New Suzuki parallel twin, V-Strom 800 and GSX-8S

[MattR302]

776 cc, 270 crank, 83 hp, 57 ft-lbs
Both bikes get throttle-by-wire, ride modes, TFT dash, LED lighting, optional quickshifters. Both on Suzuki USA site as 2023 models

https://www.revzilla.com/common-trea...ins-first-look

New to the smaller V-strom is a 21” front wheel, USD forks, more suspension travel and ground clearance (8.7”), 507# wet, Adventure model with luggage/protection

The naked GSX-8S weighs in at 445#. As of now, the SV650 is still on the Suzuki site as a 2023 model

[OreoGaborio]

Hrm... looks like a pretty solid bike. Definitely seems to be a big step forward from the 2022 V-strom.

Too bad it wasn't built to compete with the new lightweight class killers (rs660 and ktm 690), but it MIGHT almost be capable of competing against other light/middleweight street offerings, including the F850GS in that adventure trim (or at least a budget version of it)

[OneCheekRider]

Are they going to change the name to P-Strom now?

[golden chicken]

I'm sad the GSX8 seems to be no match for a 790 Duke or Hornet by the specs.

[breakdirt916]

Pee-storm

this bike news hit every adv/dual sport/channel that I'm a part of; maybe people do care about ye' ole mom jeans

my gut reaction is that it's also ugly; but aren't most ADV bikes ugly?

the middleweight segment is pretty limited to a T7 (hard to find), 901/890/R (high strung/expensive), or a Tuareg.

Yeah only 84hp, but a blander, less inexpensive, slightly heavy, but reliable japanese option for noobie-ish riders that won't kill themselves on a mellow-er twin, but still enough HP to cruise at 80 and pass at 100, might appeal to some of the masses. 350lbs is the heaviest I’d prefer if you’re rolling whoops in the desert; so this is mostly a street machine that can do some fire roads to me.

I'm still a little hesitant to give credit to ADV bikes being slightly more off-road worthy and using it as a selling point. Everything above 400lbs feels piggy off road; except for the 890R/Rally.

I kinda wanna ride this and the Transalp just to see what sort of power 84-90hp feels like with an ADV/torque tune.

[Gixxer]

[Gixxer]

I love Suzook but can’t help but feel like this will be underwhelming, sick wheels though.

[Gixxer]

[Gixxer]

So I was all about these models being a suzook fan boy….

But isn’t a used BMW F800 a good blend of the 800s and vstrom?

[Mgiossi]

My personal feelings aren't very good for this one. Being a big sv650 fan I was very disappointed. The sv was such a great all around bike. I understand that parallel twins are all the rage right now but wouldn't just sticking a inverted front end and maybe doing a factory 2mm motor making a "sv700" do everything and compromising nothing?

[csmutty]

I really like the yellow and blue scheme for the strom. That color really works for that bike.

[MattR302]

The 8S has been getting real positive reviews from all the YouTubers and magazines

[feralchimp]

Which of the above bikes have cruise, or can be flashed into having cruise?

[Garandman]

https://suzukicycles.com/street/2023/gsx-8s

[Gixxer]

In other suzook news…

[Gixxer]

I am a mental midget and just can’t understand why anyone would opt for the smaller engine unless it’s a question of price (how American of me).

But, I acknowledge there’s guys like srtie4k that were doing 4th gear power wheelies on a 1290 and “downsized” to the 890.
Altho that 890 seems like a cheater engine and seems like an exception.

But here I am considering the T100 over the T120, and why would Suzuki put such an effort developing an 800cc version of a bike that’s already a 1050?

Almost as if it was only aimed to be the gsx-8s, and the middleweight adventure market just happens to be popular, so why not?

I’m so conflicted because of arbitrary feelings like the parallel twin being such an unsexy config, and the kawi in-line four z800 being such a dud, how can this suzook news be significant?

But that doesn’t stop me from wanting both or either of these new models, especially in that rad Quadzilla livery <3

[SRTie4k]

I've never really been one for all-out power, despite the fact I owned the 1290. Yeah it was stupid fun, but that's more-so because of the agile and playful nature of the chassis in combination with the excess power. The 890 still retains all of that; the chassis is significantly more agile than the 1290, and the amount of power is more than enough to be useful for passing as well as allow the inner hooligan out (it still does 4th gear wheelies over crests, you just have to wind it out more).

Less power does not automatically mean less fun. You need a good combination of chassis agility, weight and power to make a great bike. Without one of those, you just get a mediocre bike IMO.

[Stoneman]

Less power does not automatically mean less fun.

Just ask any Harley owner, myself included...

[SRTie4k]

Just ask any Harley owner, myself included...

You forgot the agility and weight part.

[Gixxer]

So maybe this is the “just right” spot for the V Strom despite 650s/1050 existence

[Kurlon]

I think the long term plan is to retire the old 650/1050 motors as EU / EPA emissions regs get harder to pass. There may be a new larger motor in the works to take the place of the 1050, or they may find the 800 covers the market share of both?

[Stoneman]

You forgot the agility and weight part.

My Street Glide Special is surprisingly agile. The weight though?

[Garandman]

Just saw an 8S, pretty sharp!

[Gixxer]

Yeah, I want an 8s

[Spooler]

That GSX-8S sure wants to look like a Duke 790, eh? Not bad looking, but that’s definitely what the were going for, right?