1978 Suzuki GS 1000 review

Review of the 1978 Suzuki GS 1000:


Solid Pre-Tarrif Classic

Author: Ivan Tuma, 2010-03-11, viewed 281 times.
 
The GS 1000 delivers a great riding experience with performance on par with newer, more expensive bikes.

 
  I was fortunate to buy my ´78 GS 1000 from a lawyer who babied it for years. So with only 26K on the clock, it´s still a solid performer.

Cruising up the canyons outside of Denver is a pleasure and the standard lay-out allows for occasional dirt-road excursions without too much drama.

The bike seats two comfortably along with room for panniers and a rear luggage rack for extended touring.

An old Vetter WindJammer fairing is a great match for this bike. Thanks to the fairing, taking it up on dry winter days makes the cold tolerable.

Three gripes I have with the bike:

1. Small fuel tank combined with fuel economy only in the high 30´s make for lots of fuel stops. Note that at lower altitudes, the GS 850 model performs addequately and can save you money.

2. If you get a GS 1000, get the newer one equiped with the drive shaft - the chain is clunky for a big bike and the DS makes a huge difference in drivability (unless you plan on racing a 30 year old bike - the get the chain).

3. Zero low-end torque combined with a relatively high first gear make the bike unwieldy in slow or stop n go traffic conditions.
 



This review of the 1978 Suzuki GS 1000 was posted by a visitor on Bikez.com and does not necessarily reflect facts, truth or Bikez.com's opinions.
 

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