2012 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Tweaks

Not long ago the almighty Suzuki GSX-R1000 ruled the land as the baddest of the bad, but this reign at the top was short-lived when BMW released the all-conquering S1000RR and Kawasaki further drove home the point with the technology-rich new ZX-10R. The final nail in the coffin was the absence of a 2010 GSX-R1000, as Suzuki decided to do the unthinkable in not producing a bike for that model year since an overstock of 2009 examples still sat on showroom floors.

Things in the literbike class at the big S looked rather bleak until recently, when it broke the news of a revised 2012 GSX-R1000 with a laundry list of improvements.

Although outright power is unchanged, the big Gix receives a mild bump in midrange power thanks to ECU and motor tweaks. Inside the 999cc mill you’ll find revised pistons and pentagonal shaped crankcase ventilation holes to help combat pumping losses. A new exhaust cam also helps bump midrange twist, as does a new 4-2-1-exhaust system. That’s right, no more dual pipes for the Gixxer-Thou.

Some might have hoped for an all-new design, but seeing as the previous model was already a stout performer, the new version should be that much better. 2012 should be an interesting year for the literbike class with minor tweaks to more than half the field. Is the new Suzuki enough to recapture the title, nobody is sure yet, but hang tight for more details in the coming months.

Aftermarket Options
Like its smaller siblings, the GSX-R600 and 750, the 1000 utilizes a two-piece exhaust system. The headers, cat and mid pipe are all one piece, and the rear muffler represents the rest. This means a slip-on probably won’t do much to add power since the cat still remains. On the upside, the bolt-on mufflers should be affordable.

Having a two-piece stock exhaust means an aftermarket full system tops our list of must-do mods. Free-flowing pipes should net similarly strong gains (roughly 10 HP at the wheel) as the ’09-’11 models. A substantial weight savings and improved sound are also positive byproducts of proper pipes.

Since the 2012 bike shares the same architecture (tabs and frame mounts) as the older bike, the move to a full system from the previous generation should be a simple swap. Although the older bike had a dual muffler system, we’re confident the same aftermarket systems will bolt up.