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Suzuki GSX-8S Review (Baujahr 2023)

Suzuki sets standards in the naked bike middle class with the GSX-8S.

20.06.2023

Photos: Motorradtest.de

With the new GSX-8S, Suzuki brings an alternative to the MT-07, Hornet 750 & Co. in the popular and competitive naked bike middle class. Let's get straight to the point: The new Suzi is doing excellently. What it can and can't do, Lenny and Dietmar found out during an extensive test drive.

News from Hamamatsu

In addition to the V-Strom 800 DE , which is also new, the GSX-8S is the second, completely newly developed machine from Suzuki. Anyone who thought a year or two ago that Suzuki would rest on its successful car division in Europe or only develop two-wheelers (scooters!) for Asia will now be taught better. The GSX-8S and the 800 V-Strom are really bikes redesigned from the ground up, which is especially noticeable in the in-line twin - but more on that later.

The GSX-8S costs 8,900 euros and is available in three colors: blue, black and white. The black variant is actually pitch black, which of course fits perfectly with a streetfighter with an Evil touch . The other two models have bright blue rims and therefore look fresher. We would have liked a crisp red, but even so, the new Suzuki should suit many tastes. The machine was sharply drawn, especially the front with the superimposed lights (see picture gallery above) is distinctive and polarized. We like that, because it makes the machine visually independent and can be detected from a distance of 10 km. We also find the bolted rear frame and the short stub exhaust very chic. So the GSX-8S is not a visual bore, that's a good thing!

There are no surprises during the seat rehearsal. You sit securely in the saddle according to the seat height of 810 mm and even smaller pilots have a secure footing thanks to the rather narrow seat. The seat is still very comfortable, it does not pinch in the buttocks even on longer tours. The weight of just over 200 kg is standard in its class and we also found the position of the medium-wide handlebars and footrests to be very successful.

You sit upright with a bit of tilt forward, as befits a streetfighter. By the way, the footrest system is very classy and gives the machine a valuable touch. The comfort for the passenger is - as is almost always the case with naked bikes - modest. As a pillion passenger, you only have a retaining strap that does not inspire much confidence and the space conditions are also rather modest. It doesn't matter, this machine is not designed for two people anyway, but it looks nice and slim and sporty overall, not a gram too much. Wonderful, we would like to start now...

Dimensions of the Suzuki GSX-8S

This is how it sits on the new GSX-8S

360 degree tour around the Suzuki GSX-8S

Technology of the GSX-8S

Before we start, let's take a quick look at the technical equipment. The bike has a large, bright and sharp and therefore very readable TFT color display, which automatically switches between white and black display thanks to the light sensor.

Unlike other bikes, there are no riding modes, instead traction control and engine mapping can be adjusted separately and in all possible combinations. In addition to an on-board computer, there is also a QuickShifter as standard, which we will discuss in more detail later. Suzuki has probably dispensed with a mobile phone connection as well as cruise control and lean angle sensors in the GSX-8S for price reasons.

Somewhat surprisingly, we had to find out that the red pencil was also applied to the turn signals. These are light bulbs and we don't like the turn signal housings either: they turned out to be very clunky. A clear case for immediate replacement with narrow LED turn signals. Many buyers will probably also replace the much too long rear with the license plate holder. Well, we'll book that under the heading "Room for individualization", so it's not so bad. By the way, the front and rear lights are made of LED - uff...

That's how it drives

The sound of the GSX-8S is typical of a modern in-line twin with a 270-degree crankpin offset. From the mute exhaust it grumbles bassy V2-like, but fortunately it doesn't get too loud. We don't believe the recorded stationary noise of only 88 dbA, but the machine is still one of the quieter comrades. Good for the neighbors and the next trip to Tyrol.

Already on the first meter it becomes clear that Suzuki has achieved a great success with the GSX-8S. This is mainly due to two things: firstly, the excellent chassis geometry and secondly, the engine. The bike is stable and still manoeuvrable. The 180 slippers at the rear slows down the agility a little, but that doesn't detract from the driving pleasure in curves. You immediately feel at home and the machine gives you a lot of confidence, which soon has an effect on your riding style.

Then there is this terrific engine with 83 hp at 8,500 rpm and 78 Nm at 6,800 rpm. Isn't that much, is it? True, it may seem that way on the data sheet, but in practice the engine immediately shows the driver where the frog has the curls. The machine goes forward so emphatically that one thinks that the data sheet has been cheated. If we had had to type, we would probably have ended up with just under 100 hp and Newton meters! Every test driver will confirm to us: The box goes off like a fox.

By the way: If you still need a matching "And off goes the fox" shirt - you can get it in our shop...

This is also evident in the acceleration and pulling tests, in which the Suzi achieves very good values in this class. Add to that the okay dual-mode QuickShifter (could be a bit smoother, but at least works well upwards under load) and there is nothing left in the way of ambitious cornering. And it gets even better. The 776 cc twin works perfectly even at low revs. The usable speed range extends from about 2,500 to 9,500 rpm - biker's heart, what more could you want?!

The brake system from Nissin is okay, but can't keep up with high-performance brakes a la Brembo Stylemas. However, you should always realize that the GSX-8S doesn't even cost 9,000 euros - this price has to come from somewhere! By the way, we liked the steering angle, which was not so tight. Normally, you often have to jerk back and forth with naked bikes when turning, but not so with the GSX-8S. The turning circle is also correspondingly pleasant.

Finally, a word about the value of the Suzuki GSX-8S: This has completely convinced us. Everywhere you look, it doesn't look cheap and quickly put together anywhere. The butted, matt black painted handlebars, all switches, the beautiful aluminum two-sided swingarm, the already mentioned beautiful footrest system and also the silver-colored USB fork (Kayaba 41 mm, not adjustable) simply look high-quality. And all this for this price, not bad!

The service is due every 12,000 km or once a year and the warranty is 2 years. That's neither particularly great nor particularly bad, so we can live with that too. A quick look at the competition: Bikes like the Yamaha MT-07, the new Honda Hornet 750 and other hits like the Triumph Trident 660, KTM 790 Duke and the Aprilia Tuono 660 - not to forget the F900R from BMW. In hardly any other segment does the potential buyer have such a large selection - and yet we believe that Suzuki will land a big hit with the GSX-8S. Anything else would just be a big surprise.

>>> comparison Suzuki GSX-8S and their competitors in the middle class <<<

Result

Wow, what a bike! A simple look at the data sheet of the GSX-8S is not enough to come to a correct assessment of this machine - you have to drive it! Then you realize that Suzuki has put together a very balanced streetfighter with a lot of love, which has hardly any weaknesses. The GSX-8S is extremely fun, has endless steam and does not have to hide from any of the current competitors. Awesome bike!

The test machine was provided to us by Bergmann & Söhne in Tornesch . There she stands in this magnificent blue as a demonstrator and waits eagerly for test drivers. And we can only advise you: Go to Tornesch and try them out. However, you should check your account balance beforehand, because many of you will catch it - caution is advised!

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