Suzuki GSX-8S 2025
The adult in the middleweight room, and lately the winner of it.
42.5/ 100
Scored within naked, methodology here
€8,990
list price
- power
- 82.9 hp
- wet weight
- 202 kg
- tank range
- 333 km
The short version
The GSX-8S is the torquey, unflappable one among the middleweight nakeds: a 776 cc 270 degree twin with the fattest midrange of the class, a standard quickshifter and manners that make fast riding feel unhurried. It carries more weight than its rivals and beats them anyway in recent group tests.
Where it wins
- Strongest real-world midrange of the middleweight naked twins
- Bidirectional quickshifter standard where rivals charge extra
- Won recent three-way group tests against the Hornet and MT-07
Where it loses
- 202 kg wet is the heavy end of the class
- No cruise control or phone connectivity at any price
- Basic ABS with no cornering function
Score breakdown
Engine and performance
9.7 / 25Handling and chassis
6.7 / 20Value
4.6 / 20Practicality
8.9 / 15Technology
6.8 / 10Reliability and ownership
5.8 / 10The full review
The adult in the room
The best line from the recent three-way group tests summed the class up: the Honda is the screamer, the Yamaha is the hooligan, and the Suzuki is the adult in the room. The 776 cc twin makes the most torque of the trio, delivered exactly where road riders live, and the dyno charts show it dominating below 7,500 rpm.
Both testers in the most recent comparison put the GSX-8S first on their scorecards, ahead of the Hornet and MT-07. When a bike this unassuming keeps winning shootouts, the boring explanation is usually correct: it does everything a bit better than it needs to.
How it rides
Stable, composed and planted are the words that recur in every review, and they describe both the virtue and the limitation: the GSX-8S carves a canyon willingly but never eggs you on the way the KTM 790 Duke does. Some testers dock it a point for excitement and then admit they would commute on it over everything else here.
The standard bidirectional quickshifter is genuinely good, the ride modes and traction control cover the basics, and the 810 mm seat with a neutral riding position fits nearly everyone. There is no cruise control and no phone connectivity, which is very Suzuki: money went into the engine instead.
The weight, the price and the verdict
At 202 kg wet it is the heavy one of the group, though reviewers note it hides the mass well once rolling. The ABS is the basic straight-line kind, the one hardware line where the 790 Duke and the 2025 Trident clearly pull ahead.
Services every 12,000 km, valve checks at 24,000 and Suzuki's reputation for engines that simply refuse to become anecdotes complete a deeply sensible package. At 8,990 EUR the GSX-8S is the middleweight for people who read the whole test before buying, and the tests keep agreeing with them.
Full specs
| Engine | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Parallel twin 270 degree, liquid cooled, DOHC |
| Displacement | 776 cc |
| Power | 82.9 hp at 8,500 rpm |
| Torque | 78 Nm at 6,800 rpm |
| Power to weight | 0.41 hp/kg |
| Chassis | |
| Wet weight | 202 kg |
| Front suspension | KYB 41 mm inverted, 130 mm |
| Front adjustability | Non-adjustable |
| Rear suspension | KYB monoshock, 130 mm |
| Rear adjustability | Preload only |
| Front brake | 310 mm, radial 4-piston |
| ABS | Standard ABS |
| Dimensions | |
| Seat height | 810 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1465 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14 L |
| Claimed consumption | 4.2 L/100 km |
| Fuel range | 333 km |
| Ownership | |
| Price | €8,990 |
| Service interval | 12,000 km |
| Valve check | 24,000 km |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Equipment | |
| Dash | TFT |
| Ride modes | Yes |
| Traction control | Yes |
| Quickshifter | Standard |
| Cruise control | Not available |
| Connectivity | No |
Compare the GSX-8S
Honda CB750 HornetvsSuzuki GSX-8S
91.8 hp vs 82.9 hp / 190 kg vs 202 kg
KTM 790 DukevsSuzuki GSX-8S
95 hp vs 82.9 hp / 184 kg vs 202 kg
Suzuki GSX-8SvsYamaha MT-07
82.9 hp vs 73.4 hp / 202 kg vs 184 kg
Suzuki GSX-8SvsTriumph Trident 660
82.9 hp vs 81 hp / 202 kg vs 190 kg
Suzuki GSX-8SvsYamaha MT-09
82.9 hp vs 119 hp / 202 kg vs 193 kg
Frequently asked
- Is the Suzuki GSX-8S A2 licence legal?
- Not as delivered: 82.9 hp is 61 kW against the 35 kW A2 limit. Because it stays under 70 kW, dealers can supply it restricted to 35 kW for A2 licence holders, and the full power returns with a dealer derestriction once you upgrade.
- How fast is the Suzuki GSX-8S?
- Our power-to-weight model estimates 0 to 100 km/h in about 3.7 seconds, from 82.9 hp moving 202 kg wet. That is an estimate for comparison, not a measured time, and it is labelled that way everywhere on this site.
- What is the fuel range of the Suzuki GSX-8S?
- About 333 km on paper: a 14 litre tank against a claimed 4.2 L/100 km. Ride it with enthusiasm and the maths gets worse, never better.
- How tall is the seat on the Suzuki GSX-8S?
- The Suzuki GSX-8S seat sits at 810 mm, which is about average for the class, manageable for most inseams with a little practice. At 202 kg wet, weight does the rest of the talking at a standstill.
- How much does the Suzuki GSX-8S cost?
- €8,990 list price in the EU market this site scores. It earns 4.6 of 20 value points on our formula, which weighs price against equipment and running costs.
The workshop
Build your GSX-8S
The upgrades owners actually fit, at typical retail prices. Tap a part to bolt it on and I re-run the full 100-point scorecard on your build, same math as the official score above. Shop links are affiliate links: they support the site and cost you nothing extra.