Here’s Why This Touring Motorcycle Is The Most Balanced Choice In 2025
Over the years, Suzuki has become a master at extracting more life out of a platform. It has become the brand’s way. You can look at it from a negative angle and question the lack of innovation, but sometimes it gets it right, and all we can really do is marvel at the value proposition such a strategy yields. The current GSX-S1000 platform has now been around for several years, and at its core, has an engine that is now two decades old.
Yet, with the GSX-S1000GT+, we have one of the very best touring bikes currently on offer. While it doesn’t necessarily have the unparalleled comfort of some of the more luxurious touring bikes currently offered by American brands, nor the performance of the European sport tourers, it makes up for things with an incredible balance between the two. It also offers all of that at a price that is pretty hard to ignore.
All the information you see here has been sourced directly from Suzuki. Whereas, the opinions are our own.
Related
The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ Is The Most Balanced Touring Bike In 2025
MSRP: $14,299
The big advantage Suzuki has by revamping an older platform is how much money it’s able to save on research and development. This allows the company to undercut just about everyone else offering a comparable touring bike. In fact, it costs less than some dual sport bikes. As a result, the only direct competitor offering this kind of value is actually using the same strategy. The Kawasaki Ninja 1100 SX SE also runs on the old Z1000 platform, which first debuted well over a decade ago.
The Ninja 1000 SX benefited from a pretty decent update for the 2025 model, which included a bump in displacement and the addition of the SE model which competes more directly with the GSX-S1000GT+. The only problem is that it costs over $1k more and has less power. While it will go toe to toe with the GT+ in most respects, that extra 15 horsepower will make an undeniable difference.
Both Yamaha and Triumph also launched more budget-friendly options this year, but neither offers the same level of performance. The Triumph Tiger Sport in particular is also an unknown quantity at this point as it is still in its very first year of production. If you are after something that offers both performance and peace of mind, it is pretty hard to look past the Suzuki.
Rivals
- Kawasaki Ninja 1100 SX
- Yamaha Tracer 9
- Triumph Tiger Sport 800
An Old Inline-4 That Offers A Very Modern Level Of Performance
Power: 150 Horsepower
In many ways, the K5 GSX-R1000 is one of those sports bikes with a reputation that precedes itself. It came out at a time when around 160 horsepower was considered a lot for a superbike, and it brought a whopping 180 horsepower to the table. So, you can understand why Suzuki is pretty keen to keep this engine in production. Two decades later, it is still going strong, albeit in a totally different state of tune compared to the old Gixxer.
It has become a far more refined powertrain, and with the advent of electronic rider aids, far more manageable, too. This is still a sports bike engine, and no matter how much the mid-range has improved, you still need to rev the thing for it to make meaningful power. When the torque does come in, it is more than enough, and the bike will cruise at just about any speed you choose.
Adding this level of maturity to what was once seen as such a hooligan of a motorcycle has an inescapable tinge of irony. However, erroneous or not, it suits the concept perfectly, and is certainly a motorcycle worth buying for the engine. It will also give you the satisfaction of being able to outrun just about any middleweight sports bike currently on the market.
Engine Specifications
|
Engine Type |
Inline-4, liquid-cooled |
|
Displacement |
999cc |
|
Max Power |
150 HP |
|
Max Torque |
78 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
6-speed |
Related
10 Reasons To Choose The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ For Your Next Touring Adventure
Power, tech, comfort, and reliability – the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT+ checks all the boxes to be your touring buddy.
Offers All The Tech You Will Ever Need
Ride Modes: 3; Traction Levels: 5
While the engine might be showing its age a little, the rest of the bike is bang up to date. It offers a comprehensive electronics suite that rivals significantly more expensive touring bikes. It also offers a host of features that other manufacturers tend to leave on the options list. A TFT screen with smartphone connectivity has become something of an industry standard these days, but one nice touch is the fact that they digitized the old Suzuki tach we have come to know and love.
It has a bidirectional quickshifter as standard fitment, saddlebags (for the GT+ but not on the GT), and decent wind protection (a necessity for any tourer). It offers three ride modes, five traction control settings, and cruise control – which now works in conjunction with the quickshifter. All mechanical components follow a similar brief, and neither element will feel space-age or low-quality. For instance, the chassis is derived from the GSX-R1000 and the suspension is fully adjustable.
Suzuki usually likes to keep things pretty simple. It holds onto platforms for ages, and generally doesn’t offer the same level of refinement as other Japanese brands but will add some features as deemed necessary. It does this to keep the cost right down. One look at the $10-$15k space will tell you everything you need to know about the brand. With the GSX-S1000GT+, you still get all that value associated with an older platform, just with more features, and a touch of refinement not found on any other Suzuki model.
Key Features
- 6.5-inch TFT with Suzuki mySPIN
- Five-mode Suzuki Traction Control System (STCS)
- Ride modes
- Bidirectional quickshifter
- Smart Cruise Control (SCC)
link
