Currently under thirteen grand, the 2025 Suzuki GSX-8S offers some serious value for money. A true Universal Japanese Motorcycle, as Nick discovers... Photos: ShotByRoth
We had Suzuki’s GSX-8S for a couple of weeks and used it as a daily rider and weekend scratcher. After the launch a few years back, we were eager to live with the bike day to day. Nick put some serious kilometres on the twim across a range of roads.
Amazingly you can pick up a GSX-8S for $12,990 Ride Away at the moment (October 2025). Our test bike was Metallic Mat Black No.2, we loved the look of the wheels and the blue highlights on the sub-frame.
Motor Talk
Starting with the 776cc parallel twin, the same one we see in the V-Strom 800DE and the GSX-8R, it’s super smooth on road with almost no noticeable vibration. It delivers slightly less peak power than some competitors, sitting at 62kW@8,500rpm and 78Nm@6,800rpm, yet the power delivery is incredibly smooth across the rev range and is particularly enjoyable through the city in the low-mid ranges. This is fed to the rear wheel via Suzuki’s clutch assist system (SCAS) slipper clutch, paired with what I can only say is one of the better bidirectional quick-shifters I’ve come across.
Read our GSX-8S launch report including video, road test and track test here… and our GSX-8R review here...
Even at low throttle where the majority of quick-shifters start to suffer, you’re able to flick through the six-speed box with absolutely no problems. The insanely torquey 270-degree parallel twin makes for a very fun commuter bike with plenty of low-down grunt. Lane filtering through traffic is a breeze on the GSX-8S, and around town there isn’t much more I’d be asking for.
Nick praised the GSX-8S as a daily commuter, not just a weekend fun bike up in the hills, it does everything UJM style.
Exhaust-wise, there isn’t much here to mention – it’s tiny and tucked away neatly underneath the swingarm. It’s got a nice note and styles well overall with the nakedbike. I’d be immediately looking for an aftermarket upgrade purely to make some noise, as these twins sound hot when liberated a bit… The motor is a cracker, and likes to be ridden in the mid to upper revs. You can make decent progress short-shifting and carrying corner speed, but it will also respond well to hard revs, full throttle point and shoot riding off turns as well.
“You can make decent progress short-shifting and carrying corner speed, but it will also respond well to hard revs”…
It revs quickly, and although it is a bit flat up top, for a 270-degree parallel twin it has a decent top-end. Fuelling is good, with minimal initial snatch on throttle opening. Mode A is a little snappy, I used this on the twisties when having a fang, but I spent most days riding in Mode B. Mode C is a rain mode. The TC has three levels and can be switched off, too. It’s a cracker engine, with good fuelling and a nice connection between throttle and back wheel on the road…
Four-stroke, two-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 84.0mm x 70.0mm bore x stroke, 776cc, 12.8:1 compression, two-into-one exhaust Gearbox: Six speed Clutch: Wet, multiple disc.
The Ride
The KYB shock doesn’t cope overly well with the quality of roads we’ve come to expect after this weather. It’s a bit of an unpredictable ride that becomes more and more noticeable as you push past a couple of hours riding, it tends to lose damping control. Up front, the forks are again sufficient, but I’d say more suited to the shorter, sportier sessions.
When the road is smooth, it’s a perfectly acceptable set-up, even for a heavier rider such as me. The rear will do the job, just, and the bike has great geometry so means you still get through the turns the way you want to, but I’d be speccing up the shock for sure, and possibly getting the forks dialled in a little better. Check out Jeff’s track testing to get a more in-depth sportier rundown of the suspension.
Nick reckons the ergonomics are not back, and the seat is good for a few hours. He was impressed with the bike as a weekend ride, and a daily.
Ergo’s
As a taller rider, the 810mm seat height was perfectly adequate, yet the rider triangle and leg positioning for me was slightly tighter and more cramped than I’d prefer. This was really only noticeable after about an hour in the seat. The seat at first doesn’t look like much, but I was surprised at how long it took to start to feel it only after a few hours did I start thinking that a little more padding wouldn’t hurt.
At 197cm, the seat-to-bar positioning was also perfectly suited to the slightly more upright positioning characteristics of this nakedbike class. At 202kg, it’s slightly heavier than some of the middleweight nakedbikes available today, but once moving, it’s not something that I’d have noticed without reading the spec sheet.
“Even with a 105kg rider, stopping power was superb and feel at the lever is not too bad either. The ABS system remained unnoticed, so it must be working well.”
Stopping power leaves basically nothing to be desired. The 2025 model is fitted with a Nissin package: 310mm dual discs up front bound by four-piston radial-mount calipers and a single 240mm disc in the rear with a single-piston caliper. On paper, these aren’t anything special and we wouldn’t necessarily expect much more for a bike of this price point.
But even with a 105kg rider, stopping power was superb and feel at the lever is not too bad either. The ABS system remained unnoticed, so it must be working well. From memory, Jeff didn’t even have to have the ABS switched off by the Suzuki tech’s at his track test in 2023 at Lakeside Raceway.
The Twisties
Where this bike really comes alive is the twisties. Sure, it’s a brilliant city commuter and capable of a freeway stint (but obviously as a naked is not ideal on the highway), but the tight back roads and long sweeping corners on the GSX-8S are where you really start to appreciate this bike. One of the better rides I had on the GSX-8S was down through the Putty Road and back up through Wiseman’s Ferry. I’d only planned a quick Putty run for the morning but ended up out there for the full day and almost ran out of fuel – 450kms and about six hours through Wollombi, down Putty and back up to the Coast.
“One of the better rides I had on the GSX-8S was down through the Putty Road and back up through Wiseman’s Ferry”…
The 14L tank was just enough to get me up there, and a top up to get me back. With less ‘spirited’ riding, I got a lot more mileage. It’s a very manageable bike that inspires a high level of confidence for the rider. Not too much power, not too much torque, but just enough to make a ride enjoyable. Through the longer and faster corners, it’s planted yet swaps direction on a dime. It’s also very comfortable at higher lean angles. The Dunlop Roadsport 2 hoops were adequate and survived what I tasked them with. All in all, it’s just a fun bike to rev the hell out of and chuck around.
Styling
In terms of styling – it’s a tidy looking package with a rather angry looking front-end. A tail tidy, however, would certainly clean up the rear plate holder and lights, which I’m sure are legal/homologation requirements. We had the GSX-8S in the Metallic Mat Black No. 2 with the bright blue wheels. It’s also available in Pearl Cosmic Blue, which is even bluer, and the Glass Matt Mechanical Grey, which would be my personal choice. The finish across the board was flawless, with almost everything coated in the same matte black finish. Overall, it’s a sleek and stylish addition to the 2025 middleweight naked class.
Tech
Tech-wise, you’re not left without. Up front is a 5-inch colour TFT dash that shows you everything you really need to know and nothing more. As per usual with Suzuki, it’s fairly easy to navigate with intuitive switchgear and you can switch between the A, B and C riding modes that work with the electronically controlled throttle system to vary power output and traction control. You also have Suzuki’s Low RPM Assist, which helps with starts and take-offs for the newer riders.
Conclusion
All in all the GSX-8S offers supreme value for money and is a seriously enjoyable ride. Essentially, Suzuki have ticked the majority of boxes for what we really want in an affordable middleweight nakedbike. To be perfectly honest, I think this is one of the best bang-for-buck bikes I’ve seen in recent years. It’s got a killer powerplant, handles superbly, stops nicely, and has enough grunt to make the Sunday morning rides wickedly fun, not to mention a bidirectional quick-shifter. There’s enough tech to keep you up and where you need to be, although I’d love to see a cruise control…
TECH TALK, 2025 Suzuki GSX-8S
Engine
The parallel-engine has a 270-degree crankshaft configuration with a patented Suzuki Cross Balancer – two balancers positioned at 90 degrees to the crankshaft – contributing to even smoother operation. The Euro5 engine, which is also used in the all-new V-STROM 800DE, has a maximum output of 62kW@8500rpm and peak torque of 78Nm@6800rpm.
The two-into-one exhaust system has a dual-stage catalytic converter inside the collector which helps satisfy Euro5 emissions standards, and the striking design features a short new muffler – the shortest ever mounted on a Suzuki motorcycle – that barely rises up and out from the right side of the engine.
The striking design features a short new muffler – the shortest ever mounted on a Suzuki motorcycle – that barely rises up and out from the right side of the engine.
Electronic throttle-bodies help achieve a linear throttle response and superb mechanical grip, while other key pillars of the Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (SIRS) include multiple ride modes, three-stage traction control (plus off), ABS, a Bi-directional quick-shifter and Suzuki’s Easy Start System.
Suzuki GSX-8S Engine Key Features
- Newly developed 776cc parallel twin DOHC engine delivers a fine balance of smooth, controllable power from low rpm and the pleasant feeling of free-revving performance through to the high end.
- The 270-degree crankshaft configuration helps maintain a pleasant feeling in common with the model’s V-twin brethren.
- Suzuki Cross Balancer, the first of its type on a production motorcycle, contributes to smooth operation and a compact, lightweight engine design.
- Cooling system inlet control helps maintain consistent engine temperature and eliminate rough idle while warming the engine in cold weather.
- The electronic throttle-bodies help achieve faithful response and a linear feeling to throttle action.
- The 2-into-1 exhaust system features a dual-stage catalytic converter inside the collector that helps satisfy Euro 5 emissions standards and a striking new short design
- The six-speed transmission realizes smooth shifting and improved controllability.
- Suzuki Clutch Assist System (SCAS) helps reduce fatigue on long rides and contributes to smoother shifting.
Just like the parallel-twin engine, the steel frame in the GSX-8S is a completely new design, contributing to comfort, stability and nimble handling.
Chassis
Just like the parallel-twin engine, the steel frame in the GSX-8S is a completely new design, contributing to comfort, stability and nimble handling. The machine also has a unique aluminium swingarm, KYB suspension, Nissin radial-mount monobloc brakes and cast-aluminium wheels with Dunlop Sportmax Roadsport 2 rubber.
Designed around the new engine platform and made from rugged steel pipe, the frame was engineered to provide excellent straight-line stability, to contribute to nimble handling, and to perform well in the city and at highway speeds. This includes providing solid handling stability when the genuine accessory soft side case set is mounted.
“Designed around the new engine platform and made from rugged steel pipe, the frame was engineered to provide excellent straight-line stability, to contribute to nimble handling, and to perform well in the city and at highway speed.”
Radial mount front brake calipers mated with 310mm floating dual discs provide sure stopping power and controllable braking performance. The rear brake has a 240mm disc and uses a more basic single-piston pin-slide caliper.
Suzuki say that the KYB inverted front forks with a 130mm stroke deliver a plush, controllable ride and feature stable damping characteristics. The dedicated link-type mono-shock KYB rear suspension is set up to contribute to straight-line stability and agility, even when carrying a passenger.
The cast-aluminium wheels feature a unique new lightweight design. They are shod with a new generation of Dunlop RoadSport 2 radial tyres (120/70ZR17 at the front; 180/55ZR17 at the rear). The custom-engineered internal construction features a carcass and belt layer tuned to achieve the right level of rigidity to match the weight and performance characteristics of the GSX-8S. Dunlop’s proven tread pattern introduces a new silica compound that enhances positive grip in wet conditions and features durable wear resistance. Wet weight is just 202kg, including 14 litres of fuel.
Suzuki GSX-8S Chassis Key Features
- A new steel frame developed for the GSX-8S contributes to comfort, straight-line stability, and nimble handling.
- Dual radial mount front disc brake calipers act on ø310mm floating discs to provide sure stopping power and controllability.
- KYB inverted front forks deliver a smooth, controllable ride.
- Adjustable KYB link-type rear suspension contributes to agility and stability.
- Cast aluminium wheels featuring a unique new design contribute to nimble handling and a futuristic sporty appearance.
- New Dunlop SPORTMAX Roadsport2 tyres contribute to nimble, predictable handling and sporty performance.
- Features a uniquely shaped lightweight aluminium swingarm with enhanced torsional rigidity that contributes to nimble handling and straight-line stability.
- Tapered aluminum handlebars contribute to positive control and an upright riding position that offers comfort combined with a sporty riding experience.
- The 14L fuel tank features a stunning slim design unique to the GSX-8S.
- The rider’s seat is designed for comfortable sport riding, delivering solid support and shaped to offer freedom of movement.
The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) features a collection of advanced electronic rider assist systems.
Electronics
The Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) features a collection of advanced electronic rider assist systems. The rider can freely choose the settings for each system to best suit their level of skill and experience, and to optimise performance characteristics for the conditions and road surface.These settings in turn help make the GSX-8S more controllable, predictable, and less tiring to operate. With each system designed and thoroughly tested to operate the way the rider expects.
The robust collection of advanced S.I.R.S. electronic systems employed by the GSX-8S include the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS), Suzuki Traction Control System (STSC), Ride-by-Wire Electronic Throttle System, Bi-directional Quick Shift System, Suzuki Easy Start System, and Low RPM Assist.
Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.) Highlights
- Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (SDMS) better supports the rider in matching performance to the conditions of the riding scene, road conditions, or preferred riding style.
- Suzuki Traction Control System (STCS) with 3 mode settings (+ OFF) enables greater control over the bike’s behavior under diverse riding conditions.
- Suzuki’s Ride-by-Wire electronic throttle control system realizes throttle action that responds faithfully to the rider’s every intention.
- Suzuki’s Bi-directional Quick Shift System (with ON/OFF settings) provides quicker, smoother, more assured shifting without operating the clutch lever while in motion.
- The ABS system contributes to more stable braking by helping prevent the wheels from locking up, even under hard braking.
- The Suzuki Easy Start System starts the engine with one quick press of the starter button.
- Suzuki’s Low RPM Assist function helps maintain engine idle speed for smoother and easier starts.
- The GSX-8S’s custom 5-inch full-color TFT LCD multi-function instrument panel features a
clearly legible display of a rich variety of information.
Styling
In developing the styling for the new GSX-8S, Suzuki’s design team set a goal based on the three keywords, “New Era”, “Visual Structure”, and “Icon”. “New Era” reflects the goal of creating a thoroughly modern design that sets a trend for an exciting new generation of motorcycles ready to carry the brand into the future.
The 14-litre fuel tank features a stunning slim design unique to the GSX-8S, and the electronic equipment includes a five-inch TFT multi-function dash, all-LED lighting – including vertically stacked headlights – and distinctively styled LED daytime running lights.
Styling Highlights
- The advanced styling for the GSX-8S aims to set a new trend and usher in a new era of functional design that symbolises the future of Suzuki.
- The bodywork features flat surfaces and sharp lines.
- The bodywork is minimised to expose parts such as the engine and seat rails painted in the body colour.
- The front cowl stacked hexagonal headlights and characteristic LED position light.
- The shortest muffler ever mounted on a Suzuki motorcycle accentuates the slim, compact design.
- A compact new LED rear combination light is mounted on the slim new rear fender.
- Dynamic decals create an iconic presence that is instantly recognisable and equally appealing.
- Newly developed body colors bring fresh appeal that will resonate with a wide audience.
2025 Suzuki GSX-8S Specificationssuzukimotorcycles.com.au
Price: $12,990 Ride Away (Current price Oct 2025 see deal here)
Warranty: Two-years unlimited km
Colours: Pearl Cosmic Blue, Metallic Matt Black No.2, Glass Matt Mechanical Grey
Claimed Power: 62kW@8500rpm
Claimed Torque: 78Nm@6800rpm
Wet Weight: 202kg
Fuel capacity: 14L
Fuel Consumption Claimed: 4.2L/100km
Fuel Consumption (measured): 5.1L/100km
Fuel Range: Approx 300km.
Engine: Four-stroke, two-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 84.0mm x 70.0mm bore x stroke, 776cc, 12.8:1 compression, two-into-one exhaust Gearbox: Six speed Clutch: Wet, multiple disc
Chassis: Frame: Steel Frame
Rake: 25 degrees Trail: 104mm
Suspension: KYB inverted telescopic, coil spring, oil damped, adjustable (f), travel N/A, KYB Link type, coil spring, oil damped (r), travel N/A.
Brakes: Twin 310mm discs(f), Single 240mm disc (r)
Wheels & Tyres: Cast aluminium wheels, 120/70ZR17M/C and 180/55ZR17M/C 69H Dunlop SPORTMAX Roadsport2 tyres.
Dimensions:
Seat height: 810mm
Ground clearance: 145mm
Overall width: 775mm
Overall Length: 2115mm
Overall height: 1105mm
Max lean: N/A
Instruments & Electronics: Full-colour TFT dash, Suzuki Intelligent Ride System (S.I.R.S.), LED light all round.
Ratings | Bike Review | 2025 Suzuki GSX-8S Road Test
UJM!
Currently under thirteen grand, the 2025 Suzuki GSX-8S offers some serious value for money. A true Universal Japanese Motorcycle, as Nick discovers…
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