Suzuki GSX-R 1000 R 100th Anniversary France 2021 — Specifications

As Suzuki celebrates one of its most brilliant seasons on the circuits, a fitting showcase was needed to mark a century of existence and riders in sublime form. The answer takes the form of this GSX-R 1000 R '100th Anniversary', a limited series of 70 units for the French market that evokes the end of an era. With Euro5 homologation signaling the end for many uncompromising models, this beast is a final hurrah, a last firework display before the regulatory lid closes.

The look is a strong tribute to the MotoGP prototype, with this electric blue striping a silver grey bodywork, a livery identical to that of Alex Rins during his victory in Aragon. It is eye-catching and symbolic, but one can regret the absence of carbon fiber parts or rider signatures that would have given this limited series a truly tangible touch of exclusivity. For a model at 20,000 euros, one would have liked a little more madness in the details.

But do not be mistaken, beneath this commemorative finish beats the heart of an unchanged killer. The inline four-cylinder engine of 1000 cm3 still spits out 202 horsepower at 13,200 rpm, with 118 Nm of torque that delivers monstrous thrust once the rev counter is exceeded. The SR-VVT variable intake system does its job, offering exemplary progressiveness and a surge in revs of a purely sporting violence. On this point, Suzuki still holds its own against rivals such as the BMW S 1000 RR or the Yamaha YZF-R1, with a more raw and mechanical character.

The 'R' version brings its share of electronic and mechanical weapons. The Showa BPF cartridge fork and the high-end rear shock offer precise adjustment, while the electronic suite – inclined ABS, 10-level traction control, anti-stoppie, bi-directional shifter – is complete without being overloaded. The Brembo radial braking is of biting efficiency. With a 16-liter tank and a 825 mm seat height, it remains a demanding machine, tailored for the track or winding roads, although its wet weight of 203 kg makes it more agile than it appears.

Who is it for? The seasoned track rider or the collector who wants to offer themselves a piece of Suzuki history, end of story. It is the last dance of a legend before its compulsory mutation. It makes no concessions, it does not seek to be versatile. It simply offers, for one last round, the quintessence of what a pure Japanese hypersportive can offer: a temperamental engine, a free-revving chassis and a feeling of direct connection that is increasingly rare in the age of all-electronics. A beautiful farewell, and in electric blue.