NEW BIKES SUZUKI GSX-8S
Q Is Suzuki’s GSX-8S the new class leader?
Can the new GSX-8S take on Honda’s Hornet to dominate the middleweight naked class?
JUST WHEN YOU thought Honda’s CB750 Hornet had affirmed itself as 2023’s best naked middleweight roadster, Suzuki launches the all new GSX-8S. But Suzuki appears to have missed the standards set by the Hornet — on paper, at least. It’s 8bhp down, despite a 21cc advantage, and 12 kilos heavier once brimmed with fuel. Furthermore, the GSX-8S is £1000 more expensive than its rival. So is Suzuki’s great parallel-twin hope too little, too late?
Maybe not. Spec sheet figures only ever tell part of the story and there are more important wins in this class than outright power. So, instead of attempting to match or beat Honda in terms of cold, hard numbers, Suzuki has instead focused on feel and dynamics with the GSX-8S, in terms of both riding and ownership experience. Rave reviews from the bike’s launch suggest this focus has worked.
Still, £1000 is a big gap to bridge, especially given how good we know the Hornet 750 is – even in terms of PCP payments, it’s a full tank of fuel’s difference per month. Or could Honda’s freshly crowned middleweight marvel be forced to hand over its crown almost as soon as it’s put it on?
PRICE
Cost is key in the naked-middleweight class, especially after the Hornet set new standards at a price £500 lower than its nearest rival. At £7999, the GSX-8S is £1000 more than the Honda (£18 more a month on PCP, based on a £1300 deposit) but it also feels more substantial and arguably better finished than the Hornet
Q Does its extra weight spoil the handling?
Twelve kilos is a lot to give away in this class but that’s the gulf between a fully juiced GSX-8S and an equally brimmed Hornet. Not a pretty sight on the spec sheet but in reality, the Suzuki’s extra poundage is not an issue. In fact, on most roads it’s actually an advantage.
The GSX-8S feels more planted than the Honda, especially on bumpy roads; instability is never an issue. Indeed, there’s a solidity to the Suzuki that works beautifully with the midrange-rich motor — quite unlike the revhungry, sometimes flighty Honda. Handling is not compromised by the more generous overall weight but the built-to-a-budget suspension can feel-overworked when forced to earn its keep on fast but poorly surfaced roads. And the turning circle, while good, isn’t as sharp as the Hornet’s.
Q Tech now matters in this class — has the GSX-8S got enough?
There’s enough tech on the GSX-8S for it to stand toe-to-toe with its rivals. There are three modes: A (Acti
