By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Sport Tourer vs Supersport
Suzuki GSX-S1000F Sport Touring (MY2016) vs GSX-R 1000 (MY2017-R)
Suzuki GSX-S1000F Sport Touring vs GSX-R 1000: two kinds of bike, and who each one is for.
You'll notice the Suzuki GSX-S1000F Sport Touring tips into a bend off a light push on the bars after a stint on the Suzuki GSX-R 1000. The GSX-R 1000 won't turn in until you lean on the bars with real pressure. Then it carries big speed through and holds its line.
So which one do you buy?
The GSX-S1000F Sport Touring has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Nose ahead: GSX-S1000F Sport Touring
The GSX-S1000F Sport Touring edges it for the daily grind. It's a small gap, not a reason on its own.
The GSX-R 1000 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: GSX-R 1000
Once the road starts to bend, the GSX-R 1000 noses ahead. What tips it: better suspension and harder acceleration. Your own skill counts for more than a gap this size.
What makes each one tick
GSX-S1000F Sport Touring
The GSX-S1000F sits you upright behind a high, flat handlebar over low pegs, yet its aluminum twin-spar frame still flicks it through a run of corners. The retuned four pulls with muscle through the middle revs, and it's got a thrilling rush up top. There's clear feel at the brake lever through the radial Brembo monobloc calipers. They haul the bike down hard.
GSX-R 1000
Corner exit's where the GSX-R 1000 comes into its own, and the chassis stays planted with full power on, lap after hard lap. Over a bump at the exit, the Showa suspension doesn't fight the geometry or the engine. The four pulls without a dip. The throttle loads the chassis up cleanly mid-corner.
Nils rode the GSX-R 1000 in Australia in 2017 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The GSX-S1000F Sport Touring has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.5 in (825 mm).
- The GSX-R 1000 has the lower wet weight: 448 lb (203 kg) vs 463 lb (210 kg).
- The GSX-R 1000 makes more peak power: 203 hp (149 kW) vs 145 hp (107 kW).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Sits this out: GSX-R 1000
Leave the GSX-R 1000 out of any touring plans. Big miles aren't what it's made for.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Not built for this
If this is your first motorcycle, keep looking. Neither one makes learning easy.
Don't look for a gap on running costs: 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-S1000F Sport Touring
What owners say
Strengths
- Sharp, agile handling
- Comfortable upright ergonomics
- Strong radial Brembo brakes
Trade-offs
- Snatchy throttle on early models
GSX-R 1000
Strengths
- Relentless top-end surge
- Corner exit stays planted
- Track-ready Brembo brakes
- Traction control gives real choices
- Torquey, broad-powerband engine
Trade-offs
- Turn-in needs deliberate effort
- Wheelie and TC share one dial
- Two safety recalls to verify
Known problems to check before you buy
GSX-S1000F Sport Touring
- Abrupt throttle snatch (pre-2017 models) Many owners and testers note a jerky on/off throttle transition, especially at low rpm and in first gear, making low-speed maneuvers and corner exits unpredictable. The issue is typically resolved with an aftermarket ECU reflash or by installing a Power Commander.
GSX-R 1000
- Gearshift double-click between 4th-5th and 5th-6th Shifting between higher gears can feel notchy, with a double-click sensation; adjustment does not always fix it.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 9-year-old GSX-S1000F Sport Touring with a 9-year-old GSX-R 1000.
- GSX-S1000F Sport Touring
- about $6,200
- GSX-R 1000
- about $13,800
At nine years old, the Suzuki GSX-S1000F Sport Touring sits around $6,200 while the Suzuki GSX-R 1000 runs about $13,800. That's a $7,600 gap in the US market. These are estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-four
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| GSX-S1000F Sport Touring | GSX-R 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.9 in (810 mm) | 32.5 in (825 mm) |
| Wet weight | 463 lb (210 kg) | 448 lb (203 kg) |
| GSX-S1000F Sport Touring | GSX-R 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 999 cc | 1000 cc |
| Power | 145 hp (107 kW) | 203 hp (149 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 13,200 rpm |
| Torque | 80 lb-ft (108 Nm) | 87 lb-ft (118 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 9,500 rpm | 10,800 rpm |
| GSX-S1000F Sport Touring | GSX-R 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 32 mpg (US) / 7.4 L/100 km | 35 mpg (US) / 6.8 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 4.5 US gal (17 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| GSX-S1000F Sport Touring | GSX-R 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 310 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 190/50-17 | 190/55-17 |
| Wheelbase | 57.5 in (1460 mm) | 56.1 in (1425 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| GSX-S1000F Sport Touring | GSX-R 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cornering ABS | Not offered | Standard |
| Ride Modes | Not offered | Standard |
| Wheelie Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Launch Control | Not offered | Standard |
| Steering Damper | Not offered | Standard |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Standard |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| LED Headlight | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
