Sell-out success for Suzuki GSX-S1000GT

The new Suzuki GSX-S1000GT and Panorama GT are off to a flying start, with Suzuki Australia reporting it has pre-sold the entire first and second shipments of its new sportstouring platform, which is due to initially reach our shores in March. 

In fact, interest in the models – both the base-spec GSX-S1000GT and the up-spec Panorama GT, which comes fitted with colour-coded hard panniers – has been so strong that Suzuki Australia has stopped taking orders and deposits, until supply of the bikes improves later in the year. 

“All units in the first and second shipments have been pre-sold via our website and there will not be any units available on showroom floors; we are completely sold out for the first half of the year,” a Suzuki Motorcycles Australia representative told bikesales. 

And while the company has stopped short of revealing just how many units those first two shipments entail, it looks like prospective owners will require plenty of patience if they want to wait it out until examples of the new platform become freely available. 

“The response to this model has simply been amazing,” the representative continued. 

“We have actually had to turn the pre-order system off and cannot accept any more deposits or backorders from dealers at this time.” 

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Sportstourers back in vogue? 

Dedicated road-oriented sportstourers were big business a couple of decades back, but the popularity of the segment has waned over the years as other styles of bike took off. 

“It’s interesting how the sportstouring category has nearly become a niche market these days, with manufacturers being heavily focused on the nakedbike and adventure touring categories in recent years,” said the representative. 

“However, we are starting to see a small resurgence with sportstourers and the response and success of this model before it even goes on sale supports that.” 

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt global supply chains and negatively impact stock levels across all manner of industries, it seems the fight for new bikes is set to continue for some time to come. 

Add in the global chip shortage and the fact that Australia, as a relatively small market, invariably plays second fiddle to the massive European and US markets, and snapping up an early example of a new bike on pre-order before it’s even arrived here is becoming increasingly commonplace. 

Talking tech 

The Suzuki GSX-S1000GT and Panorama GT are based on the previous GSX-S1000F but come packed with fresh technology, including a 6.5-inch full-colour TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity via the Suzuki MySPIN app, full LED lighting, and the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS). 

The latter packages a ride-by-wire throttle with a choice of three ride modes, plus five traction control settings, a bi-directional quick-shifter and electronic cruise control. 

There’s no inertial measurement unit (IMU), however, so the bike features standard ABS and traction control, and not lean-angle-sensitive systems. 

The 999cc inline four-cylinder engine is said to produce 152.3hp (112kW) at 11,000rpm. Suzuki hasn’t announced a torque figure as yet but the engine is essentially the same as that found in the imminent GSX-S1000 naked bike, which produces 106Nm at 9250rpm. The GSX-S1000GT weighs in at 226kg (wet), as opposed to 214kg for the naked. 

There are radial-mount Brembo brake calipers up front and the bike rides on manually adjustable KYB suspension (fully adjustable 43mm fork; rear monoshock adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping). The seat height is a manageable-for-most 810mm and the bike’s cast-alloy rims are shod with Dunlop Sportmax 2 tyres. 

Get ‘em when you can...

 

The 2022 Suzuki GSX-S1000GT is priced at $19,090 ride away, while the 2022 Suzuki Panorama GT is priced at $20,590 ride away. Both models are being produced in either Metallic Triton Blue or Metallic Reflective Blue and are covered by a three-year factory warranty when serviced within the Suzuki dealer network.