Suzuki's GSX-8T and GSX-8TT are the latest models powered by it's 776cc parallel-twin engine and they are nearly identical to the GSX-8S. The more expensive retro-styled machines look cool, but is there any other difference in the ride besides the looks? We find out in this first ride review.
Check out the story at https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/suzuki-gsx-8t-and-gsx-8tt-first-ride-review/
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00:00Welcome to Cycleworld. The guys in the US have asked me to come over to Europe to ride the new GSX-8T and the newer GSX-8TT.
00:10Now this is a European launch here in Slovenia, but the guys at Cycleworld was like,
00:15Chad, let us know what you think of both bikes while you're out there. So sure, no problem.
00:20So it's essentially based on the GSX-8S, which we've tested many times before,
00:25and it shares that same parallel twin engine, which is like 81 point something horsepower.
00:31So let's call it 82. It's exactly the same engine that you'll find in the R,
00:35and it is the same engine that you find in the V-Strom, which we've tested multiple times before.
00:40But essentially what the T and the TT is, is a GSX-8S in some really cool, funky retro bodywork
00:49to make it appealing to people who remember the 70s and the 80s, which is kind of like me.
00:55Although, bear in mind, I wasn't that old.
00:58But in terms of styling, in terms of aesthetics, in terms of what they've done,
01:02they've essentially made the gas tank a little bit bigger.
01:05So we're up to 16.5 litres on the gas tank.
01:07They've added the nose cowling, they've added this round headlight with a flat bottom,
01:12because that's what it was back in its day.
01:14They've added a new seat, which is different between the T and the TT,
01:19but everything else is essentially a GSX-8S.
01:22So we've got the same rake, trail, wheelbase, the same Dunlop rubber,
01:28the same rotors, the same calipers, the same rider heads, the same dash, the same electronics.
01:33It is an AS in some kind of retro bodywork, which I personally think is cool.
01:39Now, this kind of like retro brownie 70s colour was never an original colour back in the 70s or the 80s.
01:45For me, I think Suzuki missed a little trick, and it needs to be red and white or blue and white.
01:51But that's just my personal opinion.
01:53But in terms of appeal and how it makes me feel and how it looks, then sure, I really like it.
01:58But interestingly, Suzuki told us it's the first time they've fitted bar-end mirrors to any of their bikes,
02:03and the bigger tank and the retro seat do give it a different feel to the AS.
02:08But I've ridden the AS many times in Europe and in the UK, and I know what to expect.
02:14So I was just like, well, it's just going to be the same thing, because the bars are even the same,
02:19but with some retro bodywork.
02:20But it does feel a little bit different.
02:22I don't know if that's due to the weight.
02:24I don't know if that's due to weight distribution.
02:25I don't know if it's whether due to the fact that the conditions are absolutely perfect here,
02:29and the tyres are up to temperature, and the roads have been really grippy and awesome.
02:34If we look at weights, we're at 443 pounds or 201 kilograms for the T.
02:39We're at 203 kilograms or 445 pounds for the TT, the TT being a little bit heavier.
02:45Compared to the S, there's not a lot in it.
02:47But what they have done is changed the battery.
02:49So the battery on the S is 3 kilograms.
02:52The one on this is just under 1 kilogram.
02:54So there is a little bit of difference in weight, but not much.
02:58But it does feel different to the S.
03:01I don't know if that's just because when you approach the bike, you just feel a little bit more retro.
03:04Whether it's the vision, because you haven't got those mirrors in the way, they're out here.
03:08Or whether it's just the fact it's a little bit easier to steer, because it's a little bit lighter.
03:13But I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
03:14The engine is exactly the same as the S, and exactly the same as the R.
03:19I've ridden the R on track, and it does lack a little bit of over if it lacks that top end.
03:24But where it loses out on the top end, it's got loads of punchy mid-range.
03:28It's got loads of bottom ends.
03:30It's almost like a big single in many ways, because it's so punchy, and it drives so well out of that low to mid-range.
03:36Really good torque.
03:37We've got a standard quickshifter that works really well.
03:40The gearbox is really nice and sweet.
03:43In terms of rider aids, it's pretty basic, and it's pretty simple.
03:46Try not to get too confused by the three rider modes, A, B, and C, and traction control that you can switch off and on.
03:54There's no IMU.
03:55There is no lean-sensitive ABS.
03:58There's no lean-sensitive traction control.
04:00There's no launch control.
04:01There's no engine brake management system or anything fancy like that.
04:04Three engine modes, all with the same power, just different torque characteristics, and ABS is just conventional, and you can't do anything with it.
04:13You can't switch it off.
04:14There's no super motor mode.
04:16It's just on.
04:18With a bike with just over 80 horsepower that feels mechanically good and finds mechanical grip, how many rider aids do you need?
04:25It's a real good discussion that I've had with many journalists and with many actual readers that do we need as many rider aids as some bikes have?
04:33I guess if you're coming from a bike with advanced lean-sensitive rider aids, then this is a step back, but if you're old school, then it's a kind of step up.
04:41In terms of how it feels and how it finds mechanical grip, it's really good.
04:47The suspension is not sporty.
04:49It's not really agile, like maybe an MT-07 or maybe a KTM Duke.
04:56It's not got that agile, super motor, flickable feeling.
04:59It's kind of planted and solid and mechanical and really stable and steers really true and tractable.
05:06There's a few times where I was riding one-handed, playing with the GoPro, hit a load of bumps, and it's just absolutely solid and true and perfectly set up.
05:13In terms of limitations, on occasions, the footplakes do tickle the road a little bit, but you've got to ride it.
05:20It's fairly hard for that to happen.
05:21If you took it on track and you've fitted some grippier rubber, then you're going to get to the limitations of the suspension quite easily.
05:27Compared to other bikes in this category, the suspension is pretty basic.
05:31There's no adjustment on the front, just preload on the rear, which is actually quite difficult to get to.
05:36But the biggest kind of one for me is price, because usually when we ride a GSX-8 S or a V-Strom or whatever it may be, even a thousand, we're like, oh, it's a really good bike and it's really competitive on price, because Suzuki's generally are.
05:51But in the US, the TT is going to come in at $11.149 US dollars, which is good.
05:56That's a good price, but it's considerably more than the bike it's based on.
06:00So the standard S version is $9.249 US, so we're paying a considerable amount more for the bike that it's based on with retro bodywork and a bigger fuel tank and a lighter battery.
06:15If I wanted any of the Suzuki's in this range with this engine, then this is the most desirable.
06:20Then this is the bike when I open my garage door, I'm going to go, yeah, that's got wow factor.
06:25So, yeah, it is more appealing than the AS, which I don't think is the most attractive bike Suzuki have ever made.
06:32However, is it $2,000 more attractive than the AS, when they're both the same power, torque, weight, ratio, gearbox, rider aids, electronics, seat, suspension?
06:43It's just a bigger fuel tank and some retro bodywork.
06:45It'd be interesting to see your comments below, because once you start getting into that above $11,000,
06:50it also gets in with bigger bikes, with bigger capacity, more power, more torque, and more advanced rider aids.
06:57So let me see your comments below, let's start a discussion.
06:59Is it priced about the right? Are you willing to pay that little bit more for that retro bodywork?
07:04It's going to be an interesting discussion point.
07:07But in terms of what it feels like, what it rides like, really solid, good engine, feels mechanical, really stable, easy to ride, exceptionally easy to ride,
07:16really simple, electronic, very basic, which is what I really like about the bike.
07:21But is it going to be priced a little bit too high at just over $11,000?
07:25Only time will tell.
07:27But thanks for watching.
07:28If you've got any technical questions about the bike, you want to know seat height and etc.,
07:31then please fire some questions below.
07:34Me or one of the guys at Cycleworld will get back to you with any technical questions.
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