Coming Next Issue...
Do you own a 2001-2002 Suzuki GSX-R1000?
Fill in the chart below and send high-res pics to ssbmail@sorc.com.
Your Age:
Model Year:
Miles Done:
Mods:
Best Upgrade:
Favorite Aspect:
SSB's Take:
Sure it's slower than a modern liter bike, but who cares when it looks and sounds so cool? Have we mentioned that Nicky Hayden and Colin Edwards both won hampionships on RC51s? How's that for pedigree?
We'd add:
Gearing to maximize the usable power, a nice exhaust system to let those sweet sounds roar in addition to some rearsets and levers to finish off the WSB look.
Ups:
Great handling, grunty V-twin power, nice to own a bike with a champion's bloodline.
Downs:
Excessive exhaust heat from the side-mounted radiators, the LCD tach is nearly invisible and it's portly; almost 500 pounds wet.
Typical Problems:
The high coolant temps can be hard on cooling components like the radiator, fan, thermostat and hoses, so watch for signs of fatigue. OEM voltage rectifiers are known to go kaput, wiping out the battery with them so a voltage meter is handy when testing the charging system. The stock gearing is also too tall, so a sprocket swap will make it more usable under 3,500 RPM.