First Ride: 2001 Suzuki GSX-R1000 - Motorcycle.com

The chassis on this new GSX-R1000 is based on the GSX-R750, one of our favorites for the past year. Stiffening up the outer walls of the main frame by 0.5 mm was the only thing the Suzuki engineers felt was needed to contain significantly more power lurking between the aluminum (pronounced, al-you-min-e-um , according to the Brits present) spars. Of the differences between the bikes, our favorite bit has to be the titanium nitride coated fork stanchions. Not only do the forks work well, but they look cool, too.

Now, with the GSX-R600, it was possible to ride with a very 250-esque style. Lots of lean angle, high corner speeds and big handfuls of throttle on the way out, sometimes even on the way in. You try that with that bike's big brother and you'll find your bike in the gravel pit... if you can find it at all. With this much power underfoot, you need to be delicate with throttle application. Whacking things about is a very bad idea.

While this bike does feel similar to its smaller siblings, there is no hiding the added weight and reciprocating mass. Quick side-to-side flicks make the pounds apparent, but this bike is so far ahead of it's now aged predecessor, a comparison in that direction isn't adequate, hence all these 750 references.

Once turned-in to a particular corner, like number five -- a downhill right-hander with an 18-inch good line through the apex to avoid the majority of the bumps -- this chassis telegraphs an amazing amount of feedback to the rider. And the chassis responds just as sharply to every input a rider makes to adjust or correct his position at any given moment.

But as soon as the corner ended and we were able to open the throttle slides, there was no mistaking this for anything but an open-bike with class-leading power.

Because, when you're dealing with horsepower numbers that reside well into the triple digits, its important to exercise some high degree of throttle control on corner exits. Fast guys like 500GP World Champion, Kevin Schwantz, were able to set their exit line out of the corner using a healthy dose of throttle, albeit applied smoothly. Up out of turn one, heading up the hill, big darkies were laid down even with the front wheel in the air. Power is nothing without good control, and this bike has got it in spades, no doubt.

If you were to compare the engines from the GSX-R750 and the 1000, you'd notice some differences. Notably, the fact that its 15 millimeters taller and 6 millimeters longer while the width remains identical. The new engine sports a larger crankcase to support the larger bore and stroke. Other differences include a larger clutch, wider transmission gears and larger crank journals. Some completely new parts in the engine include an air-cooled oil-radiator and a compact counter-balancer mounted in front of the crankshaft.

The addition of one more motor mount on the right frame spar and the aforementioned thickening of the main frame rails help keep the engine from twisting about in the chassis. The swingarm, although identical in size, was stiffened through the use of a dual box-section design, whereas the 750 is of single-box construction.

Six-piston calipers up front help put a rein on all the new-found power and are lighter than the '99 GSX-R750's caliper by 120 grams per unit. 180 grams was also shaved from the rear disc while 60 grams was reduced from the rear brake caliper. Despite these weight reducing measures, the 1000 weighs 10 more pounds than the 750. Much of this weight can be attributed to the use of a wider rim and tire, the aforementioned chassis stiffening measure and in the changes in the engine.

Excellent brakes, smooth tranny and good fuel mapping of a motor whose destiny is, it seems, to re-invent the open class just as the first GSX-Rs did back in 1985.

So, did the Year 2001 GSX-R1000 scare us like we thought it might? Not exactly, though it did make us tremble from time to time. And where open bikes are concerned and big power wheelies and darkies are the name of the game, this latest Suzuki thrills like no other ever has before.