First Ride: 2002 Crescent Rizla GSX-R1000 review

The feature that stood out on the Crescent Rizla replica Gixer when I picked it up at the Oulton Park BSB round was not the Dream Machine John Reynolds, Yukio Kagayama paint job or the shiny Tri-Oval Yoshimura end can, it was the truly shiny Dunlop 208s.

The bike had been on display at one of the team sponsors premises and a helpful gofer had decided that polishing the complete tyres with silicone would be a good idea. I must admit they looked impressive but my sphincter didn't think it was that clever. Team boss Paul Denning did offer to change them but being a frugal Scot who likes a challenge, I opted to keep them while I steadily (yeah, right... -ed.) acquainted myself with the bike.

So what comes on the Crescent Rizla rep? Well, for your £9995 you get that exclusive Dream Machine paint job, a Yoshimura Tri-Oval end-can, a carbon rear number plate carrier and Dunlop D208 Supersport tyres. These extras alone would tot up to more than the additional £1446 on top of the standard Gixer's price, but that's not all. You also get a certificate of authenticity signed by John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama, a track day at Donington Park with some old trout called Mackenzie, a team shirt and two VIP passes to a 2003 British Superbike event.

And if that isn't enough, all purchasers are entered into a draw where you will be in for a chance to ride JR's superbike at a closed track session. Fancy a go?

There has been more than enough written about the new GSX-R1000s, but even when I ride a standard model I find it hard to get my head around just how capable these bikes really are. As standard, the 2001 GSX-R1000 has more power than you'll ever need, inducing a grin every time you twist that throttle. If it's handling you want, same deal. The 2003 bike is just that bit sharper than the '02 model, meaning that the extra power is well contained in the chassis. Brakes are also much improved on the newer model, with better initial bite and staying power. That's radial calipers for you.

It all adds up to this. If you and your mate are on a track day and you've got equal ability, but you've got the GSX-R and he's got a bike from the competition, then worry not. You're going to be the one with the best bullshit stories in the bar afterwards, guaranteed. In a completely standard state the GSX-R1000 will lap many tracks within five seconds of the Superbike lap record, and 120mph plus laps are possible at the Isle of Man. In standard trim, the bike is as good a performer as the sort of machine I won the British Superbike title on six years ago.

And then for a paltry grand-and-a-bit (and that's a Scotsman talking) you get all of those lovely extras - not to mention a crack at winning a ride on JR's race bike come end of year. I'm tempted. Overall, the Crescent Rizla replica has just enough modifications to make it stand out in the audio and visual department.

First up, the paint. Shy and retiring types need not apply. Now, if you buy one of these you really do want to stand out in the crowd. Even if that crowd is made up of other 1000cc, 150bhp superbikes...

The Dream Machine spray job is beautiful with all the right stickers in the right places (Crescent decorates the team's bikes after all...). Those corporate Rizla blues and yellows are so spot on that you'll find your weed-happy mate getting itchy rolling hands the moment you pull up outside his house. The replica paint job is a good idea, thanks to some shocking decisions in Suzuki's paint shop (your weed-happy mate must have been in there handing out the roll-ups). After all, apart from the corporate Suzuki blue/white/black model that looks like the Yoshimura bike on which Mat Mladin is blitzing everyone in the USA's AMA series, the black/bronze and silver versions just don't do the big Suzuki justice.

And now the audio department. The standard bike sounds pretty raw for a legally silenced machine thanks to that intake rush through the big Suzuki's twin snouts, but the extra few decibels that the Yoshi slip-on puts out is most welcome. It also looks so much more attractive than the original, which looks clumsy and bulky in comparison. Bung on a Yoshi and you know it's going to be a quality item. And this one's no exception: it looks the absolute doggie's danglies and because it's a slip-on only rather than a full

system, it retains the standard machine's Suzuki Exhaust Tuning powervalve (see Fire Exit, page 72).

The titanium end can is welcome in one other aspect, too - you can feel that the Rizla rep carburates (sic) that little bit better and cleaner lower down the rev range. I'll wager my house on the fact that there's a few more bhps in there too. Like you'll need them... I don't, but it's nice to have them on board, if only to help combat my middle-aged spread.

The other performance addition is the Dunlop D208 tyres. Now, there's nothing wrong with the original Bridgestone B012s (see Bertie's long-term report for what he thinks about them on page 80). It's simply that the 208s are a sportier option. Now, I'm a big fan of these Dunlops. I think the tyre manufacturer made a real leap forward with the likes of the 207s and the 208s are a little more refined, with the slightly altered profile making them near faultless. The one thing you don't get with them (or I didn't anyway on my last year's Rizla rep) is massive amounts of longevity. So remember to budget for some replacements within a couple of thousand miles at least. Saying that, if you've spend 10 large ones on a bike, you'll not worry too much on that score, eh?

Should you buy the 2002 Crescent Rizla GSX-R1000?

Okay, so you're looking at a bike that costs the thick end of 10 grand - but it's one hell of a machine that overcomes a few of the standard Suzuki GSX-R1000's bugbears. The stunning looks are a vast improvement on the standdard machine thanks to that Dream Machine paint job and Yoshimura pipe. It also sounds and goes better (again thanks to the pipe) than the standard machine. The tyres and paint job on their own cost the best part of a grand, so getting the pipe and VIP passes on top of that is a good deal even to my Scottish mind. Overall. Still not convinced? Well, how about this. The standard bike is a top-of-the range Sony stereo with all the bells and whistles. But for an extra bit of bunce, you get this, your original Bang & Olufsen on two wheels.

EVOLUTION:

2001: Crescent Suzuki GSX-R replica of their 750 racebike. Spec includes re-mapped ECU with Yoshimura Tri-Oval pipe producing 139bhp at 12,600rpm, Showa forks and shock and Marchesini race wheels. Cost? £30k!

2002: To celebrate the useage of the GSX-R1000 in British Supebike racing, Crescent builds a replica in Rizla paint scheme of the John Reynolds/Karl Harris machines.

RIVALS:

Aprilia RSV Mille R - There are some more bells and whistles over the GSX-R here. Öhlins forks, shock, steering damper, flashy forged OZ wheels and for 2003, radial brake calipers. But, even with a similar price (£9999), there's no loud pipe and it's a good few bhps down on the GSX-R. For the replica option, simply pay a couple of grand more for the Colin Edwards replica.

Honda VTR1000 SP-2 - Big V-twin that was the basis for Colin Edwards' 2002 title-winning bike. Reduced in price this year, also comes with a few goodies such as a Castrol Honda sticker kit for the race look. £9349.

Crescent Rizla GSX-R1000 Specs

• TYPE - SUPERSPORTS
• PRODUCTION DATE - 2003
• PRICE NEW - £9995
• ENGINE CAPACITY - 988cc
• POWER - 163bhp@10,800rpm
• TORQUE - 84lb.ft@8400rpm   
• WEIGHT - 168kg
• SEAT HEIGHT - N/A   
• FUEL CAPACITY - 18L
• TOP SPEED - 186mph
• 0-60     - n/a
• TANK RANGE - N/A