SUZUKI GSX-R1000 (2009 - 2011) Review

Version: 2011

Year: 2011

Annual servicing cost: £250

Bikes best features are the ability to control power from A B and C The modes helped me understand the how to control the power of a 1000cc. What I feel could be better is the brakes and I know that the newer models are using brembo's but the brakes did cause me a problem coming from my 2007 1000cc. Overall I miss my 2007 as the color schema was beautiful blue and white and red. The black is just a bullet and most people dont appreciate the bikes looks compared to the colors.

Buying experience: Bought my 2nd one privately and solid overall bike.

Year: 2009

Brilliant on the road. reasonably comfortable for a sports bike and fast. Puts a smile on my face every time I take it for a spin.

Buying experience: I bought the bike privately for £4900 exallent condition with on 7000 miles on the clock but when I am from second hand bikes are cheaper than the UK.

Version: K9

Year: 2009

Annual servicing cost: £215

Being lucky enough to have both a K6 1000 and a K9 1000, and being able to ride it back to back with the "last of the true superbikes" (K6 1000). I feel that I can give a balanced review and dispel a couple of myths against the K9, there are some that would have you believe that it isn't as fast as the K6 and this in entirely untrue the K9 is faster, the only difference is you have to work for the power.

Year: 2009

AWESOME bike brutally fast through every gear, massively over powered for the road, I'd put it up against anything on the road it will keep up if not out run it despite the review mcn have done saying it's a bit disappointing. If you want a bike that will get you where you want to be early when you're running late buy one of these.

apologies to the beach boy for the title. owned about a month now and having had a 40 year diet of suzuki's I have to say this one is a nice try to get back somewhere near the glory days when suzuki spanked everyone but still fails. the bodywork is flimsy as though it was made in china. the engine is very "rough" not sure that's the right word but it growls but also feels like something is grating/grinding and the vibrations between 40 and 70mph are probably caused by the growl. The engine is a big improvement low down and mid range where you need it most on the road. the bike feels shorter and very very easy to turn (compared to my old k7 which felt 10 ft long) but also feels compressed as though it's a little fatter and taller (probably isn't but just feels like it is). the front suspension "clonks" over small holes and the front brakes (which are very good) seem to make noise when I push the bike along. (maybe I got a friday afternoon one). It's hard to explain but it just feels cheaply made, I know the engine will be awesome and the handling is great but it feels like my k7 did after 5 years of very very very bad abuse and neglect although the k7 felt more robust. This is a nice bike but even though I knocked over a grand off the asking price I still feel I overpaid.... it's a great try but it's just not quite there yet. oh and the pass switch is a real swine, I like the mode switches and the ability to cycle through clock, odometer etc without taking your hand off the handlebars but when travelling down unlit roads the old pass switch was great for holding on for short bursts where the new one is activated by your thumb on top of the cluster which never feel right not having your thumb round the handle bars (also awkward to feel with gloves on) these are only small points but they are like an itch I can't quite reach. Overall 4 ride and handling 4 (handling 5 ride 4 because clunky forks) Equipment 3 no electric gizmos which is not a bad thing but switches mounted in bad locations) quality and reliability 3 (again these should be separate) quality 2.5 (it really does feel like the materials were sourced from elsewhere) reliability 5 (It is a suzuki after all) value 3 there is no way on earth this is worth £11130 on the road, £9200 would feel right for value comparing it to honda/bmw engine 4 usual great gsxr engine let down with harsh sound and vibration

Hi, picked my K9 up on sept 1st and just thought i'd share my thoughts. came from a K7 gixer 750 which i loved. I would give the bike 9 1/2 out of 10. i absolutley love the bike. it is crazy fast, my first 1000, and to be honest it's too fast for the roads. i'd say i was an average rider both on roads and track and would admit the bike is a lot faster than i am capable of. however my thoughts on the handling would be that it's like my other gixer as it rides very flat. there's no front or rear bias and is very neutral. the suspension is obviously fully adjustable but on standard settings are about perfect for me. i took a blade out before i bought the gixer and the one area i think the blade was better was on bump absorbsion. the blade floated over bumps and crests where as the gixer will skip and feels more lively. i enjoy this aspect but i suppose it's personal choice. i've changed the brake fluid on mine as they lacked initial bite and wern't that strong and it's helped. also ive got the akrapovic 4-1 and a power commander on the bike and the fueling is perfect with a custom map but i cant comment on the standard bike.one thing i don't like is the standard bridgestones 016's. i'm not that keen on them and i'll be putting some supercorsa's on it for spring/summer next year. really happy with the bike and won't be changing it in the next couple of years.

I bought my k7 without a test ride and was disappointed with the overall size of it and the power placement. Earlier GSXR 1000's have a huge wave of power from tickover. The K9 still lacks this one thing that used to set suzuki apart from the other big 3.... but they have addressed the size issue... it feels as though it is three quarters the size of my k7 and handles incredibly well. Definitely on par with the k5/ k6 (which may well be the best sportsbike ever produced) the engine although well suited for town and commuting still lacks the bottom end grunt that makes big bikes exciting from pull away. It's not a million miles behind the fireblades engine (which is the best engine at present) it is just more user friendly (nullifying the need for the 3 way power switch) and less scary after 6500 rpm. That said, it will wheelie from 60 mph off the thottle in 2nd and is less twitchy on typical pot holed british roads. I must agree with SteveW19 regarding MCN's Yamaha bias it has been going on for a few years since the 2007 bike came out (every year the new yamaha is the best thing since sliced bread). Also it is true that the other 3 will pull away from the gixxer round a track at wsb rider pace but average riders on all 4 wouldn't tell the difference. On the road is what counts. Personally I'd just like the k9 with a tweaked k5 engine in it but euro regulations and emission restrictions wouldn't allow it so this is as good as it gets.

Background - whilst I'm no self confessed track-day God, I am more than a little tired of people raving about alledged massive differences between the latest crop of superbikes. I am fortunate enough to have owned a lot of bikes over the years, including 4 GSXR1000's and I am awaiting delivery of a new K9 in 2 weeks time (to replace a K7). In my opinion - unless you really are a track day junkie etc. (and an advanced one at that) then you choose the bike that you think looks best. Splitting hairs is down to personal preference, and I agree with other comments here that for journalists to rave about 1 model as being significantly better each year - is really wearing thin with most of us. I used to rely on the road tests as being a fair account, but I agree that there seems to be a fair old bit of brand sponsoring going on. If you like the GSXR family, then you'll love the new one. I have a demo bike at the moment whilst mine is on order, and it feel very similar to the K7, I like the new touches, the dash, engine note. As I liked the R1s that I've owned too. I would have happily gone for a new R1, but I don't like the looks of the current model - and isn't that what many of us use as a buying decision? I am pleased to now see some of the UK magazines giving a more real world assessment on the bikes i.e. the differences are minimal and any bike will suit 99% of riders, you just choose the style and colour that you prefer. Sorry MCN, but as a long term reader can I simply ask for some basic objectivity and honesty.

I ride 600RR'07 before I upgraded into K9 happy with all the features I wanted. smooth delivery agile and lighter. I give 5 stars for this all new features Gixer.

In the last 6 weeks i have owned the new R1, Blade and now GSX R1000. They are all great bikes so i think it just comes down to personal prefence. Gixer wins for me though.

I have to agree with you GMan7, I suggest you check out MotorcycleUSA.com. They have a massively different opinion of the K9, written by someone who isn't on the Triple Tuning fork's payroll! I haven't ridden the K9, but I give Suzuki 5 Stars for being the only Japanese Manufacturer preserving good superbike design!

After reading the MCN test of the new K9 I was somewhat disappointed but after a long test ride I can confirm that it is an awesome motorcycle! I think MCN have lost a lot of Gixxer loving readers and Yamaha racing Michael Neeves has gone down in my estimation. In this time of economic troubles the last thing we need is a report on a new bike that actively turns people away from buying it. I have had a K1, K5 and soon a K9 and am so glad I dismissed and resisted opting for an R1 as instructed by Mr Neeves in your heavily Yamaha biased MCN test report.