The new 2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000s. The R is on the left (check the gas charged forks) and the standard bike is, er, on the right
After Suzuki's top brass pulled the covers off the new GSX-R1000, Asorry, concept model GSX-R1000, at a variety of bike shows last year, we were expecting to see the machine by now in the flesh running and everything. But that plan was shelved while the bike was honed further, meaning that we saw another raft of sheet pulling at Intermot this time round and this time they meant it. Suzuki is being cagey about the reasons for the delay, with various rumours doing the rounds, but for now we'll concentrate on the positives.
Details of the new Gixer were light last year, but not so now. With Shinichi Sahara at the helm (former MotoGP project manager) the bike has morphed from the blunted but much loved current bike to a thing of utter intent. The first surprise is that two bikes are being released the `R' key is going to take a hit this year with a standard GSX-R1000 and a tricked up GSX-R1000R being offered. The latter gets a quickshifter (both up and down), launch control, upgraded Showa suspension and a lithium-ion battery. Tasty stuff.