According to paperwork filed with Swiss authorities, we will soon see a sportbike version of Suzuki’s new parallel twin 800.
This news comes from the crew at Motorcycle.com, where writer Dennis Chung uncovered the certification data for the new bike. According to his write-up, the new bike had paperwork filed at the same that Suzuki filed for the 2024 version of the GSX-8S. In other words—this is a separate machine, not the sporty naked machine that Suzuki debuted for 2023, despite it sharing a similar name.
However, it does share the same engine, the liquid-cooled parallel twin that Suzuki developed for about a decade, with repeated moto show teasing until its final reveal. In early stages, this was a 650 twin with a turbocharger, as seen in the Recursion concept bike. In production form, we got a 776cc engine with 83 hp at 8500 rpm and 57 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm. A quickshifter is standard, with six-speed gearbox, and Suzuki’s Cross Balancer System reducing vibration.
Suzuki also uses this engine in its V-Strom 800DE adventure bike, and soon, we will see a more street-oriented version of that machine hitting the market as well, according to documents that Chung uncovered earlier this summer. Suzuki already does this with its V-Strom 650 and 1000 models, so it would be sensible to continue with the new middleweight model.
In the GSX-8R, we could possibly see some changes to gearing, but Chung’s piece on Motorcycle.com notes that the output listed and most other dimensions are basically the same as the GSX-8S. In other words: the newest Gixxer will probably be a naked bike with a fairing added, not a race-bred middleweight.
That’s OK, though; it’s where the industry is heading. Aprilia’s 660 series, Yamaha’s 700 series, Honda’s new 750 series and similar models from other OEMs are all offering a lower-cost-to-build alternative to the 600 supersports that sold so well pre-2008. Suzuki’s machine will fit right in here, and don’t be surprised if we see it in CSBK’s new Twins series next season.
