This is the best review of the 8R yet. Fun. More importantly Yammie actually gets the point of what this bike was designed for. Day to day this bike feels quick from 3-5,000 rpm. Push to 7,000 if in a hurry. People who say this bike runs out of poke at high revs have forgotten to change gear. Or are going way too fast. BTW, drop the revs before quick shifting down Yammie. The bike is not designed to rev on the way down either.
Yea, I bought one about two weeks ago, it's a torque monster! The low and mid-range is amazing! In 50 years of riding, this is probably the best bike that I've ever owned!
Was gonna get a vfr800 before I found my GSX8r but man the 8R is everything i would want and with the amount of accessories Suzuki made specifically for it and the 8s, it’s truly a dream!❤
It's definitely a sportbike, just with a more comfortable rider triangle. It's has more usable power than like a in-line 4 that has it's power high in the rev range. In many ways these more comfortable sportbikes are saving the middleweight market as more and more manufacturers are discontinuing their in-line 4's in the 600cc range and only a few still remain or are getting a new model refresh.
Dad’s seem to appreciate the torque more as they age. That’s why a 63 year old grandpa like myself purchased a Moto Guzzi V100S! I enjoyed this video, and it sounds like this motorcycle is a good choice for many people.
My '08 VFR 800 is my bike for life for all of these reasons. She howls, you can take it through the full range on the street or country roads or highways and especially with the V4 engine, power through the whole rev range.
I did the sit down test comparison. The 8R feels like a baby touring bike. The shop down the street let me ride one and it felt really good. The expectations I had for it was exactly what I thought it could do. It looks aggressive but doesn't need to be ridden aggressive to tap the power and it's got the sport look without the punishing ergos which means more time in the seat and less time in the massage chair. Rode it around for about 15 minutes and had a blast.
Sport? Sure. Supersport? No. I mean it's not even an aluminum frame, the engine is detuned, the clipons are on risers, the suspension is not fully tunable, etc.
@@thagingerninjer5391 KTM is second in the Championship Standings 2024 in the Moto Gp. So clearly steel trellis doesnt make a bike not a supersport, idk which is exactly better but clearly it isnt a night and day difference. EIther you use less heavier steel or more lighter aluminium.
true, but better. The R7 is too agressive ergos and less power and torque. The Honda is comfortable enough but needs to be revved to get up and go. The Ninja 650 is too soft and slow. The RS660 is too expensive and has less torque. The Daytona 660 is the last to land....
I don't understand why people say 600s suck on the street, other than long ride comfort. I just got a '24 ZX6R and I really enjoy it everywhere. Maybe its not like other 600s. It's my 3rd bike, but first 600 and i-4. I ride mostly country back roads at around 30-60mph, not riding hard or high revs everywhere. It feels great to me, lots of fun, and sounds way better and more exciting than all these parallel twins. Maybe the 636cc and short gearing helps on the street? I dunno but I like it. :)
yeah the extra power over a shorter range 100% helps, but even with normal gears the zixxer is still unique. There's a reason stunters absolutely love the thing
If you rode a bike with a parallel twin or a triple you'll understand. The inline 4s feels slower than them until higher rpms. The power is peaky. On the street peaky power is well... Not useful and not as fun unless you want to do triple digits everywhere. I've had multiple bikes and I will never go back to an inline 4 unless it's a dedicated track bike. With all this being said. As long as you enjoy it that's all that matters.
@@Brett4517 fair enough but my previous 2 bikes were a KTM Duke 390 and then a Ducati Panigale V2, neither of which are exactly torque monsters. I prefer the 636 inline 4. It doesn't feel gutless and peaky like I expected based on what people say. 🤷 It feels smooth and usable across a wide rev range. And sounds great too which is very important to me.
O.m.g. Yammie, you must have read my recent comment. Because all the points you made in this video are almost word-for-word what I was saying regarding parallel twins. I'm super happy that you had an open mind enough to take a different point of view into account! Some people enjoy low end torque and don't want to go 140mph on a bike that's designed for a track!! That doesn't make us weak or feeble... Just a little different!
@chrisgarret3285 Every who reads the spec sheet points out the weight but everyone who rides it points out it feels way more nimble/flickable than it's weight suggest. Same for the VStrom and 8S. Not sure how Suzuki did it but the weight isn't really an issue unless you're prone to falling over
The weight was built up top. Weight doesn't matter on paper until you look at weight distribution. A bike with top end weight will flick and feel more nimble than a bike with weight at the bottom.
I really enjoy my 23 ninja 650, it has good styling and is more than fast enough for 0-100 and the biggest plus is the fact i can ride it for hours and not get fatigued. With that said its not a SuperSport and there are disadvantages with that but ive taken the 650 up to the dragon and it performed well.
Not every rider wants a bike that goes to 150mph in 3rd gear. You can give a bike like this some stick and not be blasting off at some ridiculous and dangerous speed and maybe even keep your license intact
The funnest bike I ever had was a 97 gs500. Put some Diablo tires on it, and it was awesome! Literally lost my boot twice from hitting it on the road haha. Slow as sin on the hwy though
Your sentiments about this bike are almost exactly how I've felt about my sv650s. Sporty, comfortable, usable. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about buying a 600 or a 1000 and talked myself out of it because of the points you just made. Honestly I like where motorcycling is headed.
I like how you explained the purpose or the whole point of value of this type of bike. I feel like a lot of people don’t think to consider that perspective. This is one of a few I’m looking at purchasing within the next few months. This is a great review again thanks now I’m leaning toward the 8R
For the 1st 3 mins, this is the most accurate. I hate it cause they aren't "real" sport bikes. But I am also a comfort enjoyer. I am a torque lover so my FZ is a perfect bike... but r7 na
I agree with you. And it all depends on what you’re wanting. It’s not a true “super sport” but it’s got some power and it’s definitely geared toward having serious torque low. It’s what we used to routinely call just a “sport bike” but everyone seems to want to label a “sport tourer” now🤦♂️(It’s NOT a tourer🙄). But it’s really comfy. I have a cbr650r which is also a sport bike - it DOES NOT have the low end torque but it will hit 150 mph at the top end and it’s also comfy. The R7 won’t really do any of that (I don’t dislike the R7 but it doesn’t have the torque of the gsx 8R nor the speed of the cbr650r) On the bright side there is a lot of great bikes to choose from these days.
@@someoneelse1i1iis that why last years motoamerica twins class winner champion was on a r7? Were talking twins, but the r7 will absolutely push close to 150 with traxk mods
@@earthlyng_official4599 The R7 is definitely more suited to the track than either one of the bikes I was referencing - and of course it’s much faster modified. According to the specs, unmodified the R7 and the 8R have similar top speeds. I don’t dislike the R7 - two guys in my neighborhood have one and they both love them.
Did a test ride on 3 of these in my city last summer. I found them a bit short on power, another 15-20 HP would have been perfect for these. But I digress, I want one so bad and plan on getting one as my first non cruiser bike next spring. 100% would recommend
I hate to say it, but this is actually the perfect sensible bike. A 650 twin is a very good option but they are just a tad underpowered, where this is making up for that so you are now getting a realistic, yet sensible bike. But I will say that styling of this isn't the best. It just reminds me of the ninja 650 but with ample power. It should be designed more like the MT09 over the ninja 650!
This is the future of Supersport started by Aprilia with the RS 660. A more street friendly fully faired Supersport with the track needs being a secondary thought. This is where the buyers are, we don't want a track bike with the street being an after thought. We want it the other way round. We want to look awesome and be fully comfortable. It is more about looks and comfort than performance. 80 to 100 HP is plenty, we are not looking to win races we are looking for a good, safe, fun and comfortable time. Cheers.
Cut to the chase: torque provides real-world, useable power to riders who want to keep their license. Horsepower, a mathematical manipulation of torque, is king on track days and for Ultra-Squids like Ghost Rider who fall asleep at anything less than triple-digit speeds. Great torque and a broad powerband (RPM peak torque to peak horsepower) are what we need for real-world, street-legal excitement from our engines. More horsepower is never a bad thing, but torque is what gets you rolling and lets you accelerate out of the twisties.
@@thagingerninjer5391well duh. No replacement for displacement but emission regulation is such a killjoy and soon they'll get their hands on all of our 1000s like they do with the r6.
75whp stock, top speed 127mph based on gearing, not a horrible bike I just don’t know about it. Took it for a test ride 2 days ago. Could barely tell a difference between this and my wife’s r3. I have a gsxr 600 and I will say it’s totally usable on the street. Has enough power to get you out of sticky situations and cruise at normal speeds. I do love the color as it matches my gsxr
Test drove a yellow one like this yesterday. It looks sporty but in the saddle there’s no strain on your elbows or wrists. Good engine braking. But I didn’t like the sound of the engine, the drive line snatch when backing off. I would pay extra for something like a Suzuki GSX-1000 Panorama GT with factory cruise control and the panniers. That bike sounds much better.
World is becoming frigging boring.... It´s just sad those new "sport bikes" makes less power than my 2008 600RR(and well get smoked to ashes by any early 2000s 600s).
@@elcookiemonsteru man I'm still rolling my 929, a friend of mine is riding he's k3 600, and we still keep up with newer 600. Both on the streets and on the track.
Most of the "oh it's not a inline 4" is the same crowd that goes triple digits and lane splits on the highway. Majority of them would get dusted by any of these 600-700cc class bikes in the corners
I just put Continental road attack 4s on my 03 katana 600. Along with a 520 vortex chain n sprockets, grey renthals grips, I painted my wheels grey, I adjusted the valves n rebuilt the carbs. I'm in the process of putting her back together so I hope she runs. Even if she does start up I still hope I win this beauty.
I personally like how manufacturers are creating these bikes! My old A$$ i learning to appreciate these new styles of sport bikes. It sounds exactly like what im looking for. I want more comfort without loosing those sweet sport bike looks. 👍👌
I went yesterday to a Suzuki and CFMoto ridetest. What I loved the most was this one and the 450NK! Small fun bikes. PS. I'm a big dude riding a SuperTenere as daily!
The question on everyone's mind here in The UK is where is Suzuki's 300-400cc? GSXR125R then it's the SV650. Come on Suzuki, produce a GSX-4R, either a twin or half the 8R as a single. (Maybe there's a 400-4 on the way.) Just do it and let us all know.
I feel like a properly tuned inline 4 750 could have at least comparable torque, run smoother, and sound better. I mean, Suzuki already has the engine design in their archives. Just change a few parts to broaden the torque curve.
Honda should use the 750 out of the new hornet and make a sport bike with it. It makes 95hp in the hornet. I'm sure it could be tuned for sport bikes and make over 115hp.
Cost more to build, use more fuel, blast more emission, get banned from Europe.... The Japanese knew EU overlords are their biggest client. Way bigger than their domestic market or Southeast Asia.
Coming from someone whose never had much interest in Suzuki, this is gonna sound controversial, but it almost seems like this bike is almost like the cb750’s of the early 70’s. Probably won’t make the impact the cb750 did, but what made the cb750 so popular was that it was just good at almost everything. You could get other bikes that were comparable in power, comfort, track ability ect; but the cb750 was good at all of those but in one bike. You could race it, tour it, track it, be comfortable, everything. Those all seem to be the kinda vibes yammie is giving from riding the bike
road was wet because there is a construction zone and they gotta wet those big truck tires before going on road to prevent mud on the road.. anyways the stock tires which comes on this bike, are those good for Seattle type of weather?
I know of a couple of riders that have sold their GSXR 1000 and bought one. Tells me something. It has a serious punch out of corners. I doubt many 1000cc sports bikes could leave these bikes in the twisties. And these are 100% more comfortable.
I wish they did it in Yellow here in the UK. I've just bought one, to be used as a race-bike - I won't be racing, that would be very much slower than the rider I have in mind for this - and the bike is only about half the cost of making it a legitimate race-bike. But it works for the class we'd like to be in next year, and we'll do some club-racing this year to get it set up and figured out (and the rider used to the bike before racing starts).
Nice review. It's not claiming to be a supersport & the GSX (minus the R) name has always meant road orientated sporty but not sports bike. Either way I really like it & I've done the supersport thing to the death. It's the perfect mix for me of cost, ergos, comfort & performance for the road with it's low & midrange torque. It's also the most V-twin like too which is really appealing imo.
@@jjay350 Agreed. Been there & done that & I've moved on to something more practical which sounds super boring but it's real life. If I'm honest I can't even use this to it's limit so on the road it's perfect because it's all day comfortable & fun without going crazy & running the risk of losing my licence.
@@ragerider6283 Yeah I feel like as a lot of riders mature they naturally grow out of the "true" supersport scene. This looks more like a naked bike with the sport fairings. It's what I'd want as a sport bike.
@@jjay350 Yes agreed. I'm one of those people. I had a GSXR600 & 750, among other sports bikes, before & they were great. However, now they're too expensive, too fast & too uncomfortable for me these days & I'm ok with admitting that.
I just rode this bike at motogp. I was trying to tell the guy at the booth that i have a 450ss and i want to ride an i4 but he told me to try the gx8r and i liked it. We demo the bike on some twisties by cota. Austin is fun place to ride a bike compared to louisiana.
I went from a Ninja 1000SX to a CBR650R specifically because the bigger bike was both too powerful to really use on the road, and felt pretty heavy side to side. Big bikes aren't for me!
So, as an 04 600 hornet owner, what's the deal with not just using the same shortblock from a Supersport 600 with revised cams, longer intake, etc to bring the powerband down in the rev range? It seems like manufacturers are allergic to following a very cost effective formula that I personally enjoy a hell of a lot. Then again, I don't prefer the cross plane R1 sound over the traditional flat plane, so wtf do I know?
The GSX S750 has been tuned down from the Gixxr and has better torque with bhp down to 114. However the R8 feels quicker at normal speeds as the torque is the same and at lower revs. You need to wait to get the pick up on the S750 or change down.
The reason I migrated from cars to bikes at nearly 50, is what you stated at the end of the video, cars are dead. Bikes on the other hand are going through a golden era. Unfortunately just as they do so, it's going to die pretty soon, together with the ICE. Made a video about it a few days ago, urging people to grab their dream bike NOW, it ain't lasting.
ICE will be here for some time to come. EVs require substantial subsidies from governments or they sit on dealership lots and people have only modest interest in them. Tesla just cancelled its plans to build a sub-$30k vehicle citing technical limitations. You will have several more decades of ICE in your future. The technology simply is not yet ready for prime time.
Yep. the world is slowly ditching ICE cars and one day will realise that bikes are there too. My GSX 8S does the same mpg as my wife's small hybrid. the GSX S1000 us a gussler by comparison.
It’s almost like manufacturers realized that most people who get these bikes aren’t using them for their intended purpose. So they changed their intended purpose to match what people wanted out of them.
How would you compare this to the XSR 900 or MT09? I have a 18 XSR 900 and I love it. I am a little intrigued by some of the new bikes, but I do not like the sound of the parallel twin, which is why I got rid of my R3 pretty quick once I got used to riding again.
@@langhamp8912maybe so but given the price I'd pick a different bike. I'd either save a few bucks and get a better sports bike in the R7 or spend a few more bucks and get an MT09 and get better everything.
@@IDontKnow-bb6mt I actually already have a '22 XSR900. I think that GSX8 is a marginally better bike in comfort, handling, smoothness, ease of throttle, low-end power, cooler operating temps in urban traffic, MUCH better steering lock, and screen visibility. The XSR900 has better raw power (but it's hard to access), better footpegs, better brakes, and possibly better track day manners (not yet taken it to a track). I ended up getting a leftover XSR900 for $9300 out the door including tax (so cheaper than the GSX8S), and the insurance was much cheaper than the GSX8S's, but if you can, get a test ride on a GSX8. I know it doesn't seem all that good on paper, but it's an astonishingly good street bike. And reviewers are starting to realize that fact.
Hey yammie I was just watching T-Moto verse they were talking about a GSX 9R with turbocharged V4 engine they haven't officially released it yet but I'm going to keep an eye on it I just figured I'd let you about it
It's a great bike. The mid-range is insane very punchy two-cylinder middleweight bike. My only problem with the bike was the windshield. Because of the elevated bars and small windshield I got destroyed by wind.
It's a sports bike for the real-world rider. Let's be honest. We ride bikes that are FAR better than we are. This is bringing things back down to earth as people realize they aren't actually Rossi. This bike is still probably capable of more than the average person has the ability to use. Myself included.
It may not be all that much slower than those older 600's. The great Miguel DuHamel once said he was relegated to fighting for 8th position and worse from the previous year when he was fighting for wins. The reason: the first generation traction control devices on supersport bikes allowed even 600cc bikes to dominate their non-TC brethren. Furthermore, this bike is particularly hobbled by Euro 5 emissions. Just a pipe and a re-flash sees these bikes pushing 15-20 more HP, with much better tractability.
Its a sportbike alright. Keep this thing for those really long group rides and for putting on the miles. Then when you want to be naughty you pull out your 600cc and / or 1000cc. I firmly believe everyone should own at least 2 motorcycles, 3 or more is even better.
I looked at one of these in a Dealership this morning. It was hiding, and not jumping out saying look at me... which is good, I hate the sort of people that want everyone to notice them too!. but this Shy little beauty was just sitting there watching me checking out an SV650 (which I guess may be her older sister) But TBH I may go back there in a few weeks to grab the Orange/red V-strom 250 SX
If they made this bike with the exact same position and styling with a slightly bigger engine, I mean like a mt09 competitor engine, I would buy one in a heartbeat
Do a older 2v bike like the vtr1000f and than the gsx8. I have a gsxr1100w and for some years i hade a vtr1000f with a tune that thing lifted al the time the front up
have owned 2 gsxr 600's, but have not had a bike or have rode in about close to ten years, and wanted to get another gsxr 600 but looking at this at 36 years old , might be more comfortable.
@@ellwoodwolf I’m not saying the bikes “too” anything, more so it’s not enough anything. It’s a perfectly average bike for a good normal rider. that’s not very cool tho 😂 it’s not the lightest, fastest, most nimble, nor most practical, nor best looking, it’s just pretty decent all around. I think we should keep trying to push at least one of the envelops yk
What are you taking about? You can still buy a used super bike, you can still make a dangerous turbo bike .... Think about how many 200+ hp bikes are available.... THEY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
> it's got more torque so I can ride in a higher gear > rev range is smaller so um, you _have_ to ride in a higher gear my 250cc can do like 60 mph in 2nd- why would I need to be in 4th?
a ZX-4RR is a much better "not _really_ a supersport" than any of these large CC twins/triples you don't need 600cc/1000cc power? sure, fine. I'd still want an inline 4 that revs all the way out and I'd still want aggressive ergonomics
my concours 14 got that 100lbs torqe grunt and comfort in twisties sport bikes cant shake me -- tuned suspension and 160hp - sport to tourer in one bike
This is the best review of the 8R yet. Fun. More importantly Yammie actually gets the point of what this bike was designed for. Day to day this bike feels quick from 3-5,000 rpm. Push to 7,000 if in a hurry. People who say this bike runs out of poke at high revs have forgotten to change gear. Or are going way too fast. BTW, drop the revs before quick shifting down Yammie. The bike is not designed to rev on the way down either.
Yea, I bought one about two weeks ago, it's a torque monster! The low and mid-range is amazing! In 50 years of riding, this is probably the best bike that I've ever owned!
No disrespect to your age. I have to give you props for riding a bike like this at your age. I hope when im older I can still ride sport bikes.
So with no top end and lackluster speed and acceleration compared to many many other sports bikes..... What makes it the best?
@Mikaeel84 nobody said it was the best, it's got good low end torque and mid range power for the streets, not high end top speed flybys
@@lil_shrimp6404 OP literally said,"this is probably the BEST bike that I've ever owned!"....
@Mikaeel84 out of the bikes they have owned. Does that translate to best bike ever? No
i love this type of yellow
People worried about the death of i4 sport bikes when I’m worried about my beloved banana colorway dropping out of fashion. It looks great
It's awesome in person, I find excuses to open my garage just to look at it lol
We call them Japanese now.
No, she is mine!
Was gonna get a vfr800 before I found my GSX8r but man the 8R is everything i would want and with the amount of accessories Suzuki made specifically for it and the 8s, it’s truly a dream!❤
Same here! Had an 01 R6 for years but wanted something more comfy. Was set on the VFR till I found this bike!
Oh man if Honda was still making the VFR800 I would take that any day. That sweet sweet V4 engine *droool*
It's definitely a sportbike, just with a more comfortable rider triangle. It's has more usable power than like a in-line 4 that has it's power high in the rev range. In many ways these more comfortable sportbikes are saving the middleweight market as more and more manufacturers are discontinuing their in-line 4's in the 600cc range and only a few still remain or are getting a new model refresh.
Dad’s seem to appreciate the torque more as they age.
That’s why a 63 year old grandpa like myself purchased a Moto Guzzi V100S!
I enjoyed this video, and it sounds like this motorcycle is a good choice for many people.
I'm 60 and got the GSX 8r. Good for you Brother in Age!!
My '08 VFR 800 is my bike for life for all of these reasons. She howls, you can take it through the full range on the street or country roads or highways and especially with the V4 engine, power through the whole rev range.
I did the sit down test comparison. The 8R feels like a baby touring bike. The shop down the street let me ride one and it felt really good. The expectations I had for it was exactly what I thought it could do. It looks aggressive but doesn't need to be ridden aggressive to tap the power and it's got the sport look without the punishing ergos which means more time in the seat and less time in the massage chair. Rode it around for about 15 minutes and had a blast.
Did it feel decently fast tho? Like could run from cops fast lol
At the end of the day, ride what you love . Ride what fits you and fits your experience level. That makes for the best smile for miles
Sport? Sure. Supersport? No.
I mean it's not even an aluminum frame, the engine is detuned, the clipons are on risers, the suspension is not fully tunable, etc.
Steel Trellis is used in the Moto GP, it isnt worse than aluminium.
@@thumbthumb5998it’s absolutely worse than twin spar aluminum.
This engine isn't detuned. There isn't some 125 horsepower version that this is tuned down from. This is full fat. It's just parallel twin full fat.
@@thagingerninjer5391 KTM is second in the Championship Standings 2024 in the Moto Gp. So clearly steel trellis doesnt make a bike not a supersport, idk which is exactly better but clearly it isnt a night and day difference. EIther you use less heavier steel or more lighter aluminium.
@@thumbthumb5998 their motogp bike’s fram is carbon.
Chris Moore uncorked one of these today and got 75hp bone stock and 83 or 84hp with full exhaust and tune.
2wdw is also making close to 90hp on theirs.
I think it’s just their answer to the R7, Ninja 650, Honda 650r, just a little late to the party
true, but better. The R7 is too agressive ergos and less power and torque. The Honda is comfortable enough but needs to be revved to get up and go. The Ninja 650 is too soft and slow. The RS660 is too expensive and has less torque. The Daytona 660 is the last to land....
I don't understand why people say 600s suck on the street, other than long ride comfort. I just got a '24 ZX6R and I really enjoy it everywhere. Maybe its not like other 600s. It's my 3rd bike, but first 600 and i-4. I ride mostly country back roads at around 30-60mph, not riding hard or high revs everywhere. It feels great to me, lots of fun, and sounds way better and more exciting than all these parallel twins.
Maybe the 636cc and short gearing helps on the street? I dunno but I like it. :)
yeah the extra power over a shorter range 100% helps, but even with normal gears the zixxer is still unique. There's a reason stunters absolutely love the thing
inline 4 is the best !
Don't let them get to you the zx6r is a fine machine
If you rode a bike with a parallel twin or a triple you'll understand. The inline 4s feels slower than them until higher rpms. The power is peaky. On the street peaky power is well... Not useful and not as fun unless you want to do triple digits everywhere. I've had multiple bikes and I will never go back to an inline 4 unless it's a dedicated track bike. With all this being said. As long as you enjoy it that's all that matters.
@@Brett4517 fair enough but my previous 2 bikes were a KTM Duke 390 and then a Ducati Panigale V2, neither of which are exactly torque monsters. I prefer the 636 inline 4. It doesn't feel gutless and peaky like I expected based on what people say. 🤷 It feels smooth and usable across a wide rev range. And sounds great too which is very important to me.
Maybe the GSX-8R would be a good next bike "incremental bump up" from my Ninja 400 KRT. 👍🤙✌
Yes! I picked mine up as a compliment to my '23 R3. I'll be keeping both for a looooooong time.
I’d say get a 600, but they just don’t have power unless you ring the heck outta them
I'm upgrading to this bike I think, got a ktm 390 duke
@@CHA4AD Yeah. That's why I don't really want a 600.
Bikes will never not be fun or become less fun, only the people
Fair take! It is in the eye of the beholder
This bike is selling great in the UK right now. Looks like going for the 750 market was a good move for suzuki
O.m.g. Yammie, you must have read my recent comment. Because all the points you made in this video are almost word-for-word what I was saying regarding parallel twins. I'm super happy that you had an open mind enough to take a different point of view into account! Some people enjoy low end torque and don't want to go 140mph on a bike that's designed for a track!! That doesn't make us weak or feeble... Just a little different!
I own this model. Im glad to see you and others are enjoying it.
to me gsx8r is the ninja 650 we deserved.
except for the weight...
@chrisgarret3285 Every who reads the spec sheet points out the weight but everyone who rides it points out it feels way more nimble/flickable than it's weight suggest. Same for the VStrom and 8S. Not sure how Suzuki did it but the weight isn't really an issue unless you're prone to falling over
The weight was built up top. Weight doesn't matter on paper until you look at weight distribution. A bike with top end weight will flick and feel more nimble than a bike with weight at the bottom.
I really enjoy my 23 ninja 650, it has good styling and is more than fast enough for 0-100 and the biggest plus is the fact i can ride it for hours and not get fatigued. With that said its not a SuperSport and there are disadvantages with that but ive taken the 650 up to the dragon and it performed well.
I think the whole class should be call “street bikes”
It is on the Suzuki website
Yammie getting wise day by day, love to see it. Starting to enjoy motorcycling for what it is.
Your current video cadence is SPECTACULAR! Keep it up bro
Glad to see your channel prosper over the years. I use to watch every single video when I use to ride! God bless!
Not every rider wants a bike that goes to 150mph in 3rd gear. You can give a bike like this some stick and not be blasting off at some ridiculous and dangerous speed and maybe even keep your license intact
That's what I said in the video.
@@yammienoob and you were right!
The funnest bike I ever had was a 97 gs500. Put some Diablo tires on it, and it was awesome! Literally lost my boot twice from hitting it on the road haha. Slow as sin on the hwy though
I want that..
Your sentiments about this bike are almost exactly how I've felt about my sv650s. Sporty, comfortable, usable. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about buying a 600 or a 1000 and talked myself out of it because of the points you just made. Honestly I like where motorcycling is headed.
I like how you explained the purpose or the whole point of value of this type of bike. I feel like a lot of people don’t think to consider that perspective. This is one of a few I’m looking at purchasing within the next few months. This is a great review again thanks now I’m leaning toward the 8R
Do u have friends that u ride with? We never see u out riding with ppl. Love that u gave the blown bussa to bearded mechanic!!! Love his show
Riding is a solitary, zen activity for me, unless I'm at the track.
For the 1st 3 mins, this is the most accurate. I hate it cause they aren't "real" sport bikes. But I am also a comfort enjoyer. I am a torque lover so my FZ is a perfect bike... but r7 na
I agree with you. And it all depends on what you’re wanting. It’s not a true “super sport” but it’s got some power and it’s definitely geared toward having serious torque low. It’s what we used to routinely call just a “sport bike” but everyone seems to want to label a “sport tourer” now🤦♂️(It’s NOT a tourer🙄). But it’s really comfy. I have a cbr650r which is also a sport bike - it DOES NOT have the low end torque but it will hit 150 mph at the top end and it’s also comfy. The R7 won’t really do any of that (I don’t dislike the R7 but it doesn’t have the torque of the gsx 8R nor the speed of the cbr650r) On the bright side there is a lot of great bikes to choose from these days.
I have a r7 and i prefer it over a lot of bikes becauae of how the torque is tuned… it’s perfect for in city street riding…
@@someoneelse1i1iis that why last years motoamerica twins class winner champion was on a r7? Were talking twins, but the r7 will absolutely push close to 150 with traxk mods
@@earthlyng_official4599 The R7 is definitely more suited to the track than either one of the bikes I was referencing - and of course it’s much faster modified. According to the specs, unmodified the R7 and the 8R have similar top speeds. I don’t dislike the R7 - two guys in my neighborhood have one and they both love them.
Did a test ride on 3 of these in my city last summer. I found them a bit short on power, another 15-20 HP would have been perfect for these. But I digress, I want one so bad and plan on getting one as my first non cruiser bike next spring. 100% would recommend
Refining the GSX650f would've been perfect, Inline 4, 650cc,perfect middle weight bike
There's no reason for any middle weight bike to be an inline 4 anymore, according to regulations. Forget about them, won't happen again.
@@lucascarracedo7421Honda says hi.
@@lucascarracedo7421 ZX4R is an inline 4,400cc i could still see something happening. Honestly just love the sound of an inline 4.
@@Izzcolon yeah that's a weird case. But suzuki is on a different place it seems. And they will squeeze their new platform.
@@lucascarracedo7421 i doubt honda will retire the cbr650r/600rr anytime soon tho.
I hate to say it, but this is actually the perfect sensible bike. A 650 twin is a very good option but they are just a tad underpowered, where this is making up for that so you are now getting a realistic, yet sensible bike. But I will say that styling of this isn't the best. It just reminds me of the ninja 650 but with ample power. It should be designed more like the MT09 over the ninja 650!
This is the future of Supersport started by Aprilia with the RS 660. A more street friendly fully faired Supersport with the track needs being a secondary thought. This is where the buyers are, we don't want a track bike with the street being an after thought. We want it the other way round. We want to look awesome and be fully comfortable. It is more about looks and comfort than performance. 80 to 100 HP is plenty, we are not looking to win races we are looking for a good, safe, fun and comfortable time. Cheers.
Id like to have a gsxr750 again. It was perfect for the street amd screamed when you really got into it. Miss that bike.
Same here, I’m gutted you can no longer get the 750s
Cut to the chase: torque provides real-world, useable power to riders who want to keep their license. Horsepower, a mathematical manipulation of torque, is king on track days and for Ultra-Squids like Ghost Rider who fall asleep at anything less than triple-digit speeds. Great torque and a broad powerband (RPM peak torque to peak horsepower) are what we need for real-world, street-legal excitement from our engines. More horsepower is never a bad thing, but torque is what gets you rolling and lets you accelerate out of the twisties.
That's what I said in the video.
I have around the same amount of torque on my 21 cbr1000rr at around 5k rpm that it does at its redline.
@@thagingerninjer5391how r u comparing your bike to this lol
@@thagingerninjer5391well duh. No replacement for displacement but emission regulation is such a killjoy and soon they'll get their hands on all of our 1000s like they do with the r6.
@@teej1987 because we’re comparing it to a supersport. Try to keep up.
the bike has factory restrictions in 1st and 2nd gear. moore mafia just released a video tuning one and he mentioned that
That reminds me of my old Ducati. Great mid-range torque and that center of gravity made it so fun to ride.
75whp stock, top speed 127mph based on gearing, not a horrible bike I just don’t know about it. Took it for a test ride 2 days ago. Could barely tell a difference between this and my wife’s r3. I have a gsxr 600 and I will say it’s totally usable on the street. Has enough power to get you out of sticky situations and cruise at normal speeds. I do love the color as it matches my gsxr
Test drove a yellow one like this yesterday. It looks sporty but in the saddle there’s no strain on your elbows or wrists. Good engine braking. But I didn’t like the sound of the engine, the drive line snatch when backing off. I would pay extra for something like a Suzuki GSX-1000 Panorama GT with factory cruise control and the panniers. That bike sounds much better.
Your camera makes the trees look fake, it looks like a videogame lol... Like the trees are 2d sprites in an old racing game.
I have a yellow BMW F800S 2008. It took Suzuki a dozen years to clone it! They are both awesome bikes.
I can’t wait to see this bike uncorked
I love the SV650, the fact this makes just as much power as the SV650 is just weeeird to me.
World is becoming frigging boring.... It´s just sad those new "sport bikes" makes less power than my 2008 600RR(and well get smoked to ashes by any early 2000s 600s).
@@elcookiemonsteru man I'm still rolling my 929, a friend of mine is riding he's k3 600, and we still keep up with newer 600. Both on the streets and on the track.
What are you talking about? 12 more HP and 13 more ft/lb torque is "just as much"?
@@MadnessOfMarmots these comment sections are full of trash
Most of the "oh it's not a inline 4" is the same crowd that goes triple digits and lane splits on the highway. Majority of them would get dusted by any of these 600-700cc class bikes in the corners
I just put Continental road attack 4s on my 03 katana 600. Along with a 520 vortex chain n sprockets, grey renthals grips, I painted my wheels grey, I adjusted the valves n rebuilt the carbs. I'm in the process of putting her back together so I hope she runs. Even if she does start up I still hope I win this beauty.
I personally like how manufacturers are creating these bikes! My old A$$ i learning to appreciate these new styles of sport bikes. It sounds exactly like what im looking for. I want more comfort without loosing those sweet sport bike looks. 👍👌
How is this different from what kawsaki has been doing for years with the Ninja 650 vs ZX-6?
It got a lot more torque, much more comfortable, easier to control and looks better.
Also it does not requires high octane fuel
What I see this is as an upgrade to the 650 class. The 8s from Suzuki are really similar to the Honda hornet 750. Basically 8r is an upgarded R7.
I went yesterday to a Suzuki and CFMoto ridetest. What I loved the most was this one and the 450NK! Small fun bikes. PS. I'm a big dude riding a SuperTenere as daily!
The question on everyone's mind here in The UK is where is Suzuki's 300-400cc? GSXR125R then it's the SV650. Come on Suzuki, produce a GSX-4R, either a twin or half the 8R as a single. (Maybe there's a 400-4 on the way.) Just do it and let us all know.
A modern bandit 400 would be slick
Really love your ride men, so smooth..
Yammie has hit it right on the head! Love how sporty the 8R looks without breaking my back😂😂❤
How does it look sporty with bars that are at neck height. Looks like a giraffe tbh.
@@richardsewell8657 I think objectively speaking, it would be considered a sport bike over any other naming convention…lol
Because it has fairings and clipons and a slight forward lean position. Its no supersport, but its a sportbike. @richardsewell8657
I feel like a properly tuned inline 4 750 could have at least comparable torque, run smoother, and sound better.
I mean, Suzuki already has the engine design in their archives. Just change a few parts to broaden the torque curve.
And cost 3k more
Honda should use the 750 out of the new hornet and make a sport bike with it. It makes 95hp in the hornet. I'm sure it could be tuned for sport bikes and make over 115hp.
Cost more to build, use more fuel, blast more emission, get banned from Europe....
The Japanese knew EU overlords are their biggest client. Way bigger than their domestic market or Southeast Asia.
Coming from someone whose never had much interest in Suzuki, this is gonna sound controversial, but it almost seems like this bike is almost like the cb750’s of the early 70’s. Probably won’t make the impact the cb750 did, but what made the cb750 so popular was that it was just good at almost everything. You could get other bikes that were comparable in power, comfort, track ability ect; but the cb750 was good at all of those but in one bike. You could race it, tour it, track it, be comfortable, everything. Those all seem to be the kinda vibes yammie is giving from riding the bike
road was wet because there is a construction zone and they gotta wet those big truck tires before going on road to prevent mud on the road.. anyways the stock tires which comes on this bike, are those good for Seattle type of weather?
I've owned a Cfmoto 450sr, all I can say is 270degree a lot of torque at 5k RPM above
If u maintain 5k-7k RPM at the corner it's very fun
I know of a couple of riders that have sold their GSXR 1000 and bought one. Tells me something. It has a serious punch out of corners. I doubt many 1000cc sports bikes could leave these bikes in the twisties. And these are 100% more comfortable.
long live the inline 4 sport tourer..... all the sounds, all the comfort
As a big V twin cruiser rider this bike really appeals to me.
Saying “I can use all of the power and revs” is basically saying “I’m more advanced than this bike and it’s holding me back”. I don’t get the appeal.
I wish they did it in Yellow here in the UK. I've just bought one, to be used as a race-bike - I won't be racing, that would be very much slower than the rider I have in mind for this - and the bike is only about half the cost of making it a legitimate race-bike. But it works for the class we'd like to be in next year, and we'll do some club-racing this year to get it set up and figured out (and the rider used to the bike before racing starts).
Nice review. It's not claiming to be a supersport & the GSX (minus the R) name has always meant road orientated sporty but not sports bike. Either way I really like it & I've done the supersport thing to the death. It's the perfect mix for me of cost, ergos, comfort & performance for the road with it's low & midrange torque. It's also the most V-twin like too which is really appealing imo.
I'd rather have a road oriented bike as I only ride on the road. What use is a track bike for me?
@@jjay350 Agreed. Been there & done that & I've moved on to something more practical which sounds super boring but it's real life. If I'm honest I can't even use this to it's limit so on the road it's perfect because it's all day comfortable & fun without going crazy & running the risk of losing my licence.
@@ragerider6283 Yeah I feel like as a lot of riders mature they naturally grow out of the "true" supersport scene. This looks more like a naked bike with the sport fairings. It's what I'd want as a sport bike.
@@jjay350 Yes agreed. I'm one of those people. I had a GSXR600 & 750, among other sports bikes, before & they were great. However, now they're too expensive, too fast & too uncomfortable for me these days & I'm ok with admitting that.
I'm 6'7". I fit on this bike pretty well. That's why I'm buying it.
stopped at 3:03 just wasted all this time and he hasn’t even talked about the bike yet🤣
Bring back the SV1000S, save these parallel twins for Europe and give us the big engines over here in 'Merica
I just rode this bike at motogp. I was trying to tell the guy at the booth that i have a 450ss and i want to ride an i4 but he told me to try the gx8r and i liked it. We demo the bike on some twisties by cota. Austin is fun place to ride a bike compared to louisiana.
I went from a Ninja 1000SX to a CBR650R specifically because the bigger bike was both too powerful to really use on the road, and felt pretty heavy side to side. Big bikes aren't for me!
So, as an 04 600 hornet owner, what's the deal with not just using the same shortblock from a Supersport 600 with revised cams, longer intake, etc to bring the powerband down in the rev range? It seems like manufacturers are allergic to following a very cost effective formula that I personally enjoy a hell of a lot.
Then again, I don't prefer the cross plane R1 sound over the traditional flat plane, so wtf do I know?
Hydro carbon emissions... unburned gasoline hiding in the ringlands is the culprit. 4 cylinders are over under a liter.
@@JoeStanek-vu7rl they couldn't just update the pistons?
@@michaelrodgers6559 I'm not a mechanical engineer, so I really don't know.
The GSX S750 has been tuned down from the Gixxr and has better torque with bhp down to 114. However the R8 feels quicker at normal speeds as the torque is the same and at lower revs. You need to wait to get the pick up on the S750 or change down.
The reason I migrated from cars to bikes at nearly 50, is what you stated at the end of the video, cars are dead.
Bikes on the other hand are going through a golden era.
Unfortunately just as they do so, it's going to die pretty soon, together with the ICE.
Made a video about it a few days ago, urging people to grab their dream bike NOW, it ain't lasting.
ICE will be here for some time to come. EVs require substantial subsidies from governments or they sit on dealership lots and people have only modest interest in them. Tesla just cancelled its plans to build a sub-$30k vehicle citing technical limitations. You will have several more decades of ICE in your future. The technology simply is not yet ready for prime time.
Yep. the world is slowly ditching ICE cars and one day will realise that bikes are there too. My GSX 8S does the same mpg as my wife's small hybrid. the GSX S1000 us a gussler by comparison.
And if you live in America where motorcycles are toys, there's plenty of low mileage used ones available
It’s almost like manufacturers realized that most people who get these bikes aren’t using them for their intended purpose. So they changed their intended purpose to match what people wanted out of them.
How would you compare this to the XSR 900 or MT09? I have a 18 XSR 900 and I love it. I am a little intrigued by some of the new bikes, but I do not like the sound of the parallel twin, which is why I got rid of my R3 pretty quick once I got used to riding again.
My biggest issue is the weight and price. It has a cheap frame making it way too to heavy for what it is, then they want nearly 10k for it.
Yeah, but beg, borrow, or steal a test ride on it, and it's a shockingly good bike.
For me it's suspension
@@langhamp8912maybe so but given the price I'd pick a different bike. I'd either save a few bucks and get a better sports bike in the R7 or spend a few more bucks and get an MT09 and get better everything.
@@IDontKnow-bb6mt I actually already have a '22 XSR900. I think that GSX8 is a marginally better bike in comfort, handling, smoothness, ease of throttle, low-end power, cooler operating temps in urban traffic, MUCH better steering lock, and screen visibility. The XSR900 has better raw power (but it's hard to access), better footpegs, better brakes, and possibly better track day manners (not yet taken it to a track).
I ended up getting a leftover XSR900 for $9300 out the door including tax (so cheaper than the GSX8S), and the insurance was much cheaper than the GSX8S's, but if you can, get a test ride on a GSX8. I know it doesn't seem all that good on paper, but it's an astonishingly good street bike. And reviewers are starting to realize that fact.
@@langhamp8912 I’m shocked to hear your triple was cheaper to insure, that’s nuts.
looking at dynos, if you took the R7 and moved its entire hp curve up by 10 horsepower, you get a GSX-8R. The line shape is very close.
Hey yammie I was just watching T-Moto verse they were talking about a GSX 9R with turbocharged V4 engine they haven't officially released it yet but I'm going to keep an eye on it I just figured I'd let you about it
It's a great bike. The mid-range is insane very punchy two-cylinder middleweight bike. My only problem with the bike was the windshield. Because of the elevated bars and small windshield I got destroyed by wind.
Yeah put a bigger windshield on this and it would be much more comfortable on the highway.
Yes It’s a Sport bike. It’s not a Super Sports Bike.
There is a difference
It's a sports bike for the real-world rider. Let's be honest. We ride bikes that are FAR better than we are. This is bringing things back down to earth as people realize they aren't actually Rossi. This bike is still probably capable of more than the average person has the ability to use. Myself included.
Its all the bike anyone needs and will ever need
It may not be all that much slower than those older 600's. The great Miguel DuHamel once said he was relegated to fighting for 8th position and worse from the previous year when he was fighting for wins. The reason: the first generation traction control devices on supersport bikes allowed even 600cc bikes to dominate their non-TC brethren.
Furthermore, this bike is particularly hobbled by Euro 5 emissions. Just a pipe and a re-flash sees these bikes pushing 15-20 more HP, with much better tractability.
I found little useful information in your ride review. Not a word about handling, wind protection, vibration, braking, etc. Does that come later?
Its a sportbike alright. Keep this thing for those really long group rides and for putting on the miles. Then when you want to be naughty you pull out your 600cc and / or 1000cc. I firmly believe everyone should own at least 2 motorcycles, 3 or more is even better.
I looked at one of these in a Dealership this morning. It was hiding, and not jumping out saying look at me... which is good, I hate the sort of people that want everyone to notice them too!. but this Shy little beauty was just sitting there watching me checking out an SV650 (which I guess may be her older sister) But TBH I may go back there in a few weeks to grab the Orange/red V-strom 250 SX
Ended up getting the 8s and no regret here
If they made this bike with the exact same position and styling with a slightly bigger engine, I mean like a mt09 competitor engine, I would buy one in a heartbeat
What do you guys think about the hayabusa 1300 is it worth it or should I get something else like a gsxr 1000?
Busa is slow bro, get MTT 420-RR
@@ronaldmcdonald9322 Bruh both the price and the speed will literally kill me lmaooo. Got any other suggestion mr clown?
Busa too heavy for a bike that fast. Get something that can corner and brake
@@HeldIntegral What would you recommend? Currently got an 18 ninja 400
Do a older 2v bike like the vtr1000f and than the gsx8. I have a gsxr1100w and for some years i hade a vtr1000f with a tune that thing lifted al the time the front up
have owned 2 gsxr 600's, but have not had a bike or have rode in about close to ten years, and wanted to get another gsxr 600 but looking at this at 36 years old , might be more comfortable.
I would call it a naked sport bike, but it is built for having torque for the streets not a high end high rpm bike
i really like it, but compared to other bikes in the same category it is a bit heavy! I hope they will work on that for future iterations.
I wish folks would stop comparing inline 4s to twin cylinders lol. Its ridiculous, twin cylinders are a class of its own.
Hi mate, when you were testing holding 4th gear in the twisties, was that where your bike winner went down ?
If we buy these I feel like we will keep seeing slower heavier bikes in more and more makeup
I say 420 lbs Is to light for USA highway
@@ellwoodwolf I’m not saying the bikes “too” anything, more so it’s not enough anything. It’s a perfectly average bike for a good normal rider. that’s not very cool tho 😂 it’s not the lightest, fastest, most nimble, nor most practical, nor best looking, it’s just pretty decent all around. I think we should keep trying to push at least one of the envelops yk
Ii agree. I don't want to encourage this type of low speed motorcycle
What are you taking about? You can still buy a used super bike, you can still make a dangerous turbo bike .... Think about how many 200+ hp bikes are available.... THEY DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.
@@ellwoodwolf yet! And they won’t if we have anything to say about it, but this is not gonna fill the hole of the R1
Does it come with the rear cowl?? Getting mines this morning I can't wait.
Yam, I’m looking at trading in my 2016 z800 for this bike in a beautiful baby blue, will I be happy with it? What are the main differences
Is this bike short of gears?
Why is it's top speed limited to 220kmph or 130mph, despite having so much power and torque?
> it's got more torque so I can ride in a higher gear
> rev range is smaller
so um, you _have_ to ride in a higher gear
my 250cc can do like 60 mph in 2nd- why would I need to be in 4th?
a ZX-4RR is a much better "not _really_ a supersport" than any of these large CC twins/triples
you don't need 600cc/1000cc power? sure, fine. I'd still want an inline 4 that revs all the way out
and I'd still want aggressive ergonomics
I have a 2014 VFR800 in Austin if you want to use it in a comparison video 🙏
This bike makes me want to start riding again.
my concours 14 got that 100lbs torqe grunt and comfort in twisties sport bikes cant shake me -- tuned suspension and 160hp - sport to tourer in one bike
I thought about it... I can't do it, it's sacrilegious, but I know I'll probably end up getting one though.
Yamie hyping that thing way too hard 😆😆