Suzuki GSX-S1000GT sport-tourer revealed as GSX-S1000F successor, will rival Kawasaki’s Ninja 1000 SX

There is a new sport-tourer from Japan that is making some news - the Suzuki GSX-S1000GT. As the name suggests, it is based on the Suzuki GSX-S1000 that was recently updated and will replace the erstwhile Suzuki GSX-S1000F. It continues to go up against the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX, but this time the economical Kwacker sports-tourer has some reason to be worried. Primarily because the GSX-S1000GT looks a lot sportier, meaner and appealing than the GSX-S1000F that it replaces, though it is still quite quirky with its very Yamaha like protector lamps, LED eyebrows and blue livery. As before, ride comfort takes precedence for this bike even though it’s a sportier alternative to the V-Strom 1050 XT. The GT gets a new design for the seats and grab rails, and the bike emphasises pillion comfort as much as the rider. It uses the same 19-litre tank as its naked sibling but has a large screen and full fairing for enhanced weather protection and highway comfort. To that effect, the bodywork has improved aerodynamic efficiency than before, and the handlebars and footrests have added damping to reduce vibration. [caption id=“attachment_9987611” align=“alignnone” width=“2092”]  Powering the Suzuki is a 999 cc in-line four-cylinder engine that puts out 150 hp and 106 Nm. Image: Suzuki[/caption] Like its rivals, the GT features a TFT dash and Bluetooth connectivity for pairing the smartphone and up to two helmets for navigation, rider assistance, music streaming, tracking, route sharing, and weather information services using the Suzuki mySPIN app. The GT is suspended from 43 mm upside-down manually adjustable forks and a preload and rebound adjustable rear shock. Braking duty is carried out by the Brembo brakes with two 310 mm discs up front and a 240 mm disc at the rear. Power comes from the iconic K5 999 cc in-line four-cylinder engine that puts out 150 hp and 106 Nm but is a bit peaky for a tourer - especially when compared to the lighter Ninja 1000 SX. Both motorcycles are heavyweights, but the lower seat height of the GSX-S GT could make it a bit more manageable. Like the Kawasaki, the GSX-S1000GT has touring accessories such as a larger windscreen and colour-coordinated panniers as a part of the catalogue. The more important question, however, is: will Suzuki bring the GSX-S1000GT to India? Well, the previous GSX-S1000 series didn’t do too well for the brand, but its arch-rival, the Kawasaki 1000 SX is bringing in some big numbers – so ideally, Suzuki should consider the GT for our market, too. If launched, expect a pricing of around Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom).