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MD Second Ride: 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000

After publishing our report from the introduction of the 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 at Phillip Island, Australia (see that report here), we received a phone call from the Suzuki press office here in the United States offering us a second chance to test the bike on the track.

The chosen venue was California Speedway in Fontana, California. We sent big Jeff Whitmer (aka “Hoss”) for two reasons. First, he is fast, and he knows the California Speedway track very well. Second, he has loads of experience on open-class sportbikes (including ownership, testing and racing).

The California Speedway track has a mix of tight turns, sweeping turns (including a double apex or two), chicanes and one fast straightaway that takes you up on the banking of the NASCAR oval. It is a good test for a bike in many ways, not the least of which is the requirement that the rider be hard on the brakes several times each lap.

Take a look at our first ride report if you want all of the technical details regarding this new bike. We will not repeat them here, except to mention the remarkable Mode Drive Selector. With a thumb operated switch adjacent to the throttle, the rider can select three separate engine management systems, including Mode “A”(full power), Mode “B” (reduced power until the throttle reaches roughly 95% open, when full power is again available), and Mode “C” (diminished power across the board, suitable for wet weather and other limited traction situations).

The most interesting aspect of Jeff’s report for me is his belief that he was faster around the track in Mode “B”. Take a look at the chart in our initial report for a visual representation of the power output generated by each of these three Modes. Essentially, Jeff felt that Mode “B” allowed him to be both smoother and faster on the track. He could roll on the throttle a lot sooner on corner exits without upsetting the chassis or overloading the rear tire and eventually open the throttle wide as he stood the bike up onto the fat section of the tire, unleashing full power.

Full power mode (Mode “A”) was a little more difficult to manage at lower rpm levels. Smooth, controlled corner exits were a more delicate operation in Mode “A”, and the big GSX-R had so much torque down low that efficient forward motion (without tire spin) was most easily accomplished in Mode “B”.

This conclusion is similar to that reached by the test riders attending the Phillip Island introduction of the bike. Despite all this power, and even in Mode “A”, the GSX-R is easy to ride and does exactly what you tell it to. Jeff is a big guy, and he thought the shock was a little bit soft (it might be perfect for normal sized humans). Turn in required a bit more effort than Jeff expected, but the bike held a line very well once on its side. Overall, Jeff found the 2007 GSX-R1000 well suspended (he termed the ride “compliant”), providing excellent feedback to the rider from the tires, and with outstanding stability everwhere (including, hard on the brakes into a corner).

Similar to the conclusion reached by the riders at Phillip Island, Jeff found the brakes excellent. His skilled hands enjoyed the minimal effort and strong initial bite (less experienced riders might consider the brakes “touchy”). With outstanding feel and feedback, Jeff was able to modulate the brakes well and haul the ferociously fast Suzuki down aggressively. Despite the considerable demands of the California Speedway track, Jeff found no evidence of brake fade during his testing.

Bridgestone has apparently developed a specific compound for its BT015 tire mounted on the Suzuki GSX-R1000. A Bridgestone representative at the test indicated the OEM tire was specifically designed for the new GSX-R1000. Jeff was blown away by the performance of the stock Bridgestones, and termed them the best street tires he had ever ridden on. Despite the massive torque of the big Suzuki (albeit, controlled somewhat by Mode “B” when employed), the stock street tires held their own well into the day, and only started to lose grip on the left side during the last session of the day (this track is very hard on the left side of tires).

In the end, the normally critical Hoss was ecstatic when describing the 2007 GSX-R1000. The bike is an absolute bullet coming out of corners, has the best engine Jeff has ever sampled in an open-class sportbike, and was basically a surgical tool for a track-day addict or racer (meaning it will be immensely effective through canyons on the street). Amazingly, Jeff had only one simple complaint . . . he never got the footpegs, despite their adjustability, exactly where he wanted them for the track. This is quite a machine!



Some guy named Kevin Schwantz showed up. He was pretty fast.

The U.S. MSRP of the 2007 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is $11,399. The bike is available in three color schemes that you can view on Suzuki’s web site here, where you will also find additional details and specifications.

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