The touring motorcycle that combines distance, comfort and involvement

Touring motorcycles are made for a specific purpose (the clue is in their name). But they may be too big and heavy for everyday work. Or in the search for maximum comfort, manufacturers tend to put fun aside. After all, who doesn’t want a motorcycle that likes to be ridden hard when the opportunity arises?

That means the best kind of touring motorcycle walks a fine line between long-lasting comfort and reliability, while still making the rider want to ride simply because it’s a good motorcycle to ride. Pretty hard to get to, right? Fortunately, there are quite a few good touring motorcycles that boast this power. There is one that meets all the criteria exceptionally well, and that is the touring motorcycle that balances distance, comfort and involvement.

The Suzuki GSX-S1000GX balances distance, comfort and involvement

Suzuki is one of the few remaining motorcycle manufacturers that still has old-school motorcycles. It may not be cutting edge technology, but it is certainly proven technology, which is essential for a touring motorcycle. The GSX-S1000GX is a great example of this, and it’s made from old GSX-R parts like the engine and chassis, retuned for a better touring experience. Updated with modern suspension and a six-axis IMU, it’s somehow greater than the sum of its parts.

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Price: $18,599

The GSX-S1000GX costs just under $19,000, making it the cheapest among its direct competition. The great thing about this Suzuki is that it doesn’t need any accessories or options to truly be a premium tourer. Competitors include both Japanese and European brands, so there is choice. Still, the Suzuki makes a good case of being the most reliable among them.

Superbike engine, almost Superbike tuning

The GSX-S1000GX has the same engine as the GSX-S1000GT, and in the same state of tune. This 999cc inline four-cylinder engine is tuned for power, with 150 horsepower at 11,000 rpm and 78.2 pound-feet at 9,250 rpm. If that seems like it arrives quite high in the rev range for a touring car, that’s because it’s true. Y

You really have to rev this engine to get any poke out of it. In town it can be a little too docile, but on the highway you’ll have a big grin on your face. Only a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox is available, and a two-way quickshifter and an assist and slipper clutch are standard.

There are a few acronyms that help matters: a by-wire throttle and a six-axis IMU are the basis here. There is the S-DMS (Suzuki Drive Mode Selector – Alpha) which combines settings of driving modes, traction control, anti-wheelie and engine braking. SRAS (Suzuki Road Adaptive Stabilization) automatically configures throttle response to road conditions based on data from the electronic suspension. There’s also the Suzuki Exhaust Tuning valve, which helps optimize torque at different speeds. Finally, there is the Smart Cruise Control, which does not switch off when you shift gears.

Electronic suspension components are standard

The GSX-S1000GX has a twin-spar aluminum frame from an old GSX-R sports bike, but adapted to the GX’s intended use. There’s another subframe that can handle the stress of a passenger and luggage, and a long-travel suspension with 5.9 inches of travel at each end, with full electronic adjustability. Here too, the Suzuki Road Adaptive Stabilization helps by automatically adjusting the damping to the road conditions. There are 17-inch alloy wheels with road-specific tires. The brakes consist of dual 310mm discs at the front with radial monobloc calipers from Brembo, and a 240mm disc at the rear with a single-piston caliper. Cornering ABS and rear lift limitation are standard.

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Dimensions

This isn’t a very large motorcycle, at less than 85 inches in length, and it’s quite maneuverable too, with a wheelbase of less than 58 inches. It is expectedly tall, with a seat height of 33.3 inches. The width of the transverse inline four engines must also be taken into account. Ground clearance is a significant 6.1 inches, while wet weight is 511 pounds.

Good feature set with all bases covered

The price of the GSX-GX is not just a base price; what you see is what you get. And you get pretty much everything on the list. That includes a 6.5-inch TFT screen with Bluetooth and navigation, color-coordinated hard luggage (with quick-release function), a center stand, an adjustable windshield and handguards. The options list is small, but includes practical items such as heated grips, frame sliders and a seat that does not get as warm as a normal seat in the sun. Oh, and you can have red brake calipers too!

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX Competition

There are a few sport tourers that should be on your radar if you’re considering the GSX-GX. The Ducati Multistrada V2 S ($19,595) exists in the same domain, but is for a different kind of consumer with its torquey V-twin engine. We’d like to give a shout-out here to the Yamaha Tracer 9. It’s exactly the same as the Suzuki, but at a lower price ($12,599) and with less highway performance.

That leaves us with the BMW S 1000 XR, whose base price ($18,825) is within a few hundred dollars of the GSX-S1000GX. However, if you try to spec it with the kind of features the Suzuki has, you’ll end up adding a few thousand dollars. However, there is no denying that the 170 hp is very tempting.

Finally, with the Kawasaki Versys 1100, there is no such problem. Like the blue bike, it is fully loaded from the start. It has the same basic components as the Suzuki: inline-four engine, long-travel suspension, TFT screen, six-axis IMU, but the larger displacement does not translate into better performance. Kawasaki has chosen to focus on torque, so if you like a quiet ride, this will definitely be a better choice. It also has a unique instrument cluster consisting of a TFT plus a large analogue tachometer,

Suzuki GSX-S1000GX vs Kawasaki Versys 1100

Source: Suzuki bicycles