American motorcycle journalist Don Canet took on the infamous hacksaw street circuit in Paeroa this past weekend and showed just how fast a Suzuki GSX-S1000 really is.
Flying into New Zealand on Wednesday before the race meeting gave very little time for testing or acclimatisation to the time difference and the warm summer weather. Although Don is used to the heat of California, the humidity and temperature of race day left him fairly exhausted at the end of the days racing.
After just a few laps around the Taupo road race track, Don was quick to complement the Nitron rear shock and Pirelli tyre combination for the confidence to push hard on race day. Added to this combination was the Bazzaz system which included traction control and some more power from Suzuki’s 1000cc GSX-R based motor.
Quickly adjusting to the bumpy street circuit and posting a very credible 4th overall on a naked sports bike with only a few modifications shows the real talent of the 54 year American and that the GSX-S1000 is more than just a street bike.
Suzuki designed the GSX-S1000 range to have superbike credentials, yet more approachable rider ergonomics. With this result in hand there is no doubt about it's superbike status, and after a 300+ km journey at the NZ launch, we can attest to the comfort of the bike. Read the GSX-S1000 launch report online at driven.co.nz