On April 15, 2005, I picked up my new black/red Suzuki GSX-R 1000 at Tony's Cycle. I spent two high-quality years with the 2003 model, and identified changes that I would make to it in order to make it a better bike for me. Then I saw the spec list of the 2005!
History
The changes I wanted to make to my 2003 GSX-R included lighter wheels, 750 clip-ons that are 0.75" closer, shaved seat, slipper clutch, Power Commander and a few other minor things. But, when I found that the spec for the 2005 bike was not only a smaller bike overall, but had made a number of the changes that I wanted to make to the 2003 bike (specifically the closer clip-ons, lighter wheels, slipper clutch and thinner seat), I decided to update my bike in one shot: by trading in the 2003 on a 2005. In the deal, I also got a portable DVD player and a nice colour-matched backpack... and a $400 rebate for trading one Suzuki on another. Oh, and I purchased the Black/Red version because it's stealthy. :)
I was only able to ride the bike about 400km before I took it on a trip to Deal's Gap, North Carolina and ran the bike hard on the extremely tight and twisty roads in that area. And wow, what a revelation the new bike was! The issues that I had identified for the 2003 model became entirely clear when I put it to the task... the 2005 bike turns faster, brakes harder, is more comfortable at the limit and does not have the tendancy to run wide that the 2003 did. A big improvement and it cost less to trade the bikes than the modifications I had in mind for the 2003 were going to cost, and just look at the brawny rear swingarm on the newer beast!
There is a downside to the 2005, and that's long-distance comfort in every sense except the reach to the clip-ons. Where the 2003 bike would murder my shoulders and neck on long rides, the 2005 model murders my back and knees. Bear in mind that I'm talking about 6+ hours of riding in a day, not a ride across town. I have ridden the 2005 for 11 hours in a day and the 2003 for 19 hours in a day, so they aren't as bad as some make supersports out to be. The gearing for the 2005 is also a small issue if you plan to ride it in town - first gear is now very tall on the 2005 model and doesn't launch off stoplights nearly as cleanly. These do not worry me - I have two bikes, and I would happily trade the little bit of comfort for the intense and soul-satisfying character of the 2005 GSX-R 1000.
Specifications