00:00Suzuki's GSX-8T is mechanically identical to its GSX-8S.
00:05Same engine, same chassis, even the same ergonomics.
00:08But this bike costs $1,400 more.
00:11Yet, strangely enough, it's the one I'd buy.
00:14Not because it has better numbers or more features,
00:16but for something a bit harder to define.
00:18So the question is not, is the 8T different?
00:21It's, how is it different?
00:23And is that difference worth paying an extra $1,400 for?
00:39When Suzuki introduced the GSX-8T,
00:42marketing leaned heavily on retro spirit with next-gen performance.
00:45On paper, it shares nearly every mechanical part with the GSX-8S.
00:50The same 776cc parallel twin engine,
00:536-speed gearbox, suspension, geometry, brakes, electronics suite, you name it.
00:58Which begs the question, are you paying more for nothing but paint,
01:01a little bodywork, and a round headlamp?
01:03The short answer is yes, but also sort of no.
01:06Because the GSX-8T isn't just about nostalgia, it's about style.
01:10That mono-round LED headlight, bar end mirrors, tuck and roll seat,
01:144.3 gallon tank, and retro outline all deliver something that the GSX-8S can't.
01:20Presence.
01:21Pull up at any light and this bike announces itself as more than a commuter tool.
01:24It's a statement, a representation of the rider.
01:27If you care about the way a bike lands in the world, the vibe, the stairs,
01:31the way it feels under you before you even fire the motor, or behind you while you walk away,
01:35that's where the GSX-8T earns every dollar of that $1,400 fashion tax.
01:49On the road, the 8T behaves exactly the same as the 8S.
01:53That identical 776 CCP twin, with its 270-degree crank rotation and Suzuki cross balancer,
02:00provides strong torque and good mid-range punch without a screaming top edge.
02:05It feels at home for shuffling through city streets, a spirited commute,
02:10or going out and hitting the canyons on a weekend.
02:12The bi-directional quickshifter, ABS, traction control, and simple ride modes,
02:16all put this bike in modern rider aid territory.
02:20They don't interrupt your experience at any point.
02:22They really match the bike's vibe because they sort of disappear when you're using it.
02:27This engine was designed with a 270-degree crank to sort of match the feel of that SV650,
02:32give it a little bit of a lumpy idle, a little bit of a soulful engine vibe,
02:37while providing improved performance.
02:39You get all the benefits of, you know, that vibe, that sort of heritage feel of the engine,
02:44but when you're using it and in performance, it's just smooth and great.
02:49So we weren't able to dyno this machine, but we were able to dyno the 8S with its identical engine.
02:53That bike put out 74 horsepower at 8360 RPM and 52 foot-pounds at 5580 RPM.
03:00But it is worth noting that torque output numbers stayed above 40 pound-feet from 2,000 RPM to 9
03:07,000 RPM.
03:08So it's a really healthy output pretty much anywhere in the range that you find yourself.
03:12This bike has always-on ABS and three-level tunable traction control,
03:17as well as the three ride modes that affect your throttle maps.
03:20Aside from those ride modes, they're very different, actually.
03:24A is very sporty, B is just an even match to your wrist, and C mellows things out.
03:30These are really good, differentiated ride modes.
03:34As far as safety features like ABS and traction control,
03:39honestly, they never interrupt the experience.
03:41I feel like they only add to my riding safety.
03:47Suzuki's cross-balancer technology also appeared for the first time in this GSX-8 engine.
03:52This puts a cross-balancer located at 90 degrees to the crank to balance each of the cylinders.
03:58This, paired with that 270-degree rotation, limits primary and secondary vibrations in a way that
04:04lets Suzuki mount this engine with more compact and lightweight mounts and results in just an overall
04:11more compact package.
04:13The balance of this 270-degree rotation and these cross-balancers work really well and sort of give you
04:18the best of both worlds. You end up with some parking lot presence and really good exhaust note,
04:24but also smooth, usable engine that just feels great when you're out on the road.
04:29Looking at this bike, it may not be your first choice for a track bike,
04:32and, you know, it may be a bit unexpected, but given the popularity of this engine,
04:37upgrades and high-spec components are readily available.
04:40Also, with the sizing, with the components they have on this bike,
04:43you can sort of upgrade it as much as you want.
04:48So, while you wouldn't necessarily jump to this being your next track day machine,
04:53it really does have the potential to go there.
05:02Chassis-wise, the 8T is nimble and stable enough, but it's not some lightweight, flickable street fighter.
05:07The KYB fork up front is non-adjustable, the shock in the rear is preload adjustable only.
05:14Handling feels more planted and stable than it does flickable and jittery,
05:18which may be disappointing to riders that are seeking hyper-agile responses.
05:22But this is a bike built for rider comfort, visual grace, and mechanical honesty.
05:28It's a bike that's designed to be comfortable all day and fit in anywhere, and it does that well.
05:33Suspension adjustability isn't something that makes a big visual impact on the bike,
05:38so I feel like having non-adjustable suspension here was more of a budget move
05:42than an aesthetic or a styling move.
05:45The one thing about the suspension that I notice,
05:47those gold forks sort of clash with the orange on the gas tank.
05:50Just a little styling nitpicking.
05:52Chassis-wise, the suspension feels plush and comfortable.
05:56It feels soft, but not soft in a way that makes you really wish it was tighter,
06:00just soft in a way that sort of eats those small bumps.
06:03It's comfortable to ride.
06:05For being as soft, plush, and comfortable as it is,
06:08it holds the road surprisingly well.
06:10As you push it, as the paces pick up a bit,
06:13it doesn't really bounce around in the turns.
06:15You stay planted, you stay stable.
06:17It is confidence-inspiring as much as it is comfortable.
06:23Ergonomics on the E.T. are sporty and upright,
06:26not aggressively lean forward.
06:28I am all day comfortable on this bike,
06:31but with my feet beneath me, I can still put my weight down,
06:34move myself around as much as I want to
06:36when I get out here in the twisty stuff.
06:38The seat is plush, all day comfortable.
06:41That tuck roll adds a bit of style.
06:43It also adds a couple millimeters to the seat
06:45compared to the A.T., T, or the S.
06:48Ergonomics are exactly what I want with a bike like this.
06:51Comfortable to commute, comfortable in town,
06:53but also versatile enough to where I can sort of move around
06:57when I want to for sportier stuff.
07:02This is where that fashion tax really comes into play,
07:05because that extra money isn't buying you performance,
07:08it's buying you identity.
07:10You know, this bike feels like the bike you bought on purpose,
07:13not just the bike that had the lowest interest rate.
07:16That 4.3 gallon tank adds a little bit more all-day rideability.
07:20Those standard ergonomics are upright, confident,
07:22and add to that retro feel a little bit.
07:25It just feels like the bike that the designers built
07:28and finally could realize their vision,
07:30not being restricted by price constraints.
07:33Know that extra cost doesn't get you a better fork
07:36or up-spec components or more tech in any way,
07:39but that's exactly why the styling matters,
07:42because that's the aspect that Suzuki chose to upgrade here.
07:45That's what they chose to lean in.
07:47And it's not just a reskin, it really does affect the entire vibe of the bike.
07:53You aren't paying more for speed or tech in this package,
07:56you're paying more because it's the bike that makes you feel something.
07:59You know, at the end of the day, it's the bike that you actually want,
08:02not just the bike you can afford.
08:13If you look at motorcycles purely on dyno numbers, lap times or spec sheets,
08:17the GSX-8T will always look like overreaching.
08:20There's no argument that you're paying more for the same bike underneath.
08:23But our decisions balance reason with emotion.
08:26Motorcycling is an emotional sport.
08:28But here's the thing, motorcycles aren't always about spreadsheets.
08:32Sometimes they're about the feeling when you roll off the throttle and tuck in the clutch.
08:36About the glint of a round headlight on the pavement.
08:38About the low rumble of the parallel twin,
08:40tuned to punch you in the chest instead of spin you into the next zip code.
08:44If you want a naked that rides like a modern Suzuki but wears its soul on the outside,
08:48the GSX-8T isn't just worth the fashion tax, it demands it.
08:53So yeah, I'd buy one.
08:54I'd park it in my garage, I'd put a Yosh pipe on it and ride it every day.
08:58And every time I walked by, I'd crack a little grin,
09:00knowing I didn't just own a tool.
09:02I owned a machine that actually represents me and my personal style.
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