2021 Suzuki GSX-S1000: Photo Gallery

A closer look at Suzuki’s new flagship naked offering

Suzuki‘s flagship naked bike stuck out like a sore thumb given the improvements made by its rivals in the past year. Now, the Japanese giant has unveiled the 2021 GSX-S1000 in an attempt to bridge this gap. The bike has gotten arguably its biggest update yet with some very promising bits in the package. Curious? Here’s an image gallery to take you through all of them:

The most significant change for 2021 is surely the bike's aesthetics, considering it has shed its old bulky appearance.

The headlamp, in particular, is an all-new unit for 2021. It is a vertically stacked full LED unit, giving the GSX-S an aggressive face. It may not be an instant hit, but it will probably grow on you. 

The bike sees reworked tank extensions resulting in a more muscular appeal. Even the plastic side panels are noticeably different, neatly converging towards the headlamp, making the front end appear even more radical. Further, there are two tiny aerodynamic winglets too, keeping the nose planted on the ground.

Then, there’s the new fuel tank. Not only does it look beefier (thanks to the new shrouds), but it also holds 19 litres of fuel, 2 litres more than before.

The bike also features a new rider’s seat. Suzuki claims that the new seat provides a better grip, freedom of movement, and support.

The rear end doesn’t look new, even though the tail light and exhaust are both revised units. We think Suzuki could’ve done a slightly better job with the back, considering it’s a little blunt in comparison to other aspects of the bike, especially the front.

It comes in three new colours -- Metallic Triton Blue, Glass Mat Mechanical Gray, and Glass Sparkle Black.

Suzuki has made some ergonomic tweaks too. The naked Gixxy gets a new tapered handlebar that is 23mm wider and 20mm closer to the rider. This should result in a comfortable yet sporty riding posture. Adjustable levers also come standard.

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Its feature list has got a significant update too, taking it even closer to the competition. For 2021, Suzuki has thrown in full-LED lighting, five-level traction control, a bi-directional quickshifter, and ride-by-wire. Existing features include low-RPM assist, Suzuki’s easy start system, and three ride modes.

To top it off, the bike now packs a new LCD instrument cluster similar to that of the Suzuki GSX-R1000. That said, we would have preferred a TFT unit.

Coming to its engine, the Gixxy is still powered by a 999cc inline-four motor that’s tweaked to meet Euro-5 norms. It makes 152PS now (2PS more than before). The bump up isn’t significant, but Suzuki claims the bike has a stronger low-end punch, increasing usability.

Additionally, the bike also gets a new 4-into-2-into-1 exhaust system. Having considered everything, we think the GSX-S1000 still falls short by 20-25PS to properly compete with its direct rivals like the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS and the Ducati Streetfighter V4. 

Housing the engine is a re-worked chassis that’s claimed to be nimbler and lighter than before. It is sprung on a 43mm USD Kayaba fork and monoshock, both adjustable. To further enhance riding ability, the cast-aluminium alloys are wrapped in Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 rubber.

The most important question after all this is, ‘Will it come to India?’ Luckily, there are high chances that it would. The previous-gen GSX-S1000 was available in India and considering this one is Euro-5-compliant, we could surely see it here. It will be a CBU, though, so don’t expect bang-for-buck pricing like recently launched 2021 Hayabusa.