2024 Suzuki GSX-8R | Owner Review & Ride
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- Hello and welcome to my first ever motorcycle review! This is my 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R and I’ve had the pleasure of putting a few hundred miles on it during New Jersey’s infamous “False Spring”! I was the first to take delivery on the East Coast of the US, so I’ve been impatiently waiting to get this video filmed and uploaded!
I hope you enjoy this quick review and some of my rambling, and sorry for the sniffling, I’m getting over a cold and it was a balmy 48 degrees when I went out to film! Anyway, please like and subscribe if you enjoyed the video, I’ll be filming motovlogs, reviews, and plenty of other motorcycle related content in the near future!
Hi From France Chris,
I have just bought the same motorcycle in blue, no yellow in France. I sold my CBR 650 R 2023, for this motorcycle more suited to my use, and I am delighted, and this engine is a pure pleasure.
Different from the 4 cylinder of the Honda, but this bike encourages a more calming ride, more than enough horse power, and it accelerates very hard if necessary.
The only thing I don't like is the windshield, and I'm waiting for a real higher one to be available.
That's one thing that gets me as well even for its upright riding posture, the wind screen seems relatively low. I hope to see a larger one in the future, and perhaps even one that has a laminar feature.
I’m tossing up between a CBR650R and the GSX8R… you can get 2021-2022 CBRs for quite a bit less than a new GSXR so kinda leaning that way economically. How do you feel they compare particularly on highways etc?
Nice vid & couldn't agree more with your opinion. I bought one a few weeks ago! Also have the same helmet lol. The 8R was the right price, right comfort & right road performance for me. I haven't ridden in 13 years & have no intention of doing track days etc so it was perfect for me at this point in time. The last bike I had was an Aprilia RSV1000R & it was amazing but just too uncomfortable & too quick to enjoy most of the time on the road. This on the other hand with it's low down & mid range torque is all day fun at legal speeds. I also put the full Akrapovic system on it which looks & sounds fantastic. Got the Suzuki (Gilles) levers as well which are very nice but too expensive imo. Suzuki also do a nice higher tinted screen that I'm thinking about too. Anyway enough rambling, ride safe & have fun! : )
Hey thanks for watching! How’s the Akra sound? That’s what I’m leaning toward.
@@ChrisLikesBikes It's sounds great, very throaty with or without the baffle, but significantly louder with it out obviously. Although it's still quieter than the Arrow system but sounds meaner imo. The Arrow sounds good too though but the Akra just looks classier to me & of higher build quality & finish too. It also fits better & supposedly gives better gains & weight savings as well but I can't verify that tbh. There's also rumours of a very nice Yoshimura system with great gains & weight saving coming out soon too so might be worth waiting a month or two but I can't find any reliable info on it as yet However, if you get the Akra you won't be disappointed.
@@ragerider6283 Yosh system just came out, can never go wrong with a yosh on suzuki thats what im figuring i may do
@@ChrisLikesBikes Also consider the M4 system. It's a bit more deep sounding than the new Yoshi, also performance per dollar is a bit higher than Akra. 2wheeldynoworks has a superb ECU map for stuff.
I bought the 8R this summer as my first bike, and I just love it! It is the perfect fit for me
Awesome choice! Enjoy and ride safe!
I love my 8R. I ride mine in A mode and 3 traction control because I never want to wheelie. Have fun and be safe!
Same here lol! Keep the rubber side down!
Just got this bike today as my first bike, absolutely loving how they have the different modes. Staying in Comfort mode for a while !!
Nice job on the review. You pretty much echo my thoughts after demo riding a yellow 8R at a Suzuki event a couple weeks ago. I was really impressed. Power was excellent, braking, handling, ergos. It doesn't have an explosive top end but that's fine as I don't need the temptation to surge to 120mph +
You beat me by 3 weeks! Picked up mine up not long after you (same color even). You're not kidding about it having some sport touring ability. I rode 238 miles on a Sunday not too long ago here in Northeast Tennessee. Got home and had a few things to do, but I could have gone back out for more.
First service complete, and right afterward I tore into it to complete a host of engine intake and exhaust upgrades, along with a tune from 2WDW. Its no longer the same bike, as it feels like the motor has gone up an entire class. It wasn't cheap, but I generally keep my bikes a long time, so its worth it to me. Been riding sport bikes street and track for over 3 decades. Suspension is next.
I have to say this bike has been the most interesting thing Suzuki has come out with for a very long time. I owned a Suzuki TL1000R for nearly 20 years and sold it when I relocated.... felt a little weird, like I was selling my dog or something.
Enjoy that bike, seek training as much as you can. Let us know how you're making out!
Just got mine back yesterday from its initial service and had them install the Alta exhaust. It sounds sooo much better. Looking forward to getting a tune soon.
IM.63 yrs old just sold the 950 ln pcos FLHTK and bought a yellow Gsx8r .
Love it
You did a nice job reviewing this bike. Everything you said rings true in my ears. Yes, cruise control would have been nice along with heated grips. I believe this bike would make a nice middleweight sport tourer. Fuel milage is pretty good at 63 mpg, if one can stay out of the throttle, which is hard to do. I definitely agree with you on the brakes. Low end torque is definitely there, just above idle in spades! One great all around bike for the street along with lots of bang for the buck. Again, nice, accurate review. I own a blue one and love it.
No cruise control? Oh man. :/
@@yeejay6396 Why not? This bike can be ridden for hours quite easily as it's quite comfortable. Long trips aren't out of the realm of possibilities. Heated grips as well. It wasn't a deal breaker for me because I bought one. Still, it would have been nice. After all, it is 2024. With the electronics on modern bikes it's not as hard or expensive as it would have been a short time ago. That's my 2 cents.
@@williamwintembergconsidering its drive by wire, there’s really no excuse lol, just Suzuki doing Suzuki things.
Thanks for the vid it’s nice to see some real world videos for this bike hoping to get one soon. Can I ask if you’ve noticed any issues with the clutch when downshifting? I’ve noticed in two other videos that they say it feels clunky.
Thanks for watching! I haven’t had any issues with downshifting, although I don’t use the clutch for anything besides shifting into first and at a stop. The quick shifter feels great, though I have had a few instances where the bike kind of lurches into gear, but that might be a me problem.
@@ChrisLikesBikes Thanks Chris appreciate it! Good luck with it
Can you make an updated video... looks like I'll be picking mine up in 2 days... do you still love the bike?
I actually filmed it, I just haven’t had a chance to finish editing 😂. The audio came out like crap so I’m going to have to do a voiceover.
Brilliant review!! I was engaged from beginning to end. I have a 2016 r3 and I am heavily considering this bike, or the rs660. The only thing about the rs660 is Aprilia’s skeptical reliability. I look forward to seeing what you do with the exhaust system. Again, great work!!
Thank you for watching and the positive feedback! I was considering the RS 660, but had the same skepticism with reliability. Plus the nearest Aprilia service center is about an hour away from me. The dealership I bought the R3 and 8R from is only 10 minutes away, so you can’t beat that lol. Definitely take the 8R out for a test ride if you can, I’m sure you’ll love it.
I agree with both of you as the RS 660 was on my radar as well. Parts, dealer network, bang for the buck and made in Japan. For me, made in Japan means a lot to me. It's a no brainier.
@@ChrisLikesBikes Would you have given more consideration toward the 660 if you had a closer service center? There's a service center/dealer right down the road so the Aprilia is very tempting. Hopefully, they've had a chance to work out most of the kinks now that it's been in prod for a few years. (plus there's a two-year warranty, extendable to 4)
Great vid! I just put a deposit down on this motorcycle at my local dealership. I'm leaning towards the blue as that's my color of choice in most situations, but the yellow pops so nice! Also, yellow is probably the most visible. Can't wait to ride! Keep riding safe bro.
Blue looks fantastic! I went for yellow because you just don’t see it much anymore.
Would you mind telling the out of the door price that you paid for the bike? I am getting various quotes from dealers around me.
OTD was about $12k
Dang that much in taxes and other BS 😮
I was quoted 9600 out of the door here in Richmond, Virginia. I however went with Trident 660.
@@bikalpudasaini9437 The Trident 660 is a cool bike. Any reason why you went with that one rather than waiting for a Daytona 660?
@@ChrisLikesBikes Got a good deal. 950 miles used. Police officer's personal bike. Otd was 7.5k with quick shifter, heated grips, tank protector, wind shield and radiator guard. Daytona still hadn't arrived when I bought it. I guess I got impatient. 🤣
Such a beautiful bike I hopefully will be back to riding soon at the moment I don't have a bike so I'm saving to get one!
Yeah Suzuki really nailed it with this one. Hope you get one soon!
Hi from Houston..I just purchased the same bike in blue in February & love it. I have always ridden smaller cruiser bikes so this is my first sports bike..I still haven’t seen another one out riding around here in the Houston area, and I drive all over the city on the daily. I think I just may be one of the first to have one here in Houston. Anyway, nice vid & review.
Sup man I just got this bike too I grabbed it in the grey and red.. I've been loving riding it can't wait to get the tune and pipes
I installed the Akra exhaust last week. It really livens this bike up.
Dude! i went from the R3 to the 500 ninja and im def thinking about this bike. I like the blue or the silver. I think the 8r is a perfect bike for longer rides and highway riding for sure compared to the R3 or 500. This smaller bikes are easily blow around by higher winds and makes me nervous as heck riding on windy days. Good vid! much appreciated
Hey thanks for watching! I took my R3 to a really nice little town in Northern Jersey last summer and ended up taking 195 back, where the actual flow of traffic is about 80mph. The pucker factor was real lmao! After that I decided the R3 will be relegated to backroads and, eventually, track use.
The 8R is exceptional on the highway. But like I said in my review, I really wish it had cruise control lol. Enjoy your bikes and safe travels!
@@ChrisLikesBikes lol O bet and know how you feel. I was hoping to get someone's input on how the 8r handles the highway riding. Atleast I know with the 8 you got enough power to get yourself out of a sticky situation.
@@camojak One bike you might consider is a left-over GSX-S750 for a good middle-weight stepping stone. Butter smooth engine that wants to rev. About 100 wheel hp (after a slip-on and ECU flash). They sell for low money in the used market.
Thanks for the vid man, I am still waiting for this bike. However, the local dealer hasn’t brought it yet in Saudi Arabia. The main question is that yellow or blue because that’s killing me they both are just great!
Both look amazing in person, it’s a tough choice. But the yellow got me, obviously lol! Thanks for watching!
Great bike Chris I have the GSX8S and love it good for Yorkshire.
As a fellow Silver(🤢🤮) 8R owner, I sub.
Its my first bike and so far I'm happy with it. I heard this thing can hit 90 Hp with a tune! I was scared sh*tless when I first took it out. 🤣
Oh yeah, I’m looking forward to tuning this down the road. Def installing a new pipe later this year, at a minimum.
great review Chris. If you position the camera angle a bit lower it's more entertaining for the viewer as we can see the display and see you actuate brake and clutch etc..!
Thanks for the advice!
I got mine on Tuesday and already have over 300 miles on it. I'm taking it to dealer tomorrow because the motor shake noise got louder and when I pull in the clutch lever it gets quiter. It has a knocking noise and feeling I can feel through the tank. I could be trippin (over reacting) but better safe than sorry. I drive 80+ miles highway a day for work.
Yeah probably better to take it in. Could be nothing, could be something. Good luck!
Hi Chris, since you asked for feedback: Good review! I would have liked to see a part of it as a walkaround, where you could show notable features of the bike.
Thank you for the feedback! Great point. Moving forward I’ll be doing walk arounds.
Im planning on buying the silver one beginning of may. I was set on a ninja 650 but when i saw this i was like wow that nice bike
The 650 Ninja is a nice bike. The 8r is a 650 Ninja on steroids.
the sky certainly is beautiful!
Great choice/color... I still like the R3 too. Apples to oranges.
Yeah two totally different bikes, I love them both though!
I got the red one , don't worry bro. We stay up and we keep up #Crazy88's love this bike
What’s the fuel efficiency you get?
40-ish mpg or so
Great review! Rode one at Suzuki Demo event (MotoAmerica Road Atlanta) and absolutely loved it! Silver is my first choice. I have a 2018 Vstrom 650 and a 2023 Ninja 650. Like you, I've got a 30" inseam so I'm always creative when on the Vstrom while the Ninja is very comfortable. The 8R fit was confidence inspiring. I'm thinking of reducing my inventory to a bike of 1, do you think the 8R would replace my other two bikes?
I actually haven’t been on a Ninja 650 yet, so I can only speak to the 8R. To me it’s a really great all-rounder with sport touring chops. If that’s what you’re looking for, you can’t really go wrong, especially considering the price.
@@ChrisLikesBikes Well put. As an aside, my brother lives in Green Pond, NJ. Ride safe!
Is that New Hope, PA? River Road? I'm in the process of getting a 8R as well and live in Bucks County :)
Certainly is! I love riding up 29 to Lambertville then back down River Road.
@@ChrisLikesBikes It's a gorgeous ride! Just gotta watch out for the potholes though haha. I just got my 8r on saturday and already put 150 miles on it. Absolutely love it
Ahhhh sweet! I’m just shy of 600 miles so I’ll be bringing it in for its initial service. I have an Akrapovic pipe coming soon too!
Not sure if you were the 1st bro
I got mine on 1/03/24
I got the blue one
Love the blue, it’s fantastic! By “first” I mean first on the east coast lol! Safe travels my friend!
I’m from Newark Nj.
Be safe on the roads as well!
@@Kingkeez636 maybe I'll see you around!
Do you think the r3 riding position is similar to the gsx8r?
Yeah I’d say it’s similar, they’re both fairly relaxed. The 8R is a lot longer than the R3 though, so as an average height male I do lean forward slightly.
How does the Suzuki gsx 8r compare to the kawasaki 650 or the honda 650r?
Great question, unfortunately I’ve not been on a Ninja 650 or Honda 650R… yet lol
My quick shifter is crap on mine, you have to really be in throttle for it even be somewhat smooth not butter at all.
So I’ve actually had a few instances recently where I’ve accidentally shifted into neutral from 1-2 gear, and a few times it just didn’t shift. I have to really hammer it home. I’ve had a few clunky shifts, but like you said you have to be on the throttle.
just add some walk arounds of the bike and solid video
Cruise control (more cost) and a 17L tank (4.5 gallon, matching the old SV650) would have been tops in this model.
Sold
Sir, does the engine get so hot that it bothers the rider's knees or calves especially on a hot day?
Thanks in Advance!
It’s been well over 90 Fahrenheit where I live, temps while idling are hitting around 220. So yeah, pretty hot when you’re sitting still. Goes back down to around 185 once I’m moving again.
I appreciate you mentioning the sport tourer aspect! Id like to use this as an in town commuter and sport tourer to compliment my more track oriented Street Triple. I dont really have a desire for more power
The 8R is a great around town kind of bike, with long haul chops as well.
does it makes engine heat?
Yeah, it’s really noticeable now that it’s getting hot out too.
@@ChrisLikesBikes thanks.i think its a negative of this motor.same at the vstrom800
Was just chatting with someone that rides a VFR. Talk about hot, he rode for an hour with it running around 220F lol
I rode the 8s last year and it was a blast and typical Suzuki with the handling. I love the bike but the rear tail is horrible and seems like an afterthought that they just stuck something on there.
I agree, waiting not-so-patiently for TST Industries to put their tail light conversion into production lol
@@ChrisLikesBikes Thanks for the reply, the bike really is spot on with everything else and I'm not one to complain about the tail section either. I loved the quick shifter, we visited a Triumph demo last year and rode the Triple which had it but didn't even think about trying it out. Another issue I didn't like is the matte black section on the tank, I was at my local dealer a few weeks ago and they had a blue one, I feel like it would've looked a lot better if it was just all the same color. I'm down here in the valley near the Blue Ridge Parkway and SNP so if you're down this way look me up. I ride a 2013 Ninja 650.
New rider if I have it in c mode is it beginner friendly?
You’ll be alright, def keep it in C mode, not only because you’re new but it’ll also keep you from getting crazy during break-in. I just took it in for initial service last week and went to B, it’s a big difference. Also swapped the exhaust for an Akrapovic, sounds amazing. I’ll be posting a video of that soon.
@@ChrisLikesBikes okay cool looking forward to getting one nice bike!
If this was made as triple I would buy it
Don’t knock it til ya try it! I was holding out hope for a R9, but who knows if/when that’ll happen lol. Love my 8R though.
Hi y'all, does anyone have any suggestions on how to reduce clutch lever pull ?? Thanks for any & all responses.
The manual says 04.” To 0.6” (10-15mm) for cable play. You might want to swap the levers out, I’d check what TST Industries has on their bike.
Think I might of seen the mirrors but that’s about it 🤨
you need to ride it more.
Agreed. Kind of hard with a 4 month old though lol.
If I hear "you know" one more time imma shove screwdrivers in my ears.. you know
You know, you’re right.
😂😂@@ChrisLikesBikes
"You know "😅😅
Hi Chris likes Bikes, maybe an ADV is in store for you one day, a KTM perhaps? Your Suzy is nice. 🌴