The MAM Journals - The Suzuki GSX-8S. The middleweight market heats up? 

Try the new R as well , if you can 👍

Thank you . Dimensions are actually one of the first things I look at when looking at a bike 😂 I respect that others are less interested though 👍

Have fun ! Personally , I think they are very capable 👍

Hi Leigh , I did like it , actually more than I thought I would . Good bike 👍

Have fun . Very capable middleweight 👍

Glad it was helpful!

Have fun . Good bike . Be careful on the ice !!

Thank you 👍 I probably make it more difficult than it needs to be 😂

Thank you Robert . Glad you enjoyed it . The 650 V is a great , and well proven engine . 🤞 the new engine , which I like , proves as reliable . 👍

Thank you . Bike does look great under lights . 👍

Thank you . You have given me an idea there … 👍 I do need to find a friendly Honda dealer who will let me have bikes for the 3-4 days it takes me to make these videos . I do take little test rides but don’t feel I can properly comment after a quick spin . Thanks for watching and as always , taking the time to comment 👍

Mine is coming in 10 days or so

@@florme6494 looks are very subjective ., as your comment confirms . Glad you found a spec you liked . Have fun 👍

They are very clear 👍

Its not even close to BMW's dash. The resolution is lower, the BMW dash is also an OLED screen that is extremely bright and vivid. The Suzuki dash has 1 screen. The one you see. The BMW dash has multiple screen that allow you to do many things. From checking your trip information, how you ride, your lean angles, your GPS, music, your tyre pressures, engine oil level, the list goes on. This is not comparable to the BMW dash.

​@Omar-kw5ui both the screens are extremely clear so I find it kinda mute bringing up OLED, but fully agree with the rest.

Hi Paul , agree about the GSX . Both are still selling here too . Yes , I have ridden the Hornet . More power but at quite high revs . Personally I prefer the engine and in particular the gearbox of the Suzuki but we are all different .. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment . 👍

Just tried the 8R , video out later this month . That looks great in Black/Silver as well 👍

Sounds like you have that sorted and are having fun . 👍

Glad you found it useful and thanks for the like and comment . The torque is good for a middleweight bike . You may be surprised by how easy the quick shifter is . Definitely worth considering 👍

No problem at all with you disagreeing . Just opinions 👍 My BMW “quick shifters “ are , to me , not as smooth as the Suzuki ones but we may have different riding styles .. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment .

Firstly , thank you for taking the time to comment . I am glad you enjoyed the review . Your question is actually more difficult than it may appear 😂 I like the engine and gearbox on both - they are of course shared . The DE is a bit too tall for me , with the current seat options but I do like the adjustability of the suspension as I tend to prefer softer settings in the winter than the summer . The 8S is a bit less money and great in traffic as well as being fun on the open roads . I suspect , when I up date my XT 650, which I mostly use in the winter , the DE will win but I do think the 8S is a good bike . 👍

@@michaelmam have you seen or heard about the coming more road based 800 Suzuki are rumoured to be doing.. could be a winner in our neck of the woods as we lack the amazing terrain seen in many videos

@@stubbk3 like you , I have heard rumours . Hopefully true 🤞

Hi , thanks for watching . Sadly I haven’t tried the Yamaha so can’t say . I hear good reports but that isn’t the same as actually trying one ! 👍

Different class

900 has more power but you may find the GSX 8S better for sport-oriented tasks, the XSR is more of a retro/commuting vibe with a really fun engine.

I use it to turn my GoPro camera on 👍

I dont i find it smooth and well damped beeter bike

I occasionally have this debate with friends who start from the premise that old bikes are heavier . Some definitely were - The Z1 of the 70’s is a lot heavier and less powerful than the new Z900RS , but not all . Emission control ( cats) and liquid cooling have added weight to new bikes , despite the offset of lighter weight components and trims . All engines vibrate of course . It just depends on what frequency and where it is felt ? 👍

@michaelmam Yes agreed, but the 90° Ducatis enjoy "self cancelling" moment of force that parallel twins dont have. I'm always surprised that it has hardly any vibration unless the cambelts go slightly out of spec causing one of the cylinders valve timing to alter ever so slightly. But the older Ducati 8V are divas in many ways....☺️

@@bradcobb3418 Hi Brad , I actually have a couple of Ducati twins in the garage so know what you mean in both regards . 👍

I suspect the challenge is access to bikes ? I borrow them from local dealers . Some are really good . Kings two wheel centre and North Oxford BMW help me . The manufacturers don’t really offer support to most RU-vidrs ..

Such a shame KTM are missing a great opportunity here, as the 790s should be in the mix. I think they put Honda n Suzuki to test in middle weights

@@flexywing Maybe its because their sold out lol. KTM literally dominates this segment.

You could look at it that way 👍 My view is that because it is a twin rather than a four , it is probably the upgrade for the 650 twin ?

Thanks for commenting Adrian . Glad you enjoyed the review . Looks are very subjective of course. Personally I prefer sleeker , less angular lines but some like this , some don’t . It is a good bike , if for me and you , unlikely to win “the most stylish bike of 2023 “ award . Some really like it 👍

@@juh7111 😂

😂

Bigger Japanese twins are definitely on their way .. Emission legislation , particularly in Europe , has stopped 4 cylinder development in its tracks ..

@@michaelmam you are right for sure but the honda 1100 is so bland... I don't want such engines in a naked. It is a tractor... torquey but boring... same counts for the electric motorcycles, close to unbearable if one ever experienced an inline4 or v4.

@@ronr6605 I love twins! lol My fav are the W800 and the MT-07 which i did replace with an GSX-8S this year. :)

The blue ones are very “Suzuki” 👍

@@michaelmam It has become their signature colour for these however I much preferred the GSXS1000 version as it pays a decent homage to the K5 GSXR1000 stroker. Personally I found as a "non learner" that this GSXS-8S wasn't even close to what I wanted so I chose an almost new 2020 Yamaha XSR900 in the heritage white/red colour scheme and it's just so smooth and torquey. Ultra comfy and maybe it's me but I do need the extra 30 ponies over this Suzuki. Bikes are so personal as we both know. Very good video as always and 5 stars for a really professional presentation. Stay safe sir!

@@theaustralianconundrum I am also more used to more powerful bikes . I have a few and , with the exception of a big bore Interceptor and my Vstrom 650, are between 109 - 208 bhp . I try and review these bikes with some empathy for those that are actually looking at 70-90 bhp bikes . Not sure that “it isn’t as fast as my Hayabusa “ would be helpful 😂 Thank you for your comments . I appreciate it 👍

@@michaelmam I understand that you can't dump on these bikes that are below 100bhp as crazy as it sounds to consider 80bhp slow???? How times have changed. Cheers.

@@theaustralianconundrum I have been riding over 40 years and there have always been middleweight twins and indeed singles in the market . In many parts of the world - like India and most of Asia , a 650 is a big bike . Have a good one 👍

I am 5 ‘8 and glad they don’t .. 😂

@@michaelmam 2019 MT10. BY THE WAY

@@michaelmam I'm 6'1", I'm probably a bit too tall for this too

@@roadwarrior8560 Yes , maybe . It is a “small” bike . Average height in the UK is apparently 5’10 ? Fortunately there is a good range of bike sizes out there 👍

@@roadwarrior8560I’m 6’ 3” and after test riding one, I think you’d be surprised how much room you have. No particular tank cut-out means there is room for knees. Pegs are still a decent position to make the knee angle not as acute as you may imagine.