Suzuki's GSX-R1000 leaped into the top rank of litre-class rocketships when it was first released in 2001 and easily out-powered Yamaha’s R1 and Honda’s FireBlade. Since then both competitors have been updated and the Gixer lost out in the handling department.
It was time for a new, improved Suzi, so here it is – the GSX-R1000 K3.
The changes to the bike's class-leading 988cc, twin-cam motor are subtle. It keeps the 73 x 59mm bore and stroke and its compression ratio is still 12:1 but ventilation holes have been drilled between adjacent cylinders so the crankcase pressure build-up under a descending piston can be vented to the rising slug next door.
Continues Below ↓
This reduces crankcase pressure and drag and improves efficiency and torque.
There's more power than most street riders can use all the way from eight to 12000rpm. “Dual throttle valve" electronic fuel-injection remains but twin double-barrelled throttle bodies replace the four singles of the K2. The engine control module now has a 32-bit processor (up from 16) and two complete fuel maps for each cylinder.
The "light" program uses revs and inlet vacuum to calculate how much squirt each injector needs while the "heavy" mapping uses rpm and throttle opening (at high revs in fifth and sixth gears only).
The result is an increase peak engine power to 122kW and a smoother spread of mid-range torque – a genuine benefit in real terms. The latest version of Suzuki's big gun accelerates smoothly from as low as 2400rpm in the lower gears, begins to get muscular at six and above 8000 revs all hell breaks loose as it begins to vibrate and the air box begins to howl.
The bike has more power than most street riders can use all the way from eight to 12000rpm, the front end gets light on every gearchange and the thing hauls ass like a jet off a carrier.
So powerful is this motor that the only time I ever had the throttle all the way open was on the top end runs and even then I was cautious not to let it off the leash until it was already in top gear and well settled.
The all-alloy frame is lighter and simpler than before and completely new for 2003.
Continues...
|
