Suzuki GSX-8S - Meet My New Bike!

Yes, you read that title right! I just bought another motorcycle. I needed to swap the KTM 390 Adventure for something more street friendly.
As always, thanks for tuning in! Be sure to Like / Comment / Subscribe!
Check out our website : ksstudios.com
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:00 Power modes discussion
02:27 Throttle response and my thoughts about touring
05:40 Photo op and first walk-around
12:31 Suspension, mirrors and engine vibes
14:15 Engine braking and twisties
18:03 Brakes
19:05 Enjoying the ride and reasons for my purchase
22:07 Talking about missing features
22:49 How I ended up with the 8S
25:51 Thoughts on handling
26:45 Arriving at Tortilla Flat
27:48 Walk-around 2
32:07 Wind protection
33:39 Final verdict
35:58 Highway ride and close call
37:38 Final thoughts and outro
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❱ GEAR I USE:
I have created a complete list of the gear I use at our website:
ksstudios.com/gear-we-use
Insta360 (free gift using my link) - bit.ly/3WswWBw
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MUSIC :
epidemicsound.com
TAGS:
ksstudios, arizona, suzuki, gsx8s, 8s

[@Trevster65]

I got white one in June just approaching 2000 miles, roads in uk suck at times but bike handles them well and plenty of power for me. Also I like the lack of wind protection little to no buffeting at motorway speeds just feel it on the chest as with all naked.

[@jfseaman1]

I picked my 8S up Tuesday. The stock tires are "OEM" Roadsport 2s which means they are harder and squirmier than real ones. I can feel it in my 8S. I have a set of Supercorsa SP V2 to go on. I will save the Roadsprots for dyno fodder. Dyno runs eat the softer tires. Don't worry about your "lines". Ride, enjoy.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for the comment!

[@MrPsg1969]

Thank you for good honest review. Just what I needed as I am definitely considering this bike after a long hiatus & looking to getting back into riding. 👍

[@vasilislemon7842]

Excellent presantation buddy! Enjoy your brand new motorcycle and be safe. Greetings from sunny Greece!

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks! 👍

[@ac2-rm141]

This is a good video. The two lane road is quite scenic.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks, I really enjoy this road.

[@ktkace]

I have back problems too and rode a friends 390 adv for a few days too! your review is very relatable!

[@BEEBEE58679]

Great review.

[@DocHoliday-to6kp]

Thank you, Really enjoyed the ride with you. Seems like a well rounded value. A little leery of the vibes at 5500, that's one of the reasons i'd upgrade my old Seca II in the first place.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

It's a great ride for local, around town stuff. The bike seems to like the lower rpm's.

[@stevesanelli90]

Congratulations & I do love the 8S! Personally, I wouldn’t spend your money on the stylish seat. It ain’t a comfort seat. Apparently it has gel inserts but my bum can’t quite find it. I’d get a screen for it from powerbronze but be mindful that it’s difficult to access the USB port if the US versions come standard with it. The rubber cap can’t quite seal the port because a bracket gets in the way without modifying it. Handguards help in colder climates. I wouldn’t waste money on an exhaust system without making changes to the ECU & air cleaner. They just add to drone noise on straight roads. I’d get a rear seat cover to give it a bit of style & a rear fender eliminator from Evotech or TST industries local. The 8S is a perfect bike for my needs. Much nicer than the Hornet personally. Enjoy🤙

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for the comment!

[@stevesanelli90]

@@KSSTUDIOS No problem. Enjoy the bike! It’s a great motorcycle ✅

[@sandrobotticelli2978]

Wish you always a safe ride.

[@donniedirt4063]

​@KSSTUDIOS just FYI. Had a gel seat on a Suzuki DRZ400SM. Terrible seat. Gel does not compress it just moves around. After a while you are sitting on the seat base. Go with a seat made of foam if you experiment. Great choice of bike BTW. It just may replace my Yamaha FZ8 🤔

[@sandrobotticelli2978]

Thank you for the nice Video.Greets from Hungary

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for watching!

[@lost-again]

Nice looking bike.

[@jonomasonILoveU]

390Adv and Duke390 are the best small road bikes on the market imo, I just put a deposit on the 2024 Duke390/Blue, I`m tempted to get the 8S, but I love kTm😁.

[@krummdiddlyumptious1784]

What’re the chances I too just brought one of these home and I too had a 390 Adventure haha. So much different, when I left the dealer in the parking lot I gave it some throttle and it definitely got my attention immediately 😂. Great video, got my sub!

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for the comment! Congrats on the new ride.

[@RichardCatto]

PUIG has a very good touring windshield for this bike.

[@stef741]

I just ordered mine about a week ago. First one to arrive in the country! Didn't even sit on it but I know it will feel right! Takes another one month and a half months to arrive... :( Only thing I can do for now is watch other people riding on yt 😅

[@micklo74]

lol, i had grand intentions with my 22 klr, traded in for 8s. I think i prefer the short bursts of excitement on the suzy

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Agreed! 😀

[@mrwaerialphotography9325]

The roadsport tryes are grippy enough, lots of confidence with them. But their lifespan/mileage is terrible! I only got 4,000 miles out of my rear and it delaminated badly. Just taken the wheels off and have michelin road 6's going on.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for the comment! I'm a fan of the Michelins and will probably go with the Road 6 when I'm ready for a new set.

[@juliemcgillivray3394]

Why did you opt for a naked sport bike versus an on road adventure style bike? I'm looking for my next bike, and am torn between the 8S and a bike like a Tiger Sport 850. Thoughts? Also, please comment on the engine heat by your ankles or legs. Thanks!

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I went with a naked this time since I don't plan to do any off road or touring. It's a great around town bike that is fun to ride while still being reasonably priced. No heat issues with this one. Only a small amount of heat on the legs.

[@tommyhamby401]

I'm glad you made this video. I've been watching alot of videos on the 8S,n I'm going to buy one this Saturday;I'll be doing so without actually being able to test r8de as well. I feel like I'm making a good purchase even now. Thanks man.

[@johnflavin1602]

Did you get it, how is it? I’m buying the new Hornet blind. No chance to test ride. Would have loved to have driven the 8S and the Hornet to compare them.

[@tommyhamby401]

@johnflavin1602 Yes sir,I've owned the bike 3 weeks or more now. I've rode it enough that I had to take it in for its 1st service job at 600 miles. I've been on straight rides and right on up into the mountains. The 8S is an amazing machine! Great handling, beautiful take of power,dwn low to mid range the bike is a real party! Lil dead on the top end,but that's what I have the 1000 GSX-S for. The bike is a beautiful testimony to how great suzuki is all around. I've watched a few reviews where the 8S and hornet were weighed against each other. Both bike seem to have lots of Perks. I'm happy with the 8S,wouldn't change my mind if I could. I hope the hornet turns out to be just as great for you as the 8S did me.

[@johnflavin1602]

@@tommyhamby401 Thanks for your detailed reply. I should be picking up the Hornet in a week or two. Enjoy the 8S and ride safe.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Glad I could help

[@English_MoFo]

What’s the update Tommy?

[@BEEBEE58679]

Hi all, anyone have any solution(s) to reduce clutch lever pull ??? TST has a short two finger clutch lever but will it reduce the pull ??? Thank you for any & all responses. I probably would have purchased this bike this past year but the clutch lever pull gave me pause. ( Returning rider in senior years. )

[@dev8546]

Great review. Few questions based on your review. 1. At 5500 rpm you felt lot of vibration on the foot pegs. 2. You did not feel planted at freeway speeds. The 2 issues above are they too much of a bother? I know you dont like touring, do you think this bike will be comfortable for a 4 hour ride?

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I've done a couple of 100 mile days on this bike and don't find those points to be an issue. The vibrations still happen, but I tend to use a higher gear to keep the revs down most of the time. The freeway speeds don't affect the handling unless I make abrupt movements on the handlebars. Normal riding doesn't present any issues. It's just something I noticed after coming from bikes with heavier steering characteristics.

[@alex30706]

What about the under seat storage space? Could you store a disk lock / can of coke under it?

[@pserotta]

Would appreciate a comparison between the Suzuki and the Triumph as they are most similar

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks, I hope to discuss this topic soon.

[@JohnnieV]

You still have it? How did you do the break in period usage ? Under 4500 ROM is hard for me.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I didn't do anything drastic. I just tried to keep the revs low by using a higher gear and altering speeds often. I try to stay off the highway for extended periods of time until the first service.

[@jonathanwallis6854]

How would you rate the sound coming out of the exhaust. It’s relatively quiet but does it still sound good? Compared with your ex 660 , for example.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I personally like the sound of this exhaust better than my TS660. I know a lot of people prefer the triple whine, but I'll take a parallel twin any day! 😀

[@Albert-my3yt]

I just bought one. Made my 2nd payment last week. The seat being hard after 30 minutes is the only complaint I got. Iv put 1000 miles on it and did 1 road trip that was around 280 miles on a Saturday. Other than having to stop long enuff to smoke a cigarette to let my ass recover, it's an awesome bike. I got it because I waited 9 months for the mt07 and never came in, so I got the gsx8s. Best decision iv ever made on bikes. I got the all blacked out edition. It feels better than the mt07, it's faster, more comfortable, got the bells and whistles that the MT doesn't have. It's more maneuverable, more agile, and feels like you get in it instead of on it like the yamaha.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for the comment! I'm so glad that I bought this bike instead of waiting around for the Livewire Del Mar to ship. I finally got to ride the Del Mar today and I like my Suzuki much better!

[@JohnnieV]

Doesn’t it suck we have a hard time finding a test ride on a bike?

[@dantaylor5539]

Am thinking on purchasing this bike. Any advantage of getting the 2024 model over the 2023? Also, If you have a link to the more comfortable seat, I'd like it please!

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I believe the 2023 and 2024 are the same except for available color choice. I haven't seen any info that indicates any changes were made between model years. I haven't swapped the seat out yet, so that is still something I may investigate in the future. The stock seat has been fine for short rides around town.

[@SouthernStyle08714]

I have had my 8s almost 3 months and you are correct the foot pegs do get quite a bit of vibration in high RPMs once you get this bike out of the break-in stage and get comfortable with it it gets way more fun. I was told that you have to use the Suzuki brand oil in this bike or it will void your warranty. I don't know how true that is but you may want to ask your dealership to confirm for yourself, I do know that dealerships do say things to you like that in order to get you to buy stuff from them I would actually like to know for myself if that's true or not. The Dunlop tires that come on it did not last very long for me, I hit something in the road where's my back tire and it went flat I went ahead and replace them both because I had heard other people say they aren't that great of a tire but during the time that I had them and use them they did fine, I had planned on using them until they wore out on their own. They didn't make it. I wanted to get the Michelin Road 6 tires but they were a little bit out of my budget range, I ended up going with the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT tires and so far they have been great.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Thanks for the comment! I plan to have the first service done at the dealership and will definitely ask what oil they will be using. As far as the tires, I plan to go with the Michelin Road 6 when I wear the stock ones out a bit.

[@stevendettman]

What do you like about this bike over the Tiger 660 Sport?

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I like the punchy motor without all the extra heat of the Triumph Triple. The fit and finish is also slightly more premium on the Suzuki. I really like the dash on the 8S compared to the TS660 as well.

[@davidray4128]

Do you miss the Tiger 660? Same hp but I find 3, and 4 cylinders engines more fun.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I personally don't miss the Tiger 660 except for its superior storage options. I prefer the 8S by a long shot for the fun factor. I will admit that the triple was smoother, but I like the gearing, throttle response, and low-end torque much better on the Suzuki.

[@lj555551]

This looks like the road from bisbee to tombstone are you in my back yard ?

[@donderstorm1845]

i like how quiet it is. great for city commuting. really confused that they put all this tech on it, and it costs 10k, and they don't put LED blinkers on it. would you say this bike could work for a total beginner? or is it too heavy or too powerful? i'd just keep it in riding mode C, which is pretty much rain mode i think.

[@wlt3585]

As far as being a complete beginner bike goes I'd say 6.5/10. Treat it with respect and learn, and you'll probably be fine. Doing drills will help you alot. It is a bit heavy but it's a very smooth and grounded ride

[@donderstorm1845]

@@wlt3585 thanks. yeah i have to do drills here anyway to pass the exam but i will practice after too.

[@wlt3585]

@donderstorm1845 Yeah just be diligent about it and you'll be fine, I started out on a 2000 GSXR 750 (like a 2/10 starter bike), take caution to not become a statistic ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@donderstorm1845]

@@wlt3585 i will, thanks. won't drink and ride and won't speed excessively. got a white helmet too, i read that it stands out the most.

[@KSSTUDIOS]

The USA version comes with full LEDs, including blinkers. Shame that some other regions don't get the full LED treatment though.

[@lj555551]

Can you turn off the quick shifter in the tft display

[@KSSTUDIOS]

Yes, there is an option to disable the quick shifter in the menu.

[@mturn471]

How’s the new bike working out?

[@KSSTUDIOS]

The 8S is an amazing machine! I look forward to riding it more than any previous bike. Something raw and visceral about this one.

[@juanz7908]

Dude! Why do you get a new bike every 6 months? Lol I'm jealous

[@KSSTUDIOS]

I may have a problem 😆.

[@jonomasonILoveU]

as a rule you should upgrade once a year with new bikes, and every two years with a car😁.

[@dolphinride5157]

@@jonomasonILoveU That's right! Live for today and don't worry about 20 or more years from now.

[@eldiablomatadore8580]

36:13 Deadliest broom ever seen.

[@vwluvin9164]

Don’t ride those dunlops in the rain just my opinion

[@tg8150]

FZ-07 gets 60mpg all day long and is like 40lbs lighter. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@donniedirt4063]

FZ-07 / MT-07 all have cheap suspension. Which is sad as my 2013 FZ8 has amazing suspension. Yamaha should have cone out with a MT-07 SP a long time ago.

[@Steve-motorcycles]

Nice bike, but I found it a tad boring after a while. Good town bike

[@donniedirt4063]

Did you find the video boring or do you have an 8S and find it boring?

[@Steve-motorcycles]

@@donniedirt4063 the bike gives you all it has almost from the get go. It’s great for a while but I find the engine soon becomes a little plain. I thought the review was good even if I disagree with a little of the content. The GSX 8S isn’t a bad bike at all. I just think it lacks a little character.

[@user-bk6gc7sl9z]

we want to see the bike not the helmet views.