After the GSX-R1000 had been two years on the roads and race tracks, Suzuki put out a new version of the model in late September of 2002. Suzuki engineers had been working on the three things that made a fast bike faster; weight, power and handling. The 2003 year's GSX-R1000 was improved in all three counts. It weighed less, had more power/torque and handled better.
The physical dimensions of the bike were almost identical with the previous year's model. The seat height and the overall height were somewhat lower but the geometry of the bike was exactly the same as before. The already rigid aluminum alloy frame was newly designed and enforced with internal ribs. The frame as well as the wheels were now coated black.
The headlights of the 2003 year's GSX-R1000 were mounted vertically to enable the ram-air intakes in the front to be placed 20 millimeter nearer the bike's center line. The new design was very much inspired by the look of the Hayabusa. The instruments were also redesigned.
The cylinder displacement of the engine remained the same 988 cubic centimeters but more power/torque (164 Crank horsepower) and better throttle response had been achieved by adding four ventilation holes between the cylinders to equalize crankcase pressure beneath the pistons, moving the air intake nearer to the centerline and upgrading the engine management system to a 32-bit CPU that monitored and controlled the engine functions, input from the rider and the exhaust tuning valve.
The 2005 model year GSX-R1000 had a redesigned engine and chassis. It had 4.4 pounds lower mass than the previous model and the engine had an 11 cubic centimeter larger piston displacement. It had a totally new frame reducing the total length of the bike by 1.6 inches but reducing its wheelbase only 0.02 inches. There were new brakes with radial mounted calipers and 310 millimeter discs at the front. The new catalytic titanium silencer was said to be designed to reduce turbulence to minimum.
On September 22, 2006, Suzuki revealed a significantly updated GSX-R1000 for 2007 at the Paris motor show. The new bike gained 14 pounds over the 2006 model which is most likely due to its new exhaust system and new emissions regulations. To counter this significant weight increase, Suzuki claims improved aerodynamics. Although not a completely new model, the engine and chassis have been updated. It also features three different engine mapping configurations, selectable via a three-position handlebar switch; standard, sport, and 'wet' (which would likely soften power significantly, and would also be helpful on cold tires). Pricing has been quoted at $11,399 USD.
