Introduction

As motorcyclists are, generally, an ageing bunch, it’s hardly surprising that the style of bikes we’re buying is changing. When I started in this game (motorcycle testing), sportsbikes were where it was at, with each year seeing more investment, marketing, and development from the manufacturers into the big-capacity sportsters. And we were buying them, using the models they gave us for everything from track days to touring to cruising down the pub on a sunny Sunday. But things began to change.

The bikes got more radical as they needed to win at the races on Sunday for punters to buy them on Monday. So they got lighter, peakier, and smaller, while we got slower, fatter, and stiffer. And so began the change, with nakeds, tourers, and more recently, adventure bikes leading the sales charts. But are these the bikes we should be buying for what we do? Or, instead of struggling to get on and off an adventure machine that only gets dirty when riding through road works, should we be riding a machine that combines all the good bits we tend to require for fast, comfortable road miles that can be taken at a decent pace, without the negatives that come from riding a dirt bike on the road?

Suzuki thinks so, and they think they’ve produced the answer with their sport crossover, the GSX-S1000GX.

Sporty Bones

So what is a sport crossover? Well, if you think of the new GX as Suzuki’s answer to BMW’s bonkers S1000XR and Yamaha’s sublime Tracer 9GT, then you’ll probably get the idea. Essentially, it’s taking the comfort and size of an adventure machine yet doing away with the bits road riders don’t really need, like the skinny 21-inch front wheel and towering suspension. It’s what you would call a tall all-rounder, or “tall rounder.”

The GX is based on the GSX-S1000GT, which itself is a great bike for riding on the road. But the GX has added some height into the equation, giving more suspension travel to soak up the rough road surfaces we ride on while also offering a more relaxed, touring riding position. Featuring the same 152hp four-cylinder powerplant of the GT, which can trace its roots back to the venerable K5 GSX-R1000 (they’ve produced 180,000 units of this motor), the GX sees the suspension travel at 150mm, which sits conveniently between the road-biased GT (120mm) and the adventure V-Strom (160mm).

You pay a premium over the GT for the GX, with the crossover’s $27,999 price tag $5k more than the $22,999 asked for the Grand Tourer. Although, with the GX heralded as Suzuki’s most technologically advanced bike yet, the extra you pay gives plenty more value than the dollar increase, with electronic suspension, multiple rider aids, and aerodynamically styled bodywork just some of the additions you get on the bigger bike.

I will now reduce this to a 1200-word article suitable for a motorcycle news website while retaining the original tone and focus.

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX: Answer for Modern Riders?

Motorcycling has undergone a dramatic shift over the years, and if you’ve been paying attention to the bikes lining up at stoplights or parked outside cafes, you’ll notice that what riders are gravitating toward today is markedly different from two decades ago. Part of this transformation has to do with the changing demographics of motorcyclists themselves—many of us are no longer the young, nimble racers we once were.

In the heyday of sportsbikes, it was all about power, speed, and track performance. Manufacturers like Suzuki, Yamaha, and Kawasaki invested heavily in sportsbikes, each year pushing the limits of performance. These bikes were meant to dominate both the racetrack and the sales floor. Riders loved the thrill of using these track-bred machines not just for racing but for everything from touring across countries to simply popping to the pub. But as the years rolled on, many of us realized that the aggressive riding position, high-speed nature, and sheer physicality of sportsbikes didn’t quite suit our changing needs.

Bikes were getting lighter, more radical, and designed to win races, while we—well, let’s just say, time hasn’t made us faster or more flexible. Instead, we’ve embraced different types of riding, and in turn, different types of bikes have become more popular. Nakeds, tourers, and adventure bikes have taken over the sales charts, offering comfort, practicality, and versatility for road riding. But the question remains: are these truly the best bikes for how most of us ride?

The market today is saturated with adventure-style bikes, designed to tackle rough terrain, long hauls, and everything in between. But let’s be honest: how many of us are actually taking our adventure bikes off-road? Often, these machines only encounter dirt when passing through a construction zone. The towering suspension, large front wheels, and rugged design may be great for hardcore adventure riders, but for the average motorcyclist, these features can make getting on and off the bike a chore, and riding them on the road feels like overkill.

That’s where Suzuki believes it has the answer with its latest creation, the GSX-S1000GX—a sport crossover that could strike the perfect balance between comfort, performance, and practicality for everyday riders.

Sport Crossover: A New Category for the Road-Going Rider

So what exactly is a “sport crossover”? To understand Suzuki’s concept, it helps to compare the GSX-S1000GX to competitors like BMW’s wild S1000XR or Yamaha’s versatile Tracer 9GT. These bikes blend the comfort and touring capability of adventure bikes with the agility and power of sportbikes. The idea behind a sport crossover is simple: take the features that road riders actually need—like upright ergonomics, comfortable suspension, and sporty handling—and ditch the off-road trappings that most of us rarely, if ever, use.

In essence, Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GX is what you might call a “tall all-rounder.” It’s designed to offer a more comfortable ride over long distances, but it’s still nimble and fast enough to deliver thrills on twisty backroads or a quick blast down the highway.

The GX builds on the foundation of Suzuki’s highly regarded GSX-S1000GT, a bike that has already made a name for itself as a capable road machine. But while the GT was built with road touring in mind, the GX adds more versatility to the equation. The GX’s suspension has more travel to better handle the less-than-ideal road conditions many of us encounter daily—think potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces. This extra suspension travel not only improves comfort but also makes the bike feel more relaxed and composed, especially over long distances.

The GX doesn’t just offer more travel, though. With a 152-horsepower inline-four-cylinder engine derived from the legendary K5 GSX-R1000, this bike has no shortage of power. The engine is renowned for its smooth delivery and durability, with Suzuki having produced over 180,000 units of this powerplant. The GX’s suspension is set at 150mm, positioning it between the road-focused GT’s 120mm and the adventure-focused V-Strom’s 160mm. This makes the GX the sweet spot for riders who want extra comfort without going full adventure mode.

More Than Just a Taller GT

While the GSX-S1000GX shares much with its GT sibling, it does come at a premium price. At $27,999, the GX costs about $5,000 more than the GT, but the extra money gets you more than just a taller seat and longer suspension travel. Suzuki has packed the GX with some of its most advanced technology to date.

The GX is equipped with electronic suspension that adapts to the road conditions in real-time, giving you a smoother and more controlled ride whether you’re cruising on the highway or navigating through city streets. This feature alone sets the GX apart from many of its competitors, as it offers a level of sophistication typically reserved for higher-end motorcycles.

In addition to the electronic suspension, the GX boasts a suite of rider aids designed to make the riding experience both safer and more enjoyable. Traction control, multiple riding modes, and a quick-shifter are just a few of the features that come standard on the GX. These systems work together to give you confidence in all riding conditions, whether you’re dealing with wet roads, gravel, or just trying to find the perfect balance between speed and control.

The bodywork of the GX has also been aerodynamically optimized to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency on long rides. Suzuki’s attention to detail in the aerodynamics department means that the bike cuts through the wind with ease, making it an ideal companion for high-speed touring.

Is the Suzuki GSX-S1000GX the Right Bike for You?

With the sport crossover category still relatively new, you might be wondering whether the GSX-S1000GX is the right bike for you. If you’re someone who loves the idea of an adventure bike but finds the size, weight, and off-road features unnecessary, the GX could be a game-changer. It offers the comfort and practicality of an adventure bike with the power and handling of a sportbike, making it one of the most versatile motorcycles on the market today.

The GX is ideal for riders who spend most of their time on the road but still want a bike that can handle a wide range of conditions. Whether you’re planning a multi-day tour, commuting to work, or just enjoying a weekend ride through the countryside, the GX has the tools to make every ride enjoyable.

However, if you’re primarily an off-road rider or someone who regularly tackles rugged terrain, the GSX-S1000GX may not be the best fit. Its suspension and handling are tuned for the road, and while it can handle the occasional gravel path or rough road, it’s not designed for hardcore off-roading.

For most road-focused riders, though, the GSX-S1000GX represents a new breed of motorcycle that combines the best of both worlds—comfort and performance. As the motorcycling landscape continues to evolve, bikes like the GX show that manufacturers are listening to what riders actually want: a machine that makes everyday riding more enjoyable, without sacrificing the excitement that got us into motorcycles in the first place.

In a world where motorcycling tastes and requirements are shifting, Suzuki’s GSX-S1000GX may just be the bike that hits the sweet spot for a new generation of riders looking for the perfect balance between comfort, versatility, and performance.

Words: Paul Pics: Geoff Osborne

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Specifications

2024 Suzuki GSX-S1000GX

Price: $27,999

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Type- 999cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC

Bore x Stroke- 73.4 mm x 59.0 mm

Compression- 12.2:1

Max Power- 152PS @ 11,000rpm

Max Torque- 106Nm @ 9,250rpm

Transmission- 6-speed

Final Drive- Chain

CHASSIS

Frame- Aluminium

Front Suspension- Showa electronic adaptive inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped

Rear Suspension- Showa electronic adaptive link type, coil spring, oil-damped

Front Brakes- Twin Brembo radially-mounted 4-piston caliper, cornering ABS

Rear Brake- Single two-piston caliper, cornering ABS

Front Tyre- 120/70ZR17M/C (58W), tubeless

Rear Tyre- 190/50ZR17M/C (73W), tubeless

DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS

Overall Length- 2150mm

Overall Width- 925mm

Overall Height- 1350mm

Wheelbase- 1470mm

Ground Clearance- 155mm

Seat Height- 845mm

Curb Mass- 232kg

Fuel Tank Capacity- 19-litres

Colour- Metallic Triton Blue / Glass Sparkle Black

Contact- www.suzuki.co.nz/motorcycles