By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Hyper Naked
Suzuki GSX-S1000 (WDG0) vs Yamaha MT-10 (RN45)
Suzuki GSX-S1000 vs Yamaha MT-10: which one to buy, and what actually separates them.
Halfway through a highway merge with the throttle pinned, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 keeps winding up and doesn't stop building until the top of its range. On the Yamaha MT-10, that same grip sets off an off-beat crossplane bark that's loud from the first twist. It's already shoving forward far below the redline.
So which one do you buy?
The GSX-S1000 has the edge if…
Traveling with luggage
Small edge: GSX-S1000
For a week away, the GSX-S1000 noses in front. Fit the bags you want before you decide.
The MT-10 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: MT-10
On a twisty road, the MT-10 edges ahead. Not by enough to settle it alone.
What makes each one tick
GSX-S1000
Down the Coronado Trail's twisty, patchy pavement, the GSX-S1000's chassis threads between the flaws with real accuracy. On genuinely broken stretches, you start wishing for electronically adjustable damping. On a frost-slick roundabout the motor's gentle enough to pick through, and it'll still run hard once the road opens up. Its brakes bite lap after lap on track.
Nils rode the GSX-S1000 in 2015, and in Andalusia in 2018 (NastyNils Testride).
MT-10
There's a hooligan streak in the MT-10's engine, yet its chassis slips through town traffic without fuss. A bigger handful of throttle hauls it hard without chasing revs. The hard stock seat slopes toward the tank, and it's sore after an hour.
Nils rode the MT-10 in Austria in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The GSX-S1000 has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.5 in (825 mm).
- The MT-10 makes more peak power: 160 hp (118 kW) vs 150 hp (110 kW).
- Ride Modes: standard on the MT-10, not offered on the GSX-S1000.
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Neither is a natural fit
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
Don't look for a gap on commuting and riding two-up: there isn't one. Go by how each one fits you.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
GSX-S1000
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Screams To The Redline
- Stock Exhaust Sounds Serious
- Composed On Broken Pavement
- Fits You Straight Away
- Happy At Any Pace
Trade-offs
- No Quickshifter Fitted
- No Electronic Suspension
- Thin Paint, Early Corrosion
MT-10
What owners say
Strengths
- Incredible crossplane engine sound and character
- Monster midrange torque
- Excellent electronic package for the price
- Strong standard equipment and build quality
Trade-offs
- Uncomfortable stock seat
Known problems to check before you buy
GSX-S1000
- Front brake caliper fluid leak (Recall 15V-788) Recall 15V788000 A surface treatment on the Brembo calipers could enter the piston bore, damaging the seal groove and causing brake fluid to weep. A safety recall was issued in late 2015 for affected VINs to replace both front calipers.
- Ignition lock sticking Some owners report the ignition lock becoming stiff or difficult to turn, requiring lubrication or eventual replacement.
MT-10
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel capacity
- 4.5 US gal (17 L)
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| GSX-S1000 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 461 lb (209 kg) | 463 lb (210 kg) |
| GSX-S1000 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 998 cc |
| Power | 150 hp (110 kW) | 160 hp (118 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 11,500 rpm |
| Torque | 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) | 82 lb-ft (111 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,500 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 145 mph (233 km/h) | 152 mph (245 km/h) |
| GSX-S1000 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 190/50-17 | 190/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.5 in (1460 mm) | 55.1 in (1400 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| GSX-S1000 | MT-10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Not offered | Option |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
