Suzuki GSX R 1000 Page 42
ENGINE
DESIGN
1) Overview
The heart of any motorcycle is the engine, and the GSX-R1000 engine immediately set the
standard for open-displacement sportbikes. Whether it was overpowering the competition on the
racetrack, or quickly accelerating around traffic on the open highway, the GSX-R1000's compact
and powerful engine redefined the state of the high performance art.
The 988cc four-cylinder GSX-R1000 engine's specifications read like they came out of a racing
design brief, and for good reason. Liquid-cooled, DOHC, with 73mm bore, 59mm stroke and a
downdraft cylinder head, each compact combustion chamber carrying four valves set at a narrow,
25-degree included angle. A cast aluminum-alloy cylinder block integrated into the upper
crankcase casting, the cylinder bores electro-plated with Suzuki's own race-proven brand of
nickel-phosphorus-silicon-carbide coating, known as SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electrochemical
Material). Forged aluminum-alloy pistons, each with cutaway skirts and a short wrist pin. Shot-
peened chrome-moly-steel connecting rods. Single valve springs, lightweight aluminum valve
spring retainers and hollow, lightweight cast-iron-alloy camshafts operating bucket tappets.
A compact balancer shaft reduces engine vibration and stress on engine components, allowing
the use of lighter parts, in turn reducing mechanical power losses while increasing acceleration
and rider comfort at the same time.
For 2003, the GSX-R1000 engine features detail changes. New ventilation holes between
adjacent cylinders help equalize the pressure underneath the pistons, allowing the air being
pushed down by a descending piston in one cylinder to quickly escape to the adjacent cylinder,
where the piston is rising. The new system reduces the distance air must travel to equalize lower-
cylinder pressure, and is especially effective in reducing internal crankcase pumping pressure,
windage and associated mechanical power losses.
New internal oil passageways feed the automatic, hydraulic cam chain tensioner, replacing the
previous model's external oil feed lines, simplifying the design and saving about 50 grams.
Engine Design
4. Engine Design
4-1
