The motorcycle community isn’t always kind to Suzuki but the brand produces some of the most underrated motorcycles ever. The latest addition is the GSX-8R, a powerful middleweight sportbike that’s easy to live with and packs a punch.

The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R is essentially a GSX-8S with a fairing, clip-ons, and better suspension. It offers a forgiving and entertaining riding experience, making it an excellent base for a sports bike.

10 Essentially A GSX-8S With Sport Fairing And Clip-Ons

Let’s set the expectations straight — the 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R is essentially a GSX-8S with a fairing, clip-ons, and better suspension. It’s a forgiving middle-weight bike with a lot of usable power and stable handling, making it one of the most user-friendly motorcycles available today. It’s an excellent base for a sports bike, but what may limit this sports bike is the low-set pegs that can cause ground clearance issues like on the 8S.

Features That The New GSX-8R Gets Over The R Variant

• Showa upside down big piston forks and a matching monoshock
• Additional 7 pounds in curb weight and 1.2 inches in height
• Race-inspired fairings with separate forged aluminum handlebars

9 Striking Design With Emphasis On Mechanical Beauty

Sticking to the brand’s futuristic design, the GSX-8R is a modern interpretation of the Gixxer heritage. This sports bike aims for functional beauty, drawing your attention to the engine and painted underpinnings to highlight the mechanical beauty of the bike. The aggressive mass-forward design with a sleek tail and stacked headlights is striking, and while it may not appeal to everyone, it will surely turn heads on the road.

Design Highlights

• Wind-tunnel-tested aerodynamically-designed fairings that slice through the air for optimal performance
• Stacked hexagonal headlights with Koito mono-focus LED lights
• Painted seat rails, exposed engine, short muffler design, and sleek tail emulate the bike’s focused character
• The short muffle is neatly tucked under the chassis to reduce the visual weight of the bike

8 Stopping Power Courtesy Of Nissin

The braking duty of the 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R is handled by Nissin, carried over from this bike’s naked sibling. The front gets a dual-disc setup with radial-mount Nissin four-pot calipers with a single-disc rear setup. Suzuki claims the braking system offers excellent feedback and braking force, which was also the case with the brakes on the GSX-8S. What will help the brakes perform even better are the Dunlop RoadSport 2 radial tires, which give better feedback and confidence than the Roadsmart 2 on the naked GSX-8S. And there’s always the safety net of dual-channel ABS.

Braking And Tire Specifications

Specifications sourced from Suzuki

7 Slew Of Electronics And Tech-Wizardry

Electronics Suite: Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS)

The Suzuki GSX-8R gets the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS), promising to make the riding experience safe, exciting, and comfortable. This system will back you up regardless of what you’re doing — commutes, spirited canyon runs, or an occasional track day. For deserts, the bike also gets dual-linked electronic throttle bodies with an Accelerator Position Sensor, which Suzuki claims improves throttle response.

Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS)

• Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS) with three modes: Active, Basic, and Comfort
• Suzuki Traction Control System (STCS) with four modes
• Bi-directional Quick Shifter System
• Ride-by-Wire
• Suzuki Easy Start
• Suzuki Low RPM Assist

6 Agile Chassis With Focus On Practicality

Chassis Type: Backbone Style Frame

The Suzuki GSX-8R gets the same frame as the GSX-8S, engineered for comfort and approachability. The bike is supposed to be agile and comfortable for all riding conditions, but what should make the handling even better than its naked sibling is the new suspension.

The GSX-8S gets an already capable KYB suspension, but the GSX-8R gets a Showa SFF-BP fork and a matching monoshock that are tuned for agility and feedback. According to Yuta Endo, Assistant Design Manager at Suzuki, the Showa suspension is targeted for both city and circuit riding, and it is more linear with 30% more damping force. That’s a promising suspension setup for this sports bike.

Chassis And Suspension Specifications

Specification sourced from Suzuki

5 Mildly Sporty Ergonomics That Balance Comfort And Performance

The GSX-8R is also a comfort-oriented sports bike. The bike gets the same narrow chassis and low-set footpegs as the GSX-8S, but the handlebar makes way for clip-ons, which make the ergonomics relaxed with a mild lean forward. The seat is also well-padded and the windshield and fairing reduce windblast, according to Suzuki, resulting in a sports bike that isn’t as committed as others in the segment.

Comfort And Dimension Specifications

Sourced from Suzuki

4 Parallel Twin With A V-Twin Rumble

The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R has a parallel-twin engine with a 270-degree firing order, offering a V-twin rumble. The stainless steel 2-into-1 exhaust creates a pleasant sound, and the engine is designed to deliver a satisfying performance and exciting acceleration.

3 New Road Biased SuperTwin Engine

The GSX-8R is the fourth Suzuki to get the new-gen DOHC parallel twin with a 270-degree firing order. The engine produces 85% of peak torque at 4,000 rpm and 95% of the same at 5,500 rpm, offering a punchy low end, making it a breeze to ride in the city.

The parallel-twin engine is mated to a six-speed transmission with gear ratios that offer exciting acceleration. The transmission is mated to a large diameter wet clutch with Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS), which acts as a slip/assist clutch. Also, there’s a bi-directional quick shifter for smooth and comfortable gear selection.

Engine Highlights

• The first production motorcycle to get the Suzuki Cross Balancer System
• The pistons are developed using Infinite Element Method (FEM) analysis for optimum strength and weight
• The aluminum die-cast cylinders are plated with Suzuki’s SCEM process, originally developed for racing
• The engine is compact in design, aiding ergonomics and nimble handling of the bike

Engine Specifications

2 Watch Out, Yamaha YZF-R7 And Aprilia RS 660

The Suzuki GSX-8R poses a threat to its rivals, especially the YZF-R7 and RS 660. It offers a reliable engine and a suite of electronics at a relatively affordable price, making it a compelling option in the middleweight sportbike segment.

2024 Suzuki GSX-8R Rivals

• Yamaha YZF-R7
• Aprilia RS 660
• Honda CBR650R
• Kawasaki Ninja 650

1 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R: Pricing, Color, And Accessories

Base MSRP: $9,439 With a $460 Destination Charge And $100 Freight Surcharge

The 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R is priced at an attractive base MSRP and comes in three colors: metallic triton blue, pearl ignite yellow, and metallic matte sword silver. Suzuki offers a 12-month unlimited mileage limited warranty along with optional longer coverage through Suzuki Extended Protection, making it a great value proposition for motorcycle enthusiasts.

Optional Genuine Suzuki Accessories

• Solo seal cowl
• Smoked touring windshield
• Billet clutch and brake levers
• Fuel tank and engine cover protectors
• Soft side case set and a fuel tank bag
• Stylish seat
• Suzuki apparel