Is the 2023 Suzuki GSX-8S the ultimate all-rounder? | Long-term test
Вставка
- Опубліковано 3 січ 2024
- #suzuki #GSX #8S
News Editor Dan Sutherland has spent 2023 aboard the Suzuki GSX-8S. He's ridden to the Isle of Man TT, done trackdays, and covered thousands of miles whilst commuting. Read more here: www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn-fl...
We'd love to hear your views so get them down in the comment section!
Find your next bike with the experts at MCN Bikes for Sale: www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-...
MCN Compare is your one-stop bike insurance shop: www.mcncompare.com/
Check us out on social media:
Facebook: @MotorcycleNews
Twitter: @MCNnews OR @MCNSport
Instagram: @motorcyclenews
Visit the MCN website for all the latest news, reviews, advice and bikes for sale:
www.motorcyclenews.com/
Subscribe to get MCN every week, in newspaper or digital format: bit.ly/3rEIjaP - Авто та транспорт
Would you take a Suzuki GSX-8S over a Yamaha MT-07, or Honda CB750 Hornet? Tell us below.
I haven't ridden any of the bikes yet but have test rides planned for this month on the Honda and Suzuki. At the moment the GSX-8S is the favourite on paper. I'm not interested in the MT-07 as I think both the Honda and the Suzuki have moved things on in this class.
I’ll take a KTM 990
No. It lacks character and excitement.
So why no Z650 in the question? Is it really always down to only cross shopping on displacement and BHP numbers? On the road actual "performance" (real world acceleration, usability, going about your riding day with features that matter) seems to get lost in the last 5% of potential performance that is rarely used. And no, I don't own a Z650 🙂
@@timothymills733 the Z650 has been left behind, that’s why.
I bought this very bike the moment it was released last year and I have to say I more or less 100% agree with all of his observations (aside from the subjective ones). I’m really pleased with the bike it puts a smile on my face and is reassuringly dependable and fun. I’d 100% recommend it if you’re in the market for a bike like this.
I must say the feedback from Cadwell is very good!
Its lovely looking .
Are there any panniers available for this bike, saddle bags etc.
@@jsa2001 yeah, I’d look on Suzuki’s website if I were you.
@@jsa2001 there are at least the Suzuki soft bags available, shown on the Suzuki website.
I think the new 8R looks so much more complete.
8S is naked though. Some people love nothing but nakeds.
I don't like it.
Yes I think I prefer the looks of the 8R.
I agree. It is a really good looking bike. The engine is also excellent..
Especially with that silver body and metallic red wheels. It’s what a perfect sport bike design should be, but never done before.
I have a white one, put just over 2500 miles on it so far and still makes me smile. Had adv style bike and went back to naked as fed up with buffeting which I don’t get with this at road speeds. So far no paint issues but time will tell on that one, love being able to overtake without having to change down simply wind on and it goes. I’m 6ft so hornet felt a bit cramped when I test rode it but this is so comfortable I easily manage 3hrs before I need to have a break, and I normally fill up every 2 hours so no issue. Oh and Matt paint on tank does scratch and scuff very easily so protection essential.
IMO - GREAT pragmatic/ honest review. For about 70% +/- of the riders out there this GSX-8S (and some other middle-weights out there) is all the motorcycle they will ever "need", or can use!! I'm impressed by it. However, "want" is a different topic.
Absolutely fantastic summary. Thank you very much! This kind of level of attention to the bike is such good journalism! Well done!
Dan has a wonderful passion in the way he talks about the bike. Great video.
When you are young, horsepower wins the decision game far too often. But you soon realize that only one percent of riders out there can ride the magnificent litre sport bikes to their full capacity. The whole package to include comfort, sensible power, good handling and reasonable maintenance wins the day. A little “luxury “ like an Akrapovic exhaust, well one could easily drop the sensibility for that?
If I were in the market for a middleclass do-it-all-bike I´d take the GSX-8S without a second thought over KTM 790 Duke, Triumph Trident 660, Honda Hornet, Aprilia 660 and the like. A well-sorted suspension with a torquey engine and good looks is all you could ever need on the road. Suzuki could have saved some weight, though.
Great job Dan, thank you for the update on the bike.
Excellent discussion on its design, functionality and aesthetics. The one feature I’d like to see discussed more in any review is its maintenance schedule (projected cost and frequency).
Picked mine up about a month ago, its an amazing bike!
Surely the paint chips on the rim are due to the tyre change. Very common if not ultra careful.
I hadn't thought of that..... Looking at the video again it certainly is a possibility.
Exactly what I was thinking...and zipper hit the tank??
Yep that's what I thought it looked like to me. There are plenty of cowboys out there willing to damage your wheels and not care
First thing I do with a new bike is put tank protectors on it.
With tail tidy and standard exhaust it looks awesome. Good bike :)
Good balanced review. This is on my shortlist for my next bike. The only real disappointment for me is the thin paint on the wheels. The looks are growing on me with the exception of the rear end - I would fit a tail tidy and a tank pad but other than that I would leave the bike stock. I'm not a fan of loud exhausts and the suspension will probably be more than enough for my relatively sedate pace on the road. Thanks for the review.
Nobody talks about how thin it is between the legs. Feels so light.
I wouldn't say "nobody" but I would say very few. I have read and heard plenty of people whining and moaning about the weight, after reading a spec sheet.
Seriously, people got spoiled by the MT series bikes since 2014 and now everything has to be about 410 pounds or they won't buy one. 🙄
Dan was unwatchable early on and he’s come so far. Was wondering whose grandson he was but he’s earned his spot. Well done
He still is...
He's a small person with a unique voice. Relevance to motorcycles and the motorcycling savvy community is what keeps presenters hired.
Great review, very thorough. This bike is certainly on my short list for my next bike!
Been interested in this bike since it was announced. Dan's experiences are always relatable. We need to see more reviews from him.
Great video guys!
I have owned one of these for several months and several thousand kms. Love it. It does what I wanted. The described negatives seem minor/petty or not experienced by me (eg foot peg buzzy, front/wheel chipped by something ?!). People don't buy these for many track days or long tours. I love the torque, the smoothness, the stability, the looks (in the flesh and from rider position) and it will make a fine bike as my son's first open license bike.
I have had about 20 bikes over the years and this is one of the best in doing what it says.
Looks better (esp from behind) with Suzuki's optional led indicators which is my main mod.
I liked this bike a lot when I first saw it, am interested in the exact same riding as Dan, and was a bit underwhelmed by the Hp figures when i saw them. So his last comments around whether he would he buy one seemed valid for my situation too. I am looking to get a new bike in the next 2 years, and wondering what he would buy instead?
The exhaust is a massive improvement on the standard one,, don't know why your taking the pipe off just cleaning it,,keeps it good,, nice looking bike,,☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland,,
Great review Dan. Love the passion. I have one and love it. No paint issues. The torque is great, makes everyday riding more relaxing and quick when you want it to be. Chose over a cheaper new GSX S750. Love the quick shifter. Seamless and smooth short shifting up through the gears. However a change up at steady revs is better with the clutch. I will look at the 8R and if I go for it also look for an exhaust then.
A quality ECU flash tune and some break in miles on the transmission will makes the quickshifter function flawless. They can adjust the interrupt time on the QS as well as the engine blip for seamless downshifting.
Not the worst review I've heard but lost count after 34 "you knows" from Dan😂😂😂
I'm sorry, but "back in your day" 😂😂
I have the blue one. I do like a lot about it, just kind of want a little more pull on top. Debating if I want to do pipe and tune or just wait a year or so and get something a little more powerful like an MT09.
Good review. CB500F
Nice review. Good blokes
Outfit in the States is making velocity stacks (coupled with improved air filter) that improve the top end power, and with ECU tuning, it's been turning out 86 hp at the wheel, 62 ft-lb. By the graph that was shown in this video, you're still out at least 5-6 horsepower and several ft-lb torque. Not sure you had it tuned after fitting the Akrapovic.
Thank you for your Insight periodic table number 2, dude. 👍
Very clever 👏
I would agree with all of Dans observations.
I am a little disappointed the gixa isnt more leary. But.. is it easier to set this bike up to be more focussed, or buy an orange bike and put up with potentially more warranty issues. Potentially that is.
love that colour , stunning looker .
What happened to Suzuki? I've owned Suzuki's since the 70's.... from ts125's through to hayabusas and loads of gsxr's. Suzuki has always been synonymous with thin paintwork, super smooth gearboxes and FUN!! the sound of an X7 or a 2stroke GT triple with expansions makes the hair on my arms stand up. The letters GSXR just scream loads of very usable power, stability and FUN. Yamaha surprised everyone with the MT range, cheap, wobbly, wooden brakes but more FUN than they have any right to be... Suzuki has become more pipe and slippers. Honda looked at the market, saw the MT07 and said one of those with more of everything for less money... and the hornet 750 was born. Suzuki has looked at the failure that is the gsx s950 and thought it failed because it needed to be less exciting... and they produced the gsx8s ... now to add insult to injury... They are adding 4 or 5 bits of plastic to this middleweight that is trailing way behind in the fun department and calling it a gsx8r and charging an extra £1500 while pretending it is a sportsbike... WHAT Suzuki really needs to do is look at the KTM 890 and do what honda's 750 hornet did to the mt07... build it slightly better one, (TBH 30 year old suzuki bikes are still more reliable than some of KTM's 30 hour old bikes :) ) and with their better build quality, bringing fun back to the brand will sell loads.
Bridgestone s22 tires would have been a much better choice IMO and they're not very expensive. I hope they do a better job on the paint next year.
No Suzuki dealer on the Isle of Man! I think Jason Griffiths motorcycles would disagree. This is why I don’t pay much attention to MCN or bike publications in general. Knowledge!
Yep the 8r is the pick, needs a cruise control though
What a great pair of presenters!
Adjusting the preload for a track day? That doesn't firm your suspension, it only changes your sag.
So now Suzuki have revealed their GSX-8R hopefully you can bag a test ride on one Dan, it would be interesting to compare this 8S with the more sporty looking 8R and to know if you would be happy with this level of power or would you still be looking elsewhere for your ride?
8R would solve the longer distance wind pressure issues, moreso. Also probably gain a few miles to the gallon being more slippery.
Really dont understand why anyone would want a tail tidy in uk, my bike has one and my backpack and helmet are sprayed with crud 9 months of the year
My ‘73 plate Street Triple doesn’t have a tail tidy and my back is still caked in crud 😂
Might start a campaign for BIGGER tails…
His track foot position vs the street is soo different
Now i can only see that scracht in the tank
9:35 the ground clearance being an issue is wild haha, this is most prob the bike i buy after i get a license to gain exp and learn how to ride for a few years (also much cheaper) but my goal is the Indian Sport Chief which is a slightly sporty cruiser and in comparison its night and day with this haha so i cant even imagine what riding a proper american cruiser on shitty UK roads must be like
So nobody is going to talk about halogen indicators on a 2023 bike…? I know, it’s not that important for many people (maybe), but come on Suzuki! Such a great bike though, I will definitely take a look at the 8R!
Cheers ✌🏼
I have the same bike in the same colour with exactly the same exhaust. Instead of sounding like a sewing machine, it now sounds like a lovely motorbike should sound. However the Akrapovic system whilst not loud, isn’t road legal emissions-wise as there is no Cat. What are Dan’s thoughts on this, as an MCN journo ??
🤫
You do realise that you don't get any actual rewards from the government for being a dickhead, don't you?
With Akra and without db killer is loud?
I for one, do not care what his thoughts are about pleasing bureaucracies. Out of the 100,000 jets flying the skies around the earth, the giant ships traversing the oceans every day, the large trucks hauling stuff across millions of miles of highway every day, and people wince at the thought of a tiny motorcycle engine puffing a couple of gasses into the air.
I got over 12.000km or 7.500 miles on mine over the last 3 months, no problems with the paint at all in my case, only mechanical issue i've had was that the clutch needed a lot of adjusting in the beginning, and the clutch cable had to be replaced as it overstretched itself beyond what the adjusters could compensate for.
At 6ft / 183cm tall I have put 20mm raisers on the bars and it made a huge difference in comfort for me, also a barracuda wind screen, those 2 mods were a most for me.
One thing I truly dislike and I can't fix is the headlight, it's simply too dim for night time riding on non lit roads, really useless for anything more than just checking a box that says you have a headlight to be road legal, both the low and the high beams should be significantly brighter, and I really don't wanna put adventure style extra lights on it as I find they really look out of place on a sports naked
And the dealer told me that the LED in the headlight is soldered on a PCB and cannot be replaced for a brighter one, but haven't gotten around to disassemble the headlight myself to see inside of it yet
Other mods I did are Arrow exhaust, Rizoma blinkers and mirrors, heated grips, USB port, Top Block low tail tidy, Michelin Road 6 tires and I love them all
Hmm interesting, my Suzuki Inazuma's front wheel paint started coming off too but the rear has held up fine
They should do a big bore/cam for this thing .
Considering the GSX8R is the most expensive of the Japanese bike it's a bit rubbish it comes with crap tyres. I used to put Road Attack on my F800S and I put Road 6 on my Versys so I can attest to how good those options are.
Need timestamps
Rear is not great . Engine is great gear shift is great, tft is great . Front bit with the 8s logo not great . But the back really looks unfinished even with a tail tidy it still don’t look right . I don’t know what it is . But I sold mine just sort of on looks alone (rear mainly )
Why would you buy it and own one for less than a year if you didn’t care for the looks to begin with? lol
I got the white, blue, and black one. Think it looks more distinctive. Love ride and torquey motor and Quick shifter. I have a 800gs bmw same size motor but the Suzuki is so much quicker.
The paint chip will do my head in.
The All Black 8S Looks Great the Wheel Finish wear is Disappointing.. the Stone Chip on the Fairing could have Happened to any Bike
The Stacked Headlights have Grown on Me
Now
Could have been the shmuck at the tire shop scraping the wheel with a tire change.
Before anyone moans about the C spanner ( which is shocking as my recent Yamahas have had one in the tool kit ) - Ducati don't even supply the C spanner to adjust the chain!
I got the all blacked out version of the gsx8s. I like it more than the mt07. It beats it in every category. Just made the 2nd payment. It's an awesome bike. 👌. I haven't had a y issues like this guy is talking about in any way. I'm 6ft 6in tall, mabe his issues are because he is short. The only issue iv had is the seat. After 30 minutes, the top of my ass starts to hurt but I can get thicker padding for my seat for that. The seat does feel hard after 30 minutes or so. The vibration he was talking about making your feet vibrate doesn't exist. The tank does need the protection he was talking about to keep your zipper from scratching the paint. And I have had ZERO issues with the ground clearanc, and I lean it over alot. I also where a size 15 shoe, no issues at all. My tires feel great, they hook very well also. I'm gettin ready to go on a road trip on ot from roanoke Virginia to Tennessee. I don't have the sattle bags for it, so I'm gonna use my backpack, and stop every half hour. My ass only needs to recover for the length of time it takes to smoke a cigarette then your good to go for another half hour. So far iv had no issues at all with the bike other than numb ass.
Seems it varies from copy to copy which bike buzzes with some vibes and which does not. Which leads me to believe it's down to the factory tuning, the exhaust design, and things that cause an engine to not run entirely smooth and buzz-free as it was designed. Nothing that cannot be fixed with some ECU flash work and a good exhaust. Seat, suspension, and other issues are nothing that cannot be helped in the aftermarket, that being the same on any machine under $14 grand.
Check out Hepco and Becker if you want some luggage solutions for the bike, their C-bow system seems like a winner solution.
Just to let you know if you maintain your bike yourself, Suzuki parts are quite a bit cheaper than other Japanese brands
at least buying parts in Japan. But Suzuki dosen't make the parts of older models unless the paticular model was sold large quantities.
Table for 3 please.
Me, My Mate, and my GSX
My opinion is the standard exhaust looks far better and if quieter then win win.
I❤LOVE❤SUZUKI❤
At the end, I wonder what bike Dan was referring to that he'd prefer. Hmmmmm. Tell Us.
Oooh so, if it’s a bit more power and a bit more focus for the perfect bike….what would you choose?
CBR650R
The GSX 8R comes out this year, which is the faired version of this and likely produces a bit more hp
@@wlt3585 Same power. Same tuning. A touch more weight due to plastics and brackets.
Honestly, get it tuned in the aftermarket. +10 hp and +10 ft-lb and -7.5 pounds weight. No joke. I'm looking at the dyno chart right now.
Is that a road legal exhaust system?
From the product website: "THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT MEET EMISSION COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR STREET OR HIGHWAY USE."
I would say no, but I would also say the police have better things to do.
Great bike. This bike can gain as much as 12 horsepower if you mod the airbox, put a full exhaust on it and frash the ECU. Proper weapon on the twisties I bet
It gains 12hp but loses all the low down shove at the same time. That's why this beats the ktm 790 and aprilia 660 other line. The low end off the line is something else.
@@chrishart8548 Doubt it would beat the duke 790 or rs660 in a drag race 😂 they're both more powerful than the suzuki
@@tomekandrykowski it beats it initially maybe 1/8mile . Over a 1/4 the 660 catches up and beats it. The ktm struggles but it will eventually take the 800s by the 1/4 mile. In the real world it does give them a fright initially it gets away for a bit. Even the roll on is better. The 660 and the 790 take a wile for the power to come on after the revs have built up.
@@chrishart8548 what are you talking about lol. It gains power all the way through the revs. As much as 17 horsepower in some spots in the rpm range. Search for gsx8s Dyno tuning and you'll be amazed at how much power you can squeeze out.
@@chrishart8548 the rs660 maybe but the duke 790 pulls right from the bottom of the rev range, it's got loads of torque down low
It looks better with the side pipe.
That finish quality on the paint surfaces is scarily bad for a less than 1yr old bike
Still don’t know why they replaced the GSXS750 with this. Same weight and at least 30 horsepower less.
Twins are cheaper to make. That's why they are everywhere
Go buy a honda i4 before they are gone for good 😢
Do you buy an S750 to keep Suzuki making them? I doubt it.
If you want horsepower, go with the GSX-S1000 with 150 horsepower. There's something for everyone.
Neevsy has to be on holidays 😅
Probably a great bike but the styling is a big mistake. That weird piece of plastic with the 8S on it for instance looks odd and terrible.
Looks much better in real life.
A great looking bike but all these modern bikes leave me a bit empty in the styling department of the seat /tail sections. An 'old skool' GSX750 tail would really improve the looks and hide that ridiculous looking thing hanging out the back of the bike.
SUZUKI, we need an all new from the ground up GSXR-1000 SUPERBIKE!!!!
Rumor has it Yamaha is quitting the R1.
Seems all the people screaming for superbikes aren't buying any.
Akra's are such a waste of money. Just get a FUEL (British) or Shark for a fraction of the price and way better sound
I know right. I think it was 2wheeldyno that did a comparison between this and a toce for the 8S and the toce actually performed better at higher rpms and held onto the akra everywhere else. Plus most akras just sound like stock!
Would the KTM Duke 790 not be the better choice for Dans sportier riding style?
Depending how sporty on a track yes on the road this has power where it matters.
@@chrishart8548. Really enough power? it runs out of puff very quickly.
@@Steve-motorcycles if it doesn't have the power you want just look at a 765 triump, 660 aprilia , f900 bmw, ktm 790 or 890 honda hornet, or even something bigger than a middle weight.
@@Steve-motorcycles Have you tried one? Past 100 mph how much more puff do the police say you need? Maybe drag race some sports cars and ask them how lacking in puff it is.
All these parallel twins leave me cold. Why would anyone buy this over a GSX-S750 with 30 more hp for a lot less money? I really don't get it. It's like we are going backwards.
It makes me laugh when people complain about tyres try riding on Avon Speedmasters.
To be fair, Japanese bikes aren't riding on anywhere near what a showcase tire should be. You really cannot tap into the capability of a given motorcycle model with plastic tires. It can seriously hamper your opinion of a motorcycle, even on a test ride.
So a £8250 bike needs a tank pad £50 ish, a £1325 exhaust, £400 tyres, shorter footrests (rubber mounted to reduce the vibes), thin paint.....£1000+ more than the opposition, not impressed...
Thanks Dan for a concise review. Your enthusiasm shows through!!
I totally agree
Underneath original exhaust looks so much better PERIOD. You can only imagine how much designer work went into creating the shape of it and you just replaced it with something that sticks out like dog's balls, costs a fortune and clearly doesn't match anything on the bike. Otherwise 8s seems like a great bike and a good review.
"You know"
It'll look nice when it's finished😂
Is this better than MT07?
Thanks
Yes, but not by a whole lot.
@@Steve-motorcyclesesp when you consider how long the MT has been around
@@Steve-motorcyclesYes it is! Lol I owned both and the GSX8S is a winner for my 270 crank ptwin of choice.
I take it you never own an MT07 and felt just how bad that suspension was.
Also way more potential for performance mods if that’s your thing.
@@HifeMan I’ve owned a MT07 and done over 35000 miles on it. Never missed a beat. The suspension is very soft but was ok for a daily commute.The GS8S definitely has better suspension in regards that it is very stiff. A little jarring over a pothole or bad surfaces but overall better. Is the extra 32 lbs and longer wheel base better? The Suzuki isn’t much far ahead if you look at the power to weight ratio. I just think the Suzuki lacks some character. It definitely doesn’t lack any vibrations. Overall, it’s a good bike but I’d definitely would look at the KTM or Hornet. Suzuki, missed the goal in my opinion as I really wanted to love the GS8S. ( I’ve also owned a 790 and recently chose the Hornet as my commuter)
gone from the 650 to the mt09 and in town/london the 650 was a much better bike. you could rag it to 60 with not much in it and still get great fuel mileage.
The biggest negative to this bike is that the GSX8R came along😅
I didn't think Lenny Rush was old enough to ride motorbikes 🙄
Ten more horsepower sales would double. Shame really. If KTM or even Honda can put up gigahertz numbers
Seems perhaps a few too many small but annoying compromises made by teh big S. But to be fair in this category all the manufacturers cut corners somewhere.
I bought a 2023 Hayabusa, it really does feel like the one model they really put a lot of effort into. Like this bike looks good, but I love my Busa. It feels like a pinnacle, a peak, the place on which you look down on other machines on the road as if you are royalty.
I would hope they put more effort and cut less corners on an 18K bike. lol
Suzuki missed a trick here. It's too conservative to challenge the frontrunners.
😊😊😊😊
It’s too much for that suspension.
I find the GS8S is a tad predictable and plain. Could do with a bit more excitement and character
I thought inhaling helium was now illegal ? 🤔😜
Wouldnt buy a non 4 cyclinder suzuki. Boring ptwins are a dead end no matter how much marketing tries to sell you on the 270 crank
Yet I 4 twin cylinder bikes and one 3 cylinder… lol Also MT07 one of the best selling bikes 🤔 weird how that’s a dead end lol
This bike is as dull as dish water I would never walk out of the garage and look back with pride and if it doesn't stir my soul its not for me.
Renfield!!!!!!
No gsxrs anymore. This is a cheap imitation of what suzuki used to make sadly. Suzuki have binned the icon!
will the us get the 750 hornet? im like dude i dont want a transalp.
not sure why you would buy this over say a 2016 GSR750 for half the money.
I think the overall description needed is Cheap Ass
Dont like the design🤮
This bike just looks unfinished
Ah hes an iphone guy, explains alot, lol.
P-twin. 👎