2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Assessment | Motorbike Take a look at

2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Assessment

By Rennie Scaysbrook, Pictures by Kevin Wing

It’s good to see Suzuki on the comeback path. The corporate has been largely absent from the sporty facet of life since re-releasing the GSX-R1000 again in 2017, however the continuing years because the Covid pandemic has seen massive S deliver forth a slew of latest bikes that has reminded us all simply why they have been so massive within the first place.

One of many shock packages of the 2023 mannequin 12 months was the GSX-8S that we tested here. This, consider it or not, was the primary all-new streetbike platform from Suzuki since 1999 (I do know that sounds inconceivable, nevertheless it’s true).

The 8S rolled as much as the middleweight bare class with a model new 776 cc parallel twin-cylinder motor that pumped simply north of 80 horsepower (83 hp, to be actual / 61 kW).

Alongside a roomy, comfy chassis that cherished thrashing — albeit with fairly fundamental suspension — and appears that have been a particular enchancment on the stacked headlight design first seen with the GSX-S1000 four-cylinder of 2022. And you bought all that for beneath $15K. Not unhealthy.

All of us knew, nonetheless, that this could not be the final we heard of the 776 cc when it was matched to a pair of 17-inch wheels. One of many quickest rising segments — other than ADV using which everyone knows has gone stratospheric since Covid — is that of the middleweight sportbike.

Aprilia and their RS660, Yamaha and their YZF-R7, and Kawasaki with the ageing Ninja 650 have dominated these headlines in recent times. Suzuki determined they wished in on the motion.

Suzuki, funnily sufficient, just about invented the twin-cylinder middleweight recreation with the enormously profitable SV650, a machine that ran for the very best a part of 20 years with minimal adjustments, however Aprilia have been actually those to maneuver the sport on in recent times. The RS660 has been a boon for Noale, and Suzuki wasn’t going to take a seat idly by whereas the Italians and a few Japanese compatriots took the glory.

The brand new $14,990 GSX-8R is thus a GSX-8S in fancy clothes, however there’s just a little extra to it than that. The primary and most evident change is the brand new bodywork that appears just like the nine-month results of a Saturday night time fling between a Katana and a GSX-R.

The sharp, angular bodywork with its low-angled display is matched to high-rise clip-on handlebars which have the rider in additional of a nakedbike stance than a standard sportsbike. Anybody with an web connection can Google a late Nineteen Eighties Honda CBR600F and see the resemblance is fairly clear. Again to the long run? Maybe the ’80s actually was the very best decade to be alive.

These handlebars at the moment are mounted on the highest of the highest triple-clamp and are a two-piece solid aluminium design, which angles the rider just a little ahead from vertical and offers a near-perfect posture for sedate sport using or basic commuting.

Suzuki has actually hit a candy spot on their display/fairing designs of late, as we discovered an analogous trait on the GSX-S1000GT+ sport tourer Wayne tested back in 2022. Suzuki has shied away from making the display too angular, thus permitting the vast majority of the wind to hit the rider’s chest and never their helmets, thus making a extra comfy experience.

One notable distinction between the 8S and the 8R lies within the piston measurement of their respective forks. Whereas the 8S encompasses a KYB fork, the 8R boasts a Showa SFF-BP fork with a considerably bigger 37 mm piston, a 17 mm improve. This distinction enhances the fork motion, offering a smoother expertise on each street and observe.

Though the rear shock solely provides pre-load adjustment, and will immediate some crucial discussion board discussions within the coming months, the Suzuki engineers, in collaboration with Showa, have efficiently crafted an excellent entrance finish that excels whether or not being pushed to its limits on the racetrack, or used for on a regular basis rides to the retailers.

The 8R displays swish turning functionality many different bikes envy, matched to a reassuring sense of management at these good, excessive handlebars. Regardless of not being precisely a light-weight, with a claimed 16 kg weight distinction from the R7 when fuelled up, the 8R maintains distinctive stability in its chassis.

It handles fast directional adjustments with ease, though a bit extra floor clearance could be helpful. Throughout my observe periods, I discovered myself sporting by means of a pair of A’stars race boots, regardless of making efforts to wedge my oversize ft towards the body.

Sadly, the entrance brake really feel doesn’t fairly dwell as much as expectations, primarily resulting from a considerably budget-friendly master-cylinder. Whereas there’s ample braking energy on the lever, the modulation falls quick within the finesse division. It’s a fixable problem, however I’d have appreciated Suzuki to have executed the work for the shopper on that one.

Doubtless, the star of the present is the 270° 776 cc parallel-twin motor. Suzuki’s executed an impressive job with this powerplant, creating one which has greater than sufficient torque within the decrease rev ranges for road using/commuting but in addition one that can cost alongside fortunately within the increased revs.

The motor runs two counter-balancers so it’s creamy clean in its energy supply. There’s three using modes of A, B and C within the Suzuki Drive Mode Choose system, however the supply is so good you’ll possible not want something aside from A mode.

Talking of electronics, the GSX-8R runs a three-stage plus “off” traction management system, however I believe most will simply go for stage one and go away it there. There’s no Inertial Measurement Unit-fettled 10-stage traction management or something fancy like that on the 8R — simply fundamental TC.

The system works a lot positive on the observe, in addition to throughout some damp patches on the road, highlighting the outstanding stability of the chassis and the seamless transmission of energy to the tyre by means of the ride-by-wire throttle.

Suzuki has a well-established fame for distinctive gearboxes, and the 8R upholds this custom, significantly when paired with the pleasant up-and-down quick-shifter. The shifting course of is effortlessly clean, prompting thought on why different producers wrestle to realize such precision of their quick-shifters. In essence, the Suzuki quick-shifter capabilities flawlessly.

Suzuki claims 83 horsepower/61 kW for the 776 cc twin however it’s a little gradual to rev up. As soon as within the increased rev ranges the Suzuki will maintain its personal, however seat of the pants/bum dyno really feel has it just a little slower to climb the revs than one thing like a Yamaha R7.

It’ll be attention-grabbing what the assorted race groups throughout the globe do with this motor as most of the collection that run a middleweight twin run totally different guidelines to one another — some permitting a far increased diploma of tuning than others.

On the American entrance, you may’t take weight off the flywheel, for instance, nonetheless the blokes who run the M4 Ecstar superbike group and who will area a motorbike on this 12 months’s MotoAmerica Twins Cup collection inform me they’re not anxious about peak efficiency.

When the 8R was going by means of its homologation for MotoAmerica, Suzuki USA fitted a Yoshimura exhaust system solely and hit 92 horsepower right away, in addition to dropping a hefty 9 kilograms.

Which means the brand new 8R ought to hit 100 hp fairly simply, making it greater than a match for the smaller however lighter Aprilia RS660 and Yamaha YZF-R7 rivals.

Nonetheless, the racing facet of the 8R is by far the smaller one of many larger equation. Since Suzuki’s departure from MotoGP, many have been questioning if they might be out of the sportsbike recreation altogether, however the reality we’ve had this, and rumours of a revamped GSX-R1000 coming quickly (I do know, I do know, however my sources are fairly linked), present the mob that was such a stalwart in sportsbikes for thus a few years ain’t fairly executed but.

Spec-wise, the GSX-8R isn’t going to blow the hair again of hardcore sportsbike lovers, however it’s a clean canvas that can likely be improved upon vastly because the aftermarket will get a maintain of it. With Triumph’s new Daytona 660 coming (keep tuned for a check on that later this month), sportsbikes are slowly edging again to what they have been—sporty steeds however with a nod to practicality.

The Suzuki fills numerous totally different spots out there. It’ll tour throughout the state simply as fortunately because it’ll hunt apexes at Phillip Island, and proves that being a one-trick sportsbike pony actually isn’t trendy anymore.

For extra info head to the Suzuki Motorcycles Australia website (link).

2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Specs

2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Gallery