Admin Posted January 30, 2023 Share Posted January 30, 2023 The GSX-8S is a stylish and modern entry into the midsize naked-bike category. (Suzuki/) Ups First new Suzuki engine in years Engine and chassis designed in synchrony Bidirectional quickshifter standard Decent, name-brand suspension and brakes Downs Angular looks don’t appeal to all Power figure won’t win many boasting matches Strong competition from rivals in this part of the market Parallel-twin engines tend to lack the visceral appeal of V-twins or inline-fours Verdict No company’s range seems complete without a midsize, twin-cylinder naked bike that fulfills the essential idea of a motorcycle without being pigeonholed into subgenre. For Suzuki that machine is the GSX-8S, a technological quantum leap forward compared to the SV650 and GSX-S750 that have long filled the space. Strong styling and high equipment levels allied to a clean-sheet design for the engine and chassis make it one of the most anticipated Suzukis in years. The GSX-8S is available in three color options: white with blue wheels and subframe (seen here), blue with blue wheels and subframe, and all black. (Suzuki/) Overview In 1999 Suzuki shook up the establishment with the SV650; a true do-anything bike that was simultaneously capable, fun, and incredibly affordable. It could commute or cross continents and was as happy on track as on tour. The GSX-8S looks to build on that success, as the modern-day naked for the next generation of Suzuki riders. Suzuki is undoubtedly proud of the GSX-8S and the careful steps engineers took to ensure that the bike would appeal to a wide range of riders, regardless of age or experience. Performance is important, but so too is balance, and in the GSX-8S, Suzuki aimed to find the middle ground between engine and suspension performance, ergonomics, and features. An aggressive, mass-forward look falls in line with Suzuki’s new-generation styling concept, while a modest, but full-featured electronic rider-aid suite includes all the technology you’ll need in a bike aimed at everything from daily commutes to weekend trips to your favorite canyon roads. While the GSX-8S has a longer-than-expected wheelbase, chassis geometry was adjusted to ensure nimble handling. (Suzuki/) Updates for 2023 Entirely new for 2023, the GSX-8S is one of two bikes (the other is the V-Strom 800DE) debuting Suzuki’s 82 hp, 776cc parallel-twin engine, which is expected to become a mainstay across multiple models for many years to come. The chassis is a new design as well, while Suzuki has turned to notable suppliers for suspension and brakes. Pricing and Variants Just one version of the GSX-8S is available, so your choices are simply between three color options: white with blue wheels and subframe, blue with blue wheels and subframe, and all black. Suzuki does offer a whole range of accessories to tailor the bike to personal taste. The GSX-8S has one of the boldest designs of any Suzuki released in recent years. (Suzuki/) Competition There’s no shortage of competition in this part of the market, although few bikes exactly match the GSX-8S’s mix of power, torque, and weight. Slightly below it, there are machines like the Yamaha MT-07 ($8,199), Suzuki’s own SV650 ($7,849), and the Kawasaki Z650 ($7,749). The Honda CB650R ($9,399), Triumph Trident 660 ($8,595), and Aprilia Tuono 660 ($10,499) are all worthy contenders, as is KTM’s 790 Duke ($9,199). The Ducati Monster Plus ($12,995) is much more expensive, but another example of a great naked bike that’s loads of fun around town. Distinctive short muffler is used, with an exhaust note that’s intended to bring some personality to the all-new parallel twin. (Suzuki/) Powertrain: Engine, Transmission, and Performance Suzuki took its time to develop the GSX-8S’s engine. It features some now familiar ideas—a 270-degree crankshaft, for instance, to give a V-twin-style throb—and some more novel ones including a patented dual balancer shaft setup to limit vibes. The 84mm bore and 70mm stroke are pretty moderate, particularly compared to Honda’s recently announced (but not yet available) Hornet (87 x 63.5mm) and KTM’s 790 Duke (88 x 65.7mm). This contributes to a strong 57.5 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at 6,800 rpm, but it hits nearly that number several thousand rpm lower. The 82 hp power peak arrives at 8,500 rpm. The GSX-8S features all the tech you’d expect in 2023, including ride-by-wire throttles that allow multiple modes and torque maps. Uneven-length intakes in an underseat airbox boost torque, while the engine breathes out via an under-belly exhaust. The six-speed transmission is fitted with a bidirectional quickshifter, with rev-matching auto-blipper, and assist-and-slipper clutch as standard. KYB fork uses dedicated suspension settings, but is nonadjustable. (Suzuki/) Chassis/Handling Like the engine, the GSX-8S’s frame is an all-new design, but one that doesn’t set out to rewrite the rulebook. Two steel upper rails run above the engine, with a trellis-style section of chassis between the headstock and the upper engine mounts, and a pressed and welded steel section behind the motor to hold the aluminum swingarm. At the back, the tubular steel subframe is a bolt-on design. The wheelbase is longer than you might expect, at 57.7 inches, and the 25-degree rake suggests a moderate balance between agility and stability. KYB provides the nonadjustable USD fork and the rear monoshock. The cast alloy wheels are 17-inchers, with a surprisingly wide 180-section rear—substantially broader than the 160-section used on the more powerful Honda CB750 Hornet—to give a muscular look. The seat height is a modest 31.9 inches. Nissin brakes are used front and rear, with four-piston front caliper biting on 310mm discs. (Suzuki/) Brakes Radial Nissin four-pot calipers on the front clamp a pair of 310mm discs, with the usual single-piston sliding caliper at the rear on a smaller 240mm rotor. ABS comes standard. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG Suzuki’s claimed economy figures, tested under WMTC conditions, are 56 mpg (US). With a 3.7-gallon tank that suggests a range of 207 miles is theoretically possible. Ergonomics: Comfort and Utility The parallel-twin engine isn’t just simpler and more compact than a V-twin, it also helps improve the riding position, allowing the rider to sit further forward. A wide and relatively tall bar is paired to low pegs mounted almost directly beneath the seat for a riding position that’s both comfortable and gives plenty of control. Accessories including a small screen, soft luggage, and heated grips should all help boost the GSX-8S’s longer-range prospects. A 5-inch TFT display offers a look at important information. The GSX-8S has three ride modes, and three traction control settings, plus off. (Suzuki/) Electronics Three riding modes are on offer—A, B, and C (for “Active,” “Basic,” and “Comfort”)—each with a different throttle map to alter the power delivery. There’s also a trio of traction control settings with different levels of intervention, and standard ABS, although these systems don’t have the IMU needed to make them lean-angle sensitive. There’s full LED lighting, as you’d expect in 2023, and a 5-inch, color TFT dash with a choice of modes. Additional technologies include Suzuki’s Easy Start System and Low RPM Assist System, which increases engine speed to smooth the power delivery when leaving from a standing start or riding at low speeds. As previously mentioned, a bidirectional quickshifter comes standard. Warranty and Maintenance Coverage There’s a 12-month, unlimited-mileage, limited warranty with the option to extend to longer cover periods via Suzuki Extended Protection. 2023 Suzuki GSX-8S Claimed Specs MSRP: $8,849 Engine: DOHC, 776cc, liquid-cooled parallel twin, 4 valves/cyl. Bore x Stroke: 84.0mm x 70.0mm Transmission/Final Drive: 6-speed/chain Fuel Delivery: Electronic fuel injection w/ 42mm throttle bodies Clutch: Wet, multiple disc Engine Management/Ignition: Ride-by-wire with multiple modes Frame: Steel tube frame with bolt-on trellis subframe Front Suspension: KYB inverted fork; 5.1 in. travel Rear Suspension: KYB shock, preload adjustable Front Brake: Nissin radial-mount 4-piston calipers, 310mm discs w/ ABS Rear Brake: Nissin 1-piston caliper, 240mm disc w/ ABS Wheels, Front/Rear: Cast-aluminum alloy; 17 in./17 in. Tires, Front/Rear: 120/70-17 / 180/55-17 Rake/Trail: 25.0°/4.1 in. Wheelbase: 57.7 in. Ground Clearance: 5.7 in. Seat Height: 31.9 in. Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gal. Wet Weight: 445 lb. Contact: suzukicycles.com View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinlim Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 I saw one of these for the first time today, parked up. I hadn't been a fan of the stock photos online but in all black in person it looked great. Rumours of there being a good chunk of power available with a remap makes it a nice option too. Photo is a bit crap as I was in a rush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleck Posted August 16, 2023 Share Posted August 16, 2023 Saw them at Cadwell suzuki day... The indicators are bulbs ffs The (available in UK) Honda hornet is better in every way, even cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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