GSX-8R vs. CBR650R - MY REVIEW

Thank you very much for watching!
Remember to subscribe :)
Couple of notes:
The GSX-8R has a Quickshifter and "Blipper"
You don't really need to rev match. The "Blipper" works okay but it also not that smooth.
The low RPM assist doesn't seem to work as well as on my SV 650.
Yes, riding mode B would allow for a more smooth experience, but that means I'm sacrificing power. That's not ideal!
Camera: amzn.to/4aubMe9 (*)
Microphone: amzn.to/4d3xnvI (*)
Adapter: amzn.to/4cTAXsc (*)
Follow on my social media for more content:
/ akai.cbr
/ @akai.cbr
All links marked with (*) are affiliate links that allow me to get a little kickback out of your purchases. Thank you very much for using them!

[@AkaiCBR]

Subscribing makes your quickshifter smoother 👀 Let's hit 1K Subs ❤

[@rafacaballero7702]

one more here! like your content

[@AkaiCBR]

@@rafacaballero7702 thank you so much 🙏🏻🚀

[@19max84]

Hab mich am Anfang gewundert warum es in den Staaten so wie bei uns aussieht. Sehr gutes amerikanisch/englisch!

[@AkaiCBR]

Danke dir vielmals, das bedeutet mir sehr viel!

[@Rmachine429]

Good review, appreciate your perspective. I do prefer upright pos. I did have a chance at a Suzuki demo to test ride the 8R and regrettably never actually tried the quick shifter. Before this demo, I test rode at my local dealer and found the down shifting somewhat harsh (without using quick shifter), felt as though something was up with that particular bike. The demo however left me with a real positive impression; great torque, smooth, well balanced. I'm now struggling w/potentially letting go of my 2023 Ninja 650 (KTR edition), and was curious if you have ever tried the ninja? If so - how would you compare?

[@AkaiCBR]

I never tried the ninja but I can imagine those bikes would be fairly similar. I do want to test ride it though, maybe I’ll do that soon

[@scooty67]

Thanks for the video.

[@AkaiCBR]

Thanks for watching 🥳

[@christosswc]

Many bikers dislike the parallel twins but let's be real. They bring to the table more than enough power for the road, while their torque makes them blinding fast in "real world" riding conditions, much much faster than the inline 4s and, consequently, much more fun. You get instant gratification with a parallel twin, anytime, anywhere. The inline 4 is a one-trick pony, a choice for the hardcore enthusiast, with all the drawbacks that go with more cylinders for the sake of gunning it down the highway, risking your life, enjoying the soundtrack and eye-watering acceleration. Honda I think were the first to steer away from the hardcore 600s by taming the inline 4 to be more road-friendly whilst maitaining most of the thrills,but when the others came in with the R7s and GSX-8Rs, the did it right imo.

[@AkaiCBR]

I agree with your well written comment. It really comes down to which engine you prefer.

[@TheArturpoznan]

Compare for example with old kawasaki Z750. Then talk about "torque" in this gsx8s. This bike is weak and slow.

[@user-wp6kh2pw3y]

I would also choose the CBR 650R, the e-clutch is a game changer that has no rival.

[@justin3131ify]

Ever heard of a rekluse clutch? Essentially the same as, or ever so slightly different to Honda's E clutch, and they make them for a variety of bikes.

[@bendunn2732]

Great review comparison. The tail lights being part of the rear plate holder and the key placement for both the rear seat and the ignition are the 3 things that really bug me about the bike. Other than that it's a pretty neat looking bike, however the CBR does it for me in the looks department.

[@dardobartoli]

Well you have no taste obviously

[@AkaiCBR]

I agree with what you said as well and thanks for watching 🙏

[@RussRyan7713]

find my mirrors on the CBR pretty good for me 🙂 Nice review. I made the right choice in the 4 cylinder engine. Suites my riding. Also the quickshifter is useable at very slow speed and RPM. I also considered the Daytona, but the display was no for me, and they only painted half the bike.

[@AkaiCBR]

Yep, the 4 cylinder is a very unique experience

[@chrissy.v]

Great choice, I chose the Daytona for the better button layout, the triple engine, footpegs+riding position that feels perfect for my body, and the safety functions. Cbr is still a great bike tho!! Might have chosen under different circumstances

[@AkaiCBR]

@@chrissy.v the Daytona was my original choice, then I saw the new CBR. The Daytona is great!

[@RafaCC8]

Nice video mate! I’m exactly in the dilemma of buying the 8R or the 650R after getting my A2 license... My biggest concern about the CBR is if the seating position is too uncomfortable to handle trips of +300km and if the fuel consumption is too high on those circumstances, idk from my own experience because I didn’t try yet the bike. I sat on the 8R and seems so comfortable and “touring”, but I am quite doubtful about if I am sacrificing the 4cyl sound of the CBR, which I love it, for just a bit more of comfort and efficiency.

[@AkaiCBR]

Comfort is something that gets better over time with any bike. The CBR is a sports touring bike. Longer rides are totally fine. The fuel efficiency is a bit better on the 8R but you’re going to push that bike more, resulting in a worse efficiency. I would honestly recommend going with the one your heart calls to.

[@RafaCC8]

@@AkaiCBR appreciate the info and the advice, thanks mate!

[@johnnyhun1]

(cbr650r perspective) if you are very gentle with the throttle, rides in 6th gear constant speed you can get 3.9l / 100 km average. Thats awesome. And for the riding position: if you want to ride sitting upright all the way then it will be hell. But if you go full retard, tuck in the straights (with speed of course, otherwise you would look idiotic :D ), and hang off the corners etc... you won't notice anything. I've gone 280 km trips without any stop (!!!), 5-6 hours straight riding, and I had no pain.

[@chrissy.v]

With a2 license it's also a good idea to keep in mind that torque on a 2cylinder bike decreases way less than with a 4 cylinder bike. You'll have to rev the cbr way harder and have less peak torque. (This is mostly only the case with a2 license). I personally went for the Triumph Daytona 660. It shares a lot of positives from both bikes, but barely any of the downsides.

[@bachpham5357]

Do you feel a lot of vibrations from the cbr? Especially from 5000rpm up?

[@AkaiCBR]

Usually it starts at 6k but I don’t notice it much anymore now that I’ve done over 2k km

[@bachpham5357]

I bought the CB650R in the end but I learnt on an SV650 and the GSX-8S which is a sister bike to this 8R (my moto school has both as they are transitioning away from the SV650 to the 8S). First, looks are subjective but I really don't like the stacked headlights on the 8S or 8R. The 8R looks better thanks to the fairings but the 8S, to me at least, looks very insect like, I don't like that. Second, the two cylinder torque on the 8S is insane. For a beginner, even on an A2 restricted version, it will pull like crazy. However, with the A2 restricted version on the 8S (and the 8R as well I think) you are limited to the C mode, so your the throttle response is very spongy, I hate this, another minus for me. Third, the quickshifter on the 8S/8R works quite well over 3000rpm. Upshift are very smooth, it's very definitive, not spongy. Downshifts are harsher though but not bad, I think it's due to the autoblip not blipping the thrrotle very much, especially from 2 to 1 but I think you should not be doing that anyway. The quickshifter does get smoother with more kms, so if you like the bike don't be put off.

[@AkaiCBR]

I agree with everything except for the QS smoothness. I really tried with every speed, it just wasn’t smooth at all. That being said, of course it’s possible for it to become better, but that’s not what I’m looking for if I’m test riding, right, how is a newcomer supposed to know that. I didn’t know you are limited to the C mode when it’s restricted. That’s vey crucial info

[@bachpham5357]

@@AkaiCBR yeah I would give Suzuki some slacks because most test bikes are supposed to be run in at least 500kms to smooth out the edges, at least where I'm from it's like that. Plus we all have different definitions for "smoothness". For me I like the gear change very "definitive", like a clear mechanical "clank" feel when the gear slots into its place, so upshifts on the 8S/8R are satisfying to me. The downshifts though, I would like to have more blipping and less engine breaking (on the Hornet 750 you can adjust this) because big torque = big engine braking so the bike wants to throw you forward on aggressive downshifts. And yeah the obligatory C mode on A2 version is shocking to me. It makes the throttle feel very spongy like the bike does not want to response. I use the throttle a lot during U turns so I almost fell over on the 8S a lot. This is a lose on Suzuki tbh.

[@bachpham5357]

I don't think that you can do a slip on on this. I talked to a Suzuki dealer and it's full system change only, which is now only limited to Ixil, Arrow or MIVV. I actually prefer the upright seating position.

[@AkaiCBR]

You might be right about the exhaust, thanks for clearing this up!

[@bachpham5357]

@@AkaiCBR do you notice vibrations on the CBR? Saw a lot of comments about having vibrations up from 5000rpm which is weird since it's when the bike starts making power.

[@AkaiCBR]

@@bachpham5357 not as much as I did when I first got the bike. It’s a lot less noticeable for me now.

[@sergigilnadal2965]

What mobile support do you use for the cbr ?

[@AkaiCBR]

You mean the phone mount? That’s a quadlock mount :)

[@sergigilnadal2965]

Yeah! Thanks!!

[@The.JZA.]

11:00 It sounds like it pulls alright but then hits the limiter super fast. That's one thing I like about my CB650R is it revs out to 12,500 rpm so it pulls and pulls and pulls and then you shift.

[@AkaiCBR]

Yeah the gears are short

[@The.JZA.]

@@AkaiCBR Nah the gears look normal, the engine just doesn’t rev high.

[@AkaiCBR]

@@The.JZA. well yes it’s a 2cyl as well so that’s a given

[@The.JZA.]

@@AkaiCBR Precisely.

[@danielfry9440]

Hi Akai, danke für deine Eindrücke, sehr gutes Video! Wegen dem Spiegelproblem auf der CBR: es gibt von SW Motech Distanzplatten, welche die Spiegel um 4cm nach außen setzen. Kosten um die 50€, sind die Investition aber definitiv wert. Ich hab sie direkt nach meiner ersten Fahrstunde bestellt, weil ich mich mit der originalen Spiegelposition mega unsicher fühlte, eben weil man überhaupt nix gesehen hat. Vielleicht hilft dir das :)

[@AkaiCBR]

Das ist ein guter Tipp! Vielen Dank dafür und danke für deine netten Worte!

[@johnnyhun1]

how come nobody is mentioning the ugly lights on the gsx8r? Suzuki somehow always managed to mess up the front lights... all the gixxers had ugly light, its like a Suzuki tradition :D

[@AkaiCBR]

I don’t like them either but honestly it really comes down to personal taste and preference, you can’t really bash someone’s taste

[@johnnyhun1]

@@AkaiCBR just compare it to a Ducati Panigale V4 . Who on earth would say the Suzuki is nicer? for real... :D

[@christosswc]

Because they're not ugly. I was in two minds about the looks but everytime I look back at the Gixxer having looked away for a while it actually looks really nice. I asked all of my family which one they like better and they all chose the Gixxer for looks. It's also a welcome change to the typical rounded look of faired bikes. I give credit to Suzuki for taking the risk of breaking the norm, same way I rate Honda for their neo-retro look on their CB300R, 650R etc. You have people raving about the Street Triple and how good it is and I'm puzzled no one says a word about the "insect look", as if they're trying to steer the discussion as far away as possible and just talk engine.

[@johnnyhun1]

@@christosswc many people bash the Speed Triple,MT09 etc... for their ugly headlights. And yea, they are ugly as hell man

[@jeanmilaalvarez]

Merci pour votre vidéo superbe

[@AkaiCBR]

🫶

[@VinayKumar-db4qz]

I think you got so used to your CBR 650, that anything different and you will complain about.

[@AkaiCBR]

Not complaining about anything:) both great bikes

[@ucrurari3350]

at least it fit your outfit

[@petercrookes55]

I own one of these bikes and the quickshifter with a little mileage it is almost seamless.The instrument panel can be changed by holding down the grey menu switch on the top setting for 2 seconds and you can change all your engine and other settings, so easy if you find out first. Vibration, well I don't know what you are talking about. I owned a 1000cc 4 cylinder before this bike and sure its not silky smooth like that was but for a big twin I think its above par. As for the seat I just clocked up a 360km ride in an afternoon and I thought it was quite comfortable. I really think you don't know what you are talking about.

[@AkaiCBR]

Nah, you actually can't change the screen at all. Literally was shown every single menu function by the dealer. Your comment seems very defensive, if you enjoy the bike, that's perfectly fine but you need to realize most of what you are saying is a subjective opinion. I think the seat is horrible. If you like it, more power to you. If you look closely, this bike has mileage on it too, and there is absolutely no way your quick shifter functions massively different than this one. Yes quickshifters get smoother with time, but the experience I had with this particular one was much worse than I had with mine when it was installed brand new. I really think you need to enjoy your bike and be less passive aggressive. The 4cyl is 100 times more smooth and that's absolutely not an opinion. Thanks for your comment though!

[@petercrookes55]

If you listen to your comment on the instrument panel not being able to be changed apart from engine and traction control settings then you are miss leading people by saying that's all you get.There are more settings to personalise your screen. As for the Q/shifter, I admit first gear at low revs and soft throttling has a bit of a delay but the rest of the shifts are amazingly smooth. I have about 1400km on my bike now and I see your screen still has the first service reminder showing when you turn it on. After my first service I started to notice that it was getting better with mileage, just remember this bike is a twin not a 4 cylinder and will never be as smooth as a 4 in this department so this is a bad comparison.

[@AkaiCBR]

@@petercrookes55 The only other thing you can change on the screen is the display of mileage/fuel/etc. You cannot customize the screen like you can on the CBR. Please note this video is a direct comparison between the two bikes, obviously I'm a CBR owner. It's not meant to say "this bike is better". thats not what this is about - the Suzuki is competing against the CBR in the middle class, so this video is absolutely justified.

[@petercrookes55]

@@AkaiCBR My last comment is to go and check other GSX 8 reviews and you will find that you are quit wrong on the screen. You can change the screen back light to black or white or have it on auto for day or night conditions, you have an off/on for the Q/shifter, you have got a rev limit setting, you have a screen brightness setting, you have a km or mph ltr or gal setting etc. I have done it myself. All other reviews compare the GSX to the CB 750 Hornet which is a fairer comparison. I am not making any insinuations against your bike as I have own many Honda bikes and they make some of the top bikes on the market but I feel you have been very unjust on some of your remarks. That's just the way I have taken your review.

[@AkaiCBR]

@@petercrookes55 I think the 8R is a great bike. Just not for someone who wants a sports bike. That’s the entire point of my review! My community has asked why I chose the CBR over it. I think comparing it to the Hornet is not fair, simply because the Hornet costs about 2k less. And please also remember this isn’t the kind of „how good is this bike“ review but more like „how is this compared to my CBR“! Cause I’ve obviously made the decision long ago, yes I’m a bit biased

[@marcuslinton310]

Is it even fair to compare these two? The 8r is a crappy parallel twin, has nothing on the 4cyl CBR that sounds awesome!

[@AkaiCBR]

They have pretty much the same price! It’s Suzukis entry in that market. So you need to compare them!

[@dardobartoli]

screen could be worse, it could be like my Street triple 765RS 2024.. dreadful ...

[@otomorim]

you are moving too much, video is dizzying!

[@AkaiCBR]

Thanks for the Feedback!

[@joefranks3083]

I do not have any of the issues you have riding this bike. I bought my Gsx8r 4 weeks ago. It’s a great bike. Sounds like you are a Honda fan boy. Putting out bull shit.

[@AkaiCBR]

Sounds like you are a Suzuki fanboy