2018 SUZUKI GSX-R1000R
R I D E R E V I E W
P106
you've got 2/3 of a 2019 model, anyway.
And if you need an adjustable swing-
arm pivot for your street bike, you
should probably be looking to
race at the Isle of Man.
Modern superbikes are abso-
lutely the most bi-polar machines with
license plates you can buy. If you think
about it, almost anything that produces
the kind of performance a 1000R does
on the street has to be operated on the
wrong side of the law, but you don't have
to be that guy on the Suzuki.
Call it bi-polar, Jekyll and Hyde, what-
ever, the fact is at low rpm, the GSX-R is
a pussycat. It's superbly smooth when
cruising in 405 traffic, although from closed
throttle, the response at the twist grip can
Before I begin, I must qualify this test by
saying it's not an out and out performance
shootout.
I used the GSX-R as my daily rider for
five months, taking it to product intros,
going for late-night jaunts into Los An-
geles, beach cruises for early morning
croissants, a couple of track days, even
bringing it to my son's daycare a few times
so he and the other little lads could get all
gee'd up at the sights and sounds of the
blue "sooki momo," as he calls it.
Even though this is a 2018 model, that
doesn't mean you cannot purchase one
at your local Suzuki dealer. In fact, it's the
only GSX-R1000R you can buy in America
as the 2019 edition still isn't here yet due
to complications with the factory.
These 2019 bikes are due to arrive by
September, and they come with the added
benefit of making the 2018 a run-out model.
That means there should be some very tasty
2018 deals floating around if you don't care
about the adjustable swingarm pivot, the
stainless steel brake lines, or the black muf-
fler that replaces this horrid light silver unit.
Besides, go fit some Goodridge (or the
like) brake lines and a Yoshimura pipe, and
(Left) That Showa
BFF fork is absolutely
superb on the street.
(Right) Chasing lap
times on the GSX-R.
You better have a few
spare rear tires handy!
(Below) The dash is a
relic from the pre-
plasma TV age. Time
to upgrade, Suzuki.
