The Suzuki Naked Bike that rivals the Ducati Monster at a lower price

The Ducati Monster is an icon and it’s not hard to understand why. When it launched, it was the closest thing to an affordable Ducati, and one you could ride every day, even in traffic. Furthermore, thanks to its success, the naked inspired a whole range of motorcycles that strive to be just that: premium, desirable, yet approachable.

Suzuki saw that the Monster was a great model (as did many others) and came up with its own version, the SV650. This is a Naked Bike similar to the Monster. So similar, in fact, that it even looks like one, with the round headlight and contrasting exposed grille. While the SV has remained the same over the decades, the Monster has evolved to the point where it is once again a premium product that will leave people wondering. In that time, Suzuki has introduced a new Naked Bike that undercuts the Monster and gives you more for your money.

The Suzuki GSX-S1000 is the Suzuki naked bike that can rival the Ducati monster at a lower price

Like most of its range, Suzuki has three different engine capacities for its Naked Bikes. There’s the 650cc V-twin, the 776cc parallel twin and the 999cc inline four. In a strange twist, any of these three bikes could be a suitable competitor for the Ducati Monster. The 650 cc is in the philosophy, the 776 cc is in the same class and the 1000 cc is in the same price range. Since we’re not loyal to the brand, it’s the GSX-S1000 that gets the attention, and it’s the Suzuki naked bike that rivals the Ducati Monster at a lower price.

Suzuki GSX-S1000 Price: $11,989

Suzuki has pulled off the same trick as many other manufacturers today: reusing old components to help build new models, significantly reducing R&D costs. This translates into savings for the buyer. That’s exactly what’s happened with the GSX-S1000: it has an old GSX-R engine tuned to offer more torque and meet current emissions standards, and the result is a truly affordable liter street fighter that can compete with any other, with tremendous value as its strongest point. That base price is more than $2,000 less than the Monster+, for reference.

An ultra-reliable Superbike engine powers the GSX-S1000

The GSX-S1000 uses an old GSX-R engine and shares the same tune as the other current models it powers, the GSX-S1000GT sports tourer and the GSX-S1000GX crossover. There’s no fancy firing order; this is an old school screamer that loves to rev. This is reflected in the power and torque figures. Even after being toned down for a street bike, it makes 150 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and 78 pound-feet at 9,250 rpm. Take it to the midrange and beyond, and you’ll be flying along with a huge grin on your face.

There is modern technology on this old engine, giving it a great combination of reliability and technology. Features include a by-wire throttle, low-speed assist system, one-touch start, three power modes and five-level traction control. The power modes do not change the peak power as we are used to from cycling today; they only change throttle response. This is mated to a six-speed close-ratio manual gearbox and an assist and slipper clutch.

The chassis also comes from Superbike

While everyone is now looking for lower costs and less weight through steel trellis frames, Suzuki has kept an old-school twin-spar aluminum frame for the GSX-S1000. Like the engine and gearbox, it’s a leftover from an old GSX-R sports bike, so its capabilities, especially at speed, are impeccable. It has a lighter subframe compared to the tourers it shares the chassis with, because it doesn’t have to worry about a pillion and luggage.

KYB supplies the 43mm inverted forks and the single link-type rear shock absorber. Full adjustability is available at both ends. The brakes are Brembo units at the front: twin 310mm discs paired with four-piston radial monobloc fixed calipers, while at the rear Nissin has opted for the 240mm disc and single-piston caliper. ABS is standard, but unfortunately cannot be switched off. 17-inch alloy wheels and tubeless asphalt tires round out the chassis components.

Suzuki GSX-S1000 Dimensions

The GSX-S1000 is 83.3 inches long, 31.9 inches wide and has a wheelbase of 57.2 inches. This is an advantage around town, and it makes it a good match for the Ducati Monster. The seat is almost 32 inches high, which is standard for this class of motorcycle. The biggest problem, however, is the curb weight of 472 pounds. This is significantly higher than the Monster’s 395-pound figure (wet without fuel).

The feature list focuses on the basics

Suzuki updated the GSX-S1000 in 2025, giving it a 5-inch TFT display but inexplicably leaving out Bluetooth and navigation. Even as a value product, this is somewhat disappointing by 2026 standards. The same goes for the basic electronic aids we mentioned above, although you could argue that traction control alone is sufficient for the performance on offer. Elsewhere, two colors are available: blue and red.

Suzuki GSX-S1000 competition

The Ducati Monster was one of the last surviving Ducatis, with the Testastretta 11-degree V-twin driving the Desmodromic valve line. Now you get the new V2 engine to save weight and improve long-term ownership. Even with the new engine, power and torque are down massively compared to the Suzuki. However, it regains points by being almost 100 pounds lighter. It also has upgraded brakes, a six-axis IMU and a bi-directional quickshifter as standard. All that comes at a price, though, so you have to pick your battles.

Otherwise, the GSX-S1000 is priced in a very interesting place. It sits right in the middle between the premium middleweight nudes and the value liter nudes. You could look at the Kawasaki Z900 ($9,999) or Yamaha MT-09 ($10,899) if you want more features and less weight with less power. If you’d be willing to pay more for more, those same manufacturers have the Z1100 and MT-10 available (both $14,999).

The GSX-S1000’s natural sparring partner is the Honda CB1000 Hornet SP, priced at $10,999. It uses a steel trellis frame, has high-quality suspension and braking components and exceeds Suzuki’s performance in international markets. However, in the US it is detuned to meet noise and emissions standards and produces less than 130 hp.

Suzuki GSX-S1000 vs. Ducati Monster

Source: Suzuki bicycles