Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 revised for 2003

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/11/2002 (8402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Suzuki’s GSV-R MotoGP bike may be less than a year old, but it’s already having an effect on the company’s streetbike. More to the point, the company’s flagship superbike, the GSX-R1000, gets revised for 2003 despite still being the dominant force in the litre-bike class.

The 73mm x 59mm four-cylinder, DOHC four gets an innovative technology that uses holes in the cylinder walls to reduce pressure underneath the pistons. The lowered backpressure lets the pistons freewheel with less friction, creating more power says Suzuki. Other alterations include new throttle bodies and a new exhaust system that is not only entirely made of aluminum but has increased volume for increased power without increasing the sound level.

The most distinctive change, however, is the revised aerodynamics, made obvious by the fairing’s new stacked headlights. The change allows the ram-air intake ducts to be positioned closer to the centreline of the fairing, at the point of highest air pressure.

The most dramatic departure for 2003 is the available adjustable swingarm pivot. As more sanctioning bodies allow 1000cc four cylinder engines in their superbike classes, being able to alter the swingarm’s angle becomes of paramount importance for precise chassis tuning. The other change to the chassis are radially-mounted four-piston front brakes. Final pricing for the ’03 GSX-R1000 hasn’t been determined.