Driving a thousand, a maxi with full displacement, as a novice driver.
Yes, from today it is possible, thanks to the new Suzuki GSX-S950, the detachable naked with the largest volume currently available on the market.
It replaces the GSX-S750, the Suzuki proposal that before it was the preferred choice for those who, as soon as they got their license, wanted to ride a bare street in Hamamatsu.
The writing on the side, 950, is actually misleading: the engine is the same as its older sister, the GSX-S1000. And the whole bike follows its characteristics in full. The differences, looking at the engine, are all in a different exhaust and especially in the electronics. The result, on paper, are different values of torque and power, but on the road, the younger sister reserves very pleasant surprises even for those who have much more experience on two wheels. Returning to the cold technical data, under the aluminum perimeter frame roars the eternal thousand in-line four cylinders, derived from the Gsxr K5. What changes, according to the numbers, is the power, which drops from 152 to 95 hp, or 70 kW for the more powerful version, and 35 kW, or 47.5 hp, for the more 'limited' one, accessible to novice drivers. A2.
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Suzuki GSX-S 950 photos
The operation of the Suzuki technicians passes through a skilful work on electronics, which ANSA was able to 'touch' in a long and varied test ride, which saw Hamamatsu's bike engaged in practically all possible situations, from city to commuting with the passenger, up to the motorway and suburban mix. A skilful job that of the Japanese engineers, because we are not talking about a mere cut of the maximum power: the work done has completely changed the character of the engine, and consequently what is called the driving experience. If pulling the neck the 950 does not like to stretch beyond eight thousand rpm, the true character of this version emerges at the low and mid-range speeds. And it doesn't make you regret the stretches in the red area of the rev counter: an infinite back,the result of the maximum torque of 92 Nm which reaches 6,500 rpm, 2,500 faster than the GSX-S1000. For those who are not really a novice driver and have had the opportunity to drive the now old air and oil cooled 'gixxer', it recalls the delivery of the Gsx-R 1100s of the early 90s.
Compared to the big sister at full power, the suspensions are less sophisticated, which are always KYB, but the 43 mm fork is devoid of adjustments, while the rear shock absorber, although adjustable in spring preload and hydraulic brake in extension, is less performing. . The front brake calipers are also different, passing from Brembo to Tokico but always with radial fixing. What is completely missing is the quickshifter, which instead is standard on the 1000. On the younger sister it is not available, not even on request. The traction control, on the other hand, is adjustable on three levels and not on five as on the GSX-S1000.
In short, by testing it for a long time on the road, a fun and ready bike emerged, where there is no need to crank the engine, because everything is already there in the middle of the rev counter.
This is why, although Suzuki has thought of novice drivers, the GSX-S950, also thanks to the attractive price compared to its older sister, can be a valid and tasty alternative even for expert motorcyclists.
