Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128229
Gregorio Lavilla s A/stare Corona Suzuki GSX-R 1000 (Far left) Team Alstare prefers the Arrow exhaust system for Lavilla's Suzuki. (Left) The carbon fiber airbox and fender hover over a Marchesini front wheel that carries the latest in Brembo's radial brakes, making the GSX-R a powerful stopper. hard and late, from an honest 165 yards in fifth gear for the secondgear turn at the end of the back straight - even if I couldn't get the hang of using the thumb rear brake that Gregorio opts for in the middle of the turn to help kick the back around for a fast exit. Expert stuff takes practice, and talent. .. Though it remains a constant conundrum that Suzuki can build a one-liter Superbike as good as this one yet be so utterly shipwrecked with its MotoGP contender, even at the second time of asking, Suzuki deserves a lot of credit for making the brave decision to go into the Superbike battle this season with the handicap of the controversial restrictors but surely in doing so, it's stolen a march on its Japanese rivals. Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha will all have new 1000cc four-cylinder Superbike contenders for 2004 but will have to footrests and muscling it back into After work on the setup, straight- clutch this season, which means that submission (call it a score-draw!) line stability under power was fine, as well as the good bite from the until the Alstare crew dialed in some and calming down the speed wobble radial calipers, you can use quite a more preload to the rear Showa. That not only gave a big impression of lot of engine braking to stop late and made up for the fact that, while Greg speed - this is one fast motorcyclel - hard without having the idle speed and I are the same height so that in it also allowed me to take full advan- jacked up to the four grand figure spend a year dialing them in en route to mounting a serious challenge for championship honors both at the world level and, perhaps even more crucially, in National series like AMA and BSB - while all the time Suzuki is shooting for title success with a proven product, in a class of racing with a proven direct link between spite of the quite high footrests for tage of the fabulous Brembo radial Frankie Chili insisted on to avoid extra ground clearance, the bike fit- brake package, which again is an rear-wheel chatter on the GSX-R750 ted me really well, I'm still ten kilos area the Suzuki unexpectedly excels he used to ride for Alstare Corona. racetrack victory and success in the heavier than he is. More pasta, less in, compared to the twins, which are On Lavilla's bike. this is set at just theoretically easier to stop hard. Third-gear wheelies are a fact of 2300 rpm, but using the engine Suzuki has a new ramp-type slipper potato! showroom. Is the Alstare Corona GSX-R 1000 tomorrow's Superbike braking means you can stop really today? It could very well be so. eN life on this bike, but your body position isn't nearly as critical a factor in The best Suzuki: The Alstare Corona Suzuki 1000 has taken the first step in the future of big block four-cylinder Superbikes at the world level. Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki will no doubt be along with similar machines shortly. making the Suzuki handle properly as on the 999 desmo - it feels a lot more forgiving to ride and, rather surprisingly, no heavier or bulkier than the V-twin. 46 AUGUST 27, .;1003' cue I e nevvs Specifications iiJD0l1&J[f@ ENGINE: @@[J@[JiJ@ @{Jf}g{Jf}!lf5 @@J:{ofX]'D@@@ Water-cooled, dohc, 16-valve, transverse, in-line, four-cylinder four-stroke with offset chain camshaft drive DIMENSIONS: ....•...........................................73 x 59mm CAPACITY: 988cc OUTPUT: 207 bhp at 13,500 rpm (at gearbox) COMPRESSION RATIO: 15.8:1 FUEL/IGNmON SYSTEM: Magneti Marelli electronic fuel injection with 4 x 44mm throttle bodies fitted with 32.5mm restrictors and twin injectors per cylinder, and integrated engine management system GEARBOX: 6-speed close-ratio semi-extractable CLUTCH: Multiplate oil-bath ramp-type slipper clutch CHASSIS: Aluminum twin-spar SUSPENSION: FRONT: .47mm Showa inverted telescopic forks REAR: Aluminum swingarm with eccentric pivot, rising rate link and Showa shock HEAD ANGLE: 24 degrees TRAIL: .3.9 inches WHEELBASE: .56.4 inches WEIGHT: .374 Ibs. with oil/water, no fuel .52/48 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION: BRAKES: FRONT: 2 x 320mm Brembo steel discs with four-piston Brembo radial calipers REAR: 1 x 220mm Braking steel disc with two-piston Brembc caliper WHEELS/TIRES: FRONT: _ 120/75-420 (16.5 in.) Dunlop on 3.50 in. Marchesini wheel REAR: 195/60-420 (16.5 in.) Dunlop on 6.25 in. Marchesini wheel TOP SPEED: , 193 mph (Monza) 2003 YEAR OF CONSTRUCTION: