Suzuki announces its contender for sports-tourer class honours, taking the GSX-S1000F and giving it a thorough update, with more comfort, more tech, better weather protection and optional hard luggage. Mechanicals stay the same but they were so good in the first place, why mess with a winning formula?

Suzuki Announces GSX-S1000GT

The Suzuki GSX-S1000F was one of the most underrated bikes on the market, which is a shame as it had a lot to recommend it: bulletproof engine and gearbox, decent comfort and an entertaining chassis. Yes, it lost out to some rivals in terms of tech, the weather protection could have been better and it never seemed sure of what it was - was it a sports bike or a touring bike? It wasn't entirely convincing as either but the qualities more than compensated for those shortcomings.

Now, for 2022, the GSX-S1000F gets a full make-over to really sharpen up the focus and provide all the sportiness many riders need with true mile-eating capability. The new GSX-S1000GT is the result and it now has the credentials to take the fight to its rivals, such as the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX, BMW R1250RS and Ducati Supersport 950S.

The GT builds on the successful revision of the naked GSX-S1000, launched earlier this year. The engine is still the 2005 GSX-R1000 K5 sportsbike unit, producing around 150bhp and around 80lb.ft of torque and now driving through an assisted slipper clutch and utilising a ride-by-wire throttle.

The aluminium twin-spar chassis is the same as the naked version, albeit with a revised subframe, allowing for the fitting of panniers and hopefully incorporating a larger pillion seat. The chassis really didn't need any changes: it might have lacked the ultimate sharpness of the GSX-R1000 but that suited its intended role and it was never anything but confidence inspiring and super stable. Suspension is by KYB and brakes by Brembo.

The biggest changes are in the bodywork and appearance. Gone are the slightly bland soft curves of the outgoing GSX-S1000F and in come razor-sharp lines that bear no resemblance to any other Suzuki. Could this be introducing a new design language to the brand?

The fairing is dominated by the very pointed nose, housing LED lights. Strangely the screen is non-adjustable. The dash is a brand new TFT unit of 6.5", offering full screen navigation, phone call and music management via Bluetooth. In line with almost every other manufacturer, Suzuki now has its own App., called Suzuki mySPIN. the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System controls the engine power modes, traction control and cruise control.

The in-line four-cylinder engine was never bad in terms of vibration but Suzuki has still rubber mounted the handlebars and foot pegs. The fuel tank holds 19-litres and the whole package weighs 226kg (not sure if that's dry or wet, however).

In the UK, the new GSX-S1000GT is set to cost about the same as the Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX and comfortably undercut the BMW and Ducati. Expect the same to be true in the US.