Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1515845
RIDE REVIEW I 2024 SUZUKI GSX-8R P78 in its power delivery. There are three riding modes—A, B and C—in the Suzuki Drive Mode Select system, but delivery is so nice you'll likely not need anything other than A mode. There are also three stages plus "off" on the traction control. During our road ride, I never saw the light flicker, and at Chuckwal- la, with Dunlop's Q5 tire, the TC light would only flicker on if you got nasty with the throttle. That shows just how well-planted that chassis is and how smoothly the power is delivered to the tire via the ride-by-wire throttle. Suzuki's long been known for great gearboxes, and the 8R is no exception, especially when matched to the lovely up- and-down quickshifter. It's a smooth, easy shift, so much so that it makes you wonder how so many other manufacturers can mess theirs up to such a degree. The Suzuki quickshifter just works—plain and simple. On the track, the motor is a little slow to rev, but there's still a claimed 83 horsepower on tap, so it'll go plenty quickly. Perhaps a lightened flywheel would help here, but this mod is against the MotoAmerica Twins Cup rules, so it's unlikely you'll see one any time soon. Incidentally, during the homologation for MotoAmerica, Suzuki fitted a Yoshimura exhaust with no mapping or any other changes and hit the 92 horsepower mark straight away, as well as losing a stout 20 pounds. That bodes well for the tuners out there who are aiming to make a little Twins Cup rocket, and I'd be expecting close to 100 horsepower without going overboard on the modifications. Suzuki has created a very good little bike with the GSX-8R. It's a nicely finished, high- quality piece that should serve its intended purpose very well. The extra weight over some of its competitors might be a hin - drance to some, but it's a solid, well-built motorcycle that I feel will be a bit of a sur- prise come MotoAmerica 2024. If you don't care about the racetrack, no matter. The 8R is an excellent street bike, which is about the best compliment I can give it. CN 2024 SUZUKI GSX-8R ($9439) ENGINE: inline parallel-twin, 4-stroke VALVETRAIN: 8-valve, DOHC COOLING SYSTEM: Liquid DISPLACEMENT: 776cc BORE X STROKE: 84.0 x 70mm FUEL INJECTION: Electronic fuel injection system, 42mm throttle body COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.8:1 EXHAUST: 2-1 TRANSMISSION: 6-speed CLUTCH: Wet, multi-plate, slip and assist ELECTRONICS: Three Riding Modes, ABS, Traction Control CHASSIS: Tubular steel FRONT SUSPENSION: 41mm Showa SFF-BP inverted forks, non-adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: Showa monoshock, adjustable preload FRONT BRAKE: Twin 320mm discs, Nissin 4-piston radial monobloc calipers REAR BRAKE: Single 240mm disc, Nissin single-piston caliper FRONT TIRE: Dunlop Roadsmart 2 120/70ZR17M/C (58W) REAR TIRE: Dunlop Roadsmart 2, 180/55ZR17M/C (73W) RAKE: 25° TRAIL: 3.8 in. WHEELBASE: 57.7 in. SEAT HEIGHT: 31.9 in. FUEL CAPACITY: 3.7 gal. WEIGHT (CURB, CLAIMED): 452 lbs. S P E C I F I C AT I O N S