VOL. 51 ISSUE 19 MAY 13, 2014 P65
W
hen Suzuki first
introduced its
GSX-R750 back
in 1985 (1986 in the U.S.)
it was quite a revolution for
the motorcycling communi-
ty. Every aspect of the bike
was leading edge and its
styling was totally different
than anything on the mar-
ket at that time. For years
to come the GSX-R series
would become the standard
for all other sportbikes to
try and emulate. When the
GSX-R1000 hit the market
back in 2001, it was equally
impressive in its debut, but
lately it has taken a back
seat to some of the newer
models coming out of both
Japan and Europe. While
the new GSX-R1000 is still
a viable motorcycle, there
hasn't been much in the
way of changes to the bike
for several years now. Does
that mean it's no longer in
the game? Well, think again.
When I got the call to go
to Austin, Texas, for the in-
troduction of the 2014 GSX-
R1000 I was a bit surprised.
Seeing how it's basically
the same model, I figured
what's the point? But there
was also the offer to be a
guest of Suzuki for the sec-
ond round of the MotoGP
World Championship, an
offer that was too good to
pass up.
I knew the 2014 GSX-
R1000 was pretty much the
same bike it has been since
2012, but I assumed that
there would be some sort of
new electronics or perhaps
a motor or suspension up-
grade on the menu. Sadly,
I was mistaken. One would
have to ponder why was I
going to Texas to ride a bike
that is unchanged from the
last time I rode it?
Well, as it turns out, the
boys at Suzuki decided to
give the motorcycle press the
opportunity to familiarize our-
selves with one of the most
successful sportbikes ever
made. They wanted us to re-
ally see how versatile a mo-
torcycle the GSX-R1000 can
be. So instead of the usual
journalist Grand Prix at some
track, the idea was to just do
a street ride and see for our-
selves how the GSX-R fits in
to everyday life. Oh, and by
the way, did I mention that we
were also going to hang out at
a world-class racetrack while
the best motorcycle racers
in the world flogged around
a spectacular facility that is
known as COTA, aka Circuit
of The Americas?
BY TOM MONTANO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN J. NELSON
