It all depends on what you like. I really like a twin cylinder for not only torque but engine breaking. A four cylinder with 150hp isn't that usable on UK roads for 90% of the time. I've ridden, twins, triples and fours. The new Triumph Street Triple 765 R was excellent (119hp) but for me the Suzuki GSX 8S with 80hp engine is just superb. Most impressive engine I've tried. Feels way more pokey than 776cc's ought to. Great modern engineering.
Completely agree, a twin has great attributes, like low down grunt and engine braking (that's a good point I missed). For me the instant power delivery is a bit crazy, I'm used to a bike needing to be wound up to get going. Fully accept that my own view might be a little against the majority however. Thanks for your comment!
Coincidentally I just sold my GSXS1000F, and I told others that it was for financial reasons but that wasn't really true. The truth was that I had spooked myself a few times in the year that I owned it, plus I was pulled over by a cop for speeding (he let me go with a warning). Nothing truly bad ever happened but I got the strong feeling that a liter bike is almost completely unsuitable for most riders, even riders like me who have had a fair number of 600cc trackdays and have always owned a motorcycle since from a very young age. On the other hand, I had owned a Suzuki SV650 about 15 years ago, and that felt dog-slow everywhere. A GSX8S seems to split that difference. For what I would use it for (commuting, 2-lane roads, and trackday) a GSX8S seems great for grins without spooking me.
A mode is snappy, so I usually ride in B mode with traction on 1. C mode is for wet weather but it still pulls hard & fast, so traction goes to 3 for slippery conditions.
Try B mode if you find it too snappy, the torque makes for a fun ride & overtaking far easier. The engine is fantastic & having ridden multi cylinder, triples, parallel twins, big singles & V twins this is probably the best engine I have ridden yet
Just watched your review it’s very good I’ve owned my 8s for 2 months done 1000 miles so far I love it the overtaking between 40-60 mph is amazing it’s what wanted it’s nearly a perfect road bike for me I’ve been riding bikes on & off since 1983 this is the best I’ve had including my cbr 600rr it beats that for real world use
Fun ride, thanks.. The bike has clutch assist at low revs which is why it is easy to pull away. Torque is fun and I found it easy to ride slowly than the hornet. Not sure which to buy.
Thanks Paul 😁. I would say Suzuki, it is a little bit better in most departments perhaps except top end revvy power and of course price, if PCP then that becomes very little difference...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanks for the response. I bought the Suzuki. Same price here. I found the Honda a little cramped, no room to push back in the seat and the throttle was a bit more snatchy. Loving the GSX so far. So relaxed around the city with all that torque. it's on a rail in corners too.
Thanks Steve that's kind. Yes it is much quicker off the mark than my current bike. Twist the throttle and off you go into hyperspace 😂. Good job by Suzuki to be honest. Congratulations on your purchase...
@@TheAgalmic That's interesting feedback, I recently dropped down from 4k to 1080p to save on storage (I've half filled a 16TB disk). I can also use the H265 codec and produce the footage with a higher bit rate. Perhaps I need to go back up to 4K. Were you viewing on your phone or a TV?
I bought this bike as a second big bike, a different flavour to my indian scout rogue, and I'm loving the hell out of the bike. This is an extremely fun, extremely capable, road warrior. It's so aggressive, could get a learner into serious shit extremely quickly at full power (unrestricted), but for attacking the twisties and overtakes this is absolutely an ideal machine. Quality riding feel.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist yep theres faster, there's cheaper, and there's better equipped... But overall experience, style, and build quality put this at the top for me and I have no regrets at all!
First off…. Great bike and video. I’ve had my 24 for six weeks and done over 2500 miles. Zero issues. Added tail tidy, seat cowl, and did the stage one airbox mod. Silly not to. With that being said you’re making me feel like I should ride moto gp. lol. I want more. Will be trading in next season for a streetfighter v2. But wish I could keep this too. 😊
Thank you Laurent for the comment, I'm glad you are enjoying your bike. The engine is very nice as Suzuki have quickly expanded the platform to include the 800DE ADV bike and the 8R sportbike...
Just bought one as my first bike, limited to 48 hp. Great Bike, I don´t like the indicators (No LED??), the connectivity and assist modes from the hornet are better and its hard to change the exhaust. Everything else really good.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Looks good but sadly not road legal. Mivv and Arrow announced road legal full systems, but they aren´t cheap either. Mivv released a sound video on the MIVV SR-1, sound pretty good, but I guess the video was taken without the mandatory catalytic converter
I bought 1 yesterday. Tooling around for my 1st 30 miles or so the quick shift up is great but down shift is hit or miss. Mostly miss. Still an awesome bike
@@crumbcake11it took me awhile to get used to mine. I find if I apply slight pressure to the shifter just before stepping down or kicking up on it, it works much more smoothly for me
Quick shift has a window of use where it feels really nice up or down. Low revs and gears are the weak spot. So no quick shifting between 1st and 2nd, no quick shifting under around 5k rpm
Update: quick shift is awesome at higher revs and especially when riding aggressively. Learning curve and initial user error on my part. Quick shifter gas become conveinient and predictable.
You're right, I do like a bike that you have to work a little for the power, realise I'm in the minority there 😀. I quite fancy a go on that Benelli, think it looks the part as well in green especially. Cheers
It all depends on what you like. I really like a twin cylinder for not only torque but engine breaking. A four cylinder with 150hp isn't that usable on UK roads for 90% of the time. I've ridden, twins, triples and fours. The new Triumph Street Triple 765 R was excellent (119hp) but for me the Suzuki GSX 8S with 80hp engine is just superb. Most impressive engine I've tried. Feels way more pokey than 776cc's ought to. Great modern engineering.
Completely agree, a twin has great attributes, like low down grunt and engine braking (that's a good point I missed). For me the instant power delivery is a bit crazy, I'm used to a bike needing to be wound up to get going. Fully accept that my own view might be a little against the majority however. Thanks for your comment!
Agree. I bought a black one.
Coincidentally I just sold my GSXS1000F, and I told others that it was for financial reasons but that wasn't really true. The truth was that I had spooked myself a few times in the year that I owned it, plus I was pulled over by a cop for speeding (he let me go with a warning). Nothing truly bad ever happened but I got the strong feeling that a liter bike is almost completely unsuitable for most riders, even riders like me who have had a fair number of 600cc trackdays and have always owned a motorcycle since from a very young age.
On the other hand, I had owned a Suzuki SV650 about 15 years ago, and that felt dog-slow everywhere. A GSX8S seems to split that difference. For what I would use it for (commuting, 2-lane roads, and trackday) a GSX8S seems great for grins without spooking me.
A mode is snappy, so I usually ride in B mode with traction on 1. C mode is for wet weather but it still pulls hard & fast, so traction goes to 3 for slippery conditions.
Torque is the best thing about it!! I thought it was fab
Hi David, I'm not saying it's bad just it's bloody rapid for the road! Probably on balance this is a better bike than the Hornet, good on Suzuki...
Me too. Love it.
@@davidtait7407 pulls like a god damn electric, phenomenal
Try B mode if you find it too snappy, the torque makes for a fun ride & overtaking far easier. The engine is fantastic & having ridden multi cylinder, triples, parallel twins, big singles & V twins this is probably the best engine I have ridden yet
Thanks Adrian, good advice. We weren't really given a rundown of the modes and what each one was. Very much trial and error on my part 😂
Just watched your review it’s very good
I’ve owned my 8s for 2 months done 1000 miles so far I love it the overtaking between 40-60 mph is amazing it’s what wanted it’s nearly a perfect road bike for me I’ve been riding bikes on & off since 1983 this is the best I’ve had including my cbr 600rr it beats that for real world use
Thanks Steve! I would also prefer this to a 600RR. My Daytona 650 which is a similar bike I hardly ride now... how things have changed!
Fun ride, thanks.. The bike has clutch assist at low revs which is why it is easy to pull away. Torque is fun and I found it easy to ride slowly than the hornet. Not sure which to buy.
Thanks Paul 😁. I would say Suzuki, it is a little bit better in most departments perhaps except top end revvy power and of course price, if PCP then that becomes very little difference...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Thanks for the response. I bought the Suzuki. Same price here. I found the Honda a little cramped, no room to push back in the seat and the throttle was a bit more snatchy. Loving the GSX so far. So relaxed around the city with all that torque. it's on a rail in corners too.
Well done on your first review. It is a great motorcycle! I love mine completely! Well done considering it’s a bigger engine to what you’re used to.👌
Thanks Steve that's kind. Yes it is much quicker off the mark than my current bike. Twist the throttle and off you go into hyperspace 😂. Good job by Suzuki to be honest. Congratulations on your purchase...
@@MindfulMotorcyclistthank you for sharing your experience!
Glad you enjoyed it ☺️
Picked up the 2024 in grey. Absolutely love the bike.
For some reason, the video was a bit soft but otherwise enjoyable. I do like the look of the 8S, especially in that blue.
Hi Andy, what do you mean soft? The image itself or hopefully not the delivery 😂...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist The image wasn't very sharp. The delivery was fine 🙂
@@TheAgalmic That's interesting feedback, I recently dropped down from 4k to 1080p to save on storage (I've half filled a 16TB disk). I can also use the H265 codec and produce the footage with a higher bit rate. Perhaps I need to go back up to 4K. Were you viewing on your phone or a TV?
I bought this bike as a second big bike, a different flavour to my indian scout rogue, and I'm loving the hell out of the bike. This is an extremely fun, extremely capable, road warrior. It's so aggressive, could get a learner into serious shit extremely quickly at full power (unrestricted), but for attacking the twisties and overtakes this is absolutely an ideal machine. Quality riding feel.
I would have this bike over most middleweight nakeds. Really liked it.
@@MindfulMotorcyclist yep theres faster, there's cheaper, and there's better equipped... But overall experience, style, and build quality put this at the top for me and I have no regrets at all!
First off…. Great bike and video. I’ve had my 24 for six weeks and done over 2500 miles. Zero issues. Added tail tidy, seat cowl, and did the stage one airbox mod. Silly not to. With that being said you’re making me feel like I should ride moto gp. lol. I want more. Will be trading in next season for a streetfighter v2. But wish I could keep this too. 😊
Thank you Charles appreciate the comment 👍
The low rps assist is really cool :) i bought this bike and did 1000km with it so far
Thank you Laurent for the comment, I'm glad you are enjoying your bike. The engine is very nice as Suzuki have quickly expanded the platform to include the 800DE ADV bike and the 8R sportbike...
Big capacity bikes just make us lazy riders...that's why I ride a 1000cc bike these days!
😂
Just bought one as my first bike, limited to 48 hp. Great Bike, I don´t like the indicators (No LED??), the connectivity and assist modes from the hornet are better and its hard to change the exhaust. Everything else really good.
Congrats on your purchase, lovely bike. I read that Akropovic have released a full system for the 8S, it is however £1300! Looks stunning tho...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist Looks good but sadly not road legal. Mivv and Arrow announced road legal full systems, but they aren´t cheap either. Mivv released a sound video on the MIVV SR-1, sound pretty good, but I guess the video was taken without the mandatory catalytic converter
would you say this is too much for a complete beginner? i'd keep it in riding mode C for a while and take it slow of course, no racing or anything.
I think suzuki 650 is 85% of this bike with excellent drive ability and torque
It's PERFECT - NOT for most ladies & beginners though 😅
Yep
Can u confirm quick shift works when down shifting?
I took one for a test, quick shift down didn't work.
To be honest, it's way to fast a bike for me. I don't even think I used the quick shift much 🙂. I'm probably not the person to ask.
I bought 1 yesterday. Tooling around for my 1st 30 miles or so the quick shift up is great but down shift is hit or miss. Mostly miss. Still an awesome bike
@@crumbcake11it took me awhile to get used to mine. I find if I apply slight pressure to the shifter just before stepping down or kicking up on it, it works much more smoothly for me
Quick shift has a window of use where it feels really nice up or down. Low revs and gears are the weak spot. So no quick shifting between 1st and 2nd, no quick shifting under around 5k rpm
Update: quick shift is awesome at higher revs and especially when riding aggressively. Learning curve and initial user error on my part. Quick shifter gas become conveinient and predictable.
its not really the bike for you is it? I ride a benelli 752s very similar power to the Suzuki torque thats what i like
You're right, I do like a bike that you have to work a little for the power, realise I'm in the minority there 😀. I quite fancy a go on that Benelli, think it looks the part as well in green especially. Cheers
Too much torque ?????
Haha, I'm used to small capacity bikes that you have to rev!
Tuyệt vời, nhưng không bán tại việt nam❤❤❤😂😂🎉🎉
Translation please?
5:16 cant be that fast you didnt even get any closer to the bike ahead of you if anything you got farther back ! ....ridiculous!
lol that was a 150hp GT with a 999cc gixxer K5 derived engine...
@@MindfulMotorcyclist just kidding