2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000. Totally updated, but is it good enough to be the best in class?

2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000. Totally updated, but is it good enough to be the best in class?Massive updates, including an all-new engine, highlight the 2009 GSX-R1000.Willow Springs played host to the '09 Suzuki GSX-R intro.I'm not going to argue about street performance - any of the 1000 I4s or 1200 V-2s have more power than any sane person could use in that setting. I will argue about their dominance in AMA Superbike. Oh, Mladin and Yoshimura get it done alright, but where does Suzuki finish when all the factories are there in full force, like in WSBK? Competitive, but no more than that. Let's just understand its the rider and team much more than the machine doing the AMA domination. As for styling on the new bike, I looked at and sat on one at Bike Week. Its OK, but after reviewing all the latest crop of Japanese litrebikes (including a demo ride on the R1), I couldn't wait to get back to the Ducati exhibit. The Japanese just can't seem to get a handle on superbike style. I'm sure the design staffs of the Japanese motorcycle makers are composed of very talented individuals from many nations, if they are anything like the car companies. The difference comes in who makes the final decisions on design directions; you can thank their CEOs for that, not the designers.

Changing the bore and stroke to 74.5 mm x 57.3 mm as opposed to 73.4 mm x 59.0 mm makes for a more over-squared design. It’s worth nothing that some of the competition is even more over-square still. Forged-aluminum-alloy pistons feature a new design to match the shorter stroke engine and due to the bigger bore are 1.1 mm larger in diameter. A different design also aids in bumping up the compression ratio from 12.5:1 to 12.8:1.


Engine: 999cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC
Bore Stroke: 74.5 mm x 57.3 mm
Compression Ratio: 12.8 : 1
Fuel System: Fuel Injection
Ignition: Electronic ignition (Transistorized)
Lubrication: Wet sump
Starter: Electric
Brakes Front: Radial mount, 4-piston calipers, 310 mm disc, twin
Brakes Rear: 1-piston caliper, 220 mm disc
Fuel Capacity: 4.6 US gal. (17.5 L)
Ground Clearance: 5.1 in. (130mm)
Overall Length: 80.5 in. (2045 mm)
Overall Width: 28.0 in. (710 mm)
Seat Height: 31.9 in. (810 mm)
Suspension Front: Inverted telescopic, coil spring, spring preload fully adjustable, rebound and compression damping force fully adjustable
Suspension Rear: Link type, oil damped, coil spring, spring preload fully adjustable, rebound and compression damping force fully adjustable
Tires Front: 120/70ZR17M/C (58W), tubeless
Tires Rear: 190/50ZR17M/C (73W), tubeless
Transmission: 6-speed, constant mesh
Wheelbase: 55.3 in. (1405mm)
Final Drive: Chain
Curb Weight: 448 lbs. (203kg)