Best Suzuki Naked Bikes
Suzuki GSX-8S
2023 Suzuki GSX8S -3,000 Kilometers – Hi All, Thanks for reading my review of my bike, which I have now sold and I'm continuing to the 8R faired… Read more
version soon. It's a excellent bike, but has only one real drawback which is suspension related. It's too hard at both ends of the bike for my riding weight of 93KG on our poorly surfaced Qld Roads. Well, it's not going to rattle your fillings out, but it doesn't need to be racetrack firm in my opinion.
The suspension, front and rear, is mostly non adjustable at all. No front preloads or rebound adjustments, only rear shock preload, BUT Suzuki no longer provide the adjusting spanner. They tell you to see a Dealer or buy your own (part number supplied). The front end bounces off sharp ridges followed by the rear end. But this gives sharp sports bike like handling on the occasion when you can use it.
The motor is a good one, it doesn't excessively vibrate, there's a little in the Riders foot pegs, but the state of your boot soles (softness) will be the deciding factor in how you feel it. Fuel, being 95 Octane, is fairly economical, and a lot better than a 4 cyl GSX-S1000. Around 4 L/100 KM is the average of what I got.
Seat comfort is OK, and not having the Rider hard against the tank is a good feature. No idea what the lights are in the dark, not part of my riding. Tyres were hardly worn at 3,000 KM, being the stock Dunlop SportsMax 2 fitting, and good in the driving rain showers too that I couldn't avoid.
The quick Shifter action was not the best that I have used with other brands. It was preferable to just use the tried and true methods, and not try to down change while the transmission is under heavy load.
All up, for mid level Rider bike, Suzuki has spun a lot of good engineering with a very fair price. You'll enjoy it as much as I did for sure.
Bob.
Purchased in Jan 2024 at Brisbane Motorcycles.
Mileage: 3,000 km
Suzuki GSX-8R
2024 Suzuki GSX8R – Early days yet, only a few months traveled since first service. Now at 1800 KM on the clock. I have another 800 Suzuki, the V Strom 800 RE at the… Read more
moment too, and had a 2023 8S of which there is a review on this site. The R is a sportstourer more than a hard on sports bike; buy it for that alone and you will get a bike that does a few more roles than just carve corners.
The torque is centred around 4 to 5000 RPM and it is not a top end power machine like my now departed 2024 First Gen Honda Hornet 750 which the 8R replaced. It is far more comfortable than the Hornet, but that depends on your age and fitness too. The aerodynamics of the fully faired bike make for excellent wind deflection away from the rider. Some bike windscreens just dump all the air into the riders face (my 800RE !). Suzuki has got it right for my 6 foot frame and height, even better if you are more vertically challenged than me.
Suspension is a welcome highlight on the R version. It has Honda owned Showa's at both ends and the benefit is obvious over that fitted to the cheaper 8S. Where the S at the front leaps upwards over ridges, the R just absorbs them and moves on. The rear on the R is just as good. Yes, you still feel the suspension, but it doesn't get upset. No complaints about the Dunlop tyres fitted, they are the same as on the S, but are higher speed rated Z one's.
First service was $265, which included using the Suzuki oil, filter pack which IF used at every service by a Suzuki Dealer, gives 12 months full warranty extra over the standard two years.
Bob.