I had one for about a year and a half before selling it and buying a '22 Yamaha XSR900, which in turn is quite a similar motorcycle. Better brakes, 50 pounds lighter, cheaper, better gearing for the street, better suspension, cruise control, longer maintenance intervals, better shop manual, much better display, much better rider modes/slide control/wheelie control, IMU, cheaper insurance, better headlight, and quieter via Euro 5 (some riders want a loud motorcycle but I prefer quiet ones). Unless you're dead-set on having an inline4 1000cc bike or you can find the GSXS selling for, say, 10K, there's no compelling reason to buy it over the much better and cheaper bikes out there. The GSXS is a really good bike...it's just an old design. The GSXS GT and the GSXS X are great examples of almost all these shortcoming being addressed for not much more money.
Very much appreciate your insights and for sharing them! I can understand your feelings on the things it doesn't have and that its long in the tooth. Suzuki rarely does anything to update a bike unless it has too! 250r, r600, r750 and the r1000 are basically unchanged for the past 5 to 10 years. You are correct that it doesn't have the more advanced tech that can be found for an additional 1500+ but you can find solid used versions of the GSX-S1000 for a good price and they will deliver the same performance as the "new" model. I am hoping to try the Z900 to compare against this since they are very close in price point. This is still a lot of bike for the money and I don't think it should be overlooked for the value for money buyers. I haven't been able to ride the mt-09 or xsr900 yet. I take it you enjoy it very much. Again thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Stay Safe
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders You should try the Suzuki GSX8S. On paper it's not a very good bike, with not much power and a steel frame, nor is it particularly cheap (especially insurance!), but I think it's darn near the top in the naked category at any price point. The "yet another P-twin" is simply magnificent and it's become my new favorite engine. Unfortunately Suzuki sells the GSX8S to mostly sub-prime riders and the insurance rates reflect that. Progressive originally put this bike under the very low risk category but now reckons it to be as crash happy as the MT09. Both the XSR900 and all the GSX1000 variants are very low risk, by the way.
I was set on the xsr and booked demo but left the dealer just sat on it. Seat is horrible, ergos weird and details on the finished not sleak. Went on demoed gsx and bought it right away. Just to mention I also owned 3 gen Yamaha Mt09 sp.
@@mingern10 If you got to MotoNomics then you can see what these various motorcycles are from an ergonomics viewpoint. The Suzuki does have slightly further back footpegs and much lower handlebars, along with a higher seat height. A lot of ergos can be changed, though, with higher seats, rear sets, and maybe different handlebars. What I notice the most between switching the GSXS to the XSR was just how much easier the XSR felt to ride. 50 pounds is a big difference. I would probably have test driven the XSR. Bikes feel very different when you ride them versus bouncing up and down on them in the showroom floor. The XSR's riding position is very different from the MT09.
The unrestricted version of the Versys 650 third generation is in my opinion the best value motorcycle …in Australia at least. $13500 ride away in Australia . Put on a pair of Pirelli Trail Master 2 tyres when the stock ones wear at about 8000kms ..and you can ride any road and / or smooth dirt / gravel double track . Only those who have not done serious miles on the mighty Versys 650 would argue .
I think this bike is the most bang for your buck in the hyper naked market. It's not geared the same as a GSXR1000 which is probably a good thing being a naked. Really smooth u/d quick shifter. Loads of torque. Too bad you didn't get to experience the rush in that controlled ride. Hit's hard, it might of been up there with the gsxr750. I rented one on twisted road for a weekend. I don't think I could daily it though. I have a few miles of 25-35 and that would be torture on this one. Fun after work though
I would agree. I put this in my database and it ranks on specs alone as the most value for money bike I've ridden for the channel. I would have loved to do my normal private ride so I can control the video pacing and keep some form of structure. However just in the short ride I could feel what the bike has and that I would like to get more time riding it lol. It creeped into my personal top 10 list but not sure if it will stay there after riding the bikes yesterday. I did ride the 24 R750 at the demo also and while the ride was controlled I still loved it as a track day or track only bike. Thank you for adding your thoughts and experience to the video.
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders It's hard to do just one list imo. Think there needs to be a daily riding bike and maybe a weekend bike, adrenaline or something.. cause a Busa is fun, you are not commuting on one lol... I think your list would have a greater look if split into two...just an observation. I have been struggling with what is fun vs what I daily.
@thedragon1322 Appreciate you for sharing that thought. I tend to think about the shorter riders and not being able to touch the ground. Generally it seems that most bikes are built for 5'8 to 6' riders to strike a balance for the averages but I can see how taller riders may find it difficult to get comfortable on certain bikes. Is it a feeling cramped on the bike that is the biggest issue or something else?
@MotorcycleDemoRiders definitely being cramped. Mostly an issue of extreme angles in the knees due to foot peg location or where your knees land on the tank. Instead of being in the pocket, they wind up right along those ridges which is really uncomfortable when you're trying to grip the tank. Even just moving around on the bike gets weird depending on the design. I'm 6'4" and I don't want to be stuck only riding big heavy cruisers or the Hayabusa which is incredibly comfortable but it's nice to have other options. Suzuki seems to address this better than the other JDM companies.
This bike is exactly in the goldilocks zone with about everything for a roadster/naked. All it needs is a decent windscreen. I'd prefer the S over the GT as well, because the nose on the latter looks rather off-putting and I've heard the lights are quite shitty at night. I own a ZX6R myself and I'm a sportsbike afficionado, but the fucking fairings on the thing are a hassle for maintenance and extremely pricey to get replaced. I think its bulky shape really suits bigger people too.
Sweet spot no doubt. I liked the GT overall and would only ask for the display from that. I also love the ease of maintenance on non faired bikes. Is it perfect no but really close.
I wish the 750 would have gotten the same attention the 1000 did. The 750 split power and cost of ownership at a great balance point. Acceleration was quick (and sounded fantastic!), had excellent handing, and the insurance cost was reasonable.
Everyone I talked to likes the 8R as long as they don't think its a superbike...its not...I think its a sporty bike for daily riding that can have fun on the weekends too.(Like a vfr800) Quickshift up good...down was garbo unless it was just the one I tried. XSR900 has the best QS I have tried up and down. This 1000 is pretty good too... Im trying to convince myself I can daily this gsxs lmao. as it was ultra comfy, just a lot of power for a daily
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders I like the look of the 8R and the color! Looks pretty good. The TFT screen is pretty nice too, compared to my current 2022 MT07. That’s what I’ll be comparing it to, and it’s good they’re in a similar class. The throttle is pretty smooth, I like the high end power. It’s plenty. Quick shifter is nice to have standard, but as others have mentioned, it might be sloppy sometimes or kick the bike at times. Mostly good though. I had the same issue with my foot pegs vibrating a lot more than my MT07. I noticed this is because there are no rubber pieces to suppress the vibrations. I like having the windscreen with still a naked feel. Would I upgrade from the MT07? Probably not since there aren’t any significant changes to justify the price.
@oloyolo6711 pretty much how I felt about it. I was comparing to the Triumph Daytona 660. Looks are a personal thing of course. I like the daytona looks better myself. I feel like I may upset some folks with my review but thats life. There are so many good bikes right now to choose from. Thank you for sharing your impressions of the 8r. I like having an open forum to hear everyones feelings on the bikes. Stay safe and share your thoughts on any of the other bikes whenever you like.
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders lmao, he is gonna have click bait folks!! Honestly I think you would be the only person to say something negative about an 8r. I watched 30+ reviews on it as I was happy to see something new from Suzuki. My love is the gsxr750 but thats just me and I know it wont be updated cause of the EU stuff...some cant stand it cause its not all modern.
Same bike from 2021 just cosmetic. Since released in 2015 it got a slipper clutch slight bump in power in 2017, 2021 was another slight bump in power and cosmetic changes.
Yeah as I mentioned in the video itself the display wasn't very bright or legible and is packed together with so much info so it blends together at a glance. Just a few complaints about the bike but overall solid machine.
I've bought a lot of bike from hanksters.. it's a great place and Hank is cool as hell..
See you soon for another bike buddy..
I had one for about a year and a half before selling it and buying a '22 Yamaha XSR900, which in turn is quite a similar motorcycle. Better brakes, 50 pounds lighter, cheaper, better gearing for the street, better suspension, cruise control, longer maintenance intervals, better shop manual, much better display, much better rider modes/slide control/wheelie control, IMU, cheaper insurance, better headlight, and quieter via Euro 5 (some riders want a loud motorcycle but I prefer quiet ones). Unless you're dead-set on having an inline4 1000cc bike or you can find the GSXS selling for, say, 10K, there's no compelling reason to buy it over the much better and cheaper bikes out there. The GSXS is a really good bike...it's just an old design. The GSXS GT and the GSXS X are great examples of almost all these shortcoming being addressed for not much more money.
Very much appreciate your insights and for sharing them! I can understand your feelings on the things it doesn't have and that its long in the tooth. Suzuki rarely does anything to update a bike unless it has too! 250r, r600, r750 and the r1000 are basically unchanged for the past 5 to 10 years. You are correct that it doesn't have the more advanced tech that can be found for an additional 1500+ but you can find solid used versions of the GSX-S1000 for a good price and they will deliver the same performance as the "new" model. I am hoping to try the Z900 to compare against this since they are very close in price point. This is still a lot of bike for the money and I don't think it should be overlooked for the value for money buyers. I haven't been able to ride the mt-09 or xsr900 yet. I take it you enjoy it very much. Again thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Stay Safe
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders You should try the Suzuki GSX8S. On paper it's not a very good bike, with not much power and a steel frame, nor is it particularly cheap (especially insurance!), but I think it's darn near the top in the naked category at any price point. The "yet another P-twin" is simply magnificent and it's become my new favorite engine.
Unfortunately Suzuki sells the GSX8S to mostly sub-prime riders and the insurance rates reflect that. Progressive originally put this bike under the very low risk category but now reckons it to be as crash happy as the MT09. Both the XSR900 and all the GSX1000 variants are very low risk, by the way.
I was set on the xsr and booked demo but left the dealer just sat on it. Seat is horrible, ergos weird and details on the finished not sleak. Went on demoed gsx and bought it right away. Just to mention I also owned 3 gen Yamaha Mt09 sp.
@@mingern10 If you got to MotoNomics then you can see what these various motorcycles are from an ergonomics viewpoint. The Suzuki does have slightly further back footpegs and much lower handlebars, along with a higher seat height.
A lot of ergos can be changed, though, with higher seats, rear sets, and maybe different handlebars. What I notice the most between switching the GSXS to the XSR was just how much easier the XSR felt to ride. 50 pounds is a big difference.
I would probably have test driven the XSR. Bikes feel very different when you ride them versus bouncing up and down on them in the showroom floor. The XSR's riding position is very different from the MT09.
The unrestricted version of the Versys 650 third generation is in my opinion the best value motorcycle …in Australia at least.
$13500 ride away in Australia .
Put on a pair of Pirelli Trail Master 2 tyres when the stock ones wear at about 8000kms ..and you can ride any road and / or smooth dirt / gravel double track .
Only those who have not done serious miles on the mighty Versys 650 would argue .
I think this bike is the most bang for your buck in the hyper naked market. It's not geared the same as a GSXR1000 which is probably a good thing being a naked. Really smooth u/d quick shifter. Loads of torque. Too bad you didn't get to experience the rush in that controlled ride. Hit's hard, it might of been up there with the gsxr750. I rented one on twisted road for a weekend. I don't think I could daily it though. I have a few miles of 25-35 and that would be torture on this one. Fun after work though
I would agree. I put this in my database and it ranks on specs alone as the most value for money bike I've ridden for the channel. I would have loved to do my normal private ride so I can control the video pacing and keep some form of structure. However just in the short ride I could feel what the bike has and that I would like to get more time riding it lol. It creeped into my personal top 10 list but not sure if it will stay there after riding the bikes yesterday. I did ride the 24 R750 at the demo also and while the ride was controlled I still loved it as a track day or track only bike. Thank you for adding your thoughts and experience to the video.
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders It's hard to do just one list imo. Think there needs to be a daily riding bike and maybe a weekend bike, adrenaline or something.. cause a Busa is fun, you are not commuting on one lol... I think your list would have a greater look if split into two...just an observation. I have been struggling with what is fun vs what I daily.
One of the big perks for me is that taller riders can get comfy on it. It’s definitely on my list
@thedragon1322 Appreciate you for sharing that thought. I tend to think about the shorter riders and not being able to touch the ground. Generally it seems that most bikes are built for 5'8 to 6' riders to strike a balance for the averages but I can see how taller riders may find it difficult to get comfortable on certain bikes. Is it a feeling cramped on the bike that is the biggest issue or something else?
@MotorcycleDemoRiders definitely being cramped. Mostly an issue of extreme angles in the knees due to foot peg location or where your knees land on the tank. Instead of being in the pocket, they wind up right along those ridges which is really uncomfortable when you're trying to grip the tank. Even just moving around on the bike gets weird depending on the design. I'm 6'4" and I don't want to be stuck only riding big heavy cruisers or the Hayabusa which is incredibly comfortable but it's nice to have other options. Suzuki seems to address this better than the other JDM companies.
This bike is exactly in the goldilocks zone with about everything for a roadster/naked. All it needs is a decent windscreen. I'd prefer the S over the GT as well, because the nose on the latter looks rather off-putting and I've heard the lights are quite shitty at night. I own a ZX6R myself and I'm a sportsbike afficionado, but the fucking fairings on the thing are a hassle for maintenance and extremely pricey to get replaced. I think its bulky shape really suits bigger people too.
Sweet spot no doubt. I liked the GT overall and would only ask for the display from that. I also love the ease of maintenance on non faired bikes. Is it perfect no but really close.
I wish the 750 would have gotten the same attention the 1000 did. The 750 split power and cost of ownership at a great balance point. Acceleration was quick (and sounded fantastic!), had excellent handing, and the insurance cost was reasonable.
I am a huge fan of the R750 and I'm always looking to try a get a film on an S750. One day but on saturday I need to go film a Versys 300
Haha I didn’t realize this was at Hanker’s until later on! I was at that demo event too and rode the new 8R!
It was a good time. I also got to ride the 8r. Will release it soon. Did you enjoy it?
Everyone I talked to likes the 8R as long as they don't think its a superbike...its not...I think its a sporty bike for daily riding that can have fun on the weekends too.(Like a vfr800) Quickshift up good...down was garbo unless it was just the one I tried. XSR900 has the best QS I have tried up and down. This 1000 is pretty good too... Im trying to convince myself I can daily this gsxs lmao. as it was ultra comfy, just a lot of power for a daily
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders I like the look of the 8R and the color! Looks pretty good. The TFT screen is pretty nice too, compared to my current 2022 MT07. That’s what I’ll be comparing it to, and it’s good they’re in a similar class. The throttle is pretty smooth, I like the high end power. It’s plenty. Quick shifter is nice to have standard, but as others have mentioned, it might be sloppy sometimes or kick the bike at times. Mostly good though. I had the same issue with my foot pegs vibrating a lot more than my MT07. I noticed this is because there are no rubber pieces to suppress the vibrations. I like having the windscreen with still a naked feel. Would I upgrade from the MT07? Probably not since there aren’t any significant changes to justify the price.
@oloyolo6711 pretty much how I felt about it. I was comparing to the Triumph Daytona 660. Looks are a personal thing of course. I like the daytona looks better myself. I feel like I may upset some folks with my review but thats life. There are so many good bikes right now to choose from. Thank you for sharing your impressions of the 8r. I like having an open forum to hear everyones feelings on the bikes. Stay safe and share your thoughts on any of the other bikes whenever you like.
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders lmao, he is gonna have click bait folks!! Honestly I think you would be the only person to say something negative about an 8r. I watched 30+ reviews on it as I was happy to see something new from Suzuki. My love is the gsxr750 but thats just me and I know it wont be updated cause of the EU stuff...some cant stand it cause its not all modern.
I agree with Paul about the bang for buck. For GSXR-600 MSRP you get GSXR-750 horsepower with handlebars.
AND some modern tech
I was quoted $11,807.93 OTD on this bike...There is NOTHING that can touch it for that kind of money if it fits your use case.
That is a solid price! I was looking at the used market for my22 and up at 9.5k was the cheapest listed price I could find.
Any diference between the 2024 model and the 2023 model? (Or the 2022/2021 models?)
The only diference I noticed was different stickers.
Same bike from 2021 just cosmetic. Since released in 2015 it got a slipper clutch slight bump in power in 2017, 2021 was another slight bump in power and cosmetic changes.
Cant see dips on that dash, but would love this bike aside my t7
Yeah as I mentioned in the video itself the display wasn't very bright or legible and is packed together with so much info so it blends together at a glance. Just a few complaints about the bike but overall solid machine.
They are selling now with the new GSX S8 TFT display, wich is brilliant!
I totally agree that is 1000% fun bike😂 only don't like that sound restrictions to silence 😜
Stock exhausts all need to go in my opinion but some like to have a quiet bike so it works for them I guess
That display is a deal breaker for a modern 2024 1000cc naked.
I agree with you. I hate the display.
I just changed from a TFT display to this and I can tell you I could care less now I have it.
The 2025 model had a display upgade. So if you are thinking about buying it, it comes with the new EURO 5+ and the GSX S8 TFT display. Looks awesome!
Cruise control?
No sadly it doesn't have cruise control.
Top speed?
Claimed 149mph
@@MotorcycleDemoRiders thank you
Mine is flashed with a full Yoshimura exhaust and velocity stacks.
I got her up to 167 mph on the speedo .