New Motorcycle First Ride: 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000 Street Bike

Lightweight and powerful canyon carver for $11,300

By Porsche Taylor, photos by Kevin Wing
Female Friendly Motorcycles, Motorcycle Reviews, Sportbike Corner, Sportbike Reviews, Standard Motorcycle Reviews, Suzuki Motorcycle Reviews /

Sporty Canyon Fun Aboard The Suzuki GSX-S1000

Imagine my joy when WomenRidersNow.com (WRN) received an invitation from our friends at Suzuki to test ride the new 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000. What an amazing way to spend a riding day! 

Our press ride began at Gasolina, a moto cafe in Woodland Hills, California, with great vintage motorcycle decor and a tasty menu. After briefing and breakfast, I set off on the S1000 for the beautiful mountains of Malibu to spend a day carving canyons on the fun, flickable bike.

Suzuki GSX-S1000
The smell of fresh spring flowers while riding Suzuki’s GSX-S1000 through California’s Malibu canyons provided much needed wind therapy. It was a great opportunity to get to know this new sporty machine.

Styling and Power

First launched in 2015, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 has the same powerful engine of the champion GSX-R1000 race bike, with a lightweight chassis and comfortable upright riding position. The S1000 sports an aggressive stance with two color options for 2022; Metallic Triton Blue or Metallic Matte Mechanical Gray. The latter is an understated color I really love.

Suzuki S1000
New for 2022 is the stacked LED headlight assembly and MotoGP-inspired side winglets. The naked styling makes the bike look and feel light and agile and helps with engine cooling.
The GSX-S1000 is a “naked” bike, meaning there are no side fairings to hide its 999cc liquid-cooled 4-cylinder engine.
The GSX-S1000 is a “naked” bike, meaning there are no side fairings to hide its 999cc liquid-cooled 4-cylinder engine.
Suzuki S1000
The lightweight GSX-S1000 is designed to appeal to the rider who wants a sporty ride with minimal bodywork. The 2022 model is packed with new high-end components and is $11,299.

The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System is a major upgrade for the 2022 S1000. This system offers the ability to customize the throttle response using a three mode Suzuki Drive Mode Selector. It reminds me of the Rain, Standard, or Sport modes offered on some other motorcycles. There’s also a five mode Advanced Traction Control System. You would usually only see these options on bigger sport touring bikes. To have these advanced features included as standard on a naked bike at this price point is pretty cool.

Suzuki S1000 front wheel
ABS-equipped Brembo Monoblock brake calipers with dual-floating rotors offer excellent stopping power and control. For 2022, the S1000 comes with Dunlop Roadsport 2 tires.
Suzuki S1000 dash
A single center-mounted hi-viz LCD instrument panel’s brightness is adjustable and includes everything you need right in front of you.

The new LCD instrument panel on the Suzuki GSX S1000 has a cool, futuristic display. However, it is a bit confusing to understand. After a quick tutorial, it was easy to cycle through the ride modes and traction control options using the directional buttons near the left grip. Also included is the digital speedometer, tachometer, odometer, two tripmeters, gear position, fuel gauge, clock, battery voltage, service reminder, drive mode, quick shift (on or off), traction control mode, and the usual indicator lights.

Suzuki GSX-S1000 left control
The buttons on the left side control unit allows you to cycle through the controls without taking your hand off the grip.
Porsche Taylor rides Suzuki GSX-S1000
For 2022, the GSX-S1000 offers a 5 gallon fuel tank, an increase from the previous 4.5 gallon tank to keep you riding longer. I always appreciate more time riding and less time filling up.

Suzuki GSX-S1000 Ergonomics

The upright riding position of the S1000 offers riders all day riding comfort. Its wide handlebar makes cornering smooth and easy. At just 475 pounds, this bike is perfect for daily commutes, in and out of traffic.

Suzuki S1000 Porsche Taylor
I like how the S1000’s riding position puts you inside the bike, rather than on top of it.
Porsche Taylor seat height Suzuki GSX-S1000
The S1000’s seat height is a manageable 31.9 inches, and the slim midsection allows an easy reach to the ground. I am 5 feet 5 inches tall and can comfortably put both feet on the ground for full control at starts and stops.

Riding Fun!

The S1000 is lots of fun to ride on curvy canyon roads, with the power to accelerate quickly in straightaways. My favorite feature is the Suzuki Clutch Assist System that helps the rider harness some of the bike’s incredible power aiding in smooth shifts and engine braking.

The bike’s new Bi-directional Quick Shift System lets you shift up or down using your foot only. This gives your clutch hand a break and more steering control through the turns.

Using Suzuki’s Quick Shifter allows you to make super-quick and smooth shifts without having to use the clutch lever.
Using Suzuki’s Quick Shifter allows you to make super-quick and smooth shifts without having to use the clutch lever.
The new design of the rider’s seat offers a bit of back support but could use more cushioning and room. It locks me into position, without much freedom of front to back movement in the saddle. An aftermarket one piece seat might be a solution for me.
The new design of the rider’s seat offers a bit of back support but could use more cushioning and room. It locks me into position, without much freedom of front to back movement in the saddle. An aftermarket one piece seat might be a solution for me.
The Suzuki GSX-S1000 is truly a naked bike, so you’ll need to wear a backpack or mount a small tail or tank bag if you want to bring anything along. Two quick-release Suzuki tank bags are offered as optional accessories. This is the small Ring Lock Tank Bag, which costs $149.95.
The Suzuki GSX-S1000 is truly a naked bike, so you’ll need to wear a backpack or mount a small tail or tank bag if you want to bring anything along. Two quick-release Suzuki tank bags are offered as optional accessories. This is the small Ring Lock Tank Bag, which costs $149.95.

WRN Recommendation

Overall, the Suzuki GSX-S1000 is a powerful bike and a lot of fun to ride. Riders looking for a light, comfortable, and powerful bike for sporty rides or the day-to-day commute will find the S1000 a great option. You’ll need to pack light, but a weekend road trip will be a blast on this sporty steed, too.

Specs at a Glance: 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000
Engine Size: 999cc
Seat Height: 31.9 inches
Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons
Wet Weight: 472 pounds
Colors: Metallic Matte Mechanical Gray, Metallic Triton Blue
MSRP: $11,299

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