem
nut, and the ring surrounding the tachometer.
At the rear of this custom superbike, Suzuki added a polished exhaust and
muffler combination that’s finished with a black anodized endcap. Helping drive
this motorcycle’s power is a blue-colored chain. And in between, the clutch
cover, generator cover, and rear shock spring are given a blue finish.
More unique features distinguish the GSX-R1000 SE from all other motorcycles,
including the individually numbered serial plate secured to the bike’s triple
clamp, denoting each as one of only 100 built in the world. Still, beneath this
superbike’s rich white body work and sole graphics treatment is the
ultra-accessible and high-performance Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Review
(No review on
the 2014 GSXR 100 SE is available. The following review is that of the
2012 model which is similar.)
At a glance, the 2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000 looks identical to its predecessor.
There’s no sign of wheel speed sensors, ABS rings or other hardware suggesting
the addition of electronic rider aids. Well, that's because there aren't any
electronic rider aids. Styling is typical Suzuki too, with the time-honored
GSX-R logo blazoned on a traditional blue/white or black side panel. But if you
can’t see any disparity, you’re simply not looking in the right places.
A quick look out back reveals a new single-muffler exhaust. This isn’t merely
a revised exhaust either; the 2012’s muffler and header pipe are all-new. The
shorter muffler is titanium for weight savings, whereas the header pipe is
stainless steel. The under-engine chamber’s been ditched, plus pipe length has
been optimized to provide more low-end grunt and midrange power. The results
speak for themselves; the GSX-R1000 has lost over four pounds in its latest
redesign and has a much more linear torque curve.
Turn your attention to the front of the bike and you’ll notice the fork is
slightly different. It’s shortened (7mm) for 2012, plus runs softer settings.
It’s different visually too, with black tubes replacing the 2011 model’s gold
tubes.
The more noticeable change up front is the new Brembo monobloc calipers which
replace the Tokico calipers of yesteryear. Cue the Austin Powers character,
Gold member, screaming “I love gold!” The red lettering on the calipers blends
well with the new pin striping on the wheels, which are otherwise status quo for
2012.
New Bridgestone S20 tires come standard. The biggest advantage, claims Suzuki,
is weight; the front tire alone is 200 grams lighter than the BT-016 it
replaces. The S20 also features a newly developed tread, with wider grooves
designed to increase grip in the wet and side grooves for improved feel at
increased lean angles.
There are more changes for 2012, but they’re not as easy to spot. The engine
features new pentagonal-shaped crankcase ventilation holes, 11-percent-lighter
pistons, new valve tappets and a redesigned exhaust cam profile that reduces
valve overlap. The ECU has also been reworked. According to Suzuki engineers,
the primary goal for 2012 was to boost the low-to-mid rpm range. But there are
other benefits to the changes, including improved fuel economy and throttle
response.
Suzuki chose to launch the updated GSX-R1000 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in
Homestead, Florida. The 2.21-mile road course is typical of a track designed
within a NASCAR oval, with two extremely fast corners that bring you off the
banking and into the infield. There is a mixture of tight and fast corners in
the infield, which would give us the chance to test the new Brembo brakes and
Suzuki’s claim of increased midrange power.
The changes for 2012 seem rather small, but the new GSX-R1000 works quite
different on the track. The more rigid monobloc calipers take a few laps to get
used to, but prove to be better than the Tokico brakes in every way. There’s
plenty of power, even though the brakes are somewhat high effort. Feel at the
lever stays extremely consistent on the track too, with zero brake fade to knock
the confidence out of you. For instance, we even ran a 25-lap stint during the
press launch without the lever moving a hair closer to the bar.
We’re hard pressed to find a reason why Suzuki wouldn’t be selling a handsome
amount of bikes this year...
"
There are additional benefits to the new brake setup on the 2012 model, and
that’s reduced weight. The front calipers and rotors are 130 grams lighter than
the 2011 setup, and are paired with a 38.9-grams-lighter front axle design that
cuts weight even further. Thanks to its reduced weight (front and rear) and more
forward center of gravity, the 2012 Gixxer steers noticeably quicker in
transitions, with less effort required to get the bike from right to left and
vice versa. Turn-in is exceptional as well thanks to the bike’s extremely short
wheelbase (55.3 inches), and the Suzuki remains stable mid-corner.
Credit for the bike’s new-found agility must also go to the Bridgestone 190/55
R10 race rubber that was spooned onto each GSX-R test bike prior to the event.
The S20 rear tire that comes standard will be a shorter 190/50.
The gearing on the 2012 model feels a bit tall, and we rarely got the bike out
of third gear on either of the road course’s straights. The added midrange power
is discernible though, and allows you to use second gear rather than first in
tighter corners. The GSX-R doesn’t have that absurd hit like the Kawasaki ZX-10R
or BMW S 1000 RR, but there’s an admirable amount of power up higher in the rev
range. And its new, more linear torque curve makes the bike easy to manage on a
tight course, something you can’t always say about the 180-plus-horsepower
bikes.
With all the attention placed on the revised components, it’s easy to overlook
some of the parts that were simply carried over. The back-torque-limiting clutch
still deserves some love for instance, since it kept the rear wheel of the 2012
model from chattering on the brakes lap after lap. And the adjustable footrests
proved advantageous once again, providing enough adjustment to make taller
riders comfortable.